Day 12 // Fever-Free & Feeding Again

Post-op- JoAnne had a bit of a fever yesterday, but it has broken today, which is sweet news (an extended fever could mean infection somewhere). They may give her a small transfusion of blood later in the week, but that is pretty typical for someone who has undergone the surgery she did. They also have been infusing her with albumin, a protein in the blood that allows the cells to retain (rather than expel) fluids. Bottom line: they're keeping a keen eye on her blood, her wounds, etc. to make sure that she's not getting any infections or lacking in anything necessary for her recuperation... woot!

Consciousness- Nurses have been lightening JoAnne's sedation every 12 hrs or so, hoping that brief forays into consciousness will allow her to move her body a bit and begin to straddle the worlds of sedation and reality. They've asked her to follow various commands (wiggle your toes, nod your head), and she passed with flying colors, which means she can hear us some of the time. They seem to be pretty skeptical that she'll remember any of this, and we don't even know how fuzzy it all is for her. We will continue to tell her that her family and friends are here (we go through all the names!), and will eventually mention that she was seriously sick, had surgery, and is getting better. The nurses tell her this as well, and we agree that it's the most information that she needs to digest at this point in time.

Stats- her WBC is still dropping to a decent number, her blood pressure is good... Respiration is good, too, though she's been working with a respiratory therapist to ensure that she's clearing out the gunk from her lungs. She was active enough today to cough quite a bit, which was good! The healthier her lungs get, the sooner she'll be able to get off that breathing machine.

Food- they've resumed her feeding tube, and she is successfully creating waste again! The more often she is able to be nourished via feeding tube rather than IV nutrition, the better. We all know how much JoAnne loves food (see below for proof this last December)...

To those of you in Spain: eat some chipirones y calamares for her, ok?

Much love!

Team JoJo

Taken by Jani in BCN over the holidays!