Victory for Vicki Cookbook

[JustShari]

not the news any of us were hoping for. Along with phin power, lets crank up the prayers as well.

[East Texas Parrothead]

Thanks for the update, Bill. Will be sending positive thoughts to Dallas ... keep us posted.

We love you, Vicki ... pheel the power of the phin! ((((Vicki))))

[SMLCHNG]

Sending more good thoughts to Texas!!!!!!

[nutmeg]

OK sending extra special phin power to Vicki!

and hugs to her family as well....

[SchoolGirlHeart]

I asked if there was anything that I/we could do...

Pray like crazy. Loads of prayers and phin power headed to TX tonight!!

[ph4ever]

Prayers headed to Texas. (((((Vicki & family)))))

[springparrot]

I'll wear my phin power shirt today and keep Vicki close in my heart and thoughts....

funny--I wore mine today too

[Carolinadreamin']

((((((((Vicki and family))))))) You are in my thoughts and prayers.......keep fighting......we got your back.........

[pair8head]

More prayers to you Vicki.

[fabduo]

Many good thoughts & prayers ((((((Vicki)))))

[Mr Play]

This is the update on Vicki


Family and Friends -

Since this is going to be a longer battle than we anticipated, we have created the following website for you to check on Vicki's status. We will try to update this as often as we can while she is sedated and in ICU.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/vickibritt

NOTE - Please start using this website every day to check on her status since Hotmail limits my ability to email updates to only once a day due to the number of email addresses on my Mom's contact list.

For now, eveything is pretty much the same as it was last night. Surgery this morning was just to clean out her chest cavity due to her bleeding through the night. She is back in the ICU and things are looking a little better, but are still not ideal and she remains very critical at this point - but she is fighting with everything she has got! Our hopes are that over the next several days things continue to improve and she will pull out of this.

Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers!





-Jennifer

[East Texas Parrothead]

I registered and signed the guestbook.

(((Vicki)))

[ph4ever]

me too - thanks for the posting the link Bill

[springparrot]

Me, three
Thanks for the update and link

[JustShari]

Thanks Bill!

[East Texas Parrothead]

Here's the latest from Vicki's daughter

Friday, February 26, 2010 6:07 PM, CST
Vicki’s daytime nurse, Holly, is fantastic. She’s a wealth of information and is keeping a very close eye on everything that’s happening. We hope she’s caring for Vicki when some of you have the opportunity to visit.

Vicki is still getting blood. Her bleeding has almost stopped but she is still in need of volume replacement and the doctors would rather replace volume with blood vs. other liquids. They are also starting to try to wean Vicki from the strong sedation to lighter sedation. As of 6pm she was off all sedation as they want to bring her out for a neurological status check.

Holly also advised us this evening that there is a possibility Vicki’s chest will be closed as early as Sunday morning. This, of course, is dependent on what happens over the next 36 hours.

Earlier today we had a visit with Katie (the LVAD Nurse Practioner/Implant Coordinator?) and learned more about the device and the education some of us will require to help care for Vicki when she leaves the hospital.

We're now going to head out for some dinner.

[conched]

(((Vicki))) Lots of prayers and ^^^^POWER heading up that way from South Texas.

[Carolinadreamin']

Thanks Bill for setting this up......

((((((((((Vicki)))))))))))

[phjrsaunt]

You hang in there Vicki, and family. We are praying phor you with everything we've got!

[East Texas Parrothead]

Finally --- some good news!!

We just spoke with Vicki's nurse and here is an update for today:

- The bleeding from her chest has slowed to almost nothing now.

- Her liter flow (the amount of blood moved through the body) has increased from 3.2 or so yesterday to 3.7 today. This means the LVAD continues to work like a champ and her body is adjusting to the device. It is very exciting to see that her lower extremities are less red and are looking much better than they have in years.

- They have been able to bring her out of sedation a few times and each time she becomes a little agitated (which is a good thing). Once she becomes agitated they increase the sedation just enough to keep her comfortable so at this point she remains asleep and still on a ventilator.

- They have been easing up on the medications being given to her to increase the pressure and help the right side of the heart work better. Her body has started to do some of the work.

- She has been maintaining her blood pressure and levels when they let up on the medication and sedation.

- Currently the plan is to try to close her chest tomorrow now that the swelling has gone down a little and bleeding has almost stopped.

All in all, this is VERY good news today and she is heading in the right direction! She still has to continue to improve and the right side of her heart has to get stronger and work on its own in order for the LVAD to keep doing its job.

Please continue to keep Vicki in your thoughts since she will likely be in the ICU for another week.