Chest Tube Is Out!

Keri Minson visiting with Ammon on Friday. Doesn't Ammon look great?! (So does Keri!)

A poster Child Life Center made for Ammon on his very first day at the hospital.

We made a paper chain today figuring that Ammon will probably be in the two hospitals for about 50 days. So we made the paper chain and we'll take one off each day that passes by.

Having an x-ray after the chest tube was taken out. Nice - he can stay right in his bed.

Hello Everybody!

Yeah, the chest tube was taken out today. That's great news - it means the lungs are just about cleared out and the pleural cavity is free of fluid. The "cough assist" machine is still being used on Ammon four times a day, but he does not have to be suctioned any longer and he definitely looks so much better today!

We are still looking at Monday for the transfer to Shriner's but the doctor said "Maybe." I'm glad he is being cautious.

Yesterday Ammon was the last person in a particular pod of the surgical/med floor so they moved him to a different area. We are still on the third floor but in a different room - 3086 is the new room. I am wishing that we could reserve this room when we come back. It is twice the size of the last one and there is a couch that makes out into a bed that is long enough for my long legs. I actually had a great night last night. The room is large and very nice. It will be a nice weekend.

Yesterday Ammon had quite a few visitors. He was pretty worn out after everyone left, but he said, "I like having visitors come." I took pictures of the various visitors but must have accidentally deleted them because they didn't upload today.

Bishop Coates and Marina came up this morning and Ammon was fairly attentive but his attention wanders and sometimes he is a little slow to re-tell things. Otherwise, he is doing really well and we are very grateful!