Since the last time we posted there have been several developments;some good, and some not so good.

The not so good: Maddie's cat scan results revealed damage to her brain as a result of lack of blood and therefore oxygen during the period she was in arrest. The damage is not centralized, but rather spread throughout. So far we can not tell what the ramifications of all that means and will most likely not be able to tell untill she is completely off the meds and we can see how she has been affected. The doctors say she could get better or she could get worse;only time will tell.

The Good: The doctors just finished rounds and are hopeful that we might (and I emphasize might) be able to get her home as early as next friday. Her old feed tube is back in so the intestinal feeds are on the shelf. Her central line (IV) has been removed so all of her meds are being administered through her feed tube. They would like to get her up to 6 feeds of 150 ml over a 24 hour period before they will let her go. We do not think that is possible (it would put her at 900 ml/day), it took us 2 years to get her to 750. We are waiting for one of the doctors to return so we can express that to them. WE JUST WANT TO GET HER HOME. We have been here 48 days and if it goes much longer we will have common law marriges wtih some of the doctors here and I'm gonna have to start asking for child support !!!(still have our sense of humor).

Right now we are waiting for a brain trauma rehab doctor to come and talk to us and hopefully give us a better understanding of what areas of her brain are damaged and what those areas functions are. We have been told that nobody will be able to give us an accurate diagnosis of what limitations she may or may not have, we will just have to wait and see what she can and can't do. This is obviously very frustrating for all of us and we will have to refocus our game plan that we discussed here in earlier posts given the current set of circumstances. We are trying our best to remain positive and strong for Maddie right now as well as into the forseeable future because that's what she needs.

Your continued support and prayers are greatly needed and very much appreciated.

Ann, Rick and Maddie