Lifesavers for Latasha

Recovery and ICU Delerium, not for the faint of heart.

Today marks nine days since Latasha had her double lung and heart transplant surgery on July 1, 2024. Although that isn’t much relative to most of our everyday lives, it is an eternity in the ICU.

Most of us measure time by days gone and things done. In the ICU, however, it’s measured in seconds, minutes, hours, and days.

Some of the nurses describe it as ICU delirium from boredom, a lot of pain meds, or being disconnected from the outside world.

Tasha is no different than every other patient here. Today, she is experiencing extreme frustration from being stuck here, not being able to drink or eat, not being able to have her body do what her mind wants, and simply being beholden to a medical staff member getting to her request as it goes into a queue.

Not fun at all. It is downright infuriating on all sides of the experience.

Today has been a slow-go day with physical and respiratory therapy. She exercises her limbs and core, stands for a bit, sits in the chair, and then returns to bed. And likely to repeat later.

The lung doctor said all is looking great on her scans and labs. The immediate hurdle ahead is sorting out some stomach issues for her to be able to do the swallow test again for drinking and eventually eating solid foods again.

Riding that damned slow rollercoaster isn’t for the faint of heart, that’s for sure!

I am serving as the one to talk her down from getting frustrated right now, which is not easy if you know Tasha.

More to follow later.