Graduation Day

Kyara graduated from physical therapy today. Mr. Dan arm wrestled her, and Kyara won, so she is free from PT. It was a bit more involved than that, she had to run, stand on one foot, walk up and down stairs, and prove she could handle daily activities. She passed with flying colors. Mr. Dan and Kyara also played soccer, Kyara won! She must have megged him 10 times! Somehow his legs kept opening right when the ball would get to them... hehehe.

We are still dealing with thrush issues. I think this is what is making Kyara gag and dry heave. She has nasty "curtains" of thick, sticky gunk that grow from the roof of her mouth to her tongue. We are now swabbing the area with nystatin and she is still on antifungal medication to try to fight the thrush. After we suction these curtain out of the back of her mouth, she does not gag anymore. She is on day 8 of the antifungal meds and the doctors said it will take 7-10 days to see improvement, so I expect it to be getting better, now.

Sandy, one of the PICU nurses that took care of Kyara, came to see her today. It was nice to see a familiar face! We were informed that Kyara will be able to have her picture and a paragraph about her posted on the "Wall of Courage" outside the PICU. This wall is for kids who have stayed in the PICU for 1 month or longer, those that have passed and those who have survived. This is the wall that had the quote I mentioned in a previous post, "We remember not the days, but the moments." I am very proud to have Kyara up on the wall, although I would have preferred to not have spent as much time in the PICU!! It is nice that the nurses what to honor those patients that they have gotten to know well because of the length of stay they have in the unit.

Wednesday is right around the corner and I am nervously awaiting the swallow study. I pray the leak will be healed and I hate that I have a feeling in my gut that says it will still be there. I think maybe it is a defensive mechanism at this point, pray for the best and expect the worst. That way I am not too disappointed if things are not fully healed. Last week I was sure the leak would be healed and Kyara and I had discussed what she would want to eat when it was over. Then we the leak was still there it was a disappointment for both of us. I don't want to make that mistake again, so I am being more cautious with what I say to Kyara and to myself. I hope and pray this leak will be healed and we will begin the next phase in Kyara's journey.

I know I have not posted pictures in the last few blogs, I will add them as soon as I can. I am sorry! It has been difficult to get all the parts together, have an open computer at the Ronald McDonald House, and have the time and energy to get it done. I wish the computer here at the hospital would let me post the pictures, but I understand they don't want people abusing the USB ports.