Mid Afternoon

Dr. Forman was just in with Judah's nephrologist. The nephrologist told us that Judah's appears to be having some kidney problems, but nothing that is uncommon for BMT patients. He suggested a treatment of slightly higher insulin and giving Judah additional albumin and taking a wait and see approach. In my opinion, he was not at all alarmed at Judah's condition. Dr. Forman mostly reiterated what we have been hearing in bits and pieces. He said that Judah is showing some signs of improvement and stablization and that he has seen patients in Judah's condition make a full recovery. For that reason, he said, he will continue Judah's aggressive treatment as it is and we will watch him "hour by hour, shift to shift." Even if Judah stablilizes and does not seem to improve, Dr. Forman says he will consider keeping Judah ventilated on a more long term basis which may include a tracheostomy. People have persisted for weeks before showing significant improvement, and Dr. Forman thinks that in the long term a tracheostomy will give Judah greater freedom of movement and comfort.
One of the things we are keeping an eye on is Judah's oxygen levels. Ideally the level of oxygen that the ventilator should be at is below 50%. Today it was shifted down to 50% with the aim of bringing it lower still.
The Ebers have been kind of enough to entertain Grandpa for much of the day, Issy and Mom have been at the hospital all day, and poor Pixie hasn't seen Mom since Thursday.