Day 19, 6 p.m. medical update

Greetings and blessings.
Good good very good news comes on this most miraculous of Mondays.
Sage's caring and watchful medical team made the decision today during rounds that she was stable enough to make the switch from the oscillator back to the conventional ventilator. Her oxygen saturation, blood pressure and heart rate, along with the necessary coordinating numbers from the oscillator, all confirmed today was the day. Sage was giving the signal, primed, ready to go, and on board.
As is all too well known in this particular world, the two most critical moments of ventilation support is when someone goes on the ventilator and comes off it. So at 11:16 a.m., with rain gently falling on the green New Hampshire horizon, the team of remarkable respiratory therapists for the day - 'miraculous' Matt, 'powerful' Patrick, and 'terrific' Tim - steadied the course and guided Sage through the transition. It went off without a hitch. Sage's attending doctor and others of the Critical Care Medicine team were present, along with nurse Molly and nurse Nicole,  Gramma and Catherine holding hands, and Sophie at the head of the bed, stroking Sage's thick, golden hair.
After Sage was holding steady on the conventional ventilator, a blood gas was drawn which brought good news: Sage's rate of carbon dioxide was lower than normal (a good thing) which meant her rate of oxygen could be lowered to 35%. In fact, Sage did so well with this extremely crucial move that she was given a bath, a change of sheets, and her hair was washed and braided. She looks positively lovely! and so do her numbers; she continues to cruise right along....
It was also decided that the paralytic drug - which has enabled Sage's body and lungs to do what they needed to do over these past 18 days - would be stopped. Within one hour of being off the oscillator, Sage no longer was being given a medication for paralysis. As the afternoon hours continued, we saw small signs of muscle movement and response - again, a very good thing. Her mom holding her hand and speaking to her, Sage squeezed back; eyelashes fluttered a bit with the sound of Gramma's steady gentle voice.
Two of Sage's three antibiotics are being discontinued, as she has been on a course of treatment for 18 days and all cultures are still negative. She continues to rid herself of fluids, and has had another day of being fluid negative - again, a very good thing! as it means Sage has gotten rid of more fluids than she has been given, over the course of the day.
We are profoundly grateful for your prayers, thoughts and heartfelt expressions of love and care. Please continue to keep Sage and all the people who are caring for her health and spirit in your minds and hearts. The doctors watching over Sage speak of her progress and improvement and that she is moving in the right direction. For this we are so very thankful, and thankful as well that you continue to walk this path with Sage and her family.
Here is to a quiet night of continued recovery and healing.