Day 20, 1 p.m. medical update

The morning light brought with it further steps in the right direction. 

Sage had a quiet night and is tolerating well the settings of the ventilator. She is 'very stable': these words spoken by one of Sage's fine doctors! Her white blood count continues to be in the range of normal and the pneumothorax (the pesky situation in Sage's left lung which required 2 pigtails and then the chest tube) is "resolving or stable", according to her doctors. We will take either one....

Sage's oxygen saturation continues to be stable even with the repositioning of her body - resting on her right or left side or back - that her nurses undertake every two hours: this is a very good sign. Another good sign of right direction is that Sage is sharing her nurse with someone else today: this is a benchmark in the ICU world, when your care does not require a 1:1 ratio.

Because she is doing as well as she is, Sage is going on a road trip! She is going to undertake two procedures today, beginning at 2:30 EST: a CT scan and a PICC (peripheral intravenous central catheter) line. This will require Sage to be transported down one floor. Nurse Pauline will be at her side, along with Sage's Respiratory Therapist Katy, and other members of Sage's medical team.

Although the CT scan will not necessarily change the course of Sage's care, it might help to resolve some very, heretofore, unanswerable questions. The PICC line is necessary, as Sage's IV line has been in for a duration of time that is coming toward its end of running a clean course. Staying free of infection is particularly paramount in a hospital setting; this particular procedure comes at a necessary and opportune time - and one that could not have really been performed easily while Sage was dependent on the oscillator.

Sage continues to respond quietly and slowly to certain stimuli. Maureen the physical therapist came in this morning and worked with Sage. Sage lifted her eyelids, moved her left arm and responded with a 'push back' when Maureen manipulated her feet. Sage's lungs continue to clear, as she can cough when asked to do so by her respiratory therapist. Sage is dialed in!!

We are, therefore, incredibly grateful for all that continues to happen on the upward, positive curve.

As we know that you do, please pray and send those positive thoughts to Sage, most especially at the time of the two procedures. Thank you for staying with us and holding the circle far, wide and near.

On a non-medical note but most definitely part of the update:

Sage was listening to her iPod this morning while her doctors were discussing the plan for the day outside the room. As the team of ten came in to check on Sage, Peter Rabbit signaled that the song Sage was listening to was "Suddenly I see". The words, the timing and the message are, of course, perfect. There are no coincidences.

So if you can, please play, listen to, sing this song starting at 2:30 this afternoon, EST. Send the energy and song of prayer northward, to Sage and the remarkable team of people who continue to care for her with such compassion and finesse.

Blessings on your Tuesday.

"Her face is a map of the world, is a map of the world/You can see she's a beautiful girl, she's a beautiful girl/And everything around her is a silver pool of light/People who surround her feel the benefit of it, it makes you calm/She holds you captivated in her palm/Suddenly I see, suddenly I see/This is what I wanna be/Suddenly I see, suddenly I see/why the hell it means so much to me..." ~ "Suddenly I see" by KT Tunstall ~