Just one more hurdle to jump

Today, we're hoping to get some insight into why Craig Gabriel has an elevated heart rate. Although he no longer is on a ventilator or using oxygenated air, his breathing is labored and his heart rate sometimes hovers in the 180 range when it should be in the 120's. His doctor theorizes that either his lungs are not as large as they should be or his body is still recovering from the work done on his pericardium (the membrane surrounding the heart).

Last night one of the attending residents gave him a medication that managed to pull a great deal of fluid from his body and we saw his heart rate lower to the 160 - 170 range. After that, he no longer acted like a sick baby. He was awake, he didn't cry when he was changed, moved or fed. And, and this is the greatest thing, he can hold his pacifier putting it in and taking it out of his mouth again.

So, we have some indication that fluids may be related to the labored breathing and the problem with his heart rate. But, this is just one more hurdle to jump, the most difficult part of the race is already past. So keep praying and keep watching the blog. We'll have photos posted of him awake and playing with his pacifier when you return tomorrow.

Craig & Reba