Update- 6/22/09

Grace Patti is still in ICU--however she has made some important improvements. Our last medical update noted that Patti would need a chest tube to help drain out some fluid. Her medical team did not need to take that step because she has been expelling a lot of fluid with the diuretics. Monday morning Patti looked very swollen. By Monday evening Patti's swelling had reduced significantly and she looks considerably better. The hope is that with some of the pressure released from her abdomen her lungs will have more room to expand. Monday afternoon and evening also had Patti communicating a lot more with us, she is wiggling her feet, squeezing our hands, and nodding her head. Ranjini (Patti's granddaughter and a Physical Therapist) did some leg exercises with Patti. They have reduced Patti's sedation and have also taken her epidural out (don't know if that is the correct medical way of writing that...). Anyways, Patti was pretty restless on Monday trying hard to pull out all the tubes attached to her. She does have soft restraints on her hands to prevent her from doing this--it is pretty hard watching her trying to get out of them. We kept trying to talk to her and calm her down assuring her that though she is uncomfortable she needs to try and sleep etc. We are hoping that in the next few days we will have more good news to share with you. We ask that everyone continue lifting Patti up in prayer--she has a long road ahead of her and there are still some concerns in the ICU (weaning her off the ventilator etc.).