First 24hours in PICU

Hudson’s first (almost) 24 hours in PICU (Pediatric ICU) have been great. The words from the cardiac doctors are that he “is doing great and we’re not just saying that”. They are continuing to monitor his progress and expect to maybe close up his chest this weekend and by Monday or Tuesday be able to go back to NICU (Neonatal ICU). The difference between the ICUs is that the NICU usually has just infants from 0-3 months old. 2 visitors at a time in PICU and 4 in NICU. In PICU the demographic is different and there are infants to teens in this unit. It’s a lot more crowded in PICU and there is definitely a lot more equipment and monitors and various medication and specialized teams there. There is a dedicated nurse for Hudson for each 12hour shift in PICU. Both units do rounds with the ICU doctors each morning with PICU doing an additional on in the evening. During this time is when we can get an update from the doctors directly and ask any questions we like. They encourage the questions and even repeated questions which is nice. We’re looking forward to Hudson being moved back to NICU next Monday or Tuesday if things go well over the next 24 hours and is able to close his chest over the weekend. Some things they are concerned about are the bleeding (draining from operation on his chest) as well as being able to balance the bleeding and a blood thinner that is required to keep the blood from clotting in the shunt he has (Sano modification/ 9mm shunt from right ventricle to pulmonary artery) so there is a fine balance. But we’ll gladly take the bleeding vs. the clotting. Clotting means he has to go back to the operating room… Hudson continues to remain strong like we knew he would and we’re praying for a quick, safe, healthy recovery and that everything the doctors and specialists in PICU have things go as expected and planned.