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Not sure how AGH plans the weaning process, but she had been off the ventilator about two hours so far.  She seems good but it tires  her.  She is stable.

Andy, Andy Jr. and David spent quality time with Eileen tonight. Surprisingly, she had her voice. No button but she could talk! It had something to do with the new trach AGH put in yesterday allowed a little more air which gave her a voice back. And she talked and talked! For two hours! Her condition is still extremely critical. Amazingly, she is not in pain. Andy spoke to a rheumatory doctor earlier today about the steroids and the possibility of switching to cortisone. The mood though still somber is also cautiously optimistic. Eileen is not willing to give up.

Eileen went into cardiac arrest during the night and her lung collapsed again.  She had not responded to people all night - until morning when Andy got there – she gave him a smile. They need to move her PICC line. It could be infected.

6:45 a.m. AGH doctor called Andy bright and early this morning. The decision is to make another attempt at moving the tube in the lung rather than immediate surgery. The urgency is to have the hole heal and to get rid of the pneumonia.

She is in ICU Room 486. But again no visitors other than immediate family and please call Andy first.  Visiting hours are a little different at AGH starting at 11:30 a.m.  Only two people at a time are permitted.  Parking is pricey.

1:15 p.m.  Andy said the tube has been relocated and she is already looking better than yesterday.  Her temperature has come down from 102 to 101.3.

Note to Barb and Mary Rose – please call Andy before booking your tickets.

1:30 p.m. Andy and Andy Jr. are on their way to the hospital to talk to the doctor about surgery for the hole in Eileen’s lung. Even though it is not abscessed it is not healing. The other lung could start to have problems if they don’t take care of the first lung.

The choices were Cleveland Clinic, Allegheny General or UPMC Presby. The decision is Cleveland Clinic. The doctor is working on the transfer process now.

8:45 p.m. No beds at Cleveland Clinic. Waiting for transfer to Allegheny General. Andy, Andy Jr., Bryan and Rachel at Beaver Medical Center ICU with Eileen.

12:00 midnight. Eileen is at Allegheny General. Andy is on his way home.

On Friday afternoon Andy and Gina were incredulous when Eileen after coming back from a CT scan of her lung (which by the way showed no abscess), opened her eyes and picked her right arm up and waved at them. Then she took both arms and put them under her left ear like she wanted to go to sleep. Then she waved to them, blew them a kiss, and told them to go home.

This was a first time she has been able to move her arms since the seizures on July 6.