Bill, Friday July 19

Today is Ayn's birthday.

We had discussions about transition out of ICU. The step-down could either be to the hospital's stroke unit, or outside to a long term acute care facility.

The driving factor is whether he can be weaned from the ventilator: if he can, then transfer within this hospital. If he has to stay on the ventilator past this weekend, then a transfer outside might be in order, and plans are being made in that direction. We can see on the monitor that he is doing at least half the work himself in breathing.

The outside facility claims to have the best protocol for getting him breathing on his own, "So good,  Emanuel Hospital has copied it." The place is still in Portland. Ayn is relieved in that they cooperate with family, and she could stay with him.

POST-NOTE: Bill just had a great breathing test! He was taken off the ventilator. His "sats" (saturated oxygen level) stayed really good, and he breathed completely on his own for the one-hour test.