Hanging in there...

Gus is still on the ventilator today and is doing OK. It is a little hard to tell because he is receiving some morphine to ease his discomfort with the ventilator tube down his airway. The last few days have been really hard on Gus - the surgery and subsequent move back to the ventilator have taken their toll on him. Irritation from the tube has caused an increase in fluid secretions which are affecting his lungs some. He received a blood transfusion yesterday and he remains on the steroid treatment to reduce the swelling in his trachea. We are hopeful that the steroid and diuretic treatments will clear his airway and lungs allowing him to have another chance at getting off the ventilator tomorrow.

Here is Gus on Friday - resting comfortably with Jill's hand on his head prior to surgery.

On Sunday afternoon Gus was resting on his tummy. You can see the ventilator tube in his mouth. If you look under his left arm you can also see the scar from his PDA surgery. Poor guy has been through so much but he has also done so well. We are very proud of him.

Gus' weight has been the least of our concerns lately... We did receive an update this morning that he is now 5 lb 9.5 oz. Some of that weight gain may be due to the added blood from yesterday and fluid buildup but he is still getting big. Please continue to pray with us that Gus' eyes will recover well, he will be ready to come off the ventilator soon and that he would be comforted during this healing period.

With much love,
Gregg, Jill and Gus