The End of ECMO

Lincoln did really well yesterday and through the night with the ECMO weaning. Early this morning they tested him to see if he is ready to come off of ECMO by clamping the lines to the machine for 15 mins, simulating what it would be like if he were taken off, letting his body do all of the work to oxygenate his body. They then tested his blood for an oxygen level. He passed with flying colors so the decision was made to take Lincoln off of ECMO today, after having the support of the machine for almost 13 days. He is heading in the right direction to have his repair surgery later this week. The doctors said they will need to monitor Lincoln for a few days after taking him off of ECMO to be sure he is stable enough for his surgery to repair his diaphragm. There is a chance that his pulmonary hypertension can return once off of ECMO, since his body will be working so hard to oxygenate his whole body with only one lung. They will have all of the medicines he was on before ECMO available to help him and also two types of ventilators if he needs them, but he cannot be put back on ECMO if he gets really sick again. Due to the placement of the lines with ECMO, the patient's veins can only handle it one time. Lincoln is such a little fighter and have faith that he will not get as sick as he was on May 31st (the day he went on ECMO).

The surgery to take him off today will only take an hour or so. Afterward, Linc's environment will go back to minimal stimulation, so that he doesn't get too excited and cause his hypertension to return. The nurses warned us of this last night as they were weaning, so we got in a lot of talking and kisses. It may be several weeks before I can read to Lincoln again but soon enough I will be able to read him a good night story every night, as soon as he is better.