Day 3

Hello Ava followers. We had another good/hard day today. She remained at 96% oxygen pretty much the whole night. Good just not her normal but still within a good range. I got sleep on and off. I probably got about 5 hours in total. Brian did good watching her. She was up early about 5am. She sat up with our help. Sat in bed a few minutes then wanted to go to the bathroom. I gave her a good wipe down dial "bath" and put on her own gown mother had gotten for her. She felt better getting cleaned up. Surgery team came in as I was finishing her up. They were impressed. It was the doctor she doesn't like Dr. Farber. But she was nice today. Her feet are both a little swollen. Her right foot has been falling asleep. We will talk with anesthesiologists today. Probably how she is laying. She sleeps and switches to both her left and right side. She can do clear liquids today as tolerated. She wanted sweet tea of course! She is sitting up now. It hurts her bad to cough. Over all she's doing fabulous! Make me so happy.

She got up and sat in the chair, then walked to the bathroom. We then went for  walk Her right foot is numb. She still did awesome.  She moved fast. I can't believe how well she's doing.

The surgeon took off her bandage this morning. Yea it's the same length at her previous scar. It looks better than I thought it would. There are steri-strips on i that will eventually fall off.

She got up and sat in the chair, then walked to the bathroom. We then went for a walk. Her right foot is numb. She still did awesome.  She moved fast. 

We went for another walk at around 3 with the physical therapist. They are all just shocked that Ava is getting around like nothing ever happened. 

They are letting her drink clear fluids but she is not drinking much at all. She is very hungry but we have to take one thing at a time. Her bowels have to wake up. They are hearing bowel sounds. 

Dr. Shilyansky said she could do soft diet but somehow words got crossed and the team said to wait until morning possibly. Brian and I have just been eating crackers, nuts and granola bars I had bought to try and carry us over. I don't want to get the Covid 19 virus. We are in one of Iowa's hot spots and this being the biggest hospital in Iowa is kinda scary. It's so weird... We can take off the masks in Ava's room but as soon as someone comes in bam... mask on. It's like second nature now. My thoughts were kinda cloudy today and I decided we needed to take care of ourselves too. I ordered Curbside olive garden and ate it in the parking garage. (If you have been following us you know this is way against my corona rules. NO OUTSIDE FOOD however I felt it was am emergency for us.) We were only gone 45 minutes. When we got back Ava was so discouraged and started crying. I felt bad as we had to eat. Brian was getting headaches. She wants to eat so bad. Liquids have gone fine but she's only drank about 10 ounces and a jello. Her incision started hurting. The nurse put in her toridol. I told Ava if she wants the diladid she has to ask for it. So she did. Then she called Emme at Mazzios. "Emme her sister has the same effect of a drug on Ava. It's so cool how she calms her. So Emme helped us lighten the mood. I read her get well cards. She feels like she should be going home. She doesn't understand she is exceeding her goals. She breathes past the amount the surgeons wanted on her breath test thing!! Pray she gets rest and is able to eat in the morning. She's getting weary and it's only day 3.... she walks all by herself at her normal pace. She's killing it! She is truly a walking miracle. Everyone is in awe of her here. Monday 9 hour surgery and Wednesday sitting in bed, walking the halls and seating in chairs. God is so good!

We appreciate all the love, support and prayers. Ava is feeling down. She hurts and it's just part of this process. She still has her epidural and it is working as she is numb in the incision area. Pray it continues working. This is all so tough. I'm super proud of her. I wish there was a way she could understand that most people don't get better this quickly. 

She is sleeping peacefully right now. God bless friends!

Terri