Ella’s blood count has dropped and she is going to be getting a transfusion in a few minutes. The reason this is happening, they think, is because of the continued swelling. A sort of dilution of the blood is occurring and that can impair her ability to absorb oxygen. Ella has gotten even more bloated. Her right eye cannot even be opened by the nurse to look at the pupil. This was expected. But they are not going to let her loose liquids on her own, but are going to induce it once she receives the blood transfusion.
Another issue is starting to be her nutrition. She hasn’t eaten since Wednesday at 5:00AM. If the breathing tube won’t be out soon they will have to feed her by inserting another tube to her stomach. The experience of reinserting the breathing tube yesterday has left the team wary of trying again too soon. They will probably not attempt it again till tomorrow morning, and only if there is significant reduction in swelling.
On the one hand I am glad that Ella is sleeping through all of this, her wound’s are healing and she isn’t feeling the pain of the multiple hookups, tubes and swelling. On the other hand I miss her already and want her back.