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Shannon Sweeney - Journal

Read Entries & Updates

 

Posted 2013-08-05T05:24:15Z

8/4 Update

Shannon continues to make progress.  Today she spent 1.5 hours sitting in a wheelchair.  It's still exhausting but she is getting stronger.  The hope is to get off the respirator so she can leave her room. Her temperature is still running high, but it is not considered a "fever."  No green light on getting rid of the infections, but she's making progress.  She has been receiving IV food (which does not count for much) and the feeding tube was fired up again.  At this point she is receiving a whooping 12 calories an hour, but it's a start.  As her system gets used to working again, we can turn it up.  The lungs were pretty clear most of the day, but in the evening they were getting raspy and her oxygen saturation dropped.  She made it 4 minutes respirator free today which is twice as long as last time. [...]

Posted 2013-08-04T15:17:35Z

8/3 Update

Yesterday, Shannon told her Physical Therapist that she wanted to get into a wheelchair.  So today she did.  The transfer took some time with all the tubes and equipment, but it was worth it.  She spent just over an hour sitting up.  Her lungs are still generating lots of phlem so her afternoon was pretty miserable.  Since very few people have seen her lately, I've added a couple of photos.[...]

Posted 2013-08-04T06:17:50Z

8/2 Update

To add to the fun, Shannon has tested positive for MRSA.  This now means that everyone entering the room needs to wear a smock and gloves.  Unfortunately this also means a delay in moving Shannon to Acute Therapy in San Jose.[...]

Posted 2013-08-04T06:15:16Z

7/28 - 8/1 Update

Progress moves forward and backwards.  Stomach problems and a fever are sapping energy.  Pneumonia was finally identified as the cause of the fever and appropriate antibiotics have been administered.[...]

Posted 2013-08-04T06:10:41Z

7/27 Update

A PEG tube was added to Shannon's stomach so we can get some food in this girl.  Again, this is a temporary addition that will not be present in the future.[...]

Posted 2013-08-04T06:05:07Z

7/26 Update

The decision was made to do a tracheostomy on Shannon.  This is a short term solution to help her make it through current lung problems.  Unfortunately this removes her ability to talk.[...]

Posted 2013-08-04T01:17:48Z

7/19 Update

Shannon underwent over 6 hours of surgery to remove the shattered bone and rebuild her neck with titanium. Shannon can control her biceps and shoulders but cannot feel or move anything else from just under her collar bone.  She can feel most of her fingers, but not move them.[...]

Posted 2013-08-04T01:15:10Z

7/18 Update

Shannon was hit while on her bicycle when a Ford Ranger turned right at an intersection into her.  The result was a shattered C6 vertebrae in her neck and severe spinal column damage.  There was lots of road rash but not a single other bone was broken.[...]