Levi is doing really well this morning! He is off the BiPAP, for a break, and vitals look good.

On the schedule for today: [...]

Levi's having a good day so far.  He is still on the BiPAP (face mask that helps him get enough oxygen) and his heart rate is getting closer to normal. The doctors believe it was secondary to one of his medications so they are switching to a new one today.  Hoping to keep blood pressure and heart rate down in normal ranges.   No seizures (yippee!!!), and they will try to decrease some of those meds today as they make him very sleepy. Had a small allergic reaction to antibiotics yesterday which they'll watch closely today.  But, he is slowly becoming more alert.  Enjoyed some glimpses of Zootopia and Blaze when he was awake.  Beth and Zack both got a little sleep last night.[...]

This morning, Levi's heart rate starting going up and he needed extra fluids. He was also having trouble clearing secretions and needed them suctioned. His oxygen level started dropping, and he's on a positive airway pressure device to help his oxygen so he doesn't have to go back on the tube. So far his oxygen levels have increased which is good news. He did show some signs of pneumonia, so he's being treated as such with antibiotics. His white count was down and he will receive another transfusion to help boost that.[...]

Well hi, sweet boy...  🥰 🥰 🥰 🥰 🥰 

[...]

Big day for Levi as the doctors plan to remove EVD (external ventricular drain), take him off the ventilator, start chemo day five, and possibly another blood transfusion. Phew! and you thought you had a lot to do! [...]

After a tough Saturday, it's been relatively quiet. Levi has had some trouble balancing his electrolytes. He is outputting more fluids than he is intaking, which is due to a syndrome called cerebral salt wasting. This is from brain trauma whether it's the tumor, seizures, or surgery. [...]

Levi was able to get through his planned chemo treatments yesterday.  But then he started having increased blood pressures again last night.  After several attempts to reduce the pressures and a repeat mri, it was determined that his vp shunt (which keeps the pressure on his brain down) was no longer working.  Thus he was taken in for another emergent surgery overnight.  They were able to place a new shunt as well as replace an external drain as a backup.  This was effective and his initial exams this morning all indicate that the pressure in his brain is back to normal.  Five brain surgeries in less than three weeks...yet Levi keeps battling on.[...]

Levi was able to start chemo yesterday including the first two medications of his several days long regimen.  He had a relatively uneventful night which we are all thankful for after the night before.  (Now if we could just fix the hospital bed for Beth and Zack, which is less than comfortable to say the least!)[...]

We are excited that Levi is starting chemo today. As you know he had a rough morning yesterday. That turned into a rough afternoon and evening. Levi had to be intubated again so is back on the ventilator. During the process, his right lung collapsed but it reinflated without additional intervention. (We'll take the win.) His heart rate increased and he needed more sedation. He will probably be on the ventilator for a few days again. [...]

Alright prayer warriors, Levi and his family need you. 

Levi started having what they thought were seizures again late last night. The MRI looked good and the EEG did not show seizures so there is some other sort of neurological hyperactivity going on. The doctors will continue to monitor. It's very hard on Beth and Zack right now, as they have not slept (really at all since this happened) and things are moving and changing so fast. [...]