Today was another good day for Raena! Today they clamped her stint from her drainage catheter that is in her brain. This is the catheter that measures her ICP level, and as long as it stays below 20 they don’t need to unclamp it. Only once did it hit 20, and they opened the clamp, but ever since her ICP level has been where it needs to be.
Today Micaela brought a team jersey signed by all of her teammates as they are off to the State Championships, and the whole team is using Raena as their inspiration! I thought that was very sweet of them.
Raena is doing so well, that today they put a soft restraint on her arms so she cannot pull the breathing tube out of her mouth. This is definitely a good sign, and she is still communicating by hands and eyes. Prior to the accident, Nikki and Raena play a game where Nikki squeezes Raena’s hand 3 times to indicate “I Love You” and today Raena was able to squeeze her hand back 3 times! This is very exciting news as she can not only squeeze her hand still, but she is able to understand what is going on.
The doctors might decide to remove her breathing tube in the next few days if she continues to progress as she is. She already is able to initiate breaths on her own so the time may come sooner than later.
She has finally been able to go to the bathroom on her own, number 1 and 2 which is all great progress!! The nurses are doing a bladder scan if she does not urinate after a long period of time as when they first took the catheter out, she was having some difficulties, but it doesn’t seem like that any more.
All in all, a very positive day for Raena. If she keeps it up at this pace she will probably be taken out of the PICU soon. What happens from there I have no idea. I am not sure if she can come home, or transferred to the normal Pediatrics unit or if she will have to be transferred back to Kaiser. There will probably be a lot of decisions that need to be made here shortly, but I am still living hour by hour day by day.
Thank you again for all the thoughts, prayers, texts, phone calls and constant visits! Through the support of everyone in the world and especially our local community and wonderful family, Raena seems to be pulling out of this nightmare that we have been living. I cannot thank you all enough, and when she is better, I am hoping all of her friends can start to visit her in the hospital as she would like that very much!
We are reading these updates daily. I am crying happy tears and tears of relief for Raena and you all! Love and prayers to you from The Riley Family. Robin
What a wonderful update! ♡
Thank you for taking the time every day to update all of us. I look forward to sharing her progress with Alex this morning – she’ll be so happy. Raena (as well as you, Nikki & the girls) continue to be in our constant thoughts and prayers.
This is wonderful news. Thank you so much for keeping us updated. We check on her progress and pray for her daily. My dad will be in town soon and will probably come visit. Much love from your Houston family. -Hillary
Praise the Lord for Raena’s improvement… God guides their decisions…
Will see your dad soon, also to visit!!!
What wonderful news! Miracles happen everyday! Will keep on praying for Raena’s recovery and for all those who love her.
Isn’t prayer powerful! We am so happy that these recent updates have been so positive. They are all little Easter miracles for sure! We pray for Raena and you all will continue to be blessed
Thank you Lord! We will continue to pray for Raena and the entire Chow family.
Love,
The Webbs
I also thank you for taking the time to keep everyone informed with your detailed updates. You all continue to be in my thoughts daily. Hopefully this experience will all be in the “rearview mirror” soon.
I just found out about this blog through a Sowers family. Raena is such a sweet girl, and we think about her at Moffett everyday, her classmates as well as the staff. So glad that she is doing better!
I am so happy to hear Raena is moving! Wish I could be there to see it; that’s truly amazing. I haven’t stopped thinking about her, and my wishes are with her, her family, and my peers. Stay strong, mom and dad; you and Raena are never alone in this fight.
– Dylan, rn
Thank you Dylan! Thank you for keeping Raena balanced! And thank you for breathing for her during the MRI. Thank you for everything you do! We miss you around here.
-Raena’s mom
Great news!