Good MAP, Good PEEP

When the patient is on life support (sounds scary, but that's what you call it), you measure the day by numbers, not by activity. You can't look at the day in terms of walks, meals, funny comments, and strong emotions. All the things that used to matter (like clean hands and foot massages and getting the four cheese souffle) give way to the numbers on the monitors. It's all about putting numbers on the scoreboard, and Drew understood that concept in his football career. Now it is even more important.

The medical team tell you not to focus on the numbers. Just smile, talk to Drew, squeeze his hands, and listen to updates - he is a little better, he always has a few little concerns, and we have a plan for the next day. But it is easy to find out what they are watching. His arterial blood pressure and ventilator pressures both went in the right direction today. He got less medicine, and more food through his tube.

We don't expect him to leave ICU for several days, but he has high motivation to go. He has by now heard us comment on his hospital gown. He listened to Jordan reading to him from Us Weekly Magazine on topics like Janet Jackson's weight loss program. He is getting Ensure to drink, and he is wearing the same circulation boots he saw Grandma Llew wearing in the hospital. And he seems to get a new tube or puncture every few hours. None of this is fun. He may be sedated, but he is probably plotting his escape subliminally.

Speaking of Janet's weight, Drew's weight is interesting. His sports weight was around 195. His low point a few weeks prior to the transplant was 165. He topped 230 today, all fluid build-up from the treatments. Janet lost her 60 pounds in 4 months - Drew added 65 in four weeks. And the solid food he ate in those four weeks would all fit on one dinner plate.

Day 21 went by without a peep from Drew.