Late Christmas present

Our family got a late Christmas present this morning. We receved a call from pulmonary with the results of Gabe's last sleep study (12/18). He doesn't have to be on oxygen anymore!!! We were just hoping they would say he could be off oxygen during the day, but keep it on at night. His average oxygen saturation level was 97.7%, and the lowest it dropped was 92% for only a few seconds. (Above 90% is normal). The carbon dioxide average was 35, with the highest reading being 40 (30-50 is normal). They also told us there were "virtually no" blockages or obstructions (apnea episodes). The man from Apria healthcare came today to fill Gabriel's oxygen tank. He hadn't received the order to discontinue the oxygen. But after calling the office, he took the oxygen tank and the pulse ox monitor. Gabriel will stay on the sleep apnea monitor at night for the time being. The secretary didn't know he was on an apnea monitor when she called, so she has to check with Dr. Macke, the pulmonologist.

We were very excited when we heard the results of the sleep study. We can finally breathe a sigh of relief that we made the right decision back in July when we decided not to put him on a trach and ventilator. It was a difficult decision, but we took all the information we had and went with our "gut" feeling. It's hard to believe he's off of the oxygen and it's only been five months since he came home.

Thanks again for everyone's prayers. It's obvious they have been working.