June 10, 2005 at 03:31 PM EDT

Sam's had a good day, and surpassed everyone's expectations --
she tolerated both the whirlpool and the dialysis,
which is just wrapping up right now.
She didn't even need the vent during the whirlpool, and
was pretty much breathing on her own.
During the dialysis, her bp only dropped -- very briefly --
once or twice, which really surprised the docs.

All in all, she was a SuperSam!

We talked w/one of the docs again, and she thinks that though Sam could probably go without the vent now as far as her respiratory needs, if they took it out & didn't do the trach, they'd have to keep putting the tube back in & out for every surgery/procedure -- and there will be many surgeries. Keeping her as pain-free as possible is a top priority, so they're thinking a trach would be better all around: her face would be free, and she could be more interactive; and it would be much easier to deal w/in surgery.

So a final decision will be made sometime next week;
if they do the trach, she'll be in ICU at least 5 days after, to make sure it's healed properly. And it does seem like they think Shriner's can do the best job w/the skin, so we're still waiting for the final verdict on that as well.
Right now we're just thankful that today went as well as it did, and we'll deal w/the rest as it comes.

Oh, and they found time at the end of her whirlpool session to wash her hair, and new piggies were put in as soon as she was back in her room. Hopefully she'll rest well tonight after her big day.

Thanks,
Jessica

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

WOW!
Quite a list of *accomplishments* for lil Sammy in just one day!!

Let's hope & Pray there are many MORE like this one to come!!