Andrea here…long post… I’ve tried to break it up so you can read what you like. 

I figure some of you maybe wondering how I am doing. So here I am!  I’m happy to report I’m doing much better than I was the day I was discharged from the hospital 9/24.  I’m not where I’d like to be but thank God I’m not where I used to be. My lungs are still working hard at healing so I’m still on oxygen 24 hours a day. I don’t desat (oxygen levels drop) like I used to but I am now battling chest pain and shortness of breath and increased work of breathing mostly with exertion and just feeling like I need more pressure in my lungs to breathe.  Exertion can be showering, taking “too much” or walking more than 100ft. I’m getting stronger everyday and the bad stuff that comes with long Covid seems to be loosing its grip.  It’s definitely a two steps forward one step back progress and that’s been tough on me. Weaving through  the web of the medical system has been tiresome. I’m so thankful for our loving God, for my husband Scott, our kids Selah, Tyler, and Sienna, my parents, in-laws other family and friends. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!

 If you wish to know more I’m listing it below!

My first Pulmonologist (lung doctor) appointment was 10/15.  She said I had endured severe ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). With Covid pneumonia (viral) and superimposed Hib pneumonia (bacterial).  I knew I had been sick but didn’t realize how sick I was until she relayed it to me. She said the healing process is pretty much all about time. (I take a steroid inlet 2x a day and my “rescue” inhaler 1-3x a day most says) There isn’t much I can do and that most people will make maximum improvement in 3 months to 1 year and that I should be patient (if you know me this is tough!)to see if end up with permanent pulmonary fibrosis and the degree of severity.

I am going to have more answers very soon!  I have a heart echocardiogram coming up (related to high heart rate at rest and with activity still) lung function testing, a repeat CT scan on my lungs.  I will be having a kidney urogram (CT scan) too, they found irregularities in my right  kidney when they were doing an ultrasound on my liver. I had critically high liver enzyme numbers after I discharged from the hospital but they are now back to normal Praise the Lord!  They suspect the kidney issue is something that doesn’t cause major issues and is actually something you are born with called medullary sponge kidney.  I have an appointment with a cardiologist and my pulmonologist in a few weeks too! I started pulmonary rehabilitation on Tuesday and even though I failed my 6 minute walk test 2.5 minutes in after desatting for a minute and going as low as 82% there is good news. The good news is today I went to rehab and I walked slow on the treadmill (seems to be slow, really slow is the key) and I didn’t desat! This is amazing because up until this point I’ve had to use a wheelchair when I left the house and needed to walk more than 100-200feet, (which is pretty much everywhere out of the house!) I still had my all-too-familiar burning painful chest/heart/lungs and shortness of breath and work of breathing but I didn’t desat! But if I’m being honest I over did it and I really have to watch it. (Very tough for me to not push ALL the limits!!) I’m looking forward to having rehab twice a week and starting to see what I can do and being “allowed” to do to be more active or as active as my lungs allow.
At rehab they said there is a new device on the market and it helps put pressure in the lungs for home use and that it seems like this could really benefit me.  Here’s to jumping through more medical hoops.

My life has been profoundly changed in so many ways. I have learned so much that I can’t wait to bring to the NICU bedside with taking caring of the tiny babies and help them with their breathing.   I have developed a faith in Jesus I never knew was possible.  If it isn’t HIS will that I return to the NICU bedside HE is still good. I know HE has a plan for me!

Stay well family and friends!  May God bless you!

Love, 
Andrea