04/20/06 - Hannah still remains it the I.C.U. Yesterday she had a procedure done. They did a needle biopsy from her right lung and aspirated some of the fluid. There has been some decrease in the amount of swelling. The specimen results from the biopsy are not yet available. During the procedure Hannah had 4 units of plateles and the doctors actually had to stop her from breathing for approximately a minute to gather the sample. There was some bleeding during the procedure but the doctors were able to get it quickly under control. Hannah is receiving high doses of morphine as well as a medication that helps her to forget what is going on. Although she is not concious the doctors believe she can hear when spoken to and a have encouraged Karen and Stephen to continue to speak to her as they have before. Hannah is on TPN. She is not getting any feeds through the G-Tube because test results show that the lining of her stomache is to thin as a result of the chemo and could perfortate. Hannah's urine output has decreased again so today she has had a catheter reinserted so that her urine output can be more consisely measured. She has had no fever but is TOTALLY SEDATED. She is also receiving a muscle relaxant and a medication that paralysis her. This allows the machine to do ALL THE BREATHING FOR HER and will allow her lungs and heart some time to REST AND RECOVER. Doctors are concerned with Hannah's blood pressure it has been dropping VERY LOW at times. They are giving her 3 medications for her blood pressure. Hannah is receiving 65% oxygen. Between Friday and Sunday Hannah has had so many procedures done she earned 15 BRAVERY BEADS in just 3 days! WOW!! ON A POSITIVE NOTE Hannah has a full skin rash on 75% of her body which is caused from the GRAFT VS HOST. She is on a small amount of steriods just to control the itching, but doctors want this to occur so that the NEW BONE MARROW is fighting to TAKE OVER! Karen and Stephen have had a VERY TRYING AND EMOTIONAL WEEK!! They know that Hannah is RECEIVING AMAZING CARE FROM ALL THE DOCTOR'S AND THE NURSES IN THE I.C.U. but on the other had have felt a loss of control. Until now they were doing all of Hannah's personal care and now feel very HELPLESS. Although, after a very long time of not sleeping well, Karen and Stephen are able to leave the hospital in the night TOGETHER for about 6 hours and get SOME VERY NEEDED REST!!! Hannah's blood counts have also started to rise which is a positive sign. KEEP THE FAITH. THIS IS ANOTHER LITTLE HURDLE THAT HANNAH JUST NEEDS TO GET OVER!! Karen, Stephen and Hannah you are ALL AMAZING AND STRONG. KEEP PRAYING AS WE WILL WITH YOU!!! Karen and Stephen be reassured that you are AMAZING AND WONDERFUL PARENTS AND THE STRENGTH THAT YOU SHOW TO EACH OTHER AND HANNAH IS ADMIRED BY US ALL. YOU ARE DOING THE BEST THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN AND HANNAH WILL THANK YOU FOR THAT WHEN SHE IS OLDER AND BE PROUD TO HAVE SUCH LOVING AND DEVOTED PARENTS!!!! STAY STRONG AND KEEP FIGHTING HANNAH!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!