The Respirator as FRIEND

Hello All

Isabel continues to settle into Wascana as she spends more time up in her chair each day and participates in assessment for future activities. As Mum's stamina increases so does her energy for communication with her visitors. Once again Isabel is becoming a hub in her wide network and tells her visitors about friends and family through her letterboard.

In early winter, during one of Mum's most challenging weeks, a friend of one of us said: "What would happen if you understood her respirator as FRIEND rather than foe?"

One of her therapists suggested:  "Isabel, as time goes on, we all come to understand the respirator as another piece of furniture -- furniture that helps make your days easier and more enjoyable."

So what does the respirator look like and how does it work?  Mum has two respirators.  They are identical and each is the size of a laptop computer. in fact, her respirator is a small computer that provides a slight puff of air to expand Mum's lungs. The screen shows what amount of "puff" Mum is receiving and a measurement of what is going on in her lungs in response. One of her "laptops" is mounted on a small stand with wheels so it can easily move around her room or down the hall. The other is a "backpack" that will mount on the back of her wheelchair for longer outings.

The 8 puffs of air that Mum receives each minute come through a narrow hose to her tracheostomy at the base of her neck.   Mum has no tubes through her nose and mouth.   This means that Mum's face is completely free to move, show emotion, and mouth words.

At this time, Isabel has not regained her ability to swallow so is not able to drink fluids or eat solid foods. Her nutrition is provided four times a day through a gastric feeding tube known as a  PEG through the abdominal wall.  Mum's process of receiving nourishment is highly nutritious and rather boring, but this process leaves energy for more important activities like visiting!

Valentine's Day crept up quickly this year with all the transitions of the last weeks.  On February 14th, Mum was grateful for a variety of heart messages that arrived in her room and new friends at Wascana to whom she extended her own HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY greetings!

And forward we go!