Thursday Update on Zac

HALIFAX NS: This is the view from our room. I imagine it will look lovely and not so grey when the sun comes out on Saturday.

Things are looking up today with Zac. We arrived at the hospital around noon and were greeted with smiles from Sherri and Darren. More good news on his progress. Today his oxygen % levels were down to 40.. This is a long way from the 95% O2 volume he was at on Tuesday when we arrived. He could be taken off the respirator over the weekend.

The doctor did another bronoscopy and took more clots out of his right lung but they did detect an infection - pneumonia - which could set him back a bit. Now Zac is receiving large doses of antibiotics so hopefully this will clear it up soon. By this evening, Zac was sporting a fever of 38.9 and rising so the nurse gave him an ice bath and put a fan on him to cool him down. Hopefully this will work. Darren (Zac's dad) went up after dinner to see him again and there is no change.

When April went in to see him early this afternoon, she put her hand into his hand and he squeezed it. What a thrill. He understood what she was talking about and responded. A few hours later his best friend went in and said "Zac it's Diesel" and it seemed like Zac was trying to say the name and to sit up. The doctor immediately put him on more sedatives to calm him a bit so he does not rip out all his tubes.

Zac has been receiving volumes of mail from all his friends and their families. It is totally heart warming to read these and see how much he is loved. His friends have a fundraiser happening. One of the young women is having t-shirts made and these will be sold to his adoring public, bottle drives are being done, and businesses and others are being asked to donate something. Wish I was going to be here to help out but I really must get home. April will stay on for at least another week so she can keep me updated and I will pass the info along on this blog.

We are staying at Point Pleasant Lodge in Halifax, just about 2 blocks from the hospital. Apparently, this lodge is the only one of its kind in Canada. It is a not-for-profit (no star) place for people who have a loved one in the hospital, can stay and the cost is $60. plus tax per night. The restaurant only has one choice on the lunch and dinner menu but for $10. it is great food, a lot of it and there is an attempt to be healthy.

This is the update for today. I will keep you posted as long as I am here. I leave the lodge on sunday at 4AM with flight out to Calgary at 6:30 am. Long day but with all the time zones, I arrive home around noon.

Chat with you all soon. Thanks for reading.......

Nancy Q & April too