June 3

 Brian hasn't had much of a change since yesterday. There are still unknowns that the doctors are doing their best to figure out. Each patient that enters the ICU and is attached to an ECMO machine is unique. It is not uncommon for these patients to have issues with their heart rates. The doctors intentionally give them medication to lower their heart rates so that they don't require as much oxygen and the ECMO machines can more efficiently oxygenate their blood. The problem that can sometimes occur is their heart rates can get too low and then need to be given adrenaline medications to increase their heart rate, which then gets too high and they begin to use up too much oxygen. Because Brian's heart rate has gotten too low multiple times, a physician last night decided to give Brian a temporary pacemaker. This is not a normal thing that has been done with most ECMO patients, but a logical backup in Brian's situation. 

There are other challenges that Brian is presenting, but nothing the medical specialists haven't dealt with many times before. (I may talk about them at a later time depending on what evolves.) It's just a matter of figuring out what works for Brian. What has been really frustrating, is I had the expectation that things would get better once Brian got to Santa Clara and started receiving aid from the ECMO machine. It has been almost two weeks (as of this Saturday) and the improvements that we started to see have regressed, with more complications. I know that having him moved to Santa Clara was the right move. I feel certain that had we waited to transfer him to the equipment and specialists he currently has, he more than likely, wouldn't be alive. I am so grateful to the physician in Sacramento that encouraged Brian's transfer. I wish I knew his name to thank him. 

Brian's brother, Jason, arrived at the hospital today and will be there thru the weekend. I will get there tomorrow and be with him on Saturday, before returning home to our two teenage children in Sacramento. Brian is still heavily sedated, but hopefully, he will feel our presence. His doctor did remove the coma-inducing medication earlier today in hope of being able to assess Brian's neurological function within the next day or two. 

*There has been some confusion on who is giving the updates. Brooke, our oldest daughter, set up the blog and wrote the first entry introducing what it is for. From that point on, I, (Tara - Brian's wife) have been giving all of the medical updates. I'm sorry if it has confused any of you. This whole experience has been an emotional roller coaster and I am not surprised that I don't make as much sense as I think I do.