Ira's Big Test

Ira is doing OK

This is a big week in Ira's fight. The doctors want to extubate Ira this week, possibly as early as Wednesday. It is to the point that they need to decide if Ira needs a trach or not. However, none of them know Ira's respiratory potential unless some aggressive moves are made to find out. At last week's family meeting with the doctors they decided to do a trial extubation.

Ira will have to prove himself. If he isn't able to handle the bi-pap or c-pap once they extubate him then Ira will have a tracheostomy. We are hoping, praying, crossing our fingers, etc, that the extubation goes well. If it does, Ira's hands will be released, they'll allow him to wake up a bit more and, AND, Joe and Laura can hold him again. They haven't held him since December 24. If it doesn't go well, he'll have the tracheostomy, a major surgical procedure, that carries with it a whole new set of risks and concerns.