Bye bye PICU

Today Ariella the warrior graduated from intensive care and has moved up to the floors. I would be lying if I said this wasn't bitter sweet. In every way from a health stand point this is a good thing. Leaving the PICU means that Ella is currently not in critical condition. It means she will be around other children who are less sick than those in intensive care. And it means we are perhaps a bit closer to coming home. We are not getting ahead of ourselves, a lot has to fall in place in order for that to happen. Additionally, in light of Ariella's condition we have to be hyper vigilant about keeping her quarantined. Family believe me when I say this and I am not exaggerating, a small cold even a sniffle, means that Ella could land back in the PICU. Not to mention even the slightest infection carries with it the risk of aspiration and pneumonia. And pneumonia for a child with Ariella's challenges could mean respiratory failure and even death. We don't share this with you because we don't have faith or that we are being dramatic. We share this because we need you all to understand that a cold could kill our baby. So while we want to go home we are not leaving before we are ready and when we are home we are going to be on lock down until we get through this infection season. We need your support and understanding.

We are sad to say bye to the great medical care professionals in the PICU, many of whom have become like friends. We will miss the PICU. However we look forward to meeting more friends and continuing Ariella's great progress on the 7th floor. This is our first introduction to this team. But if they are half as amazing as the 6th floor or the PICU than we will be in good hands.