On the eighth day in the PICU, Rafi was extubated. She is now breathing on her own and nothing could make us happier. It’s been a very difficult week, but Rafi continually amazes us with her strength and desire to become healthy. Words can’t express how hard it is to see your child lying there with a tube in her mouth, unable to move, having a machine breathe for her. It’s just awful. Believe it or not, there were times when it was more difficult as we got closer to the time when the tube was going to come out. She became more lucid and was scared and upset at having a tube in her mouth. There were times Rafi looked at Jackie or me, and started to cry because she was scared. Watching tears come out of her eyes, her mouth open with no sound emanating was heartbreaking.

While that was incredibly difficult, seeing her without the tube in her mouth breathing on her own was amazing. It took awhile for her to be able to speak but when she did she told Jackie, “I love you mommy”. The point is, after her septic episode, after the pneumonia, Rafi took a huge step forward. Hopefully, she’ll be able to leave the ICU tomorrow and we’ll go back to our old room on 5D and eventually get to go home.

When I left the hospital this evening, Jackie was sitting in the foldout chair with Rafi in her lap. It was great to see. Rafi was resting on her and Jackie was very happy. Like Rafi, I can breathe a little easier this evening. Tomorrow Rafi will breathe a little easier, talk a little more, and gain a little more strength.

Until tomorrow……