Friday

Jackson must have worn himself out with all that soul-gazing yesterday, because he has been sweetly snoozing almost all morning. Even this is a real answer to prayer. He is on a medication called dexmedetomidine, and has been for most of his life. This drug has the potential to cause withdrawal when it is weaned, and he has shown signs of this in the past when they have turned it down. Yesterday they cut his dose in half (the largest amount they've ever tried to wean at one time)...he has shown no signs of withdrawal or discomfort! We are so thankful. His attending physician right now is one of the two heads of the CICU. He reiterated during rounds this morning how absolutely shocked they all are that the pacemaker infection responded to antibiotics. Praise God! He also said Jackson will be on an oral antibiotic for a little over a month then will be on a suppressive antibiotic for as long as he has his pacemaker (potentially his whole life). The doctors have said it is still possible he could regain proper conduction of his heart, making the pacemaker no longer necessary. We are praying this might be the case, but in the meantime we're all very thankful for that lifesaving device. We moved again today but just to the other, more spacious, side of the room. It's been another good day.