• ChooseProgress.net (Criminal Site)
  • Ryan’s FB Fan Page

We Got This!

"I tell him I tried. I tried to keep memory alive; I tried to fight those who would forget. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. There is so much injustice & suffering crying out for our attention. We must take sides. We must interfere. -E.W.

  • Home
  • Give
    • Donate
    • Wish List
      • Wish List Items Needed
      • Wish List Orders Received
  • The Story
  • Blog
    • Main Blog
    • Guest Articles
  • News
  • Photos
    • Photos
    • Video
  • About
    • Contact Me
    • About Ryan
    • Keep Ryan Relevant
    • About Me
    • About RyansRally.org
  • Legal
    • Website Disclaimer
    • Civil Lawsuit Complaint
  • Commonly Asked
You are here: Home / News / Ryan Struggles with His Oxygen Saturation: Doing Better

Ryan Struggles with His Oxygen Saturation: Doing Better

September 12, 2012 by Ryan's Rally LLC 11 Comments

It’s was a couple of rough days for Ryan. Hopefully, it has ended. From overnight Sunday until later in the afternoon yesterday I was struggling to keep his oxygen saturation up. Oxygen saturation, in layman terms, is really nothing more than a measurement of how much oxygen is reaching the body’s cells. Anything above 92% is acceptable. Below 88% is immediately concerning. 

Ryan was hovering mostly between 88% and 92%. Those thirty-six hours were crammed with around-the-clock nebulizer treatments, deep suctioning, oral suctioning, chest percussions, and supplemental oxygen. At one point, he momentarily dipped to 86%, giving me reason to quickly grab his “go bag” and pull my personal provisions together for a trip to the emergency room if it didn’t recover. Thank goodness, it did. It repeated all his treatments and it bounced back.

My concern was the cold he had last week had settled in his respiratory system. I kept envisioning his lungs filled with fluid. In my mind, this vision was a mental x-Ray. Still, there were no other indicators that this was the case. His body temperature was normal. His lungs sounded clear. The best course of action was to stay the course, continuing aggressive treatment.

By early afternoon yesterday Ryan was improving. He was sustaining 93% with productive coughs. I pulled him from supplemental oxygen, after slowly weaning him down from eight-plus liters (this is 100%) per hour. It wasn’t until early evening when he was holding up well on his own. I crossed my fingers and wished for a good night.

Turns out, it was a good night for him. Not once did he go below 96% oxygen saturation. He rested well.

I’d like to say I rested well too, but I was still worried. Sue is out-of-town for the entire week on business and I didn’t want her worrying until it was necessary. That happened yesterday morning, but last night was not so. Most people text about what to pick-up for dinner… ours is a bit different. What the hell, here it is:

Sue: How was the night?

Me: Oxygen was low. Had to give some supplemental oxygen. Touch-and-go since I got him out of bed at 4am. Doing extra percussion, nebulizer, deep suctioning, etc. Pulse up (high 80’s). Lungs sound like they typically do… at least so far.

Sue: Do I need to come home?

Me: No. I’m watching him closely.

Sue: Is he on oxygen now?

Me: No. Also, temperature is fine. Currently 97.1 axillary.

Sue: That’s good.

I did get more sleep than the previous two nights though. Albeit, in fits. I’m exhausted… but not totally exhausted. I still have some fuel in the tank. Coffee helps.

A lot.

Please! Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Filed Under: News Tagged With: Austin Vantrease, Beating, Coma, Delaware, Diviney, Jon May, Jonathan May, Newark, Ryan Diviney, WVU

Comments

  1. Tony says

    September 13, 2012 at 10:03 PM

    Thank God you know as much as you do in the medical field. No way Ryan would ever get higher level of care than what you provide for him. You are a great Father.

    Reply
  2. jo says

    September 13, 2012 at 7:35 AM

    Praying you well, Ryan. Big procedure for you on the horizon. Get well, stay well. You are always on my mind.

    Reply
  3. Peggie says

    September 12, 2012 at 10:32 PM

    SHSP
    Love, Peggie

    Reply
  4. Cheryl Shields Askew via Facebook says

    September 12, 2012 at 5:42 PM

    So relieved for Ryan and thank goodness for your extra fuel……. He is such a trooper!!!!!!!!! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Paula says

    September 12, 2012 at 3:58 PM

    Oh Ken — darn it, I am so sorry you, Ryan and Sue have been going through this worry!!! As usual you handled it like a pro — but the worry part never goes away. I am relieved things are improving now. The minimal contact rule will go far in helping Ryan stay healthy — especially for his surgery.

    I’m thinking of you all, as always, and praying whatever is causing this oxygen problem will just go away and leave Ryan alone.

    Love & hugs, praying still, and thinking of you
    Paula

    Reply
  6. Galya says

    September 12, 2012 at 1:35 PM

    Thank you for sharing. I have no words…I had times like that with mother… It is about a million times easier to hear about that than to EXPERIENCE IT…[sigh].

    Reply
  7. Carla Liberty says

    September 12, 2012 at 12:00 PM

    ^^^^^^

    What they all said.

    You all are in my heart today and every day.

    Love,
    Carla

    Reply
  8. Karen T. says

    September 12, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    SHSP

    Reply
  9. Gail Doyle says

    September 12, 2012 at 10:57 AM

    Ken, Glad Ryan is feeling better ,I don’t know why ,but I had a feeling he wasn’t feeling good the last day or so. I hope it has nothing to do with his problems last week.Thank goodness Ryan is home with you,NO ONE could be more observant then you and Sue and you always know exactly what to do.Sorry you haven’t gotten much sleep:( Hope tonight will be better and Ryan and YOU will have a good night Always here
    love Gail

    Reply
  10. Rita says

    September 12, 2012 at 10:34 AM

    I know we keep saying this, but Ryan is so blessed to have you caring for him. I can’t imagine how exhausted you must be… Here for you guys always <3

    Reply
  11. Ginger Henry via Facebook says

    September 12, 2012 at 9:51 AM

    I am glad to hear that Ryan is doing better….saying our prayers for Ryan, family and dear friends…..

    Reply

Leave a Comment. I read EVERY one!Cancel reply

Featured Articles

Just One More Time. Forever is Worth it.

Wife's Turn: Family. It's What We Do.

Ryan, I know What You're Thinking.

I Lost My Big Brother that Night.

Her Turn to Cry: I Want the Old Ryan Back.

I Lost My Hero.

Most Commented Articles

  • Austin Vantrease Father: “Wrong Place, Wrong Time” (155)
  • Ryan Does Something New (155)
  • Ryan has Potentially Life-Threatening Infection (146)
  • Ryan in ICU. Illness Identified. (131)
  • Five Years (131)
  • Kari Diviney: Victim Impact Statement. (125)
  • “Just Let God Have Him” (and Other Stupidity) (123)
  • Austin Vantrease Siblings Speak Out (101)
  • Austin Vantrease Parole Hearing Scheduled (2013) (97)
  • Skull Surgeries Necessary (95)

Log In

SSL Certified: We are Verified & Secure!

Get Email Alerts of New Posts!

Contact Information

Ryan's Rally, ℅ Ken Diviney
21092 Carthagena Ct.
Ashburn, VA 20147
kdiviney@ryansrally.org

Search Ryan’s Rally

Copyright © 2025 · Metro Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in