10/02/2025
When the Cough Assist Pulled Blood: A Night We Won’t Forget!
Tonight was supposed to be quiet. We’d just returned home from the Eastern Star event—grateful, tired, and ready to settle in. But caregiving doesn’t follow a schedule. As part of our routine, Barb and I decided to flush Jacob’s tracheostomy, a technique we learned from Dr. de Silva that’s been a game-changer in keeping his airway clear of bacterial buildup from saliva and mucus pooling above the cuff.
What happened next shook us.
As we flushed the trach and engaged the cough assist, it pulled a startling amount of blood. Not streaks. Not tinges. Blood. It was all Barb and I could do not to panic. We stayed calm on the outside, but inside we were terrified. I messaged Jeremy Cobb immediately and asked him to call me as soon as he could.
He called within fifteen minutes—bless him—and by then, the bleeding had already begun to ease. Jeremy explained that sometimes the cuff can adhere to the inside of the throat. When you deflate it, it’s like peeling skin off your lip. It bleeds. And when that blood mixes with mucus and saliva, it looks like far more than it is. A teaspoon can look like a pint when it’s running fast.
We monitored Jacob closely over the next few days, suctioning often and watching for any signs of distress. Thankfully, the bleeding subsided. Four days later, during the next flush, we were able to clear out the old blood and restore everything to normal.
This wasn’t just a medical moment—it was a spiritual one. A reminder of how fragile and sacred each breath is. A reminder of how quickly fear can rise, and how grace can meet it. We’re grateful for the wisdom of Dr. de Silva, the calm reassurance of Jeremy Cobb, and the strength that carries us through nights like this.
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