Thank you for your prayers, they helped! Dad's blood pressure is back up to normal and his temperature is normal. He hopes to go home tomorrow if today goes well! He acutally sounded like he wanted to go home when we talked this morning so that's a good sign that he's feeling better than he has been the last few days.
We truly can't tell you how much your prayers mean to us. Steve and I were talking to a friend last night who is going through a difficult time and when we told him to let us know if we could do anything he said our prayers were the best thing we can do. How true that is! We feel the blanket of prayers over us and it means more than you know. Thank you!
Have a very blessed Lord's day.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Prayers Needed
Some days are more like a roller coaster ride than others ...
My mom just called to tell me dad is carrying a fever over 100. And his blood pressure has dropped to 98/55. We are not sure what's going on. Please send up some extra prayers!
My mom just called to tell me dad is carrying a fever over 100. And his blood pressure has dropped to 98/55. We are not sure what's going on. Please send up some extra prayers!
Saturday
One of these days I will get to say dad is going home, but not today.
They only re-did the culture of his blood. At day #2 it was still showing negative which is a good sign. They will wait a full 5 days to declare it negative for sure though. Dad is able to go home when he's ready since it was negative so far on Friday, he just has to say the word. The word from him yesterday was "no", he's just not ready. He has felt a little worse each day the last few days. He's very weak and tired. They believe this is due to another step down in his steroids. He was on such a high dose for so long that as he comes off of them his body has to readjust each time. They started him on a vitamin packed IV for 3 days to try to give his system a little boost. His sugar is doing so much better and today was actually too low. As they decrease the steroids his sugar should stay down and hopefully he can be without insulin on a daily basis. He will finish one of his antibiotics next week and they will replace it with one he will stay on indefinitely. Things are coming together for him to be able to go home. We are hoping maybe by Sunday he'll be ready!
Thank you for your continued prayers!
Enjoy this beautiful spring day.
They only re-did the culture of his blood. At day #2 it was still showing negative which is a good sign. They will wait a full 5 days to declare it negative for sure though. Dad is able to go home when he's ready since it was negative so far on Friday, he just has to say the word. The word from him yesterday was "no", he's just not ready. He has felt a little worse each day the last few days. He's very weak and tired. They believe this is due to another step down in his steroids. He was on such a high dose for so long that as he comes off of them his body has to readjust each time. They started him on a vitamin packed IV for 3 days to try to give his system a little boost. His sugar is doing so much better and today was actually too low. As they decrease the steroids his sugar should stay down and hopefully he can be without insulin on a daily basis. He will finish one of his antibiotics next week and they will replace it with one he will stay on indefinitely. Things are coming together for him to be able to go home. We are hoping maybe by Sunday he'll be ready!
Thank you for your continued prayers!
Enjoy this beautiful spring day.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Update
The doctor did new cultures today to check the status of the staph in the blood (maybe lung too, I'm not sure). We will have that back on Friday. If it comes back negative dad should get to go home on Friday. If it comes back positive they will use a scope to go in and check to be sure the infection is not in his heart valves.
Please pray for my dad's roommate, Steve. He has a host of medical problems but does not appear to be an emotionally stable man either. He is in need on many levels.
I hope it's a beautiful day wherever you are. We had a beautiful spring day here!
Blessings. :)
Please pray for my dad's roommate, Steve. He has a host of medical problems but does not appear to be an emotionally stable man either. He is in need on many levels.
I hope it's a beautiful day wherever you are. We had a beautiful spring day here!
Blessings. :)
Results
They did the catscan yesterday and saw minimal, if any, improvement. The doctor said there could be improvement but if so, they aren't able to see it. He could be on antibiotics for a VERY long time. They hope to send him home over the weekend with antibiotics to be taken orally and administered through his port. Dad has been more tired and doesn't look as good as he has been. He is still feeling better though and his sugar is still much improved and he was fever-free all day yesterday.
Thank you for the prayers!
Thank you for the prayers!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thankful
Mom and dad met with the pulmonologist and oncologist today. The oncologist said again how disturbing this is for him. Dad looks so good right now but his x-ray looks so bad. It was the weekend when we learned dad had a staph infection so today when they came in the plan changed from what we thought. I inquired about the possibility of additional radiation given the cancer has spread to other parts of his lung. The oncologist said he doesn't think so but thought it was a good idea to look into it once dad is out of the hospital. I am thankful to have another option to explore. Any cancer-related discussions are on hold for now and we see the oncologist again in 3-4 weeks and will pick up our discussions at that point. I am thankful mom and dad can let those discussions rest for a short while and concentrate on getting dad healed from the infection.
The staph infection can take 12-14 days to clear up so dad is staying in the hospital for now on IV antibiotics. They are going to involve an infectious disease doctor as well. Mom asked today if we get it cleared up if it will come back and the answer was "probably". The doctors felt that he is improving though based on how he looks and how he feels. I truly can't say how much better he looks and acts from just a week ago, I am so thankful for that. His sugar was so much better today and for the first time today he didn't even need insulin at lunch time. That is a huge praise! He was carrying a low grade fever today which is a concern. Tonight it has broken so we are thankful and praying it does not return. He is swelling more right now and they may start him on lasix (sp?) to get some of that off. The steriods he is taking for the swelling in the brain are causing this. He is weaning off of them and will be off of them in mid April.
They will do his catscan of the lung tomorrow and at some point do additional cultures to see if the staph is gone. We are praying to see improvement in the infection tomorrow!
Steve and I have both been concerned about how the stress of everything will affect the baby. We met with my OB today and left feeling very reassured. He said basically I am a feeding machine and as long as I take care of myself physically, the baby should not be affected by the emotional ups and downs. Not that I needed any reason to be sure I eat these days!! :) We were thankful to know we can protect our little one by taking care of my physical health. We heard a beautiful and strong heartbeat today as well which is always music to this mama's ears.
God lifted some burdens from our shoulders today and we are thankful. There is still much to be concerned about and pray about but we are so thankful for the small steps in a positive direction. God is good and we see that every day in many ways. As a daughter who wants desperately for her dad and child to meet here on earth, I have to pray God will lift another burden for us. My prayer now is that when the infection clears up they find that the lung was full of more infection and less cancer and that some doors will be opened for our next steps. I must prepare for "no, my child" but I believe in God's ability to heal and I am leaning on that promise with all my heart and soul right now.
Thank you for your continued prayers. In many ways they are being answered.
God bless!
The staph infection can take 12-14 days to clear up so dad is staying in the hospital for now on IV antibiotics. They are going to involve an infectious disease doctor as well. Mom asked today if we get it cleared up if it will come back and the answer was "probably". The doctors felt that he is improving though based on how he looks and how he feels. I truly can't say how much better he looks and acts from just a week ago, I am so thankful for that. His sugar was so much better today and for the first time today he didn't even need insulin at lunch time. That is a huge praise! He was carrying a low grade fever today which is a concern. Tonight it has broken so we are thankful and praying it does not return. He is swelling more right now and they may start him on lasix (sp?) to get some of that off. The steriods he is taking for the swelling in the brain are causing this. He is weaning off of them and will be off of them in mid April.
They will do his catscan of the lung tomorrow and at some point do additional cultures to see if the staph is gone. We are praying to see improvement in the infection tomorrow!
Steve and I have both been concerned about how the stress of everything will affect the baby. We met with my OB today and left feeling very reassured. He said basically I am a feeding machine and as long as I take care of myself physically, the baby should not be affected by the emotional ups and downs. Not that I needed any reason to be sure I eat these days!! :) We were thankful to know we can protect our little one by taking care of my physical health. We heard a beautiful and strong heartbeat today as well which is always music to this mama's ears.
God lifted some burdens from our shoulders today and we are thankful. There is still much to be concerned about and pray about but we are so thankful for the small steps in a positive direction. God is good and we see that every day in many ways. As a daughter who wants desperately for her dad and child to meet here on earth, I have to pray God will lift another burden for us. My prayer now is that when the infection clears up they find that the lung was full of more infection and less cancer and that some doors will be opened for our next steps. I must prepare for "no, my child" but I believe in God's ability to heal and I am leaning on that promise with all my heart and soul right now.
Thank you for your continued prayers. In many ways they are being answered.
God bless!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Canary Yellow
I thought you would enjoy seeing our new hospital attire. It seemed like the perfect Kodak moment to me (or cell phone camera moment) but mom and Steve weren't quite so sure! Mom says she looks like a canary. :) You notice I was smart enough not to let them get one of me! LOL
Dad is moved to his new room and settled in. He didn't seem to feel as good today but still had a good day and is much improved from last week. One of the doctors covering for his pulmonary doctor for the weekend was in and said they believe there are many bacteria we are dealing with, the staph (MRSA) is just one of them. They are still giving him IV antibiotics. Dad continues to show improvement so we are hopeful the catscan tomorrow will show at least some improvement. We aren't sure how the staph influences his treatment plan. We hope to know more tomorrow once we've seen his pulmonologist and oncologist.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Have a blessed week!
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