I haven’t had a chance to post because everything has been crazier since I decided to move home and go back to work (of course.) It was sweet for Nick and me for a few days, but getting word over the phone that your husband is getting sent back to ICU when you’re 300 miles away is a hell I don’t want to go through again.
Dan has been in ICU since this past Saturday, the 9th. (Guess where I spent Mother’s Day…) He has yet another blood bacteria that he is getting antibiotics to keep in control. Unfortunately this one has really affected his breathing and he is on a ventilator. Today they tried to take him off of it but after a few hours it was apparent that he wasn’t breathing as deeply as they had hoped. He was put back on around 4 and is resting comfortably – all vitals stable. It was disappointing and gut wrenching to realize what was happening, but like the nurse said, “…at least this is not a critical situation…” Tell that to the nuerons in my brain.
This is quite hard to take as you can imagine. I can’t imagine how Dan feels because I can’t talk to him. I’m holding on to what the various teams of doctors told me by day’s end, and that was despite this episode, Dan’s labs look stable, his vitals are stable and he just needs to rest and beat these bacterias and infections. He is on the right drugs to do this.
Nutrition is a back and forth battle. While the ICU docs want to try tube feeding Dan, the BMT team advises IV method. They feel his gut is not healed enough to absorb the nutrition and it may only make matters worse. The IV method risks infection and is not as effecient as direct-to-the-gut method. So I asked the BMT team to go with the IV for a few days and then could we please try tube feeding…because we’ve been this path before and frankly it didn’t do him a whole lot of good…
Please pray for Dan and his healing. He needs a steady amount of good nutrition in order to get stronger and heal. We have to start with the safe approach and the IV. Hopefully this time it will lead to that loaded pizza he’s been craving since January.
May 13, 2009 at 6:51 pm |
Janice,
Sorry to hear about the continuous struggle that all of you have to go through. I can’t imagine how hard it is. Just know that we are praying for you, Dan and Nick. You all deserve a huge badge of courage for continuing to fight.
Craig and Lauri
May 14, 2009 at 7:02 pm |
Hi Janice, Dan and Nick,
I posted on this yesterday, but it didn’t take I guess. Just wanted to let you know that we are praying for you. Can’t believe the journey you have been given.
Lauri and Craig
May 14, 2009 at 7:09 pm |
Hi Janice,
As inadequate as it sometime sounds, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers daily. I let Mark, Neil and Rob know what’s going on with Dan also.
Love, Lori