Lea had a fairly stable day today for a change. In fact, she slept most of the day. Her blood pressure dropped late this morning, and nurse Chris put her head down and her feet up, trying to avoid having to restart her on medication, but she had to have a little help. It may be because she has been taking off fluid so quickly for the last couple of days, and just needed help to bridge the gap.
Dr. Mah came in early this morning and pulled her abdominal drain out another half inch, with no immediate visible affect. Chris changed her abdominal dressing early afternoon, and she had the electromyograph done mid afternoon. The EMG took about an hour, and Dottie and I had to leave the room so all the required equipment could be set up around the bed. I’m not certain when I will hear the results of the EMG test, but am sure Dr. Mah will be around to see me when he has information to share. Although he was in the unit for a few minutes tonight he did not stop by the room.
The drain installed in her chest yesterday has drained over 1100 CCs of fluid so far. The fluid being taken off is a watery red color, and doesn’t appear to have infection in it. Only a culture, though, will be able to tell us whether there is anything growing in it. The drain will remain in place until her nutrition level improves to the point that her vessels quit leaking fluid through vessel walls into surrounding tissues. Right now, it is a matter of trail and error to find the right balance of medications.
It is difficult to deal with the hour-to-hour ups and downs, and I get so focused on the challenge she’s fighting at the moment, I forget how far we have come. As I look back through the updates at the beginning of the month, I remember that we almost lost her twice in two days when her heart gave up, and twice in the next two weeks when her lungs collapsed from fatigue.
She is still very, very sick. She is still delusional, still shuttering with withdrawal symptoms, still on the ventilator when we hoped she would have been off it for at least a couple of weeks by now. But, she has been pretty stable, clinically, and seems to be busy building up her body’s systems again. I expect her to kick the fever in the next day or two and get back to work on the ventilator. Hopefully, we will see some real improvement by this weekend.
We will keep praying for that miraculous healing, according to God’s will, and that the healing will return her to full health and vigor. Please know that we are extremely appreciative of your emails, eGreetings and greeting cards. It gives me great pleasure to read them to her each morning, and I am sure she enjoys hearing them. I am certain she will enjoy reading them when she is able.
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March 28, 2007 at 12:45 pm
Pray-ers
DAY SEVENTY-FOUR
FROM: R Dean
Sept 27 @ 12:23 AM
Dear Larry, We love you both and you are in our prayers always.
FROM: Lance
Sept 27 @ 7:34 PM
Mom, Kristin and I are just sitting here and thinking of you. We hope today is a good day for you. Your apple butter is the best in the world, by the way!
FROM: Ruth
Sept 27 @ 9:43 PM
Larry, Just wanted to ask you a question. You say God is doing his work, but God made his choice to take Lea back on July 16th. You and the Dr. have been changing what God intended. Please explain to me what you mean what is God’s wish for Lea? I worry when and if she pulls through this and has physical and mental problems what is she going to think of you not honoring her wishes as she has put in her living will. Will she resent you for not doing as she wished or will she thank you for not doing as she wished? I guess this will depend if she returns to a normal life and can resume what she was capable of before.
I really hope for your sake she will be her old self. I just can’t stop thinking what Dr. Mah would do if this were his wife. Would he leave her to suffer so long or would he have let her go when this started in July. Please help me to understand why you feel the need to keep trying and not do what God intended to happen. Larry thank you for taking the time to read this and I look forward to you answer explaining this so I can understand what you are thinking.
I believe in God and say a prayer for Lea many times a day and also one for you that she won’t be disappointed in what quality of life she will have. Larry I sure hope things will turn around pretty soon because I don’t know how long Lea’s body can keep fighting.
I hope and pray it will be soon. I know you hope the same thing. I printed out the picture that you emailed and really appreciate you taking the time to attach it. Larry have a good night and I look forward to your next email. The phone updates seem to be getting fewer all the time. Love.