Late Evening Update (1/7/09)

K, just got off the phone with MA again, all good news today. TJ's WBC is down to 6,000, an actual normal place to be. His platelets are also down 150k, which is also good.

The intensivist told TJ that if he is up and moving around the pulmonolgist is more likely to extubate sooner rather than later. TJ wrote back, "Never underestimate the power of my resolve." He has been sitting up and looking relatively comfortable, e.g., as comfortable as one can be in the situation.

They also put a "cough" around his ET (vent) tube so he doesn't have to be suctioned as often, which is more comfortable than suctioning, not sure how good it feels to be coughing while intubated though.

TJ is currently sleeping and wanting his computer as soon as he wakes up. For all I know the next post will be by TJ, we'll see.

MA continues to be impressed by the nursing staff, which are ever so attentive to TJ. Also, TJ's orgranization has been great in keeping someone around -- again, very nice.

So keep up your prayers! And thank you, as always!

Early Afternoon Post

I am kinda on Bangkok time, so I just listened to a couple of voicemail messages left for me from MA and Chip.

They are planning on keeping TJ on the vent for the net 24-48 hours, but they will still be weening him tomorrow (in the next few hours). They are keeping the pressure on the vent high to continue to push fluid of TJ's lungs while preventing a pulmonary edema.

The intensivist expected a 7-10 days stay in ICU -- again it wasn't clear whether this is from now or altogether.

Finally, a quick note on the comments. Feel free to use mine or Chip's name, please use MA or TJ on the blog. If you work with TJ or a similar organization it is best for you to not to actually use the name of the organization. This is especially true if you or your coworkers live or work in a CAC country. A couple of comments have been rewritten for the sake of security.

I am sorry to come down hard on this but the internet is a good place to be paranoid.

Early Morning Update

Latest update: very little.

The cultures came back with no growth. Meaning that they aren't negative -- which take up to a week before they are called such (or show growth) -- but didn't tell anybody anything either.

TJ is running a low grade temp, but nothing huge and is very tired.

I am going to bed (finally) but first, prayer points for the day:

• Pray that the cultures would start growing, e.g., come back with something. We really want to know what TJ has. If it is not MRSA again, "it is like getting struck by lightening twice in a year." (MA)
• Still, and always, pray for complete healing of TJ and his body and mind. That he would be fully restored by the time he flies home again.
  

Thursday afternoon (I think)

TJ is improving. His white count is 7,000, fever low grade, and they are making plans to wean the vent. His blood is a little low and they are ready to transfuse if needed (sepsis really beats up on blood cells). His chest x-ray is about the same, but that is a lagging indicator. The ARDS is the biggest issue as his lungs are still quite inflamed and producing a lot of thick mucous causing a need for frequent suctioning. They did add a pain medication today which has helped. Cultures have not come back yet, but the treatment would not be changed as it seems to be working.

I am super impressed with the nursing and medical care. The nurses are competent, kind, and gentle and the docs seem really sharp. The nurses shaved TJ today (with a straight edge). When they were done I showed them a picture from Thanksgiving and they laughed and apologized to him so he gave them "the look."

This is discouraging for him and it makes for VERY long days laying in bed in an ICU breathing through a tube. Yet, we continue to be confident in God's goodness and faithfulness to us!

GIGATT!!

With much appreciation,

MA

Late Evening Update

Alright, I spoke with MA a few minutes ago, here is that latest.

Overnight they had to suction TJ every hour. While it is good that they are doing this, as I think was posted, TJ says (or rather writes on a pad) that it feels like he is having a heart attack every time.

TJ's white blood cell count (WBC) is down another 1,000 or so to 7,000, just above the target of 5k-6k. On a similar note, as the WBC suggests, the intensivist still thinks that the infection is under control.

TJ's hemoglobin and another word I can't type (MA said it was basically the same thing) is running low, and so TJ may end up with a blood infusion to take care of that.

TJ's lungs are still inflamed but the doctors are still planning on trying to start weening him tomorrow.

This morning (Thailand morning) TJ seemed pretty discouraged, according to MA, but was looking better after the doctors made their rounds, who are obviously optimistic.

MA continues to be impressed by the medical staff and the attentive care TJ is recieving. It is certainly up to par with Western hospitals.

You can continue to pray for:

• The pain TJ is in, particularly when they suction
• For compelete healing of TJ's body, so he returns as healthy as he was before his first round with MRSA.
• Energy for the rest of us, most specifically for MA (who is feeling better after getting some rest) and Chip, who got to run ground ops initially mostly by himself, and is obviously still there on the ground.

Again, thank you to all of you!