Day 242 ~ Taking a turn for the worse. · Mar 10, 12:22 PM by Dale
Dad initially wrote a short blurb here, it’s Patrick now and I’m going to try and clear it up and restate some stuff now that we have a more clear picture of what is going on.
Short version: Mom’s health has taken a turn for the worse. We’re in the ICU now waiting for news. The problem is with her respiratory system, rather than her bowels as it has been for the past few weeks.
Long version: Mom’s stomach has continued improving such that the ileus seems to be gone, however today she began having some severe respiratory issues. She’s had an oxygen tube supplying her nostrils but today that wasn’t enough and so they put her on an oxygen mask.
From what we can understand, she is very short in the protein in her blood and that is affecting how her blood can carry the oxygen. The proteins are lacking due to her inability to eat and such, had she been healthy her body would have taken care of it. So to overcome that they are trying to push more oxygen into her system.
The ultimate choice for forcing oxygen into her system is to intubate her, which is the last resort as the doctors have made it very clear that those who get intubated may not ever come off of it and become reliant on it for breathing. So mom and dad had to make a decision.
They decided that if it came to that, they would intubate. The doctor though came up with one last idea, a mask which creates a more complete seal over her mouth and forces air into and out of her lungs.
For the moment, this seems to be working. Which is good news. They moved her the ICU currently and there is a gaggle in the waiting room with us. Friends from church and several of my siblings are headed this way today or in the very near future. Mom’s mom arrived last night.
They’ve done a few tests trying to find out if the problem is fluid in the lungs, something which happens quite frequently for weak bed-ridden guests. And if so, it is treatable. Another concern is that a clot developed and that is a bit more problematic.
The situation is bad. The last report we were given was that she had stabilized but is on the cusp of needing to be intubated. We can only wait right now. Pray and wait.
Thank you all for your support and prayers, we need them now more than ever.
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Day 240 – Good News, No Sign of GvHD - Halleluiah, Praise the Lord! Day 243 ~ Holding Steady