Friday, August 17, 2007
Good News
I am very hesitant to post this, but I just talked to Jeff's nurse and his dialysis seems to be working according to his recent lab values! He also is down from 100% ventilator to 35% ventilator settings. His blood pressure is still a big issue, but things are looking better. I know that this could just be another "up" before a "down" but I wanted to let those of you know who are praying that he isn't as critical as he was yesterday.
Friday - 5:26 a.m.
As of this morning, they THINK based on his first laboratory values, that they might see a trend towards fluid being pulled off. One lab is good, the other is not great, but they will know more in 6 hours. His vitals are fine. The only problem now is that he has become very dependent on the Dopamin. They are wanting to wean him off of it today, but everytime the nurse tried to last night, his blood pressure dropped extremely fast and dropped very low. Just a quick post before I work.
Melissa
Melissa
Thursday, August 16, 2007
The Longest Day Ever
Here is what happened today:
When we got to the hospital he was in kidney failure (4:30 a.m.). He is on Dopamin to keep his blood pressure up and another medication to keep his heart rate up. He had told the night shift nurse, myself and my father (who is not bearing up at all during this) that he did not want to go on the ventilator and he did not want dialysis. They put him on Dopamin to keep his blood pressure up until we could all get there. The nurses changed shifts at 7 am and we had to wait for the doctor's to make their rounds and also to talk to the new attending doctor on duty. He brought us in and explained that our option was to stop treatment based on what my brother had said or to go ahead with dialysis anyways despite my brothers' wishes. We said we wanted our brothers' wishes to be upheld and then we made a BUNCH of very HARD decisions regarding a DNR - codes, CPR, shocking, antibiotics, Dopamin turned off, etc. The doctor went in to explain to my brother that he would be kept on the ventilator, but no other treatment would be given (IVs, feeding tube feedings, etc.) based on his wishes and my brother at this point changed his mind and asked them to start dialysis if there was any chance it would save him. A complete change of events. So when we left, they were inserting a Swan-Ganz catheter, an ATR (?) and starting a type of dialysis that might start his kidneys working again (50-50% chance). I went ahead and brought the kids back home. The emotional drama and the lack of no sleep is just too much right now.
IF the treatment works, they will know by tomorrow, but honestly I will be AMAZED if it does. He is swollen up SO large, that he is barely recognizable. At that point if his kidneys are not receptive, we will most likely have to go through all of this again. He is on 100% oxygen (full ventilator settings) and his lungs are failing as well. PLEASE be in prayer for my brother's salvation and also for my father. It was horrendous to go through this and I don't think he can go through it again emotionally.
Philippians 4 verses 6-7:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When we got to the hospital he was in kidney failure (4:30 a.m.). He is on Dopamin to keep his blood pressure up and another medication to keep his heart rate up. He had told the night shift nurse, myself and my father (who is not bearing up at all during this) that he did not want to go on the ventilator and he did not want dialysis. They put him on Dopamin to keep his blood pressure up until we could all get there. The nurses changed shifts at 7 am and we had to wait for the doctor's to make their rounds and also to talk to the new attending doctor on duty. He brought us in and explained that our option was to stop treatment based on what my brother had said or to go ahead with dialysis anyways despite my brothers' wishes. We said we wanted our brothers' wishes to be upheld and then we made a BUNCH of very HARD decisions regarding a DNR - codes, CPR, shocking, antibiotics, Dopamin turned off, etc. The doctor went in to explain to my brother that he would be kept on the ventilator, but no other treatment would be given (IVs, feeding tube feedings, etc.) based on his wishes and my brother at this point changed his mind and asked them to start dialysis if there was any chance it would save him. A complete change of events. So when we left, they were inserting a Swan-Ganz catheter, an ATR (?) and starting a type of dialysis that might start his kidneys working again (50-50% chance). I went ahead and brought the kids back home. The emotional drama and the lack of no sleep is just too much right now.
IF the treatment works, they will know by tomorrow, but honestly I will be AMAZED if it does. He is swollen up SO large, that he is barely recognizable. At that point if his kidneys are not receptive, we will most likely have to go through all of this again. He is on 100% oxygen (full ventilator settings) and his lungs are failing as well. PLEASE be in prayer for my brother's salvation and also for my father. It was horrendous to go through this and I don't think he can go through it again emotionally.
Philippians 4 verses 6-7:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Jeff
Just received a call from my brother's nurse saying that they were transferring him up to Trauma Intensive Care Unit because his blood pressure was down to 71 today. He is grossly swollen and his kidneys are not working. They are wanting to put him on dialysis tomorrow. It is not looking good at all. He is in the process tonight of telling nurses what he wants and they are writing it down. I will have to go down tomorrow and read what he has written, try to talk to him and then sign papers indicating what he wants done. Please be in prayer for our family. This is a very hard place to be in. Love,
Melissa
Melissa
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Prayer for Jeff
Please pray for my brother today. He is going to have a procedure called "cardioversion" at 1:00 p.m. today. They will shock his heart to try to get it back in rhythm. The kids and I will be going down this afternoon after the procedure to visit with him.
Also, Chris and I are going to be going to an event called "Walk To Emmaus" in September. We are really looking forward to it. If you would like to read about it, you can go to the website upperroom.com to read about it. We are asking our friends and families to pray for us during these weeks leading up to our Walk and that we will learn and grow during the weekends that we attend.
I just had a few minutes to post and I hope this post finds everyone doing well. FYI - I am going to try to post in the next few days about our experience last week drywalling our upstairs. Let's just say it was full of excitement (arguments) and a great learning experience (we had NO idea what we were getting into!) :)
Love,
Melissa
Also, Chris and I are going to be going to an event called "Walk To Emmaus" in September. We are really looking forward to it. If you would like to read about it, you can go to the website upperroom.com to read about it. We are asking our friends and families to pray for us during these weeks leading up to our Walk and that we will learn and grow during the weekends that we attend.
I just had a few minutes to post and I hope this post finds everyone doing well. FYI - I am going to try to post in the next few days about our experience last week drywalling our upstairs. Let's just say it was full of excitement (arguments) and a great learning experience (we had NO idea what we were getting into!) :)
Love,
Melissa
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Update
My brother, Jeff, is pretty much still in the same condition. He has movement in his arms (gross motor movement - no fine motor skills) and can wiggle his toes. That looks like all he will regain. It is also looking like he will be on the ventilator (tracheostomy) from here on out. He had some respiratory difficulties Sunday morning and had to have some blood and also had to go back on higher settings on his ventilator. He told me when I went to see him yesterday that he had almost died. I asked the nurse and she said "yes" it was a very close one. Please keep praying not only for his healing, but especially for his salvation. Blessings to all - Melissa
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another not lacking in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you - bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:9-15
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil and cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another not lacking in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you - bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:9-15
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