Day +25/26, Post Transplant, A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

God is Good   No He is Great!

The Ventilator was successfully and effortlessly removed at 9:30am Saturday morning.  It was a part of his life for more than 2 weeks.  Since removal, he continues to breath on his own with no problem.  He has had a great attitude all day, even though very tired.  

Currently, the two biggest hurdles are; lungs & kidneys.  Saturdays WBC count of 15.3, it is most likely  reflective of infection due to the C Diff in the intestines, the aspergillus in the lungs and the injured  kidneys.  The increased cell count continues to reveal something is amiss within.  Clif is already taking 2 or 3 antibiotics, so whatever is cooking we are on it.  The cells are also going to the front line to give assistance.  We will continue to fight.

I continue to ask for no visitors.   Immediate family will see him Sunday, but visits will be brief.  Doctors would like to maintain no visitors for at least the next 5 days through Friday May 30th.  He is very weak and very tired.  When with him in the room, the monitors tell a constantly changing story.  The heart rate, oxygenation, blood pressure and breathing stats are the indicators looked at for stress patterns. If they move to any dangerous levels brave me is running for the hills.

This mornings call, Sunday  5/25 revealed lower blood counts, but still fairly good.   The dialysis machine may be the root cause of some of his count reductions.  At this point I am skeptical if there is equipment failure or does Clif move around too much.  The  filter changes needed 3 times in the night, were a very long process.    When changed,  good  amounts of his blood is lost, very concerning.  His HGB count today is 6.3 down from yesterdays 8.2.  That count reduction is most likely the result of the dialysis filtering issue.  If Clif makes the slightes moves of his right leg, it creates differing pressure issues to the catheter and these types of issues arise.  It is difficult, we will be discussing reinserting a new catheter line, if safe.  Yes, I will be speaking long and hard with the doctors on this issue.  Otherwise, his evening showed no fever and a continueing calm and non agitated Clif.  His vitals are stable and his blood pressure is still on the lower side.  His WBC is 6.4 and Platelets are 18.  All sedation and all pain medication is turned off, two less drugs in his system!!!

“Though the mountains be shaken

and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

nor my covenant of peace be removed,”

says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”

Isaiah 54:10

Happy Memorial Weekend, thank you for thinking and praying for Clif!