Chicago -our second not so homey home

Since our last visit up to Loyola Brent has been on a prednisone taper. That means his immune system has been nocked down even lower than what it generally is on his regular post transplant medications. This brings me to our current situation. Brent has been having diarrhea, fevers, stomach pain and some shortness of breath for the past 2-3 days. We decided to head to Chicago this morning to see what was going on. In the ER they did lots of blood work, a stool sample, and an abdominal CT. They gave him 5 liters of fluid because he was extremely dehydrated. His blood pressure was also pretty low when we go here at 66/44. The idea was that the fluids would rehydrate him and his blood pressure would rise back to normal as well. Well he was slightly rehydrated and his blood pressure didn't go up. They moved him up to medical ICU because his blood pressure was not rising like they wanted/expected it to. They started an arterial line to keep a closer eye on his blood pressure, an iv in both arms and they have his port accessed. At first they had fluids going in two of them but they have since backed down to one. They are giving him iv meds to raise his B/P because with a B/P that low it can cause internal organs to shut down. The doctor also stated that due to his B/P not coming back up on its own shows them that he is in septic shock. Septic shock is an infection in your blood stream. They are giving him a series of 3 antibiotics for this.

The abdominal CT results came back and showed extremely inflamed colon. Along with this are the results of the stool culture and he has an infection called C Diff. The C.Diff is what is causing his colon to be inflamed. The doctors are VERY concerned about the amount of inflammation that is in his colon. They have given him a different medication IV for the inflammation in his colon. They have warned us that if this medication does not work or help in the least bit that surgery is a possibility. A possibility that the doctors really don't want to have to resort to because it is risky due to the condition that his body is currently in. The stomach surgeon fellow/resident did say that they have been asked to come on board as a precaution. We won't know if the medications are working the way they want them to for a few days.
They have also given him oxygen for comfort measure even though he was 97% when we checked into the ER.

So that lands us once more in our home away from home Brent in a medical bed and us currently in waiting room chairs trying to sleep. We will be calling our chiropractors and massage therapist tomorrow!

How many of us wake up in the morning and have our day or days all planned out just the way we want and sometimes in the most efficient ways- Well it only takes the touch of Gods hand to change everything you think you have planned and the way you want things to go that we realize once more who is ultimately in control of EVERYTHING!

As always we are blessed with the knowledge that God has given the men and women here at Loyola, the love,support and prayers of our families and of our friends. Thank you to each for the parts you play in our lives. You have all been a blessing to us in your own way.

Please continue to pray that above all Gods Will will be done in our lives, that we can be open and willing to listen to what He has planned ahead for us, comfort, strength and the grace to shine our lights even through the darkest days.
Love to all of you!