One thing is for sure. When you have reached the bottom of the valley the peaks look so high and from the top of the peak the valley looks so deep - it is scary to look down.....
It has been a long time since we have posted. We have seen some peaks and right now Mike is in a valley.
Just a few weeks ago we were celebrating one of the peaks. Mike's PFTs were higher than they have been for a long time - 56%! He gained weight and was at 138 lbs. Mike was out dancing with Julie again. His doctor put him on a drug to help his appetite and he was working really hard at gaining weight. Ensure plus has been a blessing.
Mike did a fund raiser two weeks ago. He wore a tux and looked so sharp. He wasn't feeling the best but he did a great job. He even made the newspaper. Last Saturday he told me his chest hurt pretty badly. He rested some during the day and then went with Julie to see a passion play at a local church. Easter Sunday he was pretty wiped out. He didn't make it to the Easter celebration with the Van Deurzen's. He started using his oxygen pretty much non stop.
By Tuesday he was coughing a lot and not sleeping much at all. I thought he should go to the hospital but he didn't want to go because his cell phone was broken. I took him to Sprint to get his cell phone fixed after work. I asked if he wanted me to take him in on Wed and he said no Aunt Cathy was taking him on Thursday. It was Grandma Van Deurzen's birthday on Wed and he didn't want to go in.
Cathy picked him up at the house and carried his bag and guitar. She had to get a wheel chair for him. When Cathy got him to Clinic today he was desatting. His O2 level was at 74% when he got here. He kept falling asleep and couldn't put sentences together. He has lost weight and weighs 122 lbs. He was barely coherrent. His breathing was shallow and labored. His respirations were 34-36 per minute and his heart rate was up. Like Cathy said that is like running a marathon. They did a blood gas and his CO2 was at 57 -- 35 is normal. The doctor (his favorite - Brooke is back from maternity leave) put him in a wheel chair and brought him up to the floor.
At the time of this writing he is on 5.5 liters of oxygen (was at 6) and his oxygen level is holding above 95%. He talked to his dad a little while ago and seemed more oriented. The nurse was just in and said he looks better to her too. They were going to hang some magnesium because that level was really low but his port isn't working. Cathy said it took two tries to get it going when they first got here. They were able to get one round of antibiotics in before it quit. We are waiting for pharmacy to send up the drano flush to see if that helps.
Right now he seems stable. Not a ton better but at least not getting worse. I will keep you all posted. Thank you Aunt Cathy for bringing him down and for totally understanding Mike. Not many people "get" him but she does and that is a comfort for Mike.
Blessings to you.
3 comments:
Im a friend of Mike's please tell him my thoughts and prayer are with him and all of you!!!! Thank you so much!!!!
Thank you for the update Gina. I wanted to call but knew you would be busy with him. I'll be praying and thinking of you all especially mike. Let him know I'm thinking of him n to get better.
Thanks again. Lindsay
Hey! I don't know if you remember me, I dated Mike waay back when. We just recently started talking again. I just heard about him thru a mutual friend. Tell him to stay strong, that I'm praying for him? I was also wondering if it would b at all possible to see him? I could make it down tomorrow morning. If it is a possibility, could u please email me @ nativemoms86@ymail.com I understand the risk of germs and I will do anything needed to keep him safe. Could u please email me even if it isn't possible? Thank you so much, tell him I'm thinking of him and praying with my whole heart.
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