Monday, December 7, 2009

Monday Update

I don't have much time right now, but I wanted to get a quick post up. Robert was taken to the ICU last night around 3:30am. His blood oxygen levels were really low (45%), so he was admitted, sedated and intubated. I was able to go down to the hospital at 5:00am to be with Ashley while she waited outside the ICU. The Pulmonologist (lung doctor) came out and said that Robert has stage 4 pneumonia. The doctor would need to do a bronchioscopy with a biopsy of his lung tissue. That procedure will tell them what is causing his pneumonia (bacteria, virus, etc.) so they know exactly what they are dealing with and how to treat it. They were doing that at 11:00am today. We are still awaiting word that he is out. (He probably is, but I haven't heard from Ashley yet.)
We are also hoping for the results of a biopsy from the bump on his chest and for his lumbar puncture they performed on Saturday. The results of a couple of cultures should come in today as well. I know that one was to check for cytomegalovirus (cmv virus). Do you remember that one? It is the one that 80% of the population has all the time, but only affects people if their immune systems get too depressed.
Ashley is doing pretty well. She was able to go into the ICU for a little over an hour this morning, before she had to leave for rounds and shift change. It was hard for her to see Robert on the ventilator and hooked up to more tubes. He got a little worked up, but she was able to calm him down. He is sedated, but not completely unconscious.

Thank you for praying for both of them today. I hope to post again very soon!

Love,
Janelle

2 comments:

  1. Thanks for the update. I hope you don't mind, but I forwarded a message and the blog link to the OV Ward...

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  2. We love you guys so much and pray for you often. Hang in there--only a matter of time before this passes! :)

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