friends.........
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From: Deptford, New Jersey
3/24/02 Sunday
9:47pm
Today was a better day for Michele and Kristen. Michele is slowly getting rid of the remaining fluid in her lungs and they are very pleased with her progress. She remains in ICU and is still on a breathing machine.
The respirator is set at 8 which means she is breathing on her own and could come off it but they would like for her to rest and get some strength back. They decided to be cautious and are leaving her on it till the morning and perhaps the rest of the day tomorrow. The Docs goals are to get her off this machine and not have to put her back on it so a little patience now can lead to a big payoff in a few days.
Her new liver is still functioning great and we just have to get over this fluid build up which the Docs feel is under control now. Tomorrow morning they will make a decision as to what steps to take next. So we are breathing a sigh of relief for now but being cautiously optimistic.
Kristen received a blood transfusion yesterday afternoon to bring her blood count up. This explains why she was so lethargic and not responding as quickly as they would have liked. Her hemoglobin was 8.5 yesterday and after the transfusion it went up to 11. She is much more alert and walking around much better. She shed 8 pounds since yesterday in fluid and is getting her discharge papers tomorrow.
Kristen will be going home with 2 drains in her sides relieving her body of fluids. These drains have to be emptied every 4 hours or so by a family member. Her recovery will be good and she should be 100% in about 2-4 weeks.
I got to see my wife's incision today and it's very large larger than Kristen's for obvious reasons but it is healing perfectly.
That's the update today I'm going to watch some speedvision and get some sleep. I'll get back to everyone again tommorow, keep the two of them in your thoughts and prayers it is greatly appreciated.
9:47pm
Today was a better day for Michele and Kristen. Michele is slowly getting rid of the remaining fluid in her lungs and they are very pleased with her progress. She remains in ICU and is still on a breathing machine.
The respirator is set at 8 which means she is breathing on her own and could come off it but they would like for her to rest and get some strength back. They decided to be cautious and are leaving her on it till the morning and perhaps the rest of the day tomorrow. The Docs goals are to get her off this machine and not have to put her back on it so a little patience now can lead to a big payoff in a few days.
Her new liver is still functioning great and we just have to get over this fluid build up which the Docs feel is under control now. Tomorrow morning they will make a decision as to what steps to take next. So we are breathing a sigh of relief for now but being cautiously optimistic.
Kristen received a blood transfusion yesterday afternoon to bring her blood count up. This explains why she was so lethargic and not responding as quickly as they would have liked. Her hemoglobin was 8.5 yesterday and after the transfusion it went up to 11. She is much more alert and walking around much better. She shed 8 pounds since yesterday in fluid and is getting her discharge papers tomorrow.
Kristen will be going home with 2 drains in her sides relieving her body of fluids. These drains have to be emptied every 4 hours or so by a family member. Her recovery will be good and she should be 100% in about 2-4 weeks.
I got to see my wife's incision today and it's very large larger than Kristen's for obvious reasons but it is healing perfectly.
That's the update today I'm going to watch some speedvision and get some sleep. I'll get back to everyone again tommorow, keep the two of them in your thoughts and prayers it is greatly appreciated.
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From: Deptford, New Jersey
3/25/02 Monday
9:34pm
Michele is stable but still in ICU and on the respirator. She had a scare this morning her temp spiked to 104 and her heart rate went to 175 and her bp went down to 65/46.
In a matter of hours she turned around and when I left all her vitals were much improved and her temp was normal. The Docs were quite perplexed. They are doing several tests to check for infections but she is stable now. The post op for Michele has been a road of ups n downs all changing by the hour.
It's a roller coaster ride I wish I could get off.
They hope to have her off the respirator and out of ICU by wed as long as no more complications pop up.
Kristen was expected to go home today but has had complications with her pain meds. It seems everything they try to give her she has a allergic reaction to. She is def not spunky today and could not get out of bed. She is expected to be in the hospital a couple more days till they can get a better handle on her pain meds.
take care
charlie
9:34pm
Michele is stable but still in ICU and on the respirator. She had a scare this morning her temp spiked to 104 and her heart rate went to 175 and her bp went down to 65/46.
In a matter of hours she turned around and when I left all her vitals were much improved and her temp was normal. The Docs were quite perplexed. They are doing several tests to check for infections but she is stable now. The post op for Michele has been a road of ups n downs all changing by the hour.
It's a roller coaster ride I wish I could get off.
They hope to have her off the respirator and out of ICU by wed as long as no more complications pop up.
Kristen was expected to go home today but has had complications with her pain meds. It seems everything they try to give her she has a allergic reaction to. She is def not spunky today and could not get out of bed. She is expected to be in the hospital a couple more days till they can get a better handle on her pain meds.
take care
charlie
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From: Robbinsville
It good to know she is doing better. I have check this thread every night when i come home from restaurant just to keep up with it. I hope she get out soon. Please keep us in form.
Other Charlie
Other Charlie
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From: Philly (Narberth)
Hi Charlie-
Just got back in town after the Outer Banks run...many ppl down there asking about you and Michelle...wishing y'all the best. I went to this thread first and got the chills reading about all the ups and downs. Hope that today's report is also good.
Jerry
Just got back in town after the Outer Banks run...many ppl down there asking about you and Michelle...wishing y'all the best. I went to this thread first and got the chills reading about all the ups and downs. Hope that today's report is also good.
Jerry
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From: Deptford, New Jersey
3/26/02 Tuesday
11:00pm
Where to begin..... Michele remains in ICU on the respirator. The Docs are getting a handle on some of her problems and treating them.
There are 3 areas of concern.
1) She starting rejecting her liver, this is not as bad as you would think it can be manage with meds 99% of the time 50% of people have rejection. With this info they are able to rule out more serious concerns and the Docs were actually pleased to have this info. She has been having fever spikes to 104 and then back to normal 5 times in the last 36 hours, lots of things could cause this but they are confident it is caused by rejection.
2) She has a mild form of Pneumonia which she has been on a wide variety of meds which covers this and they feel it is under control.
3) The Docs are a little concerned that she may have has some heart damage. Her bp is low and her heart rate is very high. They will be doing several tests tomorrow to see if she has had a mild heart attack or perhaps has damaged her heart. On the other hand her low BP could be caused by my wife's hypothyroidism and if this is the case they can deal with that. If not they can also deal with the damaged heart situation. The tests tomorrow should give them a better picture.
That's just a tid bit of what's going on there are many more concerns but these are what they are focusing on now.
I'll be back tomorrow with more info.
My wife's will is something to behold I believe she will perceiver.
Do me a favor and kiss your loved ones tonight and tell them how much you care for them.
And remember whatever you are going thru in your life as long as you have your health your going to be fine.
Be back tomorrow hopefully with good news.
11:00pm
Where to begin..... Michele remains in ICU on the respirator. The Docs are getting a handle on some of her problems and treating them.
There are 3 areas of concern.
1) She starting rejecting her liver, this is not as bad as you would think it can be manage with meds 99% of the time 50% of people have rejection. With this info they are able to rule out more serious concerns and the Docs were actually pleased to have this info. She has been having fever spikes to 104 and then back to normal 5 times in the last 36 hours, lots of things could cause this but they are confident it is caused by rejection.
2) She has a mild form of Pneumonia which she has been on a wide variety of meds which covers this and they feel it is under control.
3) The Docs are a little concerned that she may have has some heart damage. Her bp is low and her heart rate is very high. They will be doing several tests tomorrow to see if she has had a mild heart attack or perhaps has damaged her heart. On the other hand her low BP could be caused by my wife's hypothyroidism and if this is the case they can deal with that. If not they can also deal with the damaged heart situation. The tests tomorrow should give them a better picture.
That's just a tid bit of what's going on there are many more concerns but these are what they are focusing on now.
I'll be back tomorrow with more info.
My wife's will is something to behold I believe she will perceiver.
Do me a favor and kiss your loved ones tonight and tell them how much you care for them.
And remember whatever you are going thru in your life as long as you have your health your going to be fine.
Be back tomorrow hopefully with good news.
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From: Austin
I, too, have just returned from the Outer Banks Run and checked in on your thread. As I didn't have internet access for the better part of the last week, I asked around at the OBR about how you, Michele, and Kristen are doing. I'm glad to finally have the update!
The ups and downs are harrowing, but your wife WILL be fine. I am reading a book at the present time called "Love, Greg and Lauren" by Greg Manning, and it chronicles the unlikely and miraculous recovery of his wife, Lauren Manning, who was burned over 82% of her body in the World Trade Center. I think that if you were to read this book, you would relate very very very closely to her husband, who watches the ups and downs of her recovery with bated breath, scared to be optimistic but finding strength in how hard she fights to live and heal.
As you have been, the three of you remain in my prayers. I hope that everyone is up, pain-free, and healthy very soon!
P.S. As you go through this, don't forget to take care of YOU too, Charlie! I know your thoughts are focused on getting her better, but she will need you to be rested and healthy to help her when she comes home. Take some time for you too!
The ups and downs are harrowing, but your wife WILL be fine. I am reading a book at the present time called "Love, Greg and Lauren" by Greg Manning, and it chronicles the unlikely and miraculous recovery of his wife, Lauren Manning, who was burned over 82% of her body in the World Trade Center. I think that if you were to read this book, you would relate very very very closely to her husband, who watches the ups and downs of her recovery with bated breath, scared to be optimistic but finding strength in how hard she fights to live and heal.
As you have been, the three of you remain in my prayers. I hope that everyone is up, pain-free, and healthy very soon!
P.S. As you go through this, don't forget to take care of YOU too, Charlie! I know your thoughts are focused on getting her better, but she will need you to be rested and healthy to help her when she comes home. Take some time for you too!