Month: March 2011

quilting

This Just In From Lubbock!

Wild Rose Quilter19 Comments

I have been home trying to get some rest this weekend and Lea has been in Lubbock with her daddy. She just texted me this update:

“So I just got here, he opened his eyes after a few minutes of me talking. I asked if he could see me and he mouthed yes! PTL! It’s a glorious day!”

There were some small responses yesterday, as well. Sometimes, we aren’t sure if what we are seeing is real, or we are seeing what we want to see, but once Lea asked him to squeeze her hand and he did it, and the nurse was in there and saw it, as well.  The nurse asked him “Mr. Allen, can you hear me?” and Greg shook his head no! We know he could hear him because his eyes were closed.  Maybe it was easier to shake his head than nod it, having just had the trach.  Who knows? She also was in his face saying “open your eyes, open your eyes” and she finally said “open your eyes for Randi”…and he did! Baby steps. But steps, nonetheless! Please continue to pray for him.

quilting

3-25-11

Wild Rose Quilter19 Comments

I just wanted to pop in and ask for continued and renewed prayer  for Greg. He is truly fighting for his life, and needs them as much, if not more, than ever, as he battles the effects this infection has had on his already weakened body.  I now fully understand the severity of sepsis. We have seen some positive progress over the last few days, small baby steps of progress. I am praying fervently and boldly and persistently for God to heal him and make him whole again. I thank God for what he has done for us, and what he is doing, and what he will do.  Even in the midst of this terrible trial, he has blessed us in many ways.

I cannot express my appreciation enough to all our friends, both in our little community, and from other places, including those of you I have only known through the internet, for the outpouring of love and support for us.  The offers of help, the cards, care packages, traveling to Lubbock to be with me, or sit with Greg…I am truly in awe. My heart has been touched in ways that I cannot even express in words. I will be forever changed by this, whatever the outcome.  I have learned so much from the examples that you all have set by ministering to us in our time of need.  There are so many thank you cards that I need to be writing, but for now, please just know that my heart is full of appreciation to each and every one of you for being there for us, loving us, praying for us, and every other way that you have ministered to us.  I don’t know how I would get through each day, sometimes each minute, without my FAITH, my FAMILY, and my FRIENDS.  I send my love to you all.

quilting

Update 3-19-11

Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

An update from Greg’s daughter, Lea:

“He is really opening his eyes more today, the gaze isn’t there yet but he’s trying. And his vitals are perfect.”

She also said that when they started the dialysis today, his blood pressure was doing better than yesterday.  Today we will hit the 48 hour mark from the start of the Capsofungin treatment.  I am praying so hard today that we see some true improvement.  She did ask him to wiggle his toes, and he did…on both feet!

Thank you to all our faithful prayer warriors!

quilting

3-17-11

Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

Greg was started on a stronger antifungal med today. They said we should see improvement within 48 to 72 hours, if his symptoms are being caused by this infection. His kidney function is so low that they are starting him on dialysis in the morning, but they believe that to be a temporary situation. The infectious disease doctor feels the infection originated from the IV feeding he was on. I’m not sure what to believe anymore, but am not giving up hope.  We still have hope.
meningioma

May Have Found a Piece to the Puzzle

Wild Rose Quilter11 Comments

Blood cultures revealed a fungal infection in Greg’s blood, and on the tubing of the central line they removed.  It’s a systemic yeast infection.  They started him on antifungal med today.  This is certainly a very serious situation, and am hoping and praying they caught it in time, that it responds to the medicine, and that we will see rapid improvement. It could be the cause of his respiratory distress, fever, and a few other symptoms he has experienced.

Being on the steroids, as well as strong, broad spectrum antibiotics for extended time period would have made him susceptible to this, as well as having a central line, and catheter, and being in ICU for as long as he was.  Any could be the culprit.

meningioma

Updates

Wild Rose Quilter18 Comments

I’ve really been struggling with caring for Greg, myself, daily life, and keeping updates going out to everyone.  The blog updates have been very neglected.  I decided this morning that I could copy paste my recent Facebook updates here, to get my blog readers up to speed.

So, starting from right after the second craniotomy, and moving forward til today, this should get my blog readers up to speed.  It has been a very difficult road we are on, and the end is not yet in sight.

February 22, 2011: My sweetheart made it through his second craniotomy. Still have a tough recovery ahead, but surgeon still optimistic for good outcome. Sedated tonight.
February 23, 2011: Greg is still sedated and on vent, but surgeon came by and said CT scan looked beautiful. No leaks! Hopefully, will come off sedation and vent tomorrow. PTL!
February 23, 2011: Is feeling encouraged! They woke Greg briefly and he responded to commands. He will remain sedated and on the vent through the night.
February 24, 2011: He wasn’t quite strong enough to come off the ventilator this morning. Please pray for his respiratory funtion and strength to be restored soon!
February 25, 2011: Praise God!! Greg is awake and off the ventilator!! He is very weak but what a wonderful way to start the day! I am so happy!
March 1, 2011: Was hoping Greg would be much better by today. Still refusing to eat. Still complaining of pain. And just not himself at all. Praying these issues resolve soon.
March 1, 2011: Whenever Greg sends me roses, he always sends me peach roses. Today, on our 14th anniversary, I got three bouquets from family and friends. Two of those have roses. One has big roses, one has mini-roses. They are all peach. No one knew. What are the chances?
March 2, 1011: They have had Greg on Keppra, to prevent seizures. His behavior issues are getting much worse, rather than better. After researching this drug, I began to question them about it this morning, pointing out that his issues seem much more than a little frontal lobe aggravation. They are taking him off of it today. I am praying it is the answer to what is going on with him. Anyone have experience with this drug?
March 2, 2011: Greg is back on a ventilator this morning after going into respiratory distress last night, and again early this morning. We don’t know exactly what is wrong.
March 4, 2011: Greg got off the ventilator this morning. So far so good. Still don’t know exactly what went wrong. Just making it moment by moment.
March 4, 2011: Greg had a better day today. I am feeling hopeful again! Please keep the prayers coming! Thank you all!
March 7, 2011: Everyday is hard for and with Greg right now, but I do think we saw some small improvements yesterday. I am sad to have to take my friend Jill to the airport this morning. She has been a great cheerleader and comfort to me the past three days.
March 8, 2011: Greg seems to be the mystery patient. Now the term being used is failure to thrive and he is being evaluated for a long term acute care facility. Prayers plz.
March 9, 2011: Thanks for all the birthday wishes, cards, and blessings. I truly appreciate each and every one. The hotel mailbox was full of mail for me yesterday. Greg is back on ventilator today. Doctors are working hard to try to find cause of his problem.
March 11, 2011: Greg was moved to the Covenant Specialty Hospital (Long Term Acute Care Hospital) this afternoon. His surgeon assured me that they believe he will come back to us, but it is just going to take awhile. He said he believes that his body is just beat completely down. I came home today, his sister is with him, and Terry May is staying the night in his room with him. My deep appreciation to both!
March 12, 2011: Update from Lubbock today is Greg is more alert and responding to his sister and Terry May, who went to visit. Terry told him he was going to call me and asked him if he wanted him to tell me he loves me, and he nodded his head yes. He is on the lowest ventilator setting and they expect to have him back off of it soon, and then he can start talking again. But, I’m so happy for open eyes and head nodding right now!
March 13, 2011: Specific prayer request for Greg this morning: Please pray that they will figure out what keeps causing him to go into respiratory distress so that they may resolve the problem. He had another episode in the night, and they had to increase the ventilator setting again. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors.

I thank you all for your concern and your prayers.  I will try to keep the blog updated a bit better.