I don't want to sound like a broken record, but...Karl needs your prayers still/again. We had to take him to the University Hospital Emergency Room tonight. Mom reported that he slept most of the time on the plane and had a tough time keeping his eyes open even when he tried staying awake. It was a red flag. He then went straight off to bed and slept for five hours when he got home. After talking with Mom, I thought I should pay a visit. He seemed extremely tired, very dehydrated and his kidneys weren't doing their thing again. When we got to the ER, his blood pressure was very low (64/34) and his heart rate was high. Within 15 minutes of being seen by the resident, Karl was told he'd be admitted. You can imagine the disappointment.
The resident said these symptoms usually indicate an infection. After just a liter and a half of fluid, Karl's blood pressure was thankfully climbing. The nurse, after hearing that Mom and Karl had just returned from Maui, encouraged Mom to go home and rest. Mom didn't argue. She was completely exhausted. We headed home aroud 8:15 p.m.
Since then, my friend Marcy, who works at the U, said she checked on Karl. His blood pressure is better, but his creatinine is 5.9 (which means he's apparently producing urine again). He will be admitted to CCMU on 6D after they put in a central line.
Prior to that, Nikki, the bride-to-be, checked in on her Uncle while she was in Ann Arbor. They both had tears knowing that he probably won't be making it to the wedding on Saturday. But as she told him, "Unk, I'm glad you're back in Michigan. That's the best wedding present of all...having you here."
To that I say Amen.
Blessings,
Kerry
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Finally home
Mom and Karl are home. Finally. They ended up switching airlines in Maui, which worked out in their favor...they got home sooner.
Both are very tired, especially Karl who made a beeline for his bed. But they are both very happy to be home.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and concern.
Blessings,
Kerry
Both are very tired, especially Karl who made a beeline for his bed. But they are both very happy to be home.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and concern.
Blessings,
Kerry
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
My grandma was a Murphy
When the phone rang at 7:30 this morning, there was no way I thought it would be my mom. In fact, when I woke up around 6:30 I said a prayer that they were having a comfortable flight, that Karl got a seat in first class, and that they'd make their connections without issue.
You've heard of Murphy's Law, right? The law that if anything can go wrong, it will. Well, guess what? Mom and Karl are STILL in Maui. The plane that was supposed to bring them home had engine problems. So after hanging out at the airport for an extra three hours, Delta finally decided they were going to postpone the flight until 2 p.m. Hawaii time today. That means they should get here sometime before noon on Thursday.
After the initial shock, I started laughing. Then Mom started laughing. Really, what else can you do at this point? She said Karl now absolutely HATES Maui, to which we both laughed even more. At the airport Mom had to make a strong case for going back to the hotel from which they came. It's a five-minute shuttle drive and has handicapped-accessible rooms. Others on the flight had to go to Makena which is about an hour away. Of course Mom was cracking up at the thought of what her new friends -- the hotel employees -- would say when she went down for her coffee later this morning.
There is an unwritten rule on Hawaii -- you are not to take home anything that's natural unless it's sold or given to you. In other words, you shouldn't bottle up sand, collect shells, etc. because the Hawaiian god Pele will bestow upon you his wrath. I had to ask Mom if on one of her journeys she took home some black sand or something she shouldn't. She said not unless it was stuck between her toes.
Of course there's another way of looking at this whole thing: I think God is watching out for them. While Karl may not see it this way, I think God has intervened on several occasions during his trip. I know one thing: I sure don't want Mom and Karl on a plane with an engine in disrepair.
As we ended our conversation, Mom said Karl was sleeping well on the bed and she had made a makeshift bed on the couch and was going to grab some shuteye. She'd call later with details. Barring any other unforeseen circumstances, I'll let you know when they are safely home.
Blessings,
Kerry
You've heard of Murphy's Law, right? The law that if anything can go wrong, it will. Well, guess what? Mom and Karl are STILL in Maui. The plane that was supposed to bring them home had engine problems. So after hanging out at the airport for an extra three hours, Delta finally decided they were going to postpone the flight until 2 p.m. Hawaii time today. That means they should get here sometime before noon on Thursday.
After the initial shock, I started laughing. Then Mom started laughing. Really, what else can you do at this point? She said Karl now absolutely HATES Maui, to which we both laughed even more. At the airport Mom had to make a strong case for going back to the hotel from which they came. It's a five-minute shuttle drive and has handicapped-accessible rooms. Others on the flight had to go to Makena which is about an hour away. Of course Mom was cracking up at the thought of what her new friends -- the hotel employees -- would say when she went down for her coffee later this morning.
There is an unwritten rule on Hawaii -- you are not to take home anything that's natural unless it's sold or given to you. In other words, you shouldn't bottle up sand, collect shells, etc. because the Hawaiian god Pele will bestow upon you his wrath. I had to ask Mom if on one of her journeys she took home some black sand or something she shouldn't. She said not unless it was stuck between her toes.
Of course there's another way of looking at this whole thing: I think God is watching out for them. While Karl may not see it this way, I think God has intervened on several occasions during his trip. I know one thing: I sure don't want Mom and Karl on a plane with an engine in disrepair.
As we ended our conversation, Mom said Karl was sleeping well on the bed and she had made a makeshift bed on the couch and was going to grab some shuteye. She'd call later with details. Barring any other unforeseen circumstances, I'll let you know when they are safely home.
Blessings,
Kerry
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Green light
Doctors today gave Karl the green light for discharge Monday. They took out his IVs on Saturday. While his creatinine is still 3.1, his potassium and magnesium are a little off and he's still a bit anemic, his nephrologist said this is all due to his kidneys trying to right themselves. He said he was sure they will be back to normal soon. His internist also said she was happy with Karl's test results. So, barring any crazy flare-ups, Mom and Karl may be on a plane back to Michigan tomorrow -- Tuesday at the latest.
Thankfully Karl has some frequent flyer miles and is going to try to upgrade to first class so he can be more comfortable for the flights. The first leg will be an eight-hour flight to Atlanta with a three-hour layover and then a two-hour flight to Detroit. They should touch down some time around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday or Wednesday, depending upon when they depart.
I know Karl can't wait to get out of there and we can't wait to have him home. Thank you all for your continued prayers. I'll let you know when he's finally back home.
Blessings,
Kerry
Thankfully Karl has some frequent flyer miles and is going to try to upgrade to first class so he can be more comfortable for the flights. The first leg will be an eight-hour flight to Atlanta with a three-hour layover and then a two-hour flight to Detroit. They should touch down some time around 4:40 p.m. Tuesday or Wednesday, depending upon when they depart.
I know Karl can't wait to get out of there and we can't wait to have him home. Thank you all for your continued prayers. I'll let you know when he's finally back home.
Blessings,
Kerry
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Impatient inpatient
I haven't had access to a computer for the past couple days, but wanted to give you an update on Karl. He was moved to a regular room on Thursday. His creatinine count is 3.3 and dropping and he's a bit anemic. Both of these issues are functions of his kidneys. Doctors believe a bit of Procrit may help his system and at the very least will help increase his hemoglobin numbers.
Karl's voice is much stronger and he really Really REALLY wants to get out of the hospital. But we've been reminding him that we want him to be strong enough to be able to handle a 14-hour day of flying and airports. The inpatient is very impatient.
Mom intends to leave Maui on Tuesday with a Detroit arrival on Wednesday afternoon. (My daughter Nikki is getting married May 1 and she wants to be home for that). We're praying Karl can make the same flight. We've been discussing all kinds of options, but until we know if/when Karl will be discharged, concrete plans can't be made.
Please pray that Karl's health (specifically his kidneys) continue to improve and that his patience not wear too thin.
Blessings,
Kerry
Karl's voice is much stronger and he really Really REALLY wants to get out of the hospital. But we've been reminding him that we want him to be strong enough to be able to handle a 14-hour day of flying and airports. The inpatient is very impatient.
Mom intends to leave Maui on Tuesday with a Detroit arrival on Wednesday afternoon. (My daughter Nikki is getting married May 1 and she wants to be home for that). We're praying Karl can make the same flight. We've been discussing all kinds of options, but until we know if/when Karl will be discharged, concrete plans can't be made.
Please pray that Karl's health (specifically his kidneys) continue to improve and that his patience not wear too thin.
Blessings,
Kerry
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Great news!
This short and sweet post is to let you know that it looks like the doctors guessed right -- Karl was having a reaction to the antibiotic. His vitals are back to normal. His blood pressure is 126/71, pulse is 86 and temp is 98.6! He asked Mom to bring him two sausage McMuffins, two hashbrowns and two milks this morning for breakfast. His rash is gone as well. Mom didn't know if his creatinine numbers had dropped, but we're suspecting they have and doctors have told Mom they will. Mom is now hopeful they'll both be able to come home next week.
Thank you all so much for your prayers. It seems that Karl's turned the corner, but now we need him to make it the rest of the way home.
Blessings,
Kerry
Thank you all so much for your prayers. It seems that Karl's turned the corner, but now we need him to make it the rest of the way home.
Blessings,
Kerry
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Changing directions
Karl has been off his antibiotics for almost 24 hours. Doctors hoped this would cause his fever to spike in order to take more cultures. Oddly enough, his fever is going down! So now they think he may have been having a reaction to the antibiotics. He is miserable with a rash caused by the drugs and didn't sleep well last night. Mom is hoping he can rest today as the antibiotics continue to leave his body and his rash goes away.
His creatinine level is still 4.0 and his blood pressure is a bit on low side, but they're thinking once the antibiotics leave his body, those measures will level off and he'll feel better. We're praying this is the change in direction he needs to start recovering enough to get home.
Continued blessings,
Kerry
His creatinine level is still 4.0 and his blood pressure is a bit on low side, but they're thinking once the antibiotics leave his body, those measures will level off and he'll feel better. We're praying this is the change in direction he needs to start recovering enough to get home.
Continued blessings,
Kerry
Monday, April 19, 2010
Culture shock
I spoke with Karl first thing this morning (7:30 a.m. Hawaii time). He sounded exhausted. He told me his back was very sore where they drained the fluid from his lungs. They've been giving him pain medication and a sleeping aid because they want him to rest.
Mom called later with news from one of the physicians on Karl's case. All the cultures -- and there are many -- came back negative. They cannot pinpoint what's causing the infection and his white cell count is normal. Therefore, they are taking him off all the antibiotics he's currently on and will wait for his fever to spike again. Then they'll take more cultures and proceed from there. They think the antibiotics are not killing the infection, but are doing a good enough job to mask the source. Right now Karl is developing a rash from one of the antibiotics so he's itchy and miserable. At least he'll get a little relief from that. They promised they'd get to the bottom of it, but they said it would take a day before the antibiotics were flushed out of his system so that his fever could spike.
Karl is pretty depressed and the thought of having to spend more time on a bed of ice isn't exactly a pleasant thought. Of course he makes fun of the situation and tells everyone they'd put him on ice if his temperature was 98.7. His blood pressure is running steady, but there was a faux pas in my last post about his kidney creatinine level -- it continues to remain higher than normal at 4.0.
Thank you for checking up on Karl. We all appreciate your prayers and kind thoughts.
Kerry
Mom called later with news from one of the physicians on Karl's case. All the cultures -- and there are many -- came back negative. They cannot pinpoint what's causing the infection and his white cell count is normal. Therefore, they are taking him off all the antibiotics he's currently on and will wait for his fever to spike again. Then they'll take more cultures and proceed from there. They think the antibiotics are not killing the infection, but are doing a good enough job to mask the source. Right now Karl is developing a rash from one of the antibiotics so he's itchy and miserable. At least he'll get a little relief from that. They promised they'd get to the bottom of it, but they said it would take a day before the antibiotics were flushed out of his system so that his fever could spike.
Karl is pretty depressed and the thought of having to spend more time on a bed of ice isn't exactly a pleasant thought. Of course he makes fun of the situation and tells everyone they'd put him on ice if his temperature was 98.7. His blood pressure is running steady, but there was a faux pas in my last post about his kidney creatinine level -- it continues to remain higher than normal at 4.0.
Thank you for checking up on Karl. We all appreciate your prayers and kind thoughts.
Kerry
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Just chillin' -- literally
I'm sorry I haven't given an update lately; I've been out of town. But Karl has sure been through the ringer and can really use a prayer booster shot.
On Friday Karl's creatinine levels stayed around 4 and his blood pressure was still 75/40. His kidneys were working okay and Karl was comfortable and cutting up on the phone with me and with medical personnel. They did a CT scan on his body but could not pinpoint a specific source of infection. There was fluid build-up around his lungs, but doctors thought maybe that it was due more from all the fluid they had been giving him intraveneously rather than the pneumonia. They ruled out that the infection was due to the port in his chest. Karl slept most of the day.
On Saturday Karl began running a fever. It spiked to 103.8 which is when they decided to put him on a bed of ice to bring down his fever. 'Doctors said the infection had gone septic again. To try to remedy that, they gave him a watered-down version of the vancomycin that caused him to have Red Man's Syndrome in Mayo Clinic. Remember that? They also infused it slower, thinking that would allow his body to accept it without any issues. Mom reported that within 5 minutes of infusion, his skin started getting blotchy and he began itching. Needless to say, they dicontinued the vanco immediately and told him, if asked, to say that he's very allergic to it. Karl was kept on ice most of the night because his fever was still elevated. Mom said she said a prayer over him and he woke up long enough to grab her hand as she was doing so. I talked to him about 1 a.m. EDT; he seemed in good spirits although very tired.
Today Karl is VERY tired. His fever is lower and he's now being cooled by fans, cold compresses and only a sheet to cover his body. Mom said he didn't want to be bothered. The tell-tale sign is that he keeps a sheet over his head. We figure he got little or no sleep during the night and the staff wants him to sleep as much as possible. The good news is that his creatinine levels are almost normal and his blood pressure is more acceptable, albeit a bit low still. They think perhaps maybe they're past the point of Karl being septic. They tapped his lungs and drained a quart of fluid from it. They will run a culture on it. Only sputum in previous cultures has showed signs of infection and as Karl said, they checked every orifice. They tried a different antibiotic on him and we're hopeful this one will do the trick. They told Mom that draining his lungs will allow him to cough and exercise his lungs. There has not been any discussion about dialysis since his first admission to Maui Memorial on April 3.
Mom is hanging in there. I asked her if she wanted me to fly out and help. She said absolutely not. She's been receiving hugs and words of encouragement from the staff and both the hospital and the hotel. She was told by the social worker that she shouldn't worry about flight arrangement, which put her at ease. She IS worried that Karl will be very weak when he's released. But I imagine the social worker will make arrangements when the time comes to address that situation. There is no talk of a release date -- that's way too soon. I'm just praying Mom and Karl will be home for their granddaughter/niece's wedding on May 1. But most of all, I'm praying they figure out what combination of drugs works to knock out the infection so that Karl begins feeling better. That would be a wonderful wedding gift.
We are feeling your prayers and concern and thank you for them.
Hugs and blessings,
Kerry
10 p.m. EDT: Just talked to Mom. Karl's fever is down and he's feeling better. I could hear him in the background chit-chatting with the nurse. Mom said everyone there loves him. No surprise!
On Friday Karl's creatinine levels stayed around 4 and his blood pressure was still 75/40. His kidneys were working okay and Karl was comfortable and cutting up on the phone with me and with medical personnel. They did a CT scan on his body but could not pinpoint a specific source of infection. There was fluid build-up around his lungs, but doctors thought maybe that it was due more from all the fluid they had been giving him intraveneously rather than the pneumonia. They ruled out that the infection was due to the port in his chest. Karl slept most of the day.
On Saturday Karl began running a fever. It spiked to 103.8 which is when they decided to put him on a bed of ice to bring down his fever. 'Doctors said the infection had gone septic again. To try to remedy that, they gave him a watered-down version of the vancomycin that caused him to have Red Man's Syndrome in Mayo Clinic. Remember that? They also infused it slower, thinking that would allow his body to accept it without any issues. Mom reported that within 5 minutes of infusion, his skin started getting blotchy and he began itching. Needless to say, they dicontinued the vanco immediately and told him, if asked, to say that he's very allergic to it. Karl was kept on ice most of the night because his fever was still elevated. Mom said she said a prayer over him and he woke up long enough to grab her hand as she was doing so. I talked to him about 1 a.m. EDT; he seemed in good spirits although very tired.
Today Karl is VERY tired. His fever is lower and he's now being cooled by fans, cold compresses and only a sheet to cover his body. Mom said he didn't want to be bothered. The tell-tale sign is that he keeps a sheet over his head. We figure he got little or no sleep during the night and the staff wants him to sleep as much as possible. The good news is that his creatinine levels are almost normal and his blood pressure is more acceptable, albeit a bit low still. They think perhaps maybe they're past the point of Karl being septic. They tapped his lungs and drained a quart of fluid from it. They will run a culture on it. Only sputum in previous cultures has showed signs of infection and as Karl said, they checked every orifice. They tried a different antibiotic on him and we're hopeful this one will do the trick. They told Mom that draining his lungs will allow him to cough and exercise his lungs. There has not been any discussion about dialysis since his first admission to Maui Memorial on April 3.
Mom is hanging in there. I asked her if she wanted me to fly out and help. She said absolutely not. She's been receiving hugs and words of encouragement from the staff and both the hospital and the hotel. She was told by the social worker that she shouldn't worry about flight arrangement, which put her at ease. She IS worried that Karl will be very weak when he's released. But I imagine the social worker will make arrangements when the time comes to address that situation. There is no talk of a release date -- that's way too soon. I'm just praying Mom and Karl will be home for their granddaughter/niece's wedding on May 1. But most of all, I'm praying they figure out what combination of drugs works to knock out the infection so that Karl begins feeling better. That would be a wonderful wedding gift.
We are feeling your prayers and concern and thank you for them.
Hugs and blessings,
Kerry
10 p.m. EDT: Just talked to Mom. Karl's fever is down and he's feeling better. I could hear him in the background chit-chatting with the nurse. Mom said everyone there loves him. No surprise!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Maui Wowie
You aren't going to believe this -- Karl and Mom are spending at least another night in Maui. He's back in the emergency room at the hospital and they're going to keep him overnight. His kidneys are acting up and his blood pressure is low again. Medical personnel, Karl and Mom all agreed that his kidney function is too important to risk a 14-hour day in planes/airports. He's pretty bummed. But in typical Karl fashion he said, "I guess Maui doesn't want me to leave." He's feeling okay, although very tired.
The past two days he's spent lounging around in his hotel room. Yesterday and today he ate well and drank plenty of water. As today progressed, his kidneys were not processing the water, which alarmed him. I'm so glad he sought help. He called cousin Trese, RN, who advised him to visit the ER. We were hoping a little lasix would take care of the situation. Unfortunately his creatinine level is back up to 4 which is a signal his kidneys are working too hard. Karl didn't have any more information as far as what they're going to do to help him.
Anyway prayer warriors, we need your help...still. Thank you for everything. I'll keep you posted.
Kerry
Addendum 1: I heard from Mom about 8 a.m., 2 a.m. Maui time. He's back in ICU and is hooked up to myriad IV bags. He has some sort of infection. They're not sure what it is, but they're trying to get to the bottom of it. His kidneys are now doing what they're supposed to be doing. His blood pressure was dangerously low again. One of the nurses told him it was a good thing he didn't get on the plane. With his blood pressure as low as it was, Karl was told he probably would have quit breathing on the plane. Yikes! Anyway, it seems that both Karl and Mom have gone from upset about not being able to come home, to thankful they stayed. I'm thankful they can roll with the punches. And when you think about it, Karl's been through a lot worse.
Addendum 2: Just talked to Mom. It's 11:15 a.m. there. Karl's kidneys seem to be working well right now. They are not sure of the source of the infection, but Mom said they will definitely get to the bottom of it this time. They don't think it's pneumonia. Rex, the RN, said it could even be his port. She said Karl has tubes running everywhere, but he's very comfortable and resting well. Mom said she wouldn't be surprised if they kept him another week. Oy.
Mom got about two hours of shut-eye last night. She's still very optimistic and said she'd make up for it tonight when she leaves the hospital early. As I write this she's checking out of one room and into another at the hotel. They have been absolutely wonderful there. The shuttle driver who took them to the hospital last night, Scotty, asked her what was going on when he saw her. When she told him, he said, "Come here; you need a hug." Then he told her if he had room, he'd let her stay with him. Scotty has also offered to make special runs for both Karl and Mom. Of course Karl has already asked for McDonald's. Rex (the nurse) actually dropped her off at the hotel after his shift ended early this morning.
Some of you have asked how Mom is doing. She said her attitude is this: Karl's the one who has to go through it. If he can do it, it's no big deal for her. What a superwoman she is.
Love and blessings to all.
The past two days he's spent lounging around in his hotel room. Yesterday and today he ate well and drank plenty of water. As today progressed, his kidneys were not processing the water, which alarmed him. I'm so glad he sought help. He called cousin Trese, RN, who advised him to visit the ER. We were hoping a little lasix would take care of the situation. Unfortunately his creatinine level is back up to 4 which is a signal his kidneys are working too hard. Karl didn't have any more information as far as what they're going to do to help him.
Anyway prayer warriors, we need your help...still. Thank you for everything. I'll keep you posted.
Kerry
Addendum 1: I heard from Mom about 8 a.m., 2 a.m. Maui time. He's back in ICU and is hooked up to myriad IV bags. He has some sort of infection. They're not sure what it is, but they're trying to get to the bottom of it. His kidneys are now doing what they're supposed to be doing. His blood pressure was dangerously low again. One of the nurses told him it was a good thing he didn't get on the plane. With his blood pressure as low as it was, Karl was told he probably would have quit breathing on the plane. Yikes! Anyway, it seems that both Karl and Mom have gone from upset about not being able to come home, to thankful they stayed. I'm thankful they can roll with the punches. And when you think about it, Karl's been through a lot worse.
Addendum 2: Just talked to Mom. It's 11:15 a.m. there. Karl's kidneys seem to be working well right now. They are not sure of the source of the infection, but Mom said they will definitely get to the bottom of it this time. They don't think it's pneumonia. Rex, the RN, said it could even be his port. She said Karl has tubes running everywhere, but he's very comfortable and resting well. Mom said she wouldn't be surprised if they kept him another week. Oy.
Mom got about two hours of shut-eye last night. She's still very optimistic and said she'd make up for it tonight when she leaves the hospital early. As I write this she's checking out of one room and into another at the hotel. They have been absolutely wonderful there. The shuttle driver who took them to the hospital last night, Scotty, asked her what was going on when he saw her. When she told him, he said, "Come here; you need a hug." Then he told her if he had room, he'd let her stay with him. Scotty has also offered to make special runs for both Karl and Mom. Of course Karl has already asked for McDonald's. Rex (the nurse) actually dropped her off at the hotel after his shift ended early this morning.
Some of you have asked how Mom is doing. She said her attitude is this: Karl's the one who has to go through it. If he can do it, it's no big deal for her. What a superwoman she is.
Love and blessings to all.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Karl got sprung!
I'm happy to announce Karl is out of the hospital and is happily settling in to his hotel room near Kahului. Karl's creatinine levels are near normal. His white blood cell count was a tad bit high, but the doctor released him under the condition that Karl see a doctor immediately if there was any sign of fever. Karl readily agreed. He was growing pretty tired of the hospital setting.
On the way to the hotel, Karl asked the shuttle driver if there was a McDonald's nearby. Not only did the driver know of one, he took a detour so Karl could get a Big Mac. Pretty nice! The rainy weather has precluded Mom and Karl from enjoying a pool-side session today, but they are looking forward to being outdoors tomorrow and Wednesday.
Their journey back home begins at 9 p.m. Wednesday night (3 a.m. Thursday our time) and they will hopefully be back in the comfort of their home by 6:30 p.m. Thursday, exhausted, but extremely happy to be home. What a trip this has been!! I'll be sure to let you know when he's home.
Again I want to reiterate how thankful I am for your prayers and concern. Blessings to you all.
Kerry
On the way to the hotel, Karl asked the shuttle driver if there was a McDonald's nearby. Not only did the driver know of one, he took a detour so Karl could get a Big Mac. Pretty nice! The rainy weather has precluded Mom and Karl from enjoying a pool-side session today, but they are looking forward to being outdoors tomorrow and Wednesday.
Their journey back home begins at 9 p.m. Wednesday night (3 a.m. Thursday our time) and they will hopefully be back in the comfort of their home by 6:30 p.m. Thursday, exhausted, but extremely happy to be home. What a trip this has been!! I'll be sure to let you know when he's home.
Again I want to reiterate how thankful I am for your prayers and concern. Blessings to you all.
Kerry
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Count down
Just a brief update to let you know Karl's counts are going down/getting better every day thanks to your continued prayers. He's been told the IV will come out on Monday and he's hopeful he'll be released from the hospital then. He's also been moved to an ocean view room. I'm not sure it's making his stay any easier, but I do know he's very thankful to be alive -- it was a close call.
Carol Partridge and Mom moved out of their timeshare unit on the northwest side of Maui today. Carol departs for the mainland about 9 p.m. -- 3 a.m. our time. Mom will be moving into a hotel closer to the hospital (near Kahului) and she'll also be turning in the rental car. Fortunately the hotel has a shuttle that runs from the hotel to the hospital and the airport and in reverse. They probably won't find out until Monday about flight arrangements, but the social worker said she's shooting for departure on Wednesday, which means they'll be home probably Thursday morning. We're hoping Karl and Mom have a couple days to enjoy the north side of the island before they come home.
Mahalo for your prayers and concern.
Kerry
Carol Partridge and Mom moved out of their timeshare unit on the northwest side of Maui today. Carol departs for the mainland about 9 p.m. -- 3 a.m. our time. Mom will be moving into a hotel closer to the hospital (near Kahului) and she'll also be turning in the rental car. Fortunately the hotel has a shuttle that runs from the hotel to the hospital and the airport and in reverse. They probably won't find out until Monday about flight arrangements, but the social worker said she's shooting for departure on Wednesday, which means they'll be home probably Thursday morning. We're hoping Karl and Mom have a couple days to enjoy the north side of the island before they come home.
Mahalo for your prayers and concern.
Kerry
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Big kahuna
The big kahuna, Karl's nephrologist Dr. Schwartz from U-M, called him today. He concurred with the staff at Maui Memorial -- Karl has to stay longer. He explained that it was important to take plenty of time with his kidneys and get the creatinine levels down to more normal levels. It's critical for Karl's health in the future and minimizes the chance of dialysis, which is definitely what they're trying to avoid.
The staff is carefully monitoring Karl's intake of phosphorus and magnesium. He was told both could be deadly if there was too much or too little in his system. With the state his kidneys are in at this time, they are unable to easily filter these elements with ease. Karl's also a bit anemic, which is also due to his kidneys not functioning properly. He is still receiving IV therapy to flush his system. Everyone is confident Karl will have all kidney markers back to normal by the time he is scheduled to leave on Wednesday. He was told he'll need to closely monitor his kidneys for the rest of his life and they will be especially susceptible if he's ill. Drinking plenty of water will be crucial.
In the meantime, social workers have been working with Mom to find a hotel closer to the hospital and get a flight back at a reasonable price. Hopefully Priceline will give them a refund or a credit for the seats that will go unused on Saturday. If anyone knows anyone that can help, please let us know!!
Now for some Karl humor. I asked him if he remembered anything about Saturday and shared some things that happened. He didn't remember. When they were getting ready to head to the clinic that day, Rodney told Karl he needed to put on a fresh shirt. Karl, in his confused and weakened state, reached for the suitcase nearest him. It was Mom's. Karl had put on one of Mom's shirts. As Rodney described it, it was tight and flowery. "If I hadn't stopped him, he probably would have put on a pair of your mom's underwear." We have all had a good laugh over that. Of course Karl has called Rodney a few choice names, which makes us laugh even more.
As I write this, Rodney, Terri and Khol are either sitting at the airport or are on the plane heading for home. Words cannot convey how thankful we are to them. I think the only way we can describe them is that they are angels on earth. May the angels in heaven bless them for their caring generosity and bless you for your prayers and good wishes.
Kerry
P.S. If there's little change over the next few days, I won't be posting, but I'll post something if I have any pertinent news.
The staff is carefully monitoring Karl's intake of phosphorus and magnesium. He was told both could be deadly if there was too much or too little in his system. With the state his kidneys are in at this time, they are unable to easily filter these elements with ease. Karl's also a bit anemic, which is also due to his kidneys not functioning properly. He is still receiving IV therapy to flush his system. Everyone is confident Karl will have all kidney markers back to normal by the time he is scheduled to leave on Wednesday. He was told he'll need to closely monitor his kidneys for the rest of his life and they will be especially susceptible if he's ill. Drinking plenty of water will be crucial.
In the meantime, social workers have been working with Mom to find a hotel closer to the hospital and get a flight back at a reasonable price. Hopefully Priceline will give them a refund or a credit for the seats that will go unused on Saturday. If anyone knows anyone that can help, please let us know!!
Now for some Karl humor. I asked him if he remembered anything about Saturday and shared some things that happened. He didn't remember. When they were getting ready to head to the clinic that day, Rodney told Karl he needed to put on a fresh shirt. Karl, in his confused and weakened state, reached for the suitcase nearest him. It was Mom's. Karl had put on one of Mom's shirts. As Rodney described it, it was tight and flowery. "If I hadn't stopped him, he probably would have put on a pair of your mom's underwear." We have all had a good laugh over that. Of course Karl has called Rodney a few choice names, which makes us laugh even more.
As I write this, Rodney, Terri and Khol are either sitting at the airport or are on the plane heading for home. Words cannot convey how thankful we are to them. I think the only way we can describe them is that they are angels on earth. May the angels in heaven bless them for their caring generosity and bless you for your prayers and good wishes.
Kerry
P.S. If there's little change over the next few days, I won't be posting, but I'll post something if I have any pertinent news.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Hawaiian Punch
Hello family and friends,
View from the condo looking at the island of Molokai
Maui Memorial Medical Center
On Saturday, March 27, Mom, Karl, and family friend Carol Partridge took off from Detroit for a well-deserved, long-anticipated, two-week stay in tropical Maui. For five days they toured the island visiting Wailea, Lahaina, Kaanapali and watched whales breach -- truly spectacular views.
View from the condo looking at the island of Molokai
On Thursday after filling up with food from their favorite Chinese restaurant, Karl said he felt chilled. He napped on the couch for a bit and later he went to bed. Often after Karl has a big day, he'll rest up the next. So Friday, he spent most of the day sleeping. However, as Mom checked him, she realized he was becoming more confused and less responsive which was a huge concern.
Upon seeing Karl, Rodney Partridge, who had arrived in Maui Friday night with wife Terri and son Khol, decided he needed to be seen by medical personnel. Karl was confused and weak. The staff at the nearby clinic at the Mariott in Kaanapali sent Karl to the emergency room at Maui Memorial Medical Center in Wailuku. Upon arrival, Karl's blood pressure was 65/30, his pulse oxygen was 86, and his heart rate was 130. To try to increase his blood pressure, they gave him two liters of fluid as well as medicine. His blood pressure came up but his kidneys didn't produce urine. He had an infection -- pneumonia -- and it had gone septic.
This is where I have to back up a bit. At Karl's last check-up at U-M in February he got good news and guarded news. The good news was that his CT-scan showed he continued to be cancer-free. Actually, that's FANTASTIC news. The guarded news is that the creatinine levels, a kidney marker, continue to rise with each checkup although they were not above normal levels. Dr. Scheutze told Karl that sometimes chemotherapy can damage kidneys and that they wanted to stay on top of the situation. They ordered an ultrasound, a 24-hour study and referred Karl to a nephrologist. The ultrasound and study turned out normal but they warned that Karl may have the start of kidney disease. Also, Karl's x-rays showed he may have been fighting off a virus in his lungs, which would explain why he felt a little punk for a few weeks in January/February.
Oh, and in the meantime, Mom was diagnosed with pneumonia in February which required two courses of antibiotics. She is feeling fine, but it took her a while to kick it.
Back to this past Saturday, April 3. Doctors were working fervently on Karl. They put in a main line, gave him strong antibiotics and continued testing. His creatinine count was 6.8. It's supposed to be 2 or below. He was admitted to the ICU where they could carefully monitor the blood pressure meds. After just a few hours of the antibiotics, Karl was becoming less confused although his kidneys and blood pressure were still a huge concern. They performed an ultrasound on his kidneys; they were normal. They did a CT scan on his brain and didn't find anything (joke intended). I spoke briefly with Karl on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. He was confused on Saturday, but not in any pain; on Sunday he seemed tired and on Monday he was worried about getting his taxes done. I guess that's a good indicator of how he's doing and how quickly the drugs worked.
Maui Memorial Medical Center
On Monday and Tuesday they began weaning him off the blood pressure medicine. They require patients to be off the medicine for 24 hours before they can be transferred out of ICU to a regular floor. (Incidentally, no phones are allowed in ICU which is why communication was sketchy...that and a six-hour time difference). On Tuesday a team of doctors tell Karl their plan of action is to speak with Karl's doctors and U-M and avoid dialysis, which means he may have to stay past Saturday, which is when they're supposed to catch their flight back to Detroit. A social worker meets with Mom to tell her they will work with the airline and hotels to get affordable prices. They are both incredibly impressed by the entire staff and the facility.
Today, Karl was transferred to a regular room. Mom is not as impressed by this room as it's in an old section of the hospital and there's not much room for visitors. Doctors told Karl he wouldn't be discharged until Wednesday, April 14. They are hoping they can get Rodney to appeal to doctors to let him go home on Saturday. Karl says he feels fine although has a little pain in his chest from the pneumonia. Of course nobody wants Karl to take the 11-hour flight if it jeopardizes his health, but he's getting tired of seeing Maui from inside a hospital room.
Anyway, we're sure thankful for the Partridge family, and I'm not talking David Cassidy. Carol, Rodney and Terri have been fantastic lifesavers -- both figuratively and literally. Of course your prayers had a great deal to do with Karl's quick recovery. Thank you all for your prayers once again. I'll continue to keep you posted.
Love and blessings,
Kerry
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