They're naming babies after him

The huge stained-glass archway at the entrance of St. Mary's Hospital. This has no significance to this post, but I thought it was pretty.


Karl was transferred to the 8th floor orthopedic wing today after his CT-scan and biopsy. They decided to anesthetize him for the procedure because it would have been very painful. When Karl got back to the room, he was still in a little pain, but glad to get back in his Clinitron sand/air bed. He was also surprised to be in the exact same room as he was two years ago.

Earlier today his ICU nurse, Tiffany, explained a few things to us. Nothing has grown from any of the cultures they've taken. They think maybe Karl was very dehydrated, which is what caused his blood pressure to drop and his heart to race. Yet they are still going to keep the cultures growing. Tiffany is cute as a button and expecting a baby girl on October 20, two days before Karl's birthday. Karl mentioned that he thought it would be nice if she named her baby after him. "You could name your baby Karla, Karlene or Karley." First she said if she had the baby on the 22nd, she'd consider naming it after Karl. Then she giggled and said, "I kind of like Karley, but I'm going to have to run it past my husband, of course." Only Karl could get a complete stranger to think about naming their baby after him.

Before he went to get the biopsy and scan, he also had an ECG while still in the ICU. The tech said his enzymes were a little off -- nothing to worry about -- and his ejection fraction was a little below normal, but that isn't surprising because his heart isn't necessarily being asked to do strenuous activities these days. I think they're doing it as a pre-surgical procedure...in case they have to do surgery.

The word "surgery" has been bantered about plenty these days, but there certainly have been no decisions made. However, they've talked about taking a flap of skin from his buttock to put over the decube next to it. They've also talked about whirlpools and wound vacs. Plastics have also talked about putting a flap on his right heel. Today Karl was told by the plastic surgeons that the bone in his heel was, indeed, exposed. Until they come to a conclusion about how to best tackle the problem, probably Monday after they've had time to analyze all his tests, scans and results, he's going to kick back and chillax. But we're praying Praying PRAYING the biopsy shows the mass is something benign and that a solution for Karl's issues can be found without needing radical surgery and recovery time.

I hope you'll all pray for the same.

Love and blessings,

Kerry

P.S. Mom got along okay today. Her knee's a bit stiff and sore, but the brace helped quite a bit. When Monday rolls around, we'll give Megan down in PT a call to see if she can recommend anything to help. In the meantime, she's still icing, keeping it elevated and braced.