Monday, February 11, 2008

Alvin in Hospital

Personal Note: Alvin is still in the hospital. On Friday afternoon he spiked a temperature of 103 and became delirious and weak. I called his doctor and then raced him to the ER. 5 1/2 hours in the ER did not stabilize him and he was transferred to ICU. His vitals dropped, finally bottoming out at a heart rate of 36 (80 to 100 is a resting heartrate.) They started him on vancomiacine and then promaxin on Sunday.

By Sunday morning, 4:00 a.m., Alvin took a turn for the better and started to improve. By Sunday, late afternoon, he was transferred out of ICU to a regular hospital room . . . well, as regular as a kidney failure patient can get.

This morning they created a new fistula and put a perma cath in his chest. Dialysis will be done through the perma cath for the next two to three months while the fistula fully develops or he gets a transplant, whichever happens first.

As to the kidney transplant, we had great hopes with one donor but her husband forbad her to continue the process, so we're back to square one. We do have three or four people who are O+ or O- who are being tested to see if they are match. But it has set us back quite a bit. We were shaken, emotionally, but Mitt Romney dropping out and this hospital stay has put things back in perspective. We just do what we can and leave the rest to the Lord. Not as easy to do as it sounds, but there you have it.

Alvin is still in the hospital and it is unknown when he will be released. They have been unable to determine the source of the infection or identify the infection. With everything going on they are unwilling to release him at this time. He mad, frustrated and ready to go AMA and leave, except I won't let him. Yeah, we're really happy right now. Not. But he's alive, which was a state in question over the weekend. So he's holding his own and feeling better every day. Whew!

1 comment:

Shellie said...

Oh, I'm so sorry that things have been so hard!! I will be praying for you all and for the transplant. God is watching over you and will bless you.