Saturday, April 26, 2014

April 26, 2014 -- Decisions and Waiting. . .

Hello dear prayer warriors!  An update from this morning. . .


Hope's Front Incision Site
Markings show the red areas and now it's moving a bit downwards too.

9:00 am -- Hope's fever is picking back up again.  She feels much worse as her fever climbs.  Even on Tylenol and Ibuprofen, she continues to consistently have a fever above 38 degrees.  She feels better when it's under 39 degrees and worse when it's above 39 degrees.  It's been as high as 40 degrees this morning.  Hope was pressing on her front incision where it was hurting and Trevor noticed some draining coming out.  So the doctor was notified that we found the location of the infection!  Hope found it!!!  : )  The redness around her seroma has also spread past the markings of yesterday.

The doctor came and assessed Hope and gave us three options for treatment. . .

1. Continue antibiotic treatment only and see if it will eventually start to resolve the infection.  This will take a long time and would not be the best option, although they would allow it if we chose, because she is stable.

2. Drain the area where the drainage is coming out of her front incision (the far left side right close to her ribs).  This procedure is invasive and painful.  It is done under local anaesthetic (freezing of the site) though and so safer than general anaesthetic.  However the con is that there is no guarantee if they will be able to get all the infection, especially with the compartmentalizing of fluid (honeycomb fluid accumulations).  If this procedure does not work, then surgery would be inevitable.

3.  Go straight to surgery for surgical excision of the infection and drainage of the seroma.  This option was the best for making sure to get all the infection, and also less uncomfortable than the draining procedure.  However the down side on top of receiving general anaesthetic, is that her front incision will need to be opened back up again, and once this happens, healing is much harder, especially with infection present.  Different kind of stitches will be used as a result that leave more scarring.

So Trev and I needed to make a decision on the spot. . . I was at home and on the speaker phone with Trevor and the doctor.  I started asking the Lord for wisdom for Trev and I as we made this decision.  We started asking questions and the doctor added that this type of abscess is rare and when seen in neurology it is most often in the brain.  And what he could tell us from experience with these brain abscesses, is that they tend to need multiple drainings, which means multiple surgeries.  With this piece of information, Trevor and I decided that we preferred to try the invasive needle aspiration of the infection first, and then surgery if that was unsuccessful.  The doctor asked how soon I could get to the hospital to be here for the procedure, so the decision of whether I would make it to the ladies retreat to speak at 10 am, was answered quickly.  I let the ladies know so they could move on with plan B and Gabs and I quickly packed for a longer hospital stay and rushed to get to the hospital as soon as we could. 

3:00 pm -- When we arrived at the hospital, Hope's fever was high and she was having chills again.  They had drawn more bloodwork and it had taken two pokes, so Hope was pretty stressed about another invasive procedure that would take 3 pokes that really sting for local freezing.  She was given a dose of Ativan to help.  Hope's draining procedure was done at the bedside at around 11:00 am.  And although she had a good cry with the painful part of the procedure, once the freezing was in, she was fine as frog's hair!  She was easily distracted while they drew syringe after syringe of fluid. . . we told bee sting stories since the doctor had described the freezing pokes like bee stings.  Hope tolerate the rest easily and even told the doctor afterwards, "Thank you Doctor!  I feel much better!  It was a little painful, and a little fun!"  It was very cute and the doctor was quite taken with her!  We were very thankful for such a kind and good doctor to complete the procedure and at the same time have fun with our sweet girlie!

The strange thing was that as the doctor withdrew a large amount of fluid, it was all serous (watery) bloody drainage.  There was NO pus at all!  The doctor was very puzzled and said that was unexpected and strange.  Hope's site was much less swollen now.  However her fever continued to stay high.  The increased redness on her skin around the seroma and now the front incision, as well, told them they would find infection, but none was found.  They asked a series of other questions, trying to find another possible source of infection, but nothing was found.  Her back incision looks fine.  Her labs say that there is serious infection present but her liver and other organs all assess as fine.  They have sent blood, urine and now the serous bloody drainage from the front surgical site, all for cultures and we are waiting on those results.  So that is where we are at now. . . waiting. . . waiting to see if she gets better or continues to have the waves of high fever and sickness, and progressing signs of infection. . . waiting to see what the labs results will say (will take 24 hours, but some were sent yesterday, so maybe later tonight). . . waiting to see if the seroma and surgical site will fill back up again with more fluid. . . waiting to see if surgery will be necessary. . . waiting to see if these antibiotics will start to win the battle with the infection, wherever it is. . . waiting!

Hope is currently visiting with her Grandma and resting comfortably.  She has remained off food and fluids in case of needing surgery.  Her Tylenol and Ibuprofen and freezing will start to wear off in the next while, so we'll see if her fever comes back.  Her fever broke a couple hours ago, and she is at the lowest she's been since at the hospital. . . dropping under 38 degrees to a normal temperature of 37.2 right now!  Praising the Lord for that!

Please continue to pray for wisdom for the doctors. . . we have been SO blessed with the ones that we have had so far!  I was telling Hope that God has been choosing some very special nurses and doctors that are just right for the task He has for them in helping Hope through this hard time.  Please pray that her body will start to win against this infection and the antibiotics will start working.  Please pray that her seroma will not fill back up again.  And please pray that the source of infection or whatever else may be going on will be found.  Thank you so very much, dear prayer warriors!  God is good and greatly to be praised!!!  His grace is sufficient, and we are seeing that for sure.  We have had precious people coming with food and to visit Hope and us, and are encouraged!  We are trusting the God of hope even as we WAIT. . .

You are so loved and precious to us!!!   

Hopey giving her little sister some loves!

Two sweet sisters!
This morning Gabi was so eager to get back to the hospital to see her big sister!
Love these sweet blessings in our life!

3 comments:

  1. They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength-they will mount up on wings of eagles-they will run and not be weary..Praying for all of you! Rest and wait on the Lord. He is swift to answer. Irene

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  2. Love you guys and praying as you walk this new path. Give Hopey a hug from us please.

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  3. May the Lord comfort, console and guide you during this trial and may His mercy, love and strength give you eternal Hope through Christ the Lord.

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