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My brother-in-law is still a very sick man but he is slowly improving. A week ago today I arrived in NC just in time to hang out with my Sissy and her mother-in-law while J- went into surgery. They cleaned the infections out of his hip, put him on a ventilator, and wheeled him off to surgical ICU.
Which is where he has been ever since. While everyone was hoping he'd be off the ventilator and in post ICU by now that isn't the case. He's had a few minor problems, mostly with his liver and kidney's. The liver went into shock and his billirubin levels went up to 22. His kidneys also went into shock so the toxins started to build up in his blood. They installed a chest port into his heart and have begun daily dialysis, from which we are now starting to see improvements. As my sister said in her update "he produced a wee bit more wee" last night. His billirubin level is down to 16.6. And his white blood cell count has dropped below 15000 after a brief spike yesterday (along with everything else Mr Man has developed a urinary tract infection).
The ventilator is something of a concern as they don't like to keep mouth vents in longer than 9 days as the risk of permanent damage to the vocal cords goes up. He's had the thing 7 days now so they either need to take him off of it soon or do a tracheotomy and install the vent that way. Not a huge issue as the hole will heal. And he needs the help breathing - there is so much staph infection throughout his body that he is considered septic. He's a big guy and the infection & surgery have left him very weak so he needs all the help he can get, even with something the rest of us take for granted like breathing.
I left to come home Sunday afternoon around 3. With him in ICU and my Sissy handling everything there really wasn't much for me to do other than moral support. I needed to be back at work Tuesday anyway so I left a little early to allow me to split up the drive instead of do it all in one day. I've been getting updates via phone, text and email. Mom and Dad left Monday but only got a few hours away before they came back. The whole billirubin levels and dialysis thing kind of threw Sis for a loop Monday afternoon. I would have come back to NC but I was already home. A few hours later all had been explained and Sis was calmed down. The 'rents stayed through yesterday morning though, not leaving until we started seeing some improvement from the dialysis. They should be home (Texas) today or tomorrow.
And now I think everyone is worn out. Sissy is taking a little more time for herself (I think today includes a couple of visits to J- at the hospital, a nap, and a concert in the town square with one of her friends to decompress). Mom & Dad should be home soon. I have a ton of weeding and yard work to do but rain is in the forecast so I might have to sit around the house instead (Oh. Darn). Sis plans to go back to work part time next week as she strives to find her new "normal" routine. J- will be in the hospital in SICU, PICU and then acute care rehab for some time. Even after they get him well he'll have to get his strength back, build up atrophied muscle, and learn to walk with his temporary hip. Long road ahead, that's for sure.
Thanks to everyone who has been sending positive energy and prayers to Sissy and her hubby. Keep em coming!
Which is where he has been ever since. While everyone was hoping he'd be off the ventilator and in post ICU by now that isn't the case. He's had a few minor problems, mostly with his liver and kidney's. The liver went into shock and his billirubin levels went up to 22. His kidneys also went into shock so the toxins started to build up in his blood. They installed a chest port into his heart and have begun daily dialysis, from which we are now starting to see improvements. As my sister said in her update "he produced a wee bit more wee" last night. His billirubin level is down to 16.6. And his white blood cell count has dropped below 15000 after a brief spike yesterday (along with everything else Mr Man has developed a urinary tract infection).
The ventilator is something of a concern as they don't like to keep mouth vents in longer than 9 days as the risk of permanent damage to the vocal cords goes up. He's had the thing 7 days now so they either need to take him off of it soon or do a tracheotomy and install the vent that way. Not a huge issue as the hole will heal. And he needs the help breathing - there is so much staph infection throughout his body that he is considered septic. He's a big guy and the infection & surgery have left him very weak so he needs all the help he can get, even with something the rest of us take for granted like breathing.
I left to come home Sunday afternoon around 3. With him in ICU and my Sissy handling everything there really wasn't much for me to do other than moral support. I needed to be back at work Tuesday anyway so I left a little early to allow me to split up the drive instead of do it all in one day. I've been getting updates via phone, text and email. Mom and Dad left Monday but only got a few hours away before they came back. The whole billirubin levels and dialysis thing kind of threw Sis for a loop Monday afternoon. I would have come back to NC but I was already home. A few hours later all had been explained and Sis was calmed down. The 'rents stayed through yesterday morning though, not leaving until we started seeing some improvement from the dialysis. They should be home (Texas) today or tomorrow.
And now I think everyone is worn out. Sissy is taking a little more time for herself (I think today includes a couple of visits to J- at the hospital, a nap, and a concert in the town square with one of her friends to decompress). Mom & Dad should be home soon. I have a ton of weeding and yard work to do but rain is in the forecast so I might have to sit around the house instead (Oh. Darn). Sis plans to go back to work part time next week as she strives to find her new "normal" routine. J- will be in the hospital in SICU, PICU and then acute care rehab for some time. Even after they get him well he'll have to get his strength back, build up atrophied muscle, and learn to walk with his temporary hip. Long road ahead, that's for sure.
Thanks to everyone who has been sending positive energy and prayers to Sissy and her hubby. Keep em coming!
