Every victory is a blessing, and today was a victory!
John has been stable all day! His blood pressure is good, his organs are happy, his kidneys are happier than they were yesterday, and he has no fever.
They tried to bring John out of sedation a little today. We know that John does not come out of sedation well from experience of another hospital stay years ago and from being sedated a few days ago. He comes out aggressive, which can be dangerous with all of the equipment he is using. He isn’t aggressive out of defiance. He just doesn’t like the breathing tube – it’s very uncomfortable – and he doesn’t understand what is going on.
When he woke up a little he moved his hands and feet, he moved his head, and he bended his legs a little. He responded to pain which is good. However, he hasn’t obeyed commands yet – like “squeeze my hand” or “nod your head”. They tried to lessen the sedation a little more to get him to do these things, but he got a little more rambunctious, so they just let him be. He has been on a lot of sedation medication, though, and he’s still sick from the infection, so we know he doesn’t feel well. We’ll keep trying for responses from him tomorrow.
They are taking blood every day and seeing if it grows bacteria over a three day period. If after three days no bacteria has grown, then they are pretty sure his infection is gone. His white blood count is still high, and he is on a lot of antibiotics. He will be on these for at least five days.
John does have a staph infection (Which last time I spelled “staff”. Shows what I know!) However, it’s not the hospital kind. You all probably know more about that than I do, and the doctor explained it to me today – I just forget so much now-a-days – but basically it’s the treatable one that is better for John to recover from.
Our hope is that John recovers from this infection in the next few days, while remaining stable, and that a heart becomes available this weekend or beginning of next week. Every day seems like an eternity right now.
Again, thank you so very, very much for all of your prayers!! John feels them, and I know he appreciates them so much. I cannot wait to see the look on his face when he reads and hears about all of this.
God is answering our prayers, performing miracles daily, and providing for us physically and emotionally. However, please do not give up on praying for John daily without ceasing when we have “good” days like today because he is a long way from recovery. This is a long road, and he will need intense prayer for a long time.
Our prayer requests are very similar to yesterday’s.
1. John stays stable with the ECMO in ICU.
2. John’s infection goes away very quickly – within the next 2-3 days.
3. John’s new heart comes as quickly as he can accept it.
4. There are not any adverse affects or damage to John’s body and organs due to his treatment.
5. Wisdom for John’s doctors, surgeons, and nurses.
6. John’s heart transplant goes smoothly without any complications. His body does not reject his new heart.
7. John recovers smoothly and quickly.
8. God gives us strength and understanding in every step of this process.
9. God continues to be glorified in it all. That our lives and other people’s lives will be changed from being a part of and hearing John’s story. People will receive the gift of salvation and eternal life in Heaven by coming to Jesus.
**10. This one should be at the top. That John is peaceful and comfortable in the ICU. That he feels the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the love that surrounds him. That he knows he is loved. That he is not anxious.
11. That I will live right now though God’s strength in me because there is nothing more in my humanness to contribute. That God will sustain me physically and emotionally.
12. That John’s weak heart will sustain him until his new heart comes.
Also, please pray for John’s organ donor. Please pray for his salvation and relationship to Jesus. Please pray for God’s comfort, love, and peace to surround his family.