T & P for my friend's brother (w/Good News Update)

hannikan · March 2011

My very close friend/matron of honor has a younger brother who is very sick. He's 30. We all actually worked together in college. Here's what she told me Sun: "It's been a long week, and really hard to figure out who knows/doesn't. 2 weeks ago, M had the stomach flu, got really tired. Last Sunday, he was coughing up blood, went to ER, and admitted to ICU. He developed septic shock, and then on Tuesday he had developed Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Several different types of breathing machines were tried, and didn't work, since his lungs were fully filled with fluid. Finally, one worked, and they are now slowly trying to get him off the machines...slowly. SO...keep prayin'! C (his wife) due with baby #4 in a week."

Very scary and can't help but remind me of what happened with DH when he mysteriously got deathly ill though a healthy young man. Any thoughts, prayers, good thoughts are appreciated!

Tues: "Today we are thankful that M had a restful night. His oxygen levels have remained stable, and his dependency on the ventilator is deceasing. His white blood cell count is now in a normal range, and he has been without fever for awhile n...ow. These are all huge answers to prayer! The hard part is waiting as we received results that M's x-Ray looks the same. Because M's blood cell count looks within normal range, M's doctor believes treatment is accurate. If no improvement in the x-Ray over the next couple of days, his doctor wants to explore another option. There is still no word on his blood cultures to see if infection is elsewhere in his body. Again, we ask the same prayer as before: that his numbers stay stable, that his lungs show improvement in fighting the pneumonia, and that no other infections develop. Thank you to all who are lifting M up in prayer and for the encouragement we have received."

MeggyO · March 2011

I'm so sorry. Sending thoughts and prayers his way!

hannikan · March 2011

Thanks Meghan. It's pretty scary.

SDgirl22 · March 2011

Sending positive thoughts their way...

MadameD517 · March 2011

Yikes, hope things continue to improve for him.

ZoeMay06 · March 2011

Wow. That family will be in my thoughts. Please keep us updated.

BeckF4 · March 2011

Lots of T&P's!!!!! So sad.

hannikan · March 2011

Thanks everyone. He is improving but it's still touch and go. I update above.

hannikan · March 2011

"M opened his eyes this morning and for the first time since starting on life support a week ago looked very responsive and aware. He was able to focus on our faces, squeeze our hands, and nod his head. The nurses are amazed considering the powerful sedatives they have been using. He appears to be calmer, and he is now on the lowest level of support required before moving him off of the ventilator. He must be able to keep his saturation levels consistent to show accurate healing. The x-Ray results still show no improvement, but his blood cultures thus far have come back negative for further infections. Again, his white blood cell count remains within the normal range."

hannikan · March 2011

M is off the ventilator and is resting in the ICU with C (his PG wife due any day now). My mom says he is just now realizing slowly what has happened to him and is anxious to get out of the ICU. Nurses keep stopping by to see and celebrate and Micah nods and in a scratchy voice says "Thank you". He is becoming more aware of the 11 days in the hospital, 9 of which were on a ventilator.

For now the doctors will keep him in the ICU for 24 hours to ensure he can breathe. By tomorrow he should be able to swallow on his own and the other "non-ventilator" lines will be removed and he can move onto a regular hospital 'floor'. Once he can walk and move on his own again, he will be released to go home!"