Thank you for continuing to pray. The Lord is ministering to us as a family during this difficult time. David and I were at the hospital all day, so this is the first chance I’ve had to post any update. He stayed with K so I could run home and eat dinner with the other boys. Friends and family have been helping out to make it possible for us to both be with K.
K was able to have his abscess aspirated today, with the aid of an ultrasound machine to see deep below the skin. The abscess is right over one of his ribs. They gave him something to make him sleepy, but he reminded the staff frequently during the procedure that he was still awake and feeling everything! He got through it all O.K., and we hear he was very brave and cooperative, even though he would have preferred to be completely put under! X-rays were done following the aspiration to make sure nothing vital was nicked by the needle. Everything looks good, and they were able to get enough out to have a good sample. Hopefully within 48 hours we will know what he has so that the appropriate antibiotics can be chosen. He is currently on Vancomycin and Clindamycin intravenously. They were NOT able to remove as much as they would have liked, because much of the abscess is firm and thick, so it wouldn’t fit through even a large needle.
We were grateful that he went most of the day without a fever, and needed no advil. However, about 4:00 he started complaining of nausea and his temperature was 101.4 and rising. It got up to 102 before coming back down again, thanks to Tylenol. This re-sets the clock for us, as they want him to be, ideally, fever-free for 24 hours before releasing him. They may release him anyway, if he is looking better, but we just aren’t sure yet whether he will be allowed to come home if he isn’t fever-free.
Highlights:
David and I enjoyed a sweet time of fellowship together today while K was having his procedure. The Lord is enabling us to praise Him in the midst of fear and struggle. We are well aware that all our days are numbered, and that He knew each one of them before the foundation of the world.
We believe K is getting better and looking stronger, in spite of the fever and the not-knowing. But the Lord is confirming for us again and again that our hope rests NOT in thermometer readings and test results but in Christ, our ever-present help in times of trouble.
Our hearts are encouraged and strengthened and we praise God for the way He is comforting and encouraging us.
K is still K! Last night, the doctor told him, “No food or drink after midnight”. They wanted his stomach empty for the procedure today. To him, this meant “Eat and drink as much as you possibly can until the clock strikes midnight!” Hot dog, pizza, turkey sandwich, jello, popsickles, sherbet, cookies, chips, sprite, chicken soup…I could go on. About 11 o’clock he said he was tired, but he didn’t want to go to sleep until it was midnight. He wanted to make SURE he wasn’t overly hungry today!
Another praise: I had to be away from K for about 1/2 an hour today. I was on the phone and they wheeled him away and it took awhile before I could find him! But the woman X ray technician was a birdwatcher, just like K is. They spent a happy half hour together, talking about all their favorite birds, life lists, where they’ve gone birdwatching, bird calls and the like. I was blessed that even in this, the Lord knew just what was needed and provided.
Tomorrow
We don’t know what tomorrow will hold. Whenever we hear one thing, it seems to change anyway. K has a fever tonight, so we don’t know if he will be released tomorrow. The doctor told me tonight she may want to hold him until the culture comes back, so they can see if they are using the correct medications and whether it will respond to oral antibiotics or if continued IVs are needed. Please continue to pray for everyone involved, for K’s healing, that it will be diagnosed and treatable, for pain and fever, for the Lord to do all that He wills in our lives through this time.
I’d like to write more, but I came home to be with the other boys and I don’t want to take this time from them. Thanks again for all your love and prayers!! Thanks, too, for emails and comments posted here. You have encouraged us. We can’t send email from the hospital or update the blog, but we can read incoming emails.
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