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Author
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Topic: Please pray for Andrew
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Paula
Member
Member # 3
Member Rated:
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posted May 04, 2007 07:41 AM
     
I got an e-mail today from Stacy, her 43 year old brother, Andrew who is a father to 3 small children is fighting ARDS and needs our prayers.
Paula
Here is Andrew's story Andrew, my brother, presented in the ER with pneumonia. He had sepsis by the
> time he went, and his kidney function was already compromised. He had only
felt
> sick for 4-5 days, so it was quite a suprise that he was so ill. His O2 level > was low, even with a mask on, and within 4 days he was in the ICU, and within
> another 2 he was diagnosed with ARDS. My deduction is that he had it within a > few days of admission, because they never could get his O2 level up to normal. > Fortunately, within just a few days of his admission, the sepsis cleared up
and
> his kidney function was restored. His labwork remains clear for those issues
at
> this time. My fear, of course, is that he will develop sepsis again, even
> though he is still on antibiotics for the pneumonia.
> I also wonder if he is in the appropriate facility. Yesterday, he dislodged
his
> endotracheal tube and had to be re-intubated. My opinion, based on everything
I
> have read in the last week, is that he should be in a coma-like state, and
> possibly on paralytics to prevent him from being able to move enough to do
that.
> In fact, he sounds like a good candidate for a tracheostomy, from what I have
> read. It worries me.
> Do you know of any Hospitals in Florida that have a lot of experience with
ARDS?
> He is in Ormond Beach.
> I live in Northern New Hampshire, and am flying down on Monday to stay for a
few
> days. I plan on saving the longer visits for times that my sister-in-law
really
> needs me, whether that is while he is still hospitalized or after he is home,
> recovering, God willing.
> I have worked in hospitals all
my
> life (In the financial area), and had never even heard of ARDS until last
week.
Posts: 541 | From: | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged
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Stacy
Junior Member
Member # 1351
Rate Member
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posted May 06, 2007 01:49 PM
Andrew is off the vent and on an O2 mask!! He is alert and talking to his wife, Kim, and our brother,Rick, right now!
Never in my wildest dreams did I even consider they would remove the tube completely today! Of course there is always the chance that it was premature and it will have to be put back in, but all of his tests so far today look really good!
He is still on some IV meds, but is starting to take some P.O. meds too....no problems with swallowing. He is hoarse, but I could hear him cutting up and laughing with Rick, and teasing Kim, so he is as "sassy as ever", as Kim put it.
He doesn't remember any of the last week except for some very strange dreams.
The docs say if he continues on this path, he will be moved out of ICU in 24 hrs. His 3 little girls haven't seen him in 11 days, so that will be wonderful for all of them.
Never underestimate the power of prayer! (and a really stubborn patient)
Thank you all for your support and prayers.
Stacy
Posts: 7 | From: | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged
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Stacy
Junior Member
Member # 1351
Rate Member
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posted May 14, 2007 02:58 PM
I am sorry I haven't kept you all in the loop. You have been wonderful to me, and you deserve to know what has been going on. I went to FL on 5/7; Andrew was still in ICU, and on 5.5 litres of O2, many IV meds, several ABGs a day, and only from bed-to-chair. We had a wonderful visit, and he really is his old self...I could not see any adverse effects of the ARDS, besides the physical.
I came home to NH on 5/10, and he was improving every day, but still in ICU. He was finally moved to a regular room last Sat, 5/12, and since then has been the ARDS recovery miracle of all time! In fact, I just got off the phone with him after an hour and a half conversation WITHOUT OXYGEN !!!! Andrew will hopefully be discharged in the next day or so, when his INR (he is on coumadin for a blood clot) level is where they want it. He will go home with portable O2, and a cane, and continue his physical therapy (he thinks, anyway) on his own in his pool and on his own exercise equipment.
He had no idea what he had been through, or anything about ARDS, until it was obvious that going to beat it....then he started asking me. Kim, his wife, admitted to me that she only read what she could handle at the time, and just couldn't bear to read any more, which I completely understand. I explained to Andrew what I had read, and he is very interested in helping to promote awareness with me and all my family and friends that are now wearing bracelets, and sporting magnets on their vehicles! He is just amazing, and I am so proud of him for working so hard! Thank you all again for all of your support and prayers. I will update again, if you are interested, as his recovery progresses.
Stacy
Posts: 7 | From: | Registered: May 2007 | IP: Logged
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UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
posted May 06, 2007 04:59 AM
posted May 16, 2007 03:33 AM
