Tuesday – Thursday

I don’t have much time and the computer connection I am on keeps failing. I will try to update you as much as I can, but things change so rapidly I can’t keep up.

 

Tuesday – She has severe headaches, face was numb and drooped as if a stroke. No stroke – thought it was bells-palsie. This was ruled out.

Wednesday – She has had paralysis of the left side of her face and has lost vision in her left eye. Her eyelid will not open. CT scan showed possible bleeding in the brain. Taken for MRI. In severe pain, but not allowed pain meds so they would know if her condition was caused by meds or problems in the brain

Thursday – MRI showed no bleeding in the brain, but she has an infection in the brain and a blood clot. The clot is located in the vein that would draw the blood out of the brain and since this is clogged, her brain is swelling.

They are giving her blood thinners in hopes to break up the clot, but they also have to give her platellets so her blood WILL clot… too long to explain all of this.. Needs the platellets because of her blood counts from the chemo/transplant.. needs the blood thinners for the clot. A catch 22

The doctors have told us she is not a candidate for surgery to remove the clot. They don’t do it anywhere in Michigan.. only 200 hospitals in the country do this.. and in the words of the surgeon “Quite frankly you will not find a surgeon in the country who will take her case”. She is too high risk because of her condition with the transplant, no immune system, needing platellets, etc. At this point they said our only hope was that the blood thinners would work. A team has been put together to discuss what else might be done, but they have ruled out surgery.

Later found the infection spreading in the brain and took her to emergency surgery to try to open up the sinus, drain some of the infection and allow it to be open enough for the antiobiotics to reach her brain. I was worried about her not having a mask on, not being in a hepa filtered room, etc. and I was told “Right now we have bigger fish to fry. We’re trying to save her life” and then they rushed her to surgery.

Dad was told right now this is what they can try to do and the only other thing that can be done is to pray.

Kerrie seemed a little more alert last night, so we are hoping but we know the reality. They have finally given her pain meds and trying to keep her comfortable.

Although one doctor disagrees, most of the doctors have told us the vision loss and paralysis to the face is probably permanent. We can worry, later, about reconstructive surgery on her face.

I will not be able to post, most likely, so please check the gallery section for updates from our family. To post means I have to leave Kerrie.

Our family appreciates everyone concern and love for all of use, but we are asking that people do not come to the hospital at this time. We know everyone means well, and we truly love you for it, but right now we need to be with Kerrie. Kerrie does not have a phone in her room and we cannot have our phones on while we are with her. We will call our family when we can and ask that they update in the gallery.

 

Please pray.

 

Jenn and Ron