JennifersHope
New member
THE LATEST UPDATE ON JOHN......
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2006 09:21 PM, CDT
So here is a more detailed update. As of right now, John is continuing to progress beautifully. He has no fever, they've weened him off of one blood pressure medication used to stabilize his BP and all of his systems are functioning at a level the doctors are pleased with. When I arrived this morning, I learned that overnight his temperature spiked up to a crazy amount: 107! Unbelievable. It's true, my stomach did a summersault and maybe contracted a bit but I peered intently at the nurses face to look for any signs of alarm or concern. She said the overnight attending physician quickly cooled him down using large pads placed on his body that pumped cold water through them. He also had cooled air pumped directly into his body through the ventilation tube so he wasn't at that temperature for any length of time. No one can explain why it happened. The doctor said he didn't think it was do to rejection nor due to sepsis just that it was an impressive thing and he thought it was an isolated incident. No one seemed worked up about it nor concerned that it did any permanent damage.
When I said good night to John this evening, I told him that he wasn't allowed to spike that kind of a fever any more and I think he took it to heart. I got a good hand squeeze in response.
So despite that temp last night, it came down and he returned to normal mid-day and remained so as of 9 p.m. this night. The big news now is that they are talking of weening him off of the ventilation starting tomorrow, gradually turning it down, seeing how his body responds, letting his new beautiful lungs learn how to take over. Talk about the sweetest, most meaningful birthday present ever. John is truly blowing people's expectation out of the water and with each passing hour, I am convinced that John will become the physicians and surgeons success story. They keep telling us to be 'prepared' for John to get really sick. Yeah, I get what really sick is, I am prepared. I saw him really sick. He wasn't going to last another week. I believe that whatever issue that may come up for John, he will tackle it with the same bull-dog tenacity that he did/does with his health care and hunger for life and come through with flying colors. No doubt.
I also know that the doctors will do everything and then some to make sure that John has the best chance. The family has such confidence in them, they are giving him the best they have, their hearts and souls and their brilliance. I am prepared for the worst but I am going to celebrate and revel and enjoy the best right now and just deal with whatever happens if and when it happens. My heart is so full of joy and peace that is full of momentum that can't be stopped. This is so much bigger now, I guess I am seeing that it always was bigger than I thought.
Happy Birthday John! You are my hero and my inspiration to live life brilliantly!
Thank you to everyone! We love you all!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2006 06:32 AM, CDT
As of last night at 8 p.m. John was doing beautifully. I of course can't stay with him anymore so I am across the street at the Radisson. There was an issue with his blood pressure being low but the doctors are pleased overall with the progress. When I said goodnight to him last night he actually looked peaceful and when I said his name last night he snapped open his eyes and smiled at me. It was a joyous moment.
I plan on heading over right now, but i will come back mid-day and post an update on Johns progress.
We couldn't have done any of this without the prayers from everyone. We love all of you.
I promise a more detailed update later. I am itching to get over there now........
I am eternally grateful.......
Jenny
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2006 07:47 AM, CDT
John has his new lungs. They are inflating and working beautifully. Right now, the surgeons are closing him up and we are waiting for the chief of surgeons to come out to give us details of the transplant. All night, I have been thinking of the donar and of the donars family as well, I can't imagine the pain they are going through. But I do know that the wonderful gift they have given to John is the most selfless act of love there is. We can't forget that or them. Soon John will be sent up to the ICU and he will be in a deep, deep sleep.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2006 04:08 AM, CDT
It's 4 a.m......John is in surgery now. They have put in all the lines that he needs and we've been told that the lungs are on the way. The procedure will be at least 8 hours and John will be "asleep" for at least 2 days.
I can't sleep. I am exhausted, but I can't sleep, so here I sit. How could I sleep? I want to experience everything about this whole thing. The exhaustion, the elation, the fear, the excitement, the family around. Everything. I have such a joy in my heart now and the thought that John will wake up on his birthday and take his first breath with new lungs fills me strength. I hold that vision in my heart and mind and send it to John.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 1 of 10 Total Entries: 46
1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Last
7480 VISITS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO CARE
EMAIL AUTHOR
jennyo_wisc@yahoo.com
TRIBUTE DONATIONS TO CARINGBRIDGE
Read the caring tributes in honor of John.
Make a donation to CaringBridge to help provide this service to others who may need similar support.
HOSPITAL INFORMATION
Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN
2450 Riverside Campus
Minneapolis, MN 55454
United States
THIS CARINGBRIDGE SITE SPONSORED BY:
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2006 09:21 PM, CDT
So here is a more detailed update. As of right now, John is continuing to progress beautifully. He has no fever, they've weened him off of one blood pressure medication used to stabilize his BP and all of his systems are functioning at a level the doctors are pleased with. When I arrived this morning, I learned that overnight his temperature spiked up to a crazy amount: 107! Unbelievable. It's true, my stomach did a summersault and maybe contracted a bit but I peered intently at the nurses face to look for any signs of alarm or concern. She said the overnight attending physician quickly cooled him down using large pads placed on his body that pumped cold water through them. He also had cooled air pumped directly into his body through the ventilation tube so he wasn't at that temperature for any length of time. No one can explain why it happened. The doctor said he didn't think it was do to rejection nor due to sepsis just that it was an impressive thing and he thought it was an isolated incident. No one seemed worked up about it nor concerned that it did any permanent damage.
When I said good night to John this evening, I told him that he wasn't allowed to spike that kind of a fever any more and I think he took it to heart. I got a good hand squeeze in response.
So despite that temp last night, it came down and he returned to normal mid-day and remained so as of 9 p.m. this night. The big news now is that they are talking of weening him off of the ventilation starting tomorrow, gradually turning it down, seeing how his body responds, letting his new beautiful lungs learn how to take over. Talk about the sweetest, most meaningful birthday present ever. John is truly blowing people's expectation out of the water and with each passing hour, I am convinced that John will become the physicians and surgeons success story. They keep telling us to be 'prepared' for John to get really sick. Yeah, I get what really sick is, I am prepared. I saw him really sick. He wasn't going to last another week. I believe that whatever issue that may come up for John, he will tackle it with the same bull-dog tenacity that he did/does with his health care and hunger for life and come through with flying colors. No doubt.
I also know that the doctors will do everything and then some to make sure that John has the best chance. The family has such confidence in them, they are giving him the best they have, their hearts and souls and their brilliance. I am prepared for the worst but I am going to celebrate and revel and enjoy the best right now and just deal with whatever happens if and when it happens. My heart is so full of joy and peace that is full of momentum that can't be stopped. This is so much bigger now, I guess I am seeing that it always was bigger than I thought.
Happy Birthday John! You are my hero and my inspiration to live life brilliantly!
Thank you to everyone! We love you all!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MONDAY, JULY 31, 2006 06:32 AM, CDT
As of last night at 8 p.m. John was doing beautifully. I of course can't stay with him anymore so I am across the street at the Radisson. There was an issue with his blood pressure being low but the doctors are pleased overall with the progress. When I said goodnight to him last night he actually looked peaceful and when I said his name last night he snapped open his eyes and smiled at me. It was a joyous moment.
I plan on heading over right now, but i will come back mid-day and post an update on Johns progress.
We couldn't have done any of this without the prayers from everyone. We love all of you.
I promise a more detailed update later. I am itching to get over there now........
I am eternally grateful.......
Jenny
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2006 07:47 AM, CDT
John has his new lungs. They are inflating and working beautifully. Right now, the surgeons are closing him up and we are waiting for the chief of surgeons to come out to give us details of the transplant. All night, I have been thinking of the donar and of the donars family as well, I can't imagine the pain they are going through. But I do know that the wonderful gift they have given to John is the most selfless act of love there is. We can't forget that or them. Soon John will be sent up to the ICU and he will be in a deep, deep sleep.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUNDAY, JULY 30, 2006 04:08 AM, CDT
It's 4 a.m......John is in surgery now. They have put in all the lines that he needs and we've been told that the lungs are on the way. The procedure will be at least 8 hours and John will be "asleep" for at least 2 days.
I can't sleep. I am exhausted, but I can't sleep, so here I sit. How could I sleep? I want to experience everything about this whole thing. The exhaustion, the elation, the fear, the excitement, the family around. Everything. I have such a joy in my heart now and the thought that John will wake up on his birthday and take his first breath with new lungs fills me strength. I hold that vision in my heart and mind and send it to John.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 1 of 10 Total Entries: 46
1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Last
7480 VISITS FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO CARE
EMAIL AUTHOR
jennyo_wisc@yahoo.com
TRIBUTE DONATIONS TO CARINGBRIDGE
Read the caring tributes in honor of John.
Make a donation to CaringBridge to help provide this service to others who may need similar support.
HOSPITAL INFORMATION
Fairview University Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN
2450 Riverside Campus
Minneapolis, MN 55454
United States
THIS CARINGBRIDGE SITE SPONSORED BY: