We've finally made it home! The hospital released us this evening at 6 p.m. after a grueling day of waiting. Thank you for praying so faithfully for us this past week. Those truly sustained us!!!!
This morning began with Mike taking two more additional IV treatments of antibiotics, to help nip in the bud, whatever infection might be brewing. He'll continue with Levaquin pills for 7 more days. We were told the results of the cultures should be back tomorrow, so if there is anything additional going on, I'm sure they will contact us.
Disappointingly, we returned home with Mike on full oxygen. Mike was tested today how far down the hallway he could walk without the aide of oxygen. The passing level was suppose to be 88, but Mike dipped to 86. So we had to be processed and instructed on using oxygen in our home. At first, we didn't think it was any big deal, because we had been using this small, shoulder type canister at the hospital, to take walks down the hallway with, when we weren't hooked up to the wall unit. But, we were told this kind of hook up wouldn't work for Mike right now outside of the hospital because it would only dispense puffs of oxygen, and Mike needed steady flows of oxygen. So, tonight we're trying to adjust to a large, heavy canister in our home, with a lengthy hose attached to it, in a two story house. We have a portable canister on wheels, but it is at least 36 inches tall, and is recommended to be only be used when we're out and about.
Adjustment to all of this is a huge prayer request this evening. We went to Baptist last Tuesday hoping to just have stints replaced and life to return to our new normal. But instead, Mike has come home with two tubes and bags coming out of his liver, and a lengthy piece of tubing strapped to his face to breathe from, and a bunch more attached to a tank he keeps tripping over. It's shaking him to the core right now. We'll make the adjustments. We just need a little prayer and time.
There is still dampness in the lower right lung which might be causing this problem. If that is from the procedure, or the draining of Mike's lungs later, it would only be temporary, and easy enough to wait out. But it was also mentioned that this new problem, in addition to Mike's low blood pressure, could be heart related, and that isn't news we want. You probably can see how easily we can become overwhelmed, dealing with so many issues.
The plan for now is Mike will see Dr. Sneed in a week. I don't know if treatments will resume, or if we'll just agree to head on down to MD Anderson. Medical records, etc., are already being sent to MD Anderson, so MD Anderson will take a peek and see if they want to consult with us further. If so, the timing is shooting around the last week of August. The liver surgeon there is on vacation until August 14Th. If MD Anderson doesn't think they can offer us anything, then we will further investigate any other place that will. Another possibility is Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, which has a good cancer program...and who might be willing to try some new study, etc. If that also fails, then the radiologist we've been working with at Baptist has recommended a procedure done by a doctor in Dallas, which might be less evasive, but more often.
As you can imagine, Mike, the kids, and I, are completely exhausted. Our children have shouldered responsibilities where Mike and I left off, even though they already had so much on their plate.
Thank you for your phone calls, visits to the hospital, cards, words and prayers of encouragement. You have made us feel loved and cared about. Please continue to trust God with us, for the tumor to continue to shrink, and an answer to this blockage problem.
"But Christ, God's faithful Son, is in complete charge of God's house. And we Christians are God's house-He lives in us!-if we keep up our courage firm to the end, and our joy and our trust in the Lord." Hebrews 3:6
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