More good news than bad! :O)

After a few downer days, I was glad to hear so much more positive than negative from the Doctor today!

The negative (ain't much):
Still very sick, of course. Critical.
Still trying to control fever (from infection and/or medication)
Lung x-ray looks about the same (not showing improvement).
She's diabetic. This may be caused by becoming permanently diabetic after gestational diabetes, or by the SoluMedrol steroid that she started yesterday. They're starting her on an insulin drip.

The positive:
No more air leak in the lung. They're keeping the chest tube in anyway, because lightning can strike twice as long as she's on a ventilator.
No more acidosis.
Sodium is approaching normal.
Spinal tap results are in, and show no growth of nasty things. No menengitis.
Overall, she's stable.
She's not on a one-to-one care status anymore (she's better enough to warrant sharing a nurse with another patient).
The hospital is trying to procure a special ventilator from City of Hope (as posted yesterday). Specifically, the one they want will show optimal PEEP and help them get Denise healed.

The doctor rightly perceived that I've been concerned (obsessing?) about the oxygen concentration going between small fluctuations, like 55% yesterday morning and going back up to 60% again in the evening. He said that the range they're working in is different than going from 75% to 100%. The 5% fluctuations in this range aren't nearly the concern that larger fluctuations are, and at higher concentrations. It's encouraging to me to have this understanding. Also, I noticed that 2 days ago, Denise was at 55% for only a few hours. Yesterday, she tolerated 55% for over half the day. So I'm hoping that the trend of tolerating lower oxygen for longer periods will continue.

Denise's white blood cell count is down to a normal range. This could mean that the infection is subsiding. Or it could be an effect of the Albecet or SoluMedrol. They can mask & mimic each other.

She's on an IV iron drip. They're going to start her on a weekly Procrit treatment. That's supposed to boost marrow production of blood cells (and get that hemoglobin delivering oxygen to her body better).

Thanks for the incredible support network you all are. I, along with Denise's folks and my folks, are humbled by all the caring words and offers of practical help (oh, yes, I'll be contacting you!). And we're flabbergasted (now THERE'S a word I've always heard but never typed before) at how many people that we don't even know are pulling for my wife.

Finally, there's a waiting game. I've been advised by a few people with medical background that I have to be patient and not get discouraged. At this point in the healing process, we just have to wait & see. Things might not change enough from day to day to be news-worthy. So if I start to skip a day here & there with these updates, don't be alarmed. Make use of that link to receive an email when I post a new update. Send an encouraging email to Denise's hospital room (they print 'em out on decorative paper; I read them all to her and post every one on the wall). Learn more about Valley Fever. I think I'll start to finally respond to all your emails & phone calls. Above all else, please keep Denise in your thoughts & prayers during the coming long haul toward healing.

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