GI appt., ID tomorrow, PICC OK, Family Fund

Denise got out of the skilled nursing facility to see the GI doctor today. He was encouraged by how much progress she's made since the feeding tube was put in. He also thinks that based on the info we have, it does appear that SMAS was the problem, and putting on more weight via tube feedings will eventually correct the problem of throwing food back up. She did have two vomiting episodes today. That's been unusual, as the last few days she's had either one emesis or none at all. She weighed in at 91 pounds with clothes on a couple days ago, then 93.5 with clothes & shoes today. He noted an enlarged liver (been that way ever since USC, at least), and wondered if the cocci might still be present there.
We've got an appointment with the infectious disease doctor tomorrow. That's very important, and she'll probably be followed by I.D. doctors and be on antifungal meds for life. While at USC, one of the doctors said that Denise was the only woman that he could find record of that survived going through the third trimester of pregnancy with a disseminated cocci infection that went to the brain. So her case might get written up in medical journals and the info used to hopefully increase the chances of survival for any other unfortunate pregnant women that go through what Denise went through.
Also tomorrow, we're running Denise over to the Costco for an eye exam and some glasses. We hope she has the energy after her ID appointment. Our hope is that a new prescription for glasses will help her vision somewhat.
The PICC line problem that crept up the other day has been resolved. It might not have been clogged, but might have been blocked by migrating up against a blood vessel. I guess that they can be twisted, pulled, and I don't know what all else, resulting in temporary blockage. More twisting and pulling probably fixes the problem, too. Anyway, we want that PICC line to remain in service because Denise is still having some electrolyte problems from time to time (calcium too high, mag too low).

I've refrained from mentioning the following information in the blog, and am hesitant even now. A couple months ago my school set up the Williams Family Fund for Denise to help with the extra expenses that have come up since the hospital stay started. Those expenses are mounting. If you are so lead, there's a link on the right-hand side of this web page that will give you more information about the fund. And that's the end of my shameless plug. :O)

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