In trouble, really need your prayer power

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm sitting in Nan's recliner tonight, she is resting upstairs and facing real challenges. On Sat I emailed Dr. Meng regarding Nan's low urine output, more emails back and forth on sunday and he agreed in principle to putting a picc line back in her arm, to back up hydration to get more fluid to the kidneys and to a blood test on monday.

We went to Brentwood this morning for blood test, the lady did a very good job with little pain to Nan. Dr. had asked for Stat so in 4 hours they had the results and so did we. Mixed results, creatines were 3.74, very high and has to be addressed. Hematocrit was 33, highest it has been since Boston due to the recent transfusions, white count was up a bit, potassium was down a bit. Nan says a nurse from Dr. Mengs office called this afternoon to tell her the results and to say eat a banana for the potassium.

Our big problem is this, with two high power antibiotics going in pill form Nan's GI tract is in rebellion. We have had this before. So everything she eats or drinks comes right back up in a little while. We just tried Gatoraide a few minutes ago and it stayed put for 30 minutes, then back up with a vengence. So we have a situation where the only for sure outcome is dehydration since she can't keep fluids in, high volume out colostomy, almost nothing out kidneys, no food can stay in so no nutrition.

As I was driving home tonight I tried to reach someone at Sutter Delta Hospital to see if the picc line had been ordered yet, could not get to anyone who knew, I tried Dr. Mengs office, got message machines but no answers. I am changing my schedule for tomorrow and staying nearby so I can take her to get the picc line when they call and to urge Crescent to get iv fluids out here as soon as there is a picc line to use. Also I am asking if the antibiotics can be changed to be used through the picc line instead of Nan's GI. So in a couple days if all goes well we will have Nan in a much better place, fluids going in, antibiotes going in the picc line and hopefully her system will respond with better creatines, calmer stomach and once again being able to eat whole food. I could have guessed that this would be the outcome but the medical people seemed so confident that all would be well when we checked out of the hospital. They are good people but don't know Nan as well as she and I do.

Tonight Nan is resting, just trying to lie low so as not to upset her touchy system. She told me that she has been able to sip a tiny bit of water a little at a time during the day and the pinch test on her arm does not seem to show dehydration yet but we know it is coming.

Nan is not unhappy, just does not feel well right now. She has so much courage and a strong faith that things do work out per God's plan. Yet this is so hard for her. One day she is up and doing a bit of shopping, the next flat on her back in distress. The blood workup only confirmed what we both expected, how can the creatines not go up when there is only 10% of the normal meager output.

We seek your prayers tonight, that God will help the orders to get to Anita at Sutter Delta and that she will be able to find time to insert the picc line, then that orders will get to Crescent Home Health and that the supplies can get here quickly. I'll drive anywhere to facilitate things but I think they have to use their own delivery system.

I really appreciate Loree and Steve helping keep clients happy. They have both worked very hard this past 10 days. We also pray that the checks will continue so we can make payroll, house payment, car payment, health insurance, now over $1,000 a month. I tell you, I would never have believed that we could cope with as much stress as we do, yet we have happy moments and are very grateful that Nan is home in her own bed with Starr and Moomoo watching over her.

So my friends, join with Nan and me in prayer please. Include Sharon and Pam too as they are both battling health issues right now.

love

tim and nan