Sunday, March 08, 2009


The bottom line is, there's not much to tell. Ian is still teetering on a precipice. He's still critically ill, still on a ventilator, still on a haemofilter machine, still unconcious. However, there have been a few minor improvements which I will explain now.

I have been assured by a nurse that his youth is a big plus in his favour.  Today I got to talk to a consultant anaesthetist (I also spoke to him a couple of days ago so today was an update) and I feel more confident that he is now on the right treatment. He is less concerned about him today than he was on Friday. I won't go into minute detail about his condition but he is now able to maintain his platelet level better, his nutrient absorption has improved slightly, his oxygen absorption has improved a bit, he's able to maintain a steady heart rate and blood pressure on his own meaning they've been able to reduce the dose of cardiovascular support drugs he's on which has improved his circulation and his hands and feet are now nice and warm. He's been given one lot of immunoglobulins to correct his immune response and reduce the severe inflammatory condition going on inside his body and this seems to be doing the trick, so he's scheduled for more today. The cardiologists are not concerned about his heart, and I have been advised that there is no reason why his heart and kidneys should not make a full recovery.

I've still been warned it go the other way, but he is young and strong (or was strong before he took ill) so I have to have hope and every little improvement is a step in the right direction. As long as he can keep taking baby steps towards getting better I am satisfied.

It is truly amazing to watch the ITU staff at work, monitoring him 24 hours a day, tweaking this, altering that, all the time supporting his system to keep him alive while he tries to heal himself.

I've been trying to think of a way to show my appreciation if he gets through this. Somehow, a tin of biscuits just doesn't cut it. Any ideas?

Posted via email from MrsFirestarter's posterous

36 Comments:

  1. MadPriest said...
    Stand for parliament. Become Prime Minister and give the nursing and auxiliary staff of our hospitals a decent wage for what they do.
    June Butler said...
    Lisa, I'm pleased to hear of the small improvements in Ian's condition. I'll continue to pray for him and for you, too.

    MadPriest is right about the support staff in hospitals. They do the bulk of the work and are not rewarded as they should be. I sent flowers to the staff at the hospital who cared for my mother so well - just a thought. Of course, you could run for office.
    Anonymous said...
    Gift baskets? Sometimes they aren't cheap, but if you can possibly swing a couple of nice gift baskets, it would be something.

    Can't take the entire hospital to lunch, can you?

    Still cheering for Ian!
    Anonymous said...
    By the way, I'm curious - is all this paid for by the National Health?

    Americans need to know. It might give us some ideas for fixing our healthcare system.

    If this happened to Joe, I have no idea how this would be paid for. He has no health insurance at all right now.
    Anonymous said...
    As ordered by MP, I'm here continuing the prayers for Ian and you and all concerned.
    Anonymous said...
    Prayers continue for you and Ian.
    Anonymous said...
    Lisa, still praying here in California for you and Ian. MadPriest is keeping us all informed.

    susan s.
    Brother David said...
    Prayers still offered Lisa for you and Ian.
    Anonymous said...
    Continuing prayers, Lisa, with thanksgiving for the improvements.

    Have they ever been able to give you an (understandable!) diagnosis?
    it's margaret said...
    Lisa--sending strong and patient thoughts and prayers your way.

    I accidentally threw a doublewide refrigerator on my beloved about five years ago --it busted his colon, but we didn't know it...he leaked colon stuff into his gut for a week---he was ten days in ICU.... coma, IV straight to the heart to deliver the meds there... all of it....

    I still haven't gotten through all the appreciative gifts yet --but each one I dream up is better than the last....

    Hang in there. Hang in there.
    God bless you both.
    Paul said...
    Dear Lisa, you and Ian are in our prayers. May his young body recover, and soon. And may you both be surrounded by love to go with that good professional care.
    Unknown said...
    MP, I couldn't stand the responsibility of being Prime Minister! I might be able to make it better for the nurses but I'm bound to seriously screw up elsewhere!

    Tracie, yes it's paid for by the NHS. Oddly enough, I was just talking about this today with my parents ... it turns out that one bottle of immunoglobulins costs £30,000. And he's on the second bottle now. My mother commented that if we were in the USA we would all as a family be in huge financial trouble.

    JCF - there is no specific diagnosis. He is symptomatic of several things so he is being treated for all of them. However, they have not been able to isolate one single condition. He apparently has had a combination of things go wrong and his system simply couldn't cope with it all and went into shock.

    Everybody else - thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. I'm completely crap at all this thank you stuff, but knowing that there are people everywhere who think about Ian even they've never met him or know anything about him other than he is my husband, who pray for him and encourage him to be well is deeply humbling.
    Göran Koch-Swahne said...
    Prayers continuing!
    Anonymous said...
    God bless you and Ian, Lisa, and God bless the NHS and those high-class immunoglobulins which are bound to do the trick. Prayers continuing.
    Jane R said...
    Dear Lisa (and dear Ian),
    We prayed for Ian today in Greensboro, North Carolina. Glad to hear there is some small progress. I'm sure Ian's youth, your love, and the excellent nursing and medical care are all helping. May the Holy Comforter be with you!
    Cany said...
    You bet... what Goran said... prayers continuing. And take care of yourself, too!
    JimB said...
    Lisa,

    You do fine on the 'thank you stuff." Besides you bother to say thanks. You would be amazed how many never do. The tale of Jesus healing ten lepers and being thanked by one was optimistic.

    Prayers continue including at mass this morning.

    FWIW
    jimB
    David@Montreal said...
    Lisa
    prayers and practice continuing for you and Ian here

    David@Montreal
    David@Montreal said...
    Lisa
    prayers and practice for you and Ian continuing daily here in Montreal
    Sara said...
    Another day of prayers and concern here. Please take a little time to take care of yourself as well. Eat, drink, play with the dog and try to sleep.
    Song in my Heart said...
    Still praying for both of you.
    Kay & Sarah said...
    Continuing to offer prayers for you and Ian. Hope the improvements continue.
    Kevin said...
    Prayers are ongoing. I even added Ian to the intercessions at Church today.
    Brian R said...
    Prayers continuing downunder in Australia and prayers of thanks for any hopeful signs.
    I am sure the hospital staff will be satisfied with a word of thanks and perhaps some sweet treat that can be shared, they are wonderful people.
    Anonymous said...
    Continued prayers.

    KJ
    Anonymous said...
    Prayers continuing from Seattle, too.

    --sheila--
    terri c said...
    Prayers still ascending, for you both. This has got to be so hard but glad to hear there are some improvements.
    Rev. Richard Thornburgh said...
    Been lurking and following the news .. and am another part of the prayer chain.
    Anonymous said...
    Prayers continue for Ian to heal, morning and night! And for God to send you strength to cope Lisa...I can only imagine!
    Revd. Neal Terry said...
    Still thinking on you.
    Remember MP and I are not a million miles away if you need someone present to rage at.
    Counterlight said...
    Still praying for Ian in New York.
    Unknown said...
    [Remember MP and I are not a million miles away if you need someone present to rage at.]

    Oooo, don't tempt me!
    Anonymous said...
    Just looking in to see if there was other news.

    Hang in there, missy.

    Still hoping that the next thing we hear from you is "He's HOME!"

    Let's get that positive visual in our heads and make it a reality, eh?
    Anonymous said...
    Lisa, Prayers ascending for you, Ian and his entire medical team. Marilyn
    Unknown said...
    Tracie ... unfortunately there isn't going to be any 'he's home' for a long, long time. I have been advised that for every 24 hours you spend in ITU you can expect to spend a week in recovery. Today is the eleventh day.
    Anonymous said...
    ((((((Lisa)))))))) Continuing to pray for Ian's recovery and for strength for you.

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