Dad in ICU

I'm home for a few days while Mom stays. Dad is better in some ways, but everything is hinging on whether or not his liver recovers. He is breathing on his own but still unconscious. He is still on dialysis; his kidneys are out of the loop for now.

The doctors don't know how bad his liver is right now and are watching it. he is very jaundiced and the numbers are tracking the wrong way, but they are tracking very slowly. The doctors said that this is actually good in that it gives his liver more time to come around. At least it isn't just up and quitting.

Unfortunately the doctors say that there is nothing they can do for his liver should it fail. He is not a candidate for a transplant and, even though I have offered to give him part of mine, they say he would be able to handle the surgery. For now we are playing the waiting game and praying hard.

Thank you all for your continued prayer. Prayer has gotten him this far already.

 

I am getting ready to head back up to Vanderbilt for a few days. I just noticed that I hadn't posted an update... sorry about that.

Mom says that Dad is waking up. He is focusing on people, recognizes her, and can answer questions by nodding or shaking his head. His white count is almost down to normal. His liver levels have begun to improve thankfully. Yesterday she said he was running a little bit of a fever but didn't mention this morning (I was outside working when she called and my wife didn't think to ask). His right arm was looking angry and was tender... he had a a bad case of cellulitis on that arm when the necrotizing fasciitis was happening but it had cleared up so it might be coming back.

My mom tends to whitewash stuff and put the best picture on it, so I won't know exactly what's going on until I see the doctors on rounds tomorrow.

Thank you all for the prayer and please keep it up. Once we get him home we are going to have to get him healthy and (hopefully) into church.

 

I am headed back to Nashville to relieve Mom. She said Dad has developed a secondary infection and it's not looking good. He still has not regained consciousness, either.

 

Thank you all for the prayers.

My dad went to be with the Lord at 8:38 on the evening of September 4. He went peacefully, surrounded by family.