Daves Journey Takes Another turn…..

Morning…

I wanted to share the latest with you all, so here is the latest entry from our Caringbridge Journal:

Good Evening all!

I have been thinking to myself how much I needed to update the journal, and so, I guess it’s time to let everyone know the latest with Dave.

There is so much to tell, and so many details, so I will do my best to try to explain it all as simple as I can.

Friday, July 16th turned out to be the begining of a very long and scary week. Dave went to work as he normally did, kissed me good bye like he always has, but he seemed VERY tired. Around 10:00 that morning, he sent me an email telling me that he was fighting the urge to throw up. I called him, and he tells me that he is going to go home. About 10 minutes later, a lady named Pam that works with Dave called me from his cell phone telling me that they just found Dave passed out in his office, and was burning up with a fever. I quickly left my office, and headed to get him. As I put him in the car, it was pretty apparent that he was lethargic, he could not stay awake. I decided to bypass the local hospitals, as we all know that Dave’s condition was one that was rare, and only the Docs at Barnes were familar with him. I drove straight to Barnes, as fast as I could, and he slept the entire trip. I called up to Doc Hawk’s assistant and she immediately made arrangements for Dave to be admitted, allowing us to bipass the emergency room. Once we arrived, he was taken straight up to a room. His temp was 104, and his blood pressure was very low, and unstable. His Docs decided that he needed to be in ICU. He was moved to ICU that evening, and was given the following tests:

a rainbow of bloodwork
EKG
chest exray
CT scan
ultrasound of his abdomen and legs
MRCP scan

He was given 2 units of blood, plasma, and platelets. His port was removed, as it was determined that it was infected. He had a central line placed in the other side of his neck. He also had a PIC line placed in his arm. He was given oxygen as well.

His liver was apirated by a needle that drew fluid from a lesion on his liver that was believed to be the cause of the severe infection leading to sepsis. The culture from the liver was tested, and it was determined that there were no cancer cells in the fluid.

As we waited for all these results of all these tests, Dave was not able to eat. It seemed that there was test after test, and procedure after procedure. Here is the final report of what we were told.

Doc Hawk reports to us that he has a blockage in one of the four bile ducts that Doc created for him last year when he did his liver resection. This tiny blockage caused the bile to back up, and leak into his stomach. This bile caused a lesion to form on his liver, and this caused an infection which lead to the blood infection, known as sepsis. The blood infection caused Dave to have 3 blood clots. One in his liver, which Doc says is ok. There was another at the top of his leg. But the one that scared us, was the one in his vena cava (a blood vessel) that was heading toward his lungs. This blood clot, we are told is life threatening, and he must have a filter placed in the vessel to act as an umbrella to catch the clot if it breaks up and heads to the lungs.

This day is July 19th, our 3rd day at Barnes. I will remember this date, as it would have been my dads birthday, and every year, it is tough for me. As Doc is telling us this news, and we are both just sitting there stareing at him, Dave starts to panic. He had just returned from the VIR (Vascular Intervention Radiology) Docs and had a drain tube and bag placed in his side to drain the fluid that was continuing to fill up in the lesion on his liver. Now, they are telling him he must return back down there to have this filter placed in his blood vessel. He begins to shake uncontrolably. I am trying to hold him, to keep him from coming off the bed. He tells me he is scared, we both are. Not only had Doc told us about these clots, he shared with us his thoughts on this blockage. Doc tells us, “I always told you I would be honest with you.” He tells us that this blockage is one of two things. It could be damage from the radiation, such as scar tissue, or the cancer has returned. WHAT??? Did he just say the cancer had returned??? He tells us that he has reviewed all of the tests, and at this point, he does not know for sure what it is, and won’t until Dave can be scanned again, and a scope done to see. He says for now, we have to get rid of the infection, and the clots, then we will see what the next plan of action is. Doc leaves the room, and Dave and I just sat there, saying nothing. Dave still shaking, and me fighting the urge to not cry. I had been in St. Louis alone since driving him there, spending my days at his side, and my nights alone, crying and praying alot. I looked at Dave and said…”He said he is not sure.” “We have to go with that.”

As they take Dave down for the next procedure, I had to get some air. As I head down the elevator to the main lobby, crying, I run into Doc Hawk. He sees me, and grabs me into a hallway. He tells me again, that we don’t know anything right now. He tells me that if it is a tumor that he can fix it. He tells me it is in an area that he can easily remove, that he does not need that part of his liver. He hugs me, and tells me to just take it one step at a time. I asked him, how long are we gonna wait. He tells me 2 to 3 months, we will scan, and see what is going on, but first we have to get him strong enough for a surgery. I felt better hearing that Doc could repair it, as I knew that the only chance to survive this disease was surgery.

I go back upstairs to wait for Dave, and as he comes in the room, I tell him about my second talk with Doc Hawk. He seems better, and is not shaking anymore. He seems encouraged and hopeful. We are told that he must continue with IV antibiotics, and this drain tube in order to get rid of the infection. The infection was fast growing, and the antibiotics he would be given were very strong in order to fight it off. It seems that Dave has been getting very sick for some time.

He is discharged on Wednesday, July 21st, with the orders to have IV antibiotics at home for 2 weeks, and must come home with the drain tube. He also has to get his blood thin so that these clots will dissapate. He will be given shots in his belly twice a day and will be taking blood thinner meds. He will also be taking antibiotic meds. He will have a home health nurse come to the house twice a week to draw blood, and check on his drain tube. And….yes, Nurse Beth has to come out of retirement…now where did I put that nurses hat?? HA! So, he is home, and our days go something like this:

5:30 am IV antibiotics
11:30 am IV antibiotics and I give him a shot in his belly.
I am working from 12 to 5 everyday to save on my work time.
5:30 pm IV antibiotics, and meds
11:30 pm IV antibiotics and shot in his belly, and meds.

I am also draining his drain tube bag, and measuring what is coming out of it every other day.

This has been our routine for the last week, and it will continue into next week. We are scheduled to head back to St. Louis on Friday August 6th to see the VIR docs to check out the drain tube and the clots, and then we see Doc Hawk for a follow up in the afternoon.

Now, after all that…How is Dave doing now? He is resting. He pretty much kicks back in his recliner, and takes it easy. He is tolerating everything very well, even my belly shots. His spirits are good, but again we find our faith shaken. We are scared of course, the waiting game, and the wondering…nights are tough. He has gotten many calls and visits from family that has helped to encourage him on.

It’s hard not to get caught up in the what if’s. All we can do is have faith and hope. This man I married, is in fact superman. He continues to dodge all these bullets, and continues to endure things that only the strong can survive. As I sat there with him that week, I thought of last year, and that horrible surgery and wondered to myself, how in the world I could go through that again?? But then I thought of how I got through it before, all those prayer warriors, and God, that is what got us through. Whatever bumps are in the road ahead, we will endure.

I read a scripture recently in the book of Mark 9:24 It says, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!” I guess that is what I am trying to do now, not let my faith falter. I ask God to continue to give me the strength to carry those pom poms, being Dave’s cheerleader, and to wear that nurses hat, getting him stronger to endure whatever the journey has in store for us next.

I ask you to continue to pray for our family, our children, and for Dave.

I will update all after our Doc appointment on Friday.

I love you all!