This is Liz writing for Terri. Unfortunately, my Dad had more serious complications yesterday and today resulting from the H1N1 flu he was diagnosed with on Tuesday. Yesterday he started having some difficulty keeping his oxygen level above 90, so he was started on oxygen through a mask. However, just like Dad, he had a positive attitude and was not complaining about any discomfort all day, which was leading his nurses and doctors to believe he was not as sick as he actually was. He did ok overnight with the mask, but today when I arrived around 9:30am his oxygen level was only 85% on the maximum amount of oxygen available on his floor. His nurse called the ICU to come and look at him, and when they checked the oxygen level in his blood it was only 50, which is very low. His chest xray from last night showed a lot of fluid in his lungs, both from the H1N1 flu and the resulting pneumonia. The ICU doctors made the decision to put a breathing tube in while he was still on the floor because they were worried he would not make it to the ICU without it. Once they got him over to the ICU, they had a very hard time getting him sedated enough (because he takes so many pain medications for the myeloma), and they also started having a hard time ventilating him on the ventilator and keeping his blood pressure high enough. They had to start him on medications to keep his blood pressure high enough, as well as play around with the ventilator to try to get his oxygen levels up high enough. He has been diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) which is a very very serious respiratory complication from the flu. He is medically paralyzed and sedated, so he is not able to talk to us or respond to us right now. The doctors and nurses are working very hard to stabilize him, but he is definitely in need of many prayers right now.
O great St. Peregrine, you have been called "The Mighty", the "The Wonder Worker" because of the numerous miracles which you obtained from God for those who have turned to you in their need. For so many years you bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being. You turned to God when the power of human beings could do no more, and you were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His cross to heal your affliction. I now ask God to heal my friend Bob, whom I entrust to you.
ReplyDeleteAided by your powerful intercession, I shall sing with Mary a hymn of gratitude to God for His great goodness and mercy.
Amen.
Thinking of you guys and praying for strength for all of you! love, heidi, jey and bjorn
ReplyDeleteContinuing to keep all of you in my prayers for a quick recovery from this bump in the road. I pray for God to lay His hand on Bob and heal his body and to bring comfort during this time for his family.
ReplyDeleteLiz - Can you post an update? We are all very concerned... Please let your Dad know we are all thinking of him and praying for his recovery.
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