A recap of the last several days....

Erin here again.

Here is a recap of some of the mini-updates circulated amongst some of the family to keep you up a little bit. You get a variety of fonts as I cut and paste from various media on my iPad!

May 15 - Another Procedure

Docs in.  Billirubin up.  Will have external drain inserted today if they can get him on schedule.

[Later]

John had procedure today, finally after 5:00p and waiting since 1:30p in prep room....long story and I'm [Joyce] too tired.  Unfortunately they were unsuccessful at putting in the external drain to his liver.  The bile duct was not dialated enough to insert the tubing.

So need to wait to see if stent starts being more productive or billirubin goes up even more and therefore duct is more dialated so the tubing can be inserted.  Maybe try again Monday or Tuesday.

May 18

Will try inserting external drain in liver again today.  No scheduled time yet.  Because of tumor difficult to get in.  Praying for success with minimal associated problems.

More info....Dr will be Dr. Curry, radiologist.  Will come to John's room to discuss with us before procedure.  Procedure sometime after 1:00. [Note, was moved to next day so could use the anesthesiologist we wanted to use.]

May 19

Today's procedure has finally finished. Lasted about 3 times the expected. One tube was inserted that should drain 60-70% of liver (bile has been building up). The stent was previously draining the other part, but poorly. Unfortunately, as predicted might happen, the stent was hit today and had to be removed. It's up to Dr. Reid (the liver doctor) when and if will be reinserted. They were also planning to put in a 2nd tube if possible, but that is blocked by Dad's anatomy (nothing to do with the cancer, just how he's built). Dad will be in quite a bit of pain due to all the "rooting around" done in there today, but hopefully we'll see good reduction in the bilirubin levels.

May 21

Last night about 10:30 John was taken to the ICU. His blood pressure had dropped significantly. He has a low grade infection. He has been given blood and antibiotics. As of this morning, his BP was almost normal. He is now talking and  alert.  Joyce and Deb spent the night. 

[later]

Hi, I [John's sister Becky] just talked to Joyce.  She said that John is stable and alert.

May 24

Hello all,

Joyce called about 8:00 AM and said John not doing well with difficulty breathing and a number of miscellaneous problems. (John has been in ICU since Thursday).

I [John's Brother Dan] went down about 9:00 AM and visited; they hooked up a different breathing machine to make John more comfortable and get the oxygen level back up.

John also has VRE that is a hospital acquired infection from what I understand. [Note, it is actually an infection caused from stirring up the bile already in his body, a very dirty environment. - Erin]

I checked in with Joyce about 12:40. Erin is on the river in Western Colorado and has been out of cell coverage, but they connected and Erin will be flying in once a flight is arranged.

Please keep John, Joyce and Erin in your prayers.

May 25, approx 6:30p

No real change overnight, though he did sleep very soundly - a relief to Mom. I (Erin) am here now, and he definitely knew who I was and reached forward to hug me. Oxygen levels are good right now, and they've actually been able to reduce the flow of it. Kidneys are only functioning about 15%. He also keeps getting hiccups - to which Mom and I aren't as sympathetic as many of the others, as he has been known to make quite fun of our own hiccups in the past. After a few sets, I said, "Oh, I hiccup so much louder than that!" And he let out a really big one. He's now really part of the family. 

Having a lot of trouble swallowing so they have inserted a feeding tube. He also likes chomping on ice cubes, which one of the nurses has flavored with grape juice. He needs a little of this any time he wants to talk. Doesn't "chit chat" but he perks up to say hello and goodbye to most people as they visit.