A Little Bump in the Road

In the past few days Kevin has said that a few people have asked him why the blog hasn't been updated.  I could give a whole bunch of reasons, but really I thought that maybe people had heard enough from me, but thanks for making me feel good and asking.  Kevin took it into his own hands and gave me something to write about.  Sitting in a hospital room watching fluids drip over the next few days gives me lots of time to write.  Don't be alarmed.  Kevin's admission to the hospital is completely precautionary.  Any little symptom that is presented to the doctors is immediately reacted too.  Let me go back a couple of weeks and tell you what has happened.  A couple of visits ago, Kevin showed the doctor some little tiny red spots on his fingers.  This prompted the doctors to take a blood culture.  The next day, which was a Saturday, the clinic called and told him that he had a bacteria and needed to come into the clinic everyday for the next 10 days and get an antibiotic drip to fight the bacteria.  So to the hospital we headed.  We went back again on Sunday and then to the clinic on Monday for a visit.  They continued to watch the blood culture and to their the surprise the culture didn't grow.  They took 6 different bottles and only one grew and only a very little bit, so they began to think they had some type of a contaminant from an exterior source and he really didn't have a bacteria.  So on that Monday they took another culture to see if there really was a bacteria, but he would need to continue with the antibiotic for at least 5 days while the new culture would grow.  The easy way to receive the antibiotic would be from home healthcare.  So later that day home healthcare came with the supplies and the nurse to train us on how to hook up the drip through Kevin's central line at home.  A little more nurse training for me.  Because of some bowel symptoms the doctors had thought about giving Kevin his magnesium through the line daily instead of a pill.  Since we were now trained we could do both.  So we started administering the antibiotic and the magnesium at home through the central line.  It is actually pretty amazing.  The drug comes in a small bottle that contains a small pump that when hooked up to his line then pumps the medicine through the line.  No big infusion pump that you need at the hospital.  We finished the antibiotic, even though there was no bacteria after all and we have continued the magnesium through the line.  This solved the bowel problem and so everything was good.  And then Wednesday, the bowel problem returned with a pretty good vengeance.  Of course you think, what did I eat, but after 3 days, clearly it wasn't food and today when Kevin reported his changes Dr. Hoda was a little concerned.  He looked at Kevin and said I want to admit you to the hospital for the weekend and then he paused.  It was a long pause while he waited for a response from Kevin.  I think Kevin thought he was joking, unfortunately he wasn't.  Kevin tried to talk his way out of it, but he knew that really wasn't going to work.  As I have said before, no symptom goes without investigation.  Why the hospital?  Dr. Hoda wants Kevin off all food and liquid for 3 days.  In order to do this, he needs to receive an IV drip at the hospital.  That's why we are here.  In addition they will test for any bacteria and their greatest concern is if this could be the beginning of Graft vs. Host disease.   So watching him and getting on this minor problem early is the best course to take.  Waiting will make any problem harder to treat. Finally Kevin responded to Dr. Hoda and he said, what if I come back in tomorrow. Dr. Hoda said, "What is it you were planning on doing today."  Kevin really didn't have a good answer.  Dr. Hoda said, "Do you want to go home and have a steak before you come in."  Do you think maybe the doctors at the clinic know Kevin?  Dr. Hoda said you can go home and pack a bag and come back at 5:00 o'clock.  So we went home and I have never seen it take someone so long to pack an overnight bag.  We made it to the hospital at 6:30 or so and everyone on the 8th floor was anticipating his arrival.  They are so nice to him and it really isn't a bad place to be.  Kevin feels just fine so it was really hard for him to think he needs to be in the hospital.  But he does what he is told and realizes that this whole process wouldn't be worth it if we disregarded what that doctors told him and didn't appreciate the fact that their interest is in Kevin's health and ensuring that every precaution is taken for the success of the transplant.  We do appreciate all that this team does for Kevin and the personal interest they take in his care.  Kevin is in good hands.  

The good news.  Kevin has made it to day 77!  Only 23 days of isolation remaining.  The walls of our home were definitely starting to close in around him so different walls for a few days can't be that bad.  Kevin has felt the best since the transplant the past couple of weeks.  He has accomplished more things on his "honey do" list than I could even imagine.  I just walk around the house and add things to his list.  I love his game!   He continues to do some work at home and that is good for him.  He is still walking every night and has added a lap in the past couple of weeks.  He has finished another book and brought a new one to the hospital and basically he has felt normal and is ready to get on with his new life.  It was getting a little hard to keep him down so this little bump will give him something to concentrate on for a week or so.  

Everyday Kevin and I express gratitude to our Heavenly Father for all of you who care so much.  You are blessing our lives. Through your faith and prayers Kevin is being healed.  Today I read from the Book of Mormon in Moroni Chapter 7.  Moroni  is writing the teachings of his father Mormon about faith and miracles.  He asks, "Have miracles ceased, I say unto you nay."  Through faith in Jesus Christ, miracles continue in our lives today.  Through Kevin's own faith and the faith of family and friends we are seeing a miracle.  This miracle will forever be a tender mercy to our family.