Infections Galore

Hi all,

What a rollercoaster the last few days, and even hours, have been. After initially expecting to be operated on again this morning, the decision was made by my medical team to only do the procedure on Friday. It is a Catch 22 situation that I’m in, as there were some benefits in doing the procedure today, but at the same time there were escalated risks. On the risk side, I have conjured up, all on my own, an infection in my lungs called klebsiella. This is unrelated to the procedures that I had last week, and it’s just a sad coincidence that it presented itself over the weekend. The source of the infection, which is considered to be an opportunistic pathogen, is from my being intubated over the week prior to coming to Unitas, and again after being intubated last week for my procedure. Basically, having a tube in my throat causes irritation, and, needless to say, an opportunity via which infection can be introduced, and viola, that’s what’s happened to me.

The Doctors, with the interference of my Mom and Dad, had intense discussions this morning over the next steps. One of the problems I would have been faced with undergoing the procedure today would have been the move from my ward to the theatre, for during this time I would have been off the oscillating-ventilator. My Dad, being pretty ingenious at times, suggested that the Doctors rig a second oscillating-ventilator up in the theatre, so that I can be unplugged from the one in the ward, be rushed into theatre, and then immediately be plugged into the one waiting for me there (it can take a while to move and setup these machines). The Doctors pursued this avenue of brilliance, and before long it was confirmed that a second machine would be made available for this purpose. Alas though, this plan was just not meant to be implemented today. However, if needed, it can still be used on Friday, should my lungs’ infection not have cleared.

So the upside of waiting a few more days for the procedure is that my lungs will have a chance to clear. The downside is that the sheath and catheter in my leg (see Figure 7 below) must remain in place until then, as it is via this catheter that further Boston coils will be deployed in the fistula in my head. The challenge with having the sheath and catheter in my leg that long is that it can compromise the blood supply to that leg. Worst case scenario with this is that I could lose that leg; however this will be closely monitored in the ensuing days to minimise that risk. As with any foreign body, the point of entry into the leg also is at risk of being infected. Again, I anticipate this will be closely monitored.

The positive news is that my stats are starting so look much better, thanks in large to the occlusions that were done on Thursday last week. Prof Fourie, Dr Louw and Dr Scheepers all came to visit me this morning, and they were ecstatic at my lowered pulse rate and blood pressure. The lower pulse and lower blood pressure is indicative of the fact that a partial occlusion of the fistula in the vein of Galen has been successful. My pulse rate is down by more that 30%. Prof Fourie was jubilant with cheer.

It is really important to point out, that even with these successes I am not out the woods as yet. The next procedure, as with all procedures, carries a risk, and the period leading up to Friday’s procedures is fraught with vulnerabilities and dangers. As per my prior posting, the intention of Friday’s procedures still remain the same, the only difference being that it will be delayed by four days.

Thank you for all your positive messages, thoughts and prayers over the past few days; over the past few hours the messages really started flooding in as I know most of you thought I was undergoing the procedure this morning. Unfortunately things change very rapidly here, and sometimes not even I can keep up with what is going on with my condition and procedures, so I can understand how confusing and traumatic these changes in events can be to you, my most precious readers.

As always, please keep those prayers alive, keep the positive thoughts rolling in, send all the angels and archangels you can summons, and maintain visions of me playing with my Mom and Dad and, most importantly, meeting all of you wonderful people and spending time with you.

Hugs, love and (germy) kisses,

Jarrod

Figure 1 The platinum coils, manufactured by Boston Scientific Corporation

Figure 2 This is a sketch of the micro-catheter, compliments of Boston Scientifics’ WebPages

Figure 3 Yesterday I didn’t have any hats, and my Mom and Dad kept forgetting to bring one for me, so my Dad made a hat for me! My temperature is a little on the cool side, so its important I keep my head covered, as much of my heat loss is through my head

Figure 4 Today my folks forgot my hat again, so they went to the mall up the road to buy me this cutie pie hat complete with ears!

Figure 5 Aunty Shazza from Australia (my Godmommy) and my Mommy on the phone

Figure 6 This is me after Thursday procedure

Figure 7 My latest chest x-ray – you should be able to clearly see the outline of my ribs, but because of the infection, the ribs appear cloudy. The white line running from top to bottom is actually the catheter inside my body

Tags: angels & archangels, Dad, Mom, Unitas, ventilator