Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thursday Night--February 3, 2011
The time on my computer says 11:49 p.m. and I have just returned to my hotel room. Jacque has made it another day with no vent!! All of his blood work has been great today, at least as far as I know. He had his third round of blood cleaning. Bless his heart it is really rough. He gets the shakes real bad when he is taking the treatment. He swears the physical therapists are killing him. Yes, they are working with him twice a day. They help him stand. He hates it but is working like a real trooper. He is also taking speech therapy too. He likes his speech therapist. She is cute .He is no longer on oxygen and is completely breathing on his own. He is still very weak and has to cough a lot, but I believe that he is improving. His voice is stronger in the morning, by the evening he is tired and does not speak very loudly. The doctors are still waiting for the really bad stuff, but I told them we were just going to skip the bad stuff. I get to see him at 9am, 1 pm, 5pm, and 9pm. My 9pm visit is my favorite because they let me stay really late. Sometimes I just sit and watch him sleep. Father Sojan called from India today to tell me all of his family and his students are praying for Jacque. My sister went to mass today in Monroe and assured me that Jacque was going to be fine. I know he will be fine. I have a real peace about it. We are working real hard to lick this terrible disease. We are so blessed to have all of you praying for us. Please don't stop. God bless you all and have a good night. Love in Christ, Laure
Thursday Morning--February 3, 2010
Great news!! Jacque's kidney numbers are normal!!! His voice seems so much stronger. I believe in my heart he is getting better. Praise God!!! Keep the prayers coming. He will have the blood cleaning again today. What a wonderful invention!!! We are so blessed to be here getting this wonderful care. God is good. To everyone of every faith--thank you--we love you all. Laure :)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wednesday Night
Well the blog is about to make a big change. Jean has gone home to Denver, Jacque Jr. has gone back home to Olla ,and Jamie is at home taking care of baby Mia--so yes, it is me--trying to do something that I know absolutely nothing about--blogging!!! The time is 11:25 p.m. and I am really tired, so I hope everyone will understand if my blog is short and sweet!!
Jacque had a really good day today. His blood work was good and all the numbers that need to go up are going up and the numbers that need to go down are going down. He is moving his legs some and his hands some. He is still on oxygen but NOT ON A VENT. Praise God. The nurses have been great and have allowed me to spend a lot of time in icu with Jacque. He is already giving me orders about what to do--Can you believe that????
He got his first get well card today from Don Kelley's office. He really seemed to enjoy getting the card, so I thought I would let everyone know his address. Jacque Derr, Lafayette General Hospital, ICU 7th Floor, 1214 Coolidge Street, Lafayette, LA 70503.
The doctors say we will be icu for 5 to 7 more days. He will have the blood cleaning every day. It takes about 2 1/2 hours and he has to be in icu for this treatment. He still can have no visitors but immediate family.
I hope everyone will understand if I sign off . I am going to bed. BUT BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, I HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE --THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND CONCERN.
JACQUE AND I ARE SO BLESSED. We sat and talked tonight and both agreed that this was going to work out and one day we would look back on all this and realize how blessed we were to go through something like this with the support we had. Our God is so good. We have been given the greatest children, family, friends, doctors and nurses.
Love,
Laure :)
Jacque had a really good day today. His blood work was good and all the numbers that need to go up are going up and the numbers that need to go down are going down. He is moving his legs some and his hands some. He is still on oxygen but NOT ON A VENT. Praise God. The nurses have been great and have allowed me to spend a lot of time in icu with Jacque. He is already giving me orders about what to do--Can you believe that????
He got his first get well card today from Don Kelley's office. He really seemed to enjoy getting the card, so I thought I would let everyone know his address. Jacque Derr, Lafayette General Hospital, ICU 7th Floor, 1214 Coolidge Street, Lafayette, LA 70503.
The doctors say we will be icu for 5 to 7 more days. He will have the blood cleaning every day. It takes about 2 1/2 hours and he has to be in icu for this treatment. He still can have no visitors but immediate family.
I hope everyone will understand if I sign off . I am going to bed. BUT BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP, I HAVE TO TELL EVERYONE --THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND CONCERN.
JACQUE AND I ARE SO BLESSED. We sat and talked tonight and both agreed that this was going to work out and one day we would look back on all this and realize how blessed we were to go through something like this with the support we had. Our God is so good. We have been given the greatest children, family, friends, doctors and nurses.
Love,
Laure :)
Day 6, Afternoon
Hi all - this is Jean again. I am actually sitting in the ICU room with Dad right now. He is sleeping, as they just gave him some morphine for pain. He is a bit uncomfortable - since he is unable to move, his back side is aching. Today is similar to yesterday - not much better, but not worse, so that is good! The nurses have all let us know that the worst could be yet to come, as Dad's syndrome is progressing slower than normal.....we are praying that is not the case. But, if it does, we know we have the best doctors and nurses working on the case. With Jamie being a long-time employee here at the hospital (and very well respected - you can tell by the response we are getting), we are getting care as if it is the doctors' or nurses' own family member.
Unfortunately, I am about to have to hop on a plane back to Denver. (I have already switched my flight once and unfortunately, there is no availability to switch again......I believe due to the bad weather that caused flight delays around the country.) But, luckily, I am not the nurse or the physical therapist of the family, so Jamie and Jacque I know will take good care of him and mom. My plan is to be back in a few weeks unless Daddy worsens.
In the meantime, yall all please just pray. If you are in the Lafayette area, feel free to give mom a buzz to see if she would like visitors in the ICU waiting room, but don't be offended if she doesn't, as they are allowing her to stay in with dad longer and longer. Note - still no visitors to see Dad at this point in time.
Thanks again, everyone, for all of your prayers, love, and concern.
Jean
Unfortunately, I am about to have to hop on a plane back to Denver. (I have already switched my flight once and unfortunately, there is no availability to switch again......I believe due to the bad weather that caused flight delays around the country.) But, luckily, I am not the nurse or the physical therapist of the family, so Jamie and Jacque I know will take good care of him and mom. My plan is to be back in a few weeks unless Daddy worsens.
In the meantime, yall all please just pray. If you are in the Lafayette area, feel free to give mom a buzz to see if she would like visitors in the ICU waiting room, but don't be offended if she doesn't, as they are allowing her to stay in with dad longer and longer. Note - still no visitors to see Dad at this point in time.
Thanks again, everyone, for all of your prayers, love, and concern.
Jean
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Day 5 - Early Evening
Good news! Dad's breathing tests have improved! The two measures (NIF and NFC) have improved since his tests this morning. He has finished his first plasmpheresis round and seems to be doing ok. He was a bit tired at our afternoon visit, but still in better spirits versus yesterday. The sensation in his hands has changed, and we are hoping this is a signal of possible healing.
Keep up the prayers - we love you all!
Jean
Keep up the prayers - we love you all!
Jean
Day 5, Afternoon
Hi all - this is Jamie. Just wanted to update everyone on dad's condition. Unfortunately, we are seeing changes in his respiratory status. There are a couple of tests that we do to make sure his lung volume is adequate. These tests have both decreased significantly over the last 24 hours- not good. We have consulted a pulmonologist and he feels at this time he does not need a ventilator. This is being watched very closely and could change at any time. He will remain in ICU for sure for the next several days unless we see marked improvement.
The doctors made the determination early this morning to start the plasmapheresis - blood cleaning. His first run began about 30 minutes ago. He will continue to have the plasmapheresis treatments daily until further notice. The best outcome at this time will be that we stop seeing progression of the syndrome. All of the physicians are now very sure that we're dealing with Guillian Barre. We have honed in on the virus that started all this in the first place and will begin treatment for that. Please remember to continue to pray because this treatment can possibly damage his kidneys and his kidneys are already compromised.
The great part is that his spirits are definitely up today. He finally got some much needed rest and he's joking and bossing people around. Unfortunately, he has very little voice left, so he's frustrated about that. We all know how much he loves to talk!
All in all, we are extremely pleased with the care he is receiving and we're very confident that everything that needs to be done is being done. Thanks to everyone for keeping him in your prayers. Praise GOD!
The doctors made the determination early this morning to start the plasmapheresis - blood cleaning. His first run began about 30 minutes ago. He will continue to have the plasmapheresis treatments daily until further notice. The best outcome at this time will be that we stop seeing progression of the syndrome. All of the physicians are now very sure that we're dealing with Guillian Barre. We have honed in on the virus that started all this in the first place and will begin treatment for that. Please remember to continue to pray because this treatment can possibly damage his kidneys and his kidneys are already compromised.
The great part is that his spirits are definitely up today. He finally got some much needed rest and he's joking and bossing people around. Unfortunately, he has very little voice left, so he's frustrated about that. We all know how much he loves to talk!
All in all, we are extremely pleased with the care he is receiving and we're very confident that everything that needs to be done is being done. Thanks to everyone for keeping him in your prayers. Praise GOD!
Day 5, Morning Visits
Hi Everyone - It's Jean again. Mom has assigned me the blogging responsibilities. See, I can do something useful in this situation. :) Well, this morning, Dad still looked and felt bad. His lung volume had decreased and his kidney funtction were close to showing signs of acute renal failure. Yet, recently, (nurses allowed us in around 11:30) Dad seemed to be feeling much better than the last 24 hours - to my untrained eyes, that is. His paralysis seems to be the same, but he seems to be in a much better mood - even joking around with us and the nurses..more like normal Dad, without the loud voice :) So, even though the IV is just now showing signs of improvement (maybe), they went ahead and put a temporary dialysis catheter in his chest just hours ago to begin the plasmapheresis. That should start in just about an hour or so. Please pray that this begins to reverse the effect of this awful syndrome.
On another note, some doctors are still not sure of the diagnosis, whether its GB, CIDP, or something else. But, luckily, the treatment for all of this is the same.
So, in summary, numbers are still not great, but he at least looks better versus the past 24 hours. Thank you for all of your prayers and please keep them up :) We so appreciate it!
Love -
Jean
On another note, some doctors are still not sure of the diagnosis, whether its GB, CIDP, or something else. But, luckily, the treatment for all of this is the same.
So, in summary, numbers are still not great, but he at least looks better versus the past 24 hours. Thank you for all of your prayers and please keep them up :) We so appreciate it!
Love -
Jean
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