John's Progress

John was admitted to University in Columbia for a fever on Saturday afternoon. Sunday afternoon we transferred to St. Louis Children's after learning that he has another yeast infection in his blood and will most likely have to have his central line pulled again.

This is the exact same type infection that made him so sick back in November and December with a few exceptions. Dr. Cooperstock, the infectious disease doctor at University in Columbia cultured the yeast out much, much faster than last time. The accompanying urinary tract infection is very minor, not even bad enough to be treatable in a normal kid - but then John is unique, so they are treating. There doesn't seem to be a bacterial infection in his blood also. His fever hasn't gotten as high as last time and keeps coming way down. He is staying hydrated because of very aggressive therapy with IV fluids and with enteral feeds. They did have to start treatment with amphoteracin today. That is an antifungal drug that is very toxic to the kidneys, but at this point there is little choice but to use it and hope for the best. So far that is going well. He is still on the floor, instead of being in the PICU and is still breathing easily, and even having a good many times during the day when his fever is down and he is smiling and carrying-on with the nurses, PCA's and everyone that walks past the window. He is holding up well, and it is our prayer that he continues to do so, of course.

The gastroenterologist that is a liver specialist came by to see him today and to tell us that the situation with his liver enzymes is getting dangerous, but it looks like the g-tube feedings are going well and so he will be pushing them to push him to 80 or 90 % of what he needs calorically through the tube feeds during this hospitalization. Hoping that he can have them remove the broviac central line this time. Once that line is gone these dangerous infections should no longer occur and the damage to his liver should start to reverse itself some. So that means that we could be here for quite some time.

Once again God has already provided the right people to take care of John and people aside from John for us to care for too. One of the PCA's (patient care assistant - nurses' aid type position) came by to talk to Mark today because her mom recently died and she knew that he would take the time to help her understand some of the things that she's been reading in her Bible and to give her some comfort. It is again our prayer that God's will be done for John, that He would strengthen him and us to go through these things and that He would provide opportunity for us to help those here who are hurting - and there are many.

We should be able to send email every day or so and will let you know how things are going here. Thanks so much for keeping John and us in your prayers. In Christ's Love, Mark, Gina and John - who even though he is sick still thinks the med students are his personal fan club and smiles and sticks his tongue out at them when ever he gets a chance