Movin' on OUT!

Hello Friends,

Thanks again for reading and following dad's progress!  We have had a really excellent past two days, lots of positive progress to report on. Dad still does not have any appetite at all, but has found the will to eat! He is able to eat a few bites of eggs, drink his chocolate Ensures, corn flakes, jello, and soup mainly.  This is critical at this point that he gets nutrition, especially protein.  He has gone weeks without eating hardly anything at all.  His chest x-rays are showing that the fluid in his lungs is lessening, thank you God! He is still on a nasal cannula but on a lower amount of oxygen liter level.  He still receives his breathing treatments from his RTs (respiratory therapists).

More good news, his white blood cell count, platelets, and hemoglobin levels are all climbing, which is what we want to see happen! This means less/no transfusions.  His body is beginning to help itself fight off the foreign bodies that have entered.  Additionally, his kidneys are maintaining and his numbers remain in the "normal range".  The lasix he was receiving has significantly helped reduce the fluid in his system, and has also significantly reduced the swelling in his hands, legs, and feet.

Most importantly, we will be moving out of the ICU today.  We are awaiting a room on the third floor.  The main focus and prayer at this point is to maintain healthy internal organs, continue to produce healthy white blood cells, and gain strength back.  The PT (physical therapy) team and his non certified PTs (mom, me, Nicole, Dylan) will be constantly encouraging him to get up, sit up, do his exercises in bed, practice strengthening his lungs with his IS tool (breathing tool that works to strengthen bottom of the lungs) and we soon hope to have him on his feet again walking around his room and the halls (when he can exit his room).  We say it every time, but we really cannot thank you enough for your encouragement, prayers, thoughts, and well wishes.  XOXO   Jen and Nicole