Tuesday 5/27 10am — Ally hospital update

As many may know from facebook or otherwise, Ally was admitted to Lutheran General Hospital on Friday 5/23/14 for another blood infection in her port. She spiked a fever on Thursday during a pamidronate infusion (unrelated to the infusion) so we did labs and found out Friday she had a blood infection and needed to be admitted (plus she vomitted several times and possibly developed a slight aspiration pneumonia). Since Friday, we have been treating Ally with IV antibiotics and increased respiratory treatments. Lutheran General’s medical team has been EXCELLENT with Ally and our family, plus it is less stressful than the hustle and bustle of downtown Chicago (traffic and parking, meals, smaller staff…). This, overall IS our new, main hospital!

Now, Ally’s blood culture have come back negative for 2.5 days and after checking levels of antibiotics, we were able to switch her to a “milder” IV antibiotic 3x a day. There is a chance we could go home today (and continue IV antibiotics there), but I am overall going to ask to stay till Wednesday for one more day of help with her increased breathing treatments (and some changes in her medicated nebs). We went from breathing treatments 2-3 times a day at home to 4x, then 6 times a day here (including 2 in the middle of the night) due to 3x the amount of thicker secretions (but no oxygen or higher vent settings). Breathing/secretions are improving, but I don’t want to get behind if we went home too soon. I will update more after meeting with the medical team today (which will be different after the holiday weekend ending), but most likely we will go home on Wednesday, or latest Thursday. We will decide in the near future about keeping or removing the port, but need it now for access to deliver the antibiotics (in hospital and for about 10 days at home). I’m glad Ally beat this quickly since Kristyn graduates high school next week and I want to be there as a family. Melissa will also be dancing in her school talent show next week. Thanks again for the prayers and support!