9 pm 4/4/06 Update on Tom Tate

It still looks grim but there is a tiny ray of light at the end of the tunnel, a long way off. His oxygen assist is at 50% now versus 100% so that is hopeful. He is slowly responding to the treatment for the pneumonia and staph infection, also good. He is still on the pacemaker and still on the respirator/ventilator, not so good. And his body is not making the platelets he needs, and destroying those given to him during dialysis. The docs pulled out the biggest gun in their arsenal tonight and are doing a procedure which basically will give him a sort of transfusion of platelets. The hope is that his body will at least stop destroying the platelets, and then we can sit tight and wait for his body to start to heal in its own time and ryhthm.

He remains in a medically induced deep sleep. The docs rouse him twice a day to assess his mental state. It's very painful for him, but necessary for them to make sure he is still "there." Last evening after going through the commands given to him ("Wriggle your right foot, now raise your left hand...") the nurse asked him, "Thomas, overall, what do you think?" His response was to make a fist with his hand and give the thumbs-up sign. I think that with him fighting so hard, how can we do other than support him wholeheartedly?!

The whole hospital staff is on his side, rooting for him, as are we. A janitor stopped Sherry in a hallway and asked how Dad was doing, he hadn't seen Dad in a few hours... an EKG technician patted Susan's shoulder in the cafeteria and said, "Your dad is a wonderful fighter." When the doctors talk to us, they have tears of concern and compassion in their eyes. As long as Dad is fighting so hard to survive, we will help him with everything possible. And our biggest asset is prayer. We continue to pray.

Comments

TheWebWalker said…
You are wonderful, Brent. And thank you. It would be wonderful if you would donate blood for Dad. I am not sure what type he is, but I have donated in the name of other people at United Blood Services, and they said it doesn't matter... if you are a different blood type they just put it in the 'bank' and pull out whatever the patient needs. All you need is the patient's name and the hospital. (Dad is at Mesa General Hospital.) Thanks again, and bless you. Susan
Wednesday, April 05, 2006 10:44:00 PM
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