Friday, August 27, 2010 5:20 PM, EDT
Holli went back to Madison Healthcare this afternoon. Her step-mom, Karen, stayed with her there this afternoon. I am still here at Baptist, just moved down to Doug's room to help take care of him. He moved to a regular room yesterday and looking and feeling better. They were able to remove the nasogastric tube this morning so that made his throat feel alot better. We were told yesterday that both the biopies from the colon and the stomach were cancer. Yesterday was a very emotional day for the both of us but our spirits are better today. I know that Doug has a rough road ahead of him from experience and I pray that the both of us will have the strength to face this new challenge. I ask for prayers for our family as we deal with Doug's cancer and Holli's recovery.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010 7:29 PM, EDT
This is the first time I have had time to stop for a deep breath in several days. Sunday Doug, my husband, went into a fast heart rhythm and had to be moved to surgical intensive care. They were able to convert him back to a normal rhythm but Doug's abdomin became very distended and he began to spit up dark brown sputum. He was in a lot of pain and could not get comfortable. Yesterday I spent all day at the hospital and was on the way home when I got a call from the nursing home that Holli's feeding tube was clogged and after trying for an hour was unable to get it functioning. They also noticed some blood in the feeding tube and was sending her to emergency room at Baptist. I turned around and met her in ER. The doctors were concerned that she might have some GI bleeding and admitted her to Medical Intensive Care over night for close observation. Both she and Doug had to have endoscopy this morning. Doug's was first and they found a large gastric ulcer and when they put in a nasogastric tube to relieve the severe distention and removed initally 1100 cc of fluid. He is resting so much more comfortably now and for the first time in two days he is able to sleep. Holli's endoscopy showed no bleeding and they inserted a new feeding tube. They are keeping her here over night and probably will go back to Madison tomorrow. Holli was moved out of intensive care into a regular room. I am spending the night with her. The good thing is that Holli is right above Doug's room, only 4 floors away. The nurses in SICU have been great letting me go in to see Doug whenever I can leave Holli. Now I have to wait for the pathology report on Doug's tumor. I thank everyone so much for your prayers. I have really felt them today.
Saturday, August 21, 2010 10:53 AM, EDT
Holli seems to be feeling better this week but still had one episode of vomiting and several of nausea. She keeps asking why she is there and what happened to her but when asked she remembers that she had an accident in India.
Thursday I had to take my husband, Doug, to the emergency room where it was found that he had a bowel obstruction due to a tumor in his colon. He had to have surgery last evening due to severity of the obstruction. Please keep him as well as myself in your prayers during this time. I will be going back and forth between him and Holli. He is going to have more testing done to check out some concerning areas in his abdomin and stomach. For his friends here in Nashville. he is at Baptist in room 8316. He took such good care of me when I went through my cancer surgery, now it is time for me to take care of him. All I can do is try to take one day at a time because I need to be with Holli too.
Monday, August 16, 2010 8:24 PM, EDT
Holli was transfered back to Madison Healthcare this afternoon. This morning she still had an episode of nausea but was relieved with medication and then she was in a good mood the rest of the day. It was great seeing her laugh and smile more today. Yesterday she had to be given medication for abdominal pain and nausea several times. They said it would take awhile for the erosins to heal in her esophagus and deuodeum. Her step-mom, Karen, stayed with Holli this afternoon so I could finally come home and get some rest. I only got about 3 hours of sleep last night so I felt I was running on fumes after 10 days at the hospital. I will be back out with her on Thursday. Heather, Dick and Karen will be taking care of her the next couple of days.
Saturday, August 14, 2010 1:58 PM, EDT
Holli had her endoscopy this morning. They found she had some erosins and inflamation of her esophagus and stomach. They also changed out her feeding tube to a J tube which goes down into the small intestines. She is being put on protonix to help heal her erosins and reduce the acid. Hopefully she will start feeling better soon. I think the plan is to hopefully get her back to Madison on Monday.
Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:36 PM, EDT
Holli's endoscopy was canceled yesterday due to her blood being too thin (at a critical level). It is now back down to a theraputic level. She is rescheduled for her endoscopy and changing of her feeding tube on Saturday morning. She still has occasional episodes of nausea and abdominal discomfort. Today she has not been as agitated. Her agitation corresponds to her being either in pain or not feeling well. She has had a very quiet day and has slept off and on. For the first time since we have been here she has not gotten mad when they did physical therapy. Tonight she complained of nausea and some leg pain but seems to be feeling better after given some medication. I always enjoy reading the guest book letters. Thanks to everyone for your words of encouragement. It means so much to me and helps give me strength.
Monday, August 9, 2010 9:01 PM, EDT
Today Holli had the Upper GI which did not show anything abnormal. She is now scheduled for Wednesday morning for an endoscopy to look at her stomach and her G tube that is used for her feedings and medication. Sometimes the bulb on the G tube can get out of position and cause nausea and vomiting. The doctor might change it to a different type feeding tube if necessary. Holli has not been in a good mood and has been very agitated. I am sure alot has to do with her hurting and not feeling well. I hope they can make her feel better so that hopefully she will get in a better mood and treat her caretakers better. Heather will come in the morning and let me go home for a few hours and then I will come back tomorrow night so I can be here for her procedure on Wednesday.
Sunday, August 8, 2010 4:55 PM, EDT
Holli is back in the hospital since Friday evening. Last weekend she began vomiting again and running a low grade fever. She was found to have a urinary tract infection and put on mild antibiotics until the culture results. Wednesday Holli was continuing to vomit and run a fever. Friday I brought her to the emergency room because she was not getting better. They found her lapase elevated and she was admitted for pancreatitis. That blood level has since returned to normal but Holli keeps complaining of abdominal pain and nausea but she has not run a fever since admission. They restarted her feedings and diet last evening. She has refused her diet and after drinking juice this morning became very nauseated again. She is scheduled for an upper GI series in the morning. Her doctor has also stopped some of her medications thinking they might be causing her problems. Hopefully the xrays tomorrow will give us some answers. Holli has not been the same since her last hospitalization. She will not be able to get stronger if we can not resolve this problem. Because she is feeling bad and hurting she has become very agitated with anyone that is trying to take care of her. I know that it makes it hard for the techs when Holli is mad and telling everyone she hates them. She even tells me that but I know it is her way of letting me know that something is not right.
On a positive note Holli got her first massage this past week and will continue to get them weekly. The therapist is working mainly on her right side and neck. By the end of the hour massage Holli was so relaxed. Hopefully with the botox and splinting the right arm this will hasten her progress. Please continue to remember her in your prayers.
Sunday, July 25, 2010 4:53 PM, EDT
Finally, after over 2 weeks, Holli is feeling much better. She has not had anymore rashes, vomiting or fever in the last several days. I have been so worried because we could not figure out what was going on with her. I am so glad she is over this set back. Holli has been more emotional lately wanting to know why she is here and that she does not understand what has happened to her body. I have had to constantly tell her that she was in an accident 17 months ago and had a brain injury. Her response is either "Oh, I did not know that" or she cries and tells me she is sorry that she had an accident. I reassure her that she has been slowly improving and that with hard work in therapy she will be able to get stronger so that I will be able to take her home. We have a new therapist working with her since Thursday that is going to do alot of teaching to the family so when therapy is not able to give Holli therapy we will be able to do it and not have her regress. I found out that the appeal was denied by Tenn Care on April 30th. They said that a letter was mailed but neither I or Madison Healthcare received it. I pray for guidance in knowing what road I need to take next for Holli. Our social worker is making a few contacts to different organizations to see if they will be able to help or guide us. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Sunday, July 11, 2010 6:21 PM, EDT
Holli has not had a very good weekend. Yesterday she started vomiting and developed a rash. Her IV antibiotics was stopped and today we tried another antibiotic per gastric tube. She developed another rash so that is now stopped. She is very quiet and just has a look on her face that she is not feeling well. I think she looks pale today. They are going to repeat her blood work in the morning. I hope she is not anemic again. I pray that soon she will feel good again and be happy once more. Her illness for the past several weeks has really taken a toil on her.
Monday, July 5, 2010 4:52 PM, EDT
Holli was discharged from Baptist Hospital today and returned to Madison Healthcare. She did not run a fever yesterday for the first time since admitted 10 days ago. She has a PIC line in that she will get her IV antibiotic for the next 2 weeks. I am so glad that she is feeling better and starting to laugh and talk again. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and prayers while Holli and family was going through this rough bump in the road.
good on you Girl Curves
