8/16 Marissa Updates

8:30 PM- As we returned for our final night visit they had dropped her oxygen to 70%, so that's good.  Her blood oxygen level is now up to 100%, so that's great.  They are watching her blood pressure because that remains elevated.  Everything else remains similar to my previous updates.  One of Marissa's nursing buddies explained to us she talked to one of Marissa's doctor's earlier today.  She says that doctor told her Marissa will be on the ventilator for weeks.  That means she would be kept in the ICU on pain drugs for that time period until they remove the ventilation tube.  That's frustration for all of us, because this girl likes to talk like none other.  Talk to you all tomorrow.

6:00 PM-  Having been able to feel out the situation, it is much more bleak then we previously thought.  Today is what you would call one of the "steps back" they've been warning us about.  As you know Marissa's oxygen levels had been greatly decreasing toward that magical 20% number.  Last night when we left her she was on 40% support.  This morning her nurse told me they had to increase that support to 60%.  And as visiting hours ended just a short time ago they had to increase her oxygen support to 80%.  So in the big picture she is on double the amount of oxygen support today as she was on yesterday.  They've increased that number because her blood was not receiving enough oxygen.  For now, that seems to be doing somewhat of the job they want- as blood oxygen numbers have improved. 

Her lungs also have more fluid in them today.  That level had been reducing the last several days.  The nurse said her x-ray appeared more "white" today.  When doctors look for a healthy lung on an x ray they're looking for black.  On Tuesday her lungs were completely white.  As the days have gone on a little more black has been appearing.  Today, I'm told, more of the white areas have returned.

If you mix that news with the fact she is not responding to the doctors commands I mentioned earlier, like "squeeze my fingers," and "open your eyes," it increases brain damage concerns.  I was encouraged, though, to see her move her arms and legs quite frequently, even as I was leaving this evening.  What is disappointing, however, is along with me her medical professionals expected her to be much more alert today.  I had expected her to be closer than ever to waking up this weekend, and so did they, based on the track she was on.  So her unresponsiveness today has disappointed many of us, as now we're in unknown territory when she'll wake up.

The nurse also reminded me again about the saying I'm growing to hate more and more by the minute, "she's very sick."  Learning to understand everything that's happened has meant having to learn exactly what sepsis and septic shock is.  It quite frankly means her entire blood stream is poisoned.  Just because they cleaned her out during surgery, the nurse told me, does not mean her blood is not poisoned.  Remember we're in the early stages, so it will be some time before we know what has truly happened.  The nurse was sincerely honest, which I greatly appreciate.  She said Marissa's age, again, is on her side.  But in the big picture she is "very sick."  So I was told that could means a very long recovery to go from septic status to stable.  Hopefully, though, her age will mean that comes sooner than later.

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2:54 PM- We continue on status quo today.  Not much new to report.  For the most part she remains in critical but stable condition.  She has not come out of the coma state.  Her blood pressure moved from stable to sporadic after she had a bath.  She is now on a constant insulin drip, because her blood sugar shot up yesterday. What is concerning the doctor at this point is the lack of response to his commands, such as “squeeze my fingers,” and “open your eyes.”  She was responding to those commands the day after her surgery, but has not since yesterday.  We’re told that could be a sign of brain damage.  But again, we will not know anything definitive on that front until she is able to have a cognitive test.  The good news is she continues to move her arms and feet.  At the rate she seemed to be improving, and the fact she is now off the drug that was keeping her sedated, I had expected her to start showing more signs of waking up, and that is not happening.  It seems now it might take her much longer to wake up then I thought.

Comments

[Bunny Chew]

Hi Mathew, We are all so worried and praying for Marissa. Please let us know if we can do anything.870-4612. Thanks for keeping us updated on your blog. All our love to Marissa and your family -Bunny, Sorrell, Tops and Cullen

[Cheryl Zadick]

My thoughts and prayers are with Marissa and her family!!! She is a sweet and strong girl and I know she will pull through this!!!

Love,

Her cousin
Cheryl