FoxersArtist
03-25-2008, 02:22 AM
We stopped by the hospital tonight on our way back into town. When I went up to visit Michelle, the first thing I noticed is that her room was closed off and there was a big sign on the door stating that all visitors must wear masks and gloves before entering. I didn't get the oppertunity to talk with one of her Drs. but the nurse said that they had discovered that she has a really nasty strain of phnemonia, and though she is likely not very contagious at this point, they wanted to be safe. The nurse said that they have seen some cases of this type of phnemonia cause Steven Johnsons without the trigger of an allergic reaction to medications.
They decided early afternoon to try taking Michelle off some of the sedatives and this time she did not cough uncontrollably, so she is awake and able to respond now. She cannot talk and only responds some of the time, but she knows that she is very sick and in the hospital and that her friends and family are there. The really good news is that all of your prayers are working! Michelle is going to pull through! The bad news is that now that she is aware, she is in unimaginable pain. She has been crying a lot and lurches in pain when she coughs. She keeps trying to talk because she doesn't realize she has a trache tube in and tries to sit up when she is afraid. One of her friends who has been there most of the day told me that she has been very, very frustrated with her situation. I know anyone would be. She got really upset tonight when each of her friends said they had to go and she kept trying to talk and sit up. She did the same when I told her I had to go and it about broke my heart. I did not stay to find out all the details of her care tonight and hearing that she would be ok was enough for me.
Going to see Michelle tonight was a little bitter sweet. I feel like one load has been lifted and another placed upon us. Days ago the nurses and Drs. were telling us that Michelle was not contagious. Now they are obviously concerned. I asked the nurse tonight when the phnemonia would have been most contagious. He said that it was probably most spreadable several days before she was hospitalized and that it was probably not very easily spreadable, except to small children, who have a higher chance of contracting the Steven Johnsons Syndrome from that specific strain of Phnemonia. 3 days before Michelle was hospitalized, I was having a bad day and she offered to come over and help. I didn't realize she was still sick and when she came over she assured me that she was just getting over a cold she had had for weeks and was sure she was no longer contagious. She held Katie all day and also played with Gabe. Yesterday Gabe started to get sick and he has been crying unconsolably all day today. He has had a fever and a bit of a runny nose, but nothing else. I woke up this morning with a sore throat. :confused:
Please keep everyone in your prayers but most especially Michelle as she is in so much pain. I'm going to see her in the morning before the kids are up and around. I'll let you know if I find out anything more.
-Anna
They decided early afternoon to try taking Michelle off some of the sedatives and this time she did not cough uncontrollably, so she is awake and able to respond now. She cannot talk and only responds some of the time, but she knows that she is very sick and in the hospital and that her friends and family are there. The really good news is that all of your prayers are working! Michelle is going to pull through! The bad news is that now that she is aware, she is in unimaginable pain. She has been crying a lot and lurches in pain when she coughs. She keeps trying to talk because she doesn't realize she has a trache tube in and tries to sit up when she is afraid. One of her friends who has been there most of the day told me that she has been very, very frustrated with her situation. I know anyone would be. She got really upset tonight when each of her friends said they had to go and she kept trying to talk and sit up. She did the same when I told her I had to go and it about broke my heart. I did not stay to find out all the details of her care tonight and hearing that she would be ok was enough for me.
Going to see Michelle tonight was a little bitter sweet. I feel like one load has been lifted and another placed upon us. Days ago the nurses and Drs. were telling us that Michelle was not contagious. Now they are obviously concerned. I asked the nurse tonight when the phnemonia would have been most contagious. He said that it was probably most spreadable several days before she was hospitalized and that it was probably not very easily spreadable, except to small children, who have a higher chance of contracting the Steven Johnsons Syndrome from that specific strain of Phnemonia. 3 days before Michelle was hospitalized, I was having a bad day and she offered to come over and help. I didn't realize she was still sick and when she came over she assured me that she was just getting over a cold she had had for weeks and was sure she was no longer contagious. She held Katie all day and also played with Gabe. Yesterday Gabe started to get sick and he has been crying unconsolably all day today. He has had a fever and a bit of a runny nose, but nothing else. I woke up this morning with a sore throat. :confused:
Please keep everyone in your prayers but most especially Michelle as she is in so much pain. I'm going to see her in the morning before the kids are up and around. I'll let you know if I find out anything more.
-Anna