08/6/04 - Terry Brown

Update On David

The next 72 hours will be critical for David. David's right lung collapsed today and they have inserted a chest tube into his right lung to drain off the fluid that caused his lung to collapse. Dr. Cushman said that they are draining a straw-colored fluid from his lung which may be a result of his current infection. He still has a temp and his heart rate is a little tachy at this time. Dr. Cushman also said that David is severely dehydrated. On a scale of 0-10 which 0 being no fluids in your body, he said that David was about a -2.

They have been forcing fluids into his body literally all day trying to get him rehydrated. He is being monitored round the clock and Dr. Cushman has already prepared me for the fact that David may have to go back on a ventilator during the night if he requires it.

I'm meeting with his doctor Sunday morning after he rounds, so that we can discuss David's prognosis. He is still concerned about David's mental state which could be caused by his liver values or the infection (sepsis) may have affected his brain. David's renal (kidney) values are elevated as well, as his calcium, bilirubin and electrolytes are elevated. Obviously, there are a lot of complicated medical issues that his doctors have to deal with this week-end.

Continue to pray for the two of us, and pray that David will survive yet another horrible set-back! I just don't know what else to say as I feel so numb right now. David just doesn't deserve to be where he is right now, and add to that fact, that his case is at a stand still is just like rubbing salt in a wound...it more than stings!!!

Terry