The Michael Chronicles

 


January has certainly given us our share of stress. I write this at the bedside of my critically ill husband. Yes, you’d think I’d be used to this by now as he has been chronically ill for years and too many hospitalizations to count but this month has been a bit scarier than usual. A week or two into the new year, Mike contracted the flu, due to being sick and sleeping a lot, he didn’t take in enough fluids and became dehydrated, causing his already compromised kidneys to tank. While in the hospital he contracted C-diff which made him even sicker. His lungs were full and he had a constant productive cough. He felt he needed an antibiotic but the hospital staff kept telling him it was viral and he didn’t need an antibiotic. The C-diff cleared up and his kidney numbers returned to a safer level. He was only home for a day and with continued low 02 sats, I brought him back to the ER. He was right, he now was diagnosed with pneumonia. The ER doctor recommended another admission, but Mike told him how “defeated” he felt after just spending a week in the hospital. The doctor listened to him and agreed his mental health was just as important. He was sent home on antibiotics and oxygen and a visiting nurse 2x a week. After another week and a half home, he seemed to finally turn a corner. Still feeling pretty weak, but his lungs cleared out, infections gone and he was able to take his oxygen off for a few hours as long as he wasn’t sleeping and it stayed in the low nineties.

This past Saturday, he told me that his legs felt very weak, so he spent most of the day resting in his recliner chair. Early Sunday morning about 1:30 am, I was woken by a big bang followed by moans of pain. I jumped out of bed and found him on the kitchen floor, not able to get up and between his dead weight and his pain, I couldn’t move him either. I had no choice but to call for an ambulance. He got admitted and after a CT scan, they discovered he fractured his T11 & T12 Thoracic spine. After all these years of being in pain with A.S. he said the pain is the worst he has ever felt. It’s hard to watch and hear him cry out in pain. His kidney numbers are very concerning again. He has been here in the hospital for 4 days now and even with the IV fluids, his numbers so far aren’t reversing as they have in the past, they’ve slowly gotten worse. His nephrologist saw him this morning and he still wants to try a little longer to flush his kidneys to get his numbers more stable. An ultrasound on his kidneys was ordered but they can’t do it until the back brace comes back from being adjusted. It’s supposed to be here by 3pm. They will give him more pain meds at 2pm, to make him as comfortable as they can before moving him for the ultrasound. we are waiting for his numbers by morning or the next day or two will be the deciding factor on whether to try dialysis or not. He can’t survive much longer with the numbers he has right now. Praying things will improve fast.

He is on strict bed rest now due to his fractures. He was fitted for a brace the other day, but it cut into his hips. They took it back to adjust it and are supposed to return it today. Until he gets the brace, he is not allowed to get out of bed. If his kidneys get straightened out and he is able to come home, he will be in the back brace for three months. He’s not looking forward to it because it is so uncomfortable, but he doesn’t have a choice. It’s necessary for the fractures to heal.

This morning he woke up to a huge lump of fluid under the skin on his arm, his IV had infiltrated. The nurse tried twice to get a new IV started in both arms, but couldn’t get it. Another nurse finally was able to get one started in his bicep area.

So this is the latest update. Please keep him in your prayers, that his pain can be managed and his kidneys can heal. Please pray for rest for both of us and for Oscar (our dog) who is depressed without his dad home like he is used to, and me being gone a lot between hospital visits and my two jobs.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10



Comments

  1. N-E-D ScottyAugust 20, 2025 at 6:31 PM

    I keep you and Mike in my prayers. If I lived closer I would be there. But my heart and prayers are with you both everyday

    ReplyDelete

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