“Quite Stable”

Mom and I talked to Dr. Paolo this evening (yes, first name basis).  He reported that Jerry is “quite stable” and has been for 24 hours.  They are weaning Jerry off the JET ventilator and he was off it for awhile this evening.  They also took Jerry off one of his paralytics so they can monitor his neuro functioning.

Jerry will no longer be having surgery to insert a filter in his abdomen to catch blod clots from his leg.  Dr. Paolo said that the clots are in a peripheral vein and pose no imminent risk.   The procedure is long and there is no need to put Jerry at risk in his condition.

All this is good news!  It’s been a much, much better day today!

Sarah

Jerry’s Family

While sending positive thoughts and prayers for Jerry and mom, please remember his father, Tom, and his brother, Martin, in New Jersey.

This is a difficult time for them, especially since they cannot be here with Jerry.

Sarah

Hope…

When attempts to wean Jerry off the special JET ventilator failed, the doctors decided that they had to make a definitive diagnosis. This required disconnecting Jerry from the ventilator that was keeping him alive and rushing him to an MRI using only hand-pumping to keep him breathing; the doctors weren’t certain he would survive the trip. Sarah and I waited outside his room for him to come back. When he did, he was still breathing. The nurses and doctors were euphoric. He was quickly hooked back up to his special ventilator and within 20 mins was stablized.

It was discovered through the MRI that he has a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in his lung). This, plus the damage to his lungs caused by pneunomia, has made it impossible for him to breathe on his own.

An ultrasound of his legs revealed more clots, which could potentially travel to his lungs, heart, or brain. Since the standard aggressive anticoagulant treatment carries the risk of more bleeding in his brain, he has been given a run of a mild anticoagulant. If he is stable enough tomorrow (Thurs), he will receive surgery to put a filter in the artery from his leg to prevent clots from travelling to the rest of his body.

The good news is that we have a definitive diagnosis. The doctors and respiratory therapists are working together to find a way to see him through this precarious stage of his recovery without further brain damage.

There is reason for hope. Jerry is in good hands. He is being cared for by people who have proven their expertise and their genuine concern for his well-being.

If any of you are feeling helpless, please remember that your thoughts and prayers are very real and reach Jerry and give him strength. They also provide our family with the support that we need.

Never underestimate the power of mind and spirit.

We know you are with us and we thank you for it,

Linda

A Bad Turn

Jerry’s condition has taken a very serious turn. Details to follow. We know you are all with us in this trying time…

~Colin

It’s a process…

We talked to Dr. Tom this morning (yes, mom seems to be on a first name basis with the medical staff – she doesn’t even know his last name!) and he had nothing to report. Everything is still the same. Jerry’s stats indicate that his is on the right track, though it will be a process and not a ‘miraculous recovery.’ We are looking at weeks as opposed to days for Jerry to overcome his lung illness, and months following that for rehab for his body and his brain.

Jerry is still considered in critical condition because he is depending on meds to maintain blood pressure and a ventilator to keep him breathing. He is still on the paralytic meds and all his supports.

__________

Sarah

Ups and Downs

After a good start to yesterday, Jerry’s condition worsened later in the day. Currently, Jerry is back on all his support, including his “intravenous cooling system” and his blood pressure meds.

Fortunately, his CO₂ levels continue to drop and are almost normal.

He is fairly stable, all things considered. The medical team assures us that ups and downs are the reality of ICU, but that doesn’t make it any less stressful at the time for mom.

Mom is managing remarkably well, much of which can be attributed to the support of all of you.

Keep Jerry in your thoughts today…

Sarah

A Better Day!

Jerry is doing much better today after a long, difficult weekend.

He has been taken off the ‘intra-venous cooling system’ for his fever, as well as meds that were stabalizing his blood pressure.

Mom is encouraged by his progress over the last 12 or so hours.  Thanks again for all your love and support.

Sarah

Sunday Night Update

Jerry has improved slightly since yesterday. They’ve managed to elevate his oxygen saturation levels (good news) and lower the CO₂ levels in his blood (also good news). He is completely dependent on the ventilator and is still on the paralytics, pain-killers and sedatives. His fever is being controlled through an “intra-venous cooling system.” Due to the paralysis, the neurologists have been unable to assess the condition of his brain.

The hospital staff seem to be breathing easier now – so we are too, but he’s not out of danger yet.
The entire family – including Hannah – is visiting tonight and we had a ‘nice meal’ together at the Timmy’s across the street.
We all appreciate very much all of the messages of love and support that we get daily throught this website. Mom, especially, takes great strength from all of you.

~Colin

We need you now more than ever.

Your prayers, your thoughts, your support.
Jerry’s condition has worsened. At 5:30 this morning his blood contained toxic levels of CO₂ and, according to his doctor, we came as close as we’ve come to losing him. Things are better this evening, but not by much.

Jerry has been medically paralysed in an attempt to calm him sufficiently to heal. The single concern now is the pneumonia. He is no longer breathing on his own – due in part to the induced paralysis. The hope is that shutting him down physically will allow him the rest he needs to recover from the pneumonia – he had been fighting the ventilator since Thursday.

Mom & Sarah are at the hospital, and I may be heading there this evening. We have not given up hope, and are doing our best to stay positive. That would be impossible without the love and support that has been shown on these pages. Thank you so very much.

~Colin

Flickr Photos

Wow, two posts about photos in one day! This one is just to let you know that the ‘Photos of Jerry‘ link on the right points to a slideshow of photos on the photo-sharing site ‘Flickr‘. Anyone who has a Flickr account can add their photos of Jerry simply by tagging those photos with ‘jerrysrecovery’. Currently, photos from Sarah and I are being shown. If you’d like to know more – or need some help setting up a flickr account, send us an email at jerrysrecovery[at]gmail.com.

Enjoy the photos!

~Colin