Delftsman

Father in Law Update

Well, we got good news and bad news today. The doctors have determined the root cause of his current distress and will be able to treat it. It seems that he has type A Influenza.
What, you say, we got all upset over a bad case of the Flue?!?

Well it's a VERY serious thing in Wesley's case, because it seems that he's also entered the end stage period of his COPD. The infection had caused his already overscarred lungs to fill with fluid and reduced his renal capabilities, leading to congestive heart failure. The doctors say that if he had waited another couple hours prior to coming to the hospital, he wouldn't have survived.

They have placed him in a "reverse (air) flow" isolation room and begun supportive treatment to ease the symptoms, with the thinking that it will take approximarely a week to get him well enough to spend another two or three days in an regular room for observation to ensure he can return home, along with a new regimen of pulmonary rehabilitation excercises to try to keep him stable as long as possible in the last progression of the COPD. He will survive this bout of illness, but it's doubtful that he will the next. Brings a whole new light on having a "Killer" Cold!...

Lila and I were aware of what the COPD diagnosis five years ago meant, but Lila's mother Hazel is still unaware that "End Stage" means that every hour is another small triump of life over death. Wesley and Hazel are supposed to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversery in May. Lila and I only pray that the pulmonary excercises allow him to see that day. Wesley has always been one to buck the odds and overcome, so we will have to have faith that he will this time also.

Thank you all for your support and prayers, they are a great comfort to us both.

Posted by Delftsman3 at December 30, 2005 02:59 PM | TrackBack