Update 2 on Dad

11:30 (MI) I just got off the phone with mom. Dad's ultrasound confirmed that the new issues that developed last night were in fact due to an inflamed gall bladder. The general surgeon should be in sometime within the next couple of hours to discuss dad's options. If the doctor advises him to keep the gall bladder, we need to make sure that potential for further inflammation, pain, and fever is eliminated prior to the trip home. If removal is necessary, we need to determine how long we should wait before making the trip home.

Additionally, the infectious disease doctor came in this morning to meet with dad. He looked at the shoulder and gave dad the "all clear." They will be setting dad up with a pic line so we can give him his antibiotics intravenously on the road. He indicated that if it were dependent on just the shoulder, he could head home tomorrow. While meeting with my parents, the Dr apologized that he was just now getting involved in dad's case. Apparently there was a lack of communication and he'd only just heard about dad this morning.

As to travel plans, we are again looking at me flying there tomorrow afternoon to help mom drive back. The big question marks right now are 1) when will dad be released, 2) when will he be approved for travel, and 3) will he be taking his gall bladder back to MI with him. Our hope is that following the meeting with the general surgeon, we will have answers to all of these questions and we can start taking steps towards getting him home.

Lets keep praying and get him home ~ Ae

Update 1 on Dad

I spoke with dad yesterday afternoon around 6 (MI time) and he was still doing well, hoping to leave on Wednesday. We'd decided on a flight plan for my trip out there on Wednesday afternoon and were awaiting another visit from the Dr to get the necessary medical certificate so we could apply for "compassion fare" and the related insurances. Things were looking good and progressing forward.

Around 11 last night mom called to ask me to pray again as dad's temp had started to rise again. He was also experiencing abdominal pain - about a 5 or 6 on his pain scale. Around 2 AM (MI) the Dr was able to finally meet with and examine dad. He believes that his gall bladder has decided to flare up, completely unrelated to his shoulder. My mom said the look of disbelief on everyone's faces due to the irony was priceless :) The broad spectrum antibiotics that they've put dad on for the staph infection are only effective on resistant types of infection. The gall bladder issues would be due to a non-resistant type of bacteria.

As of 8 AM (MI), dad was getting an ultrasound of his abdomen to confirm the Dr's suspicions regarding the gall bladder. Once confirmed, a decision will be made as to whether or not removal is necessary. This is not the first time that dad has had gall bladder attacks and because of the inopportune timing of this attack, he would prefer to have it removed. Following the ultrasound, the Dr will advise dad how to proceed. Regardless of the new concern with the gall bladder, the information won't be available from the bacteria culture until its aged about 72 hours so dad won't be able to be released tomorrow.

The good news - while examining dad's abdomen last night the Dr also inspected the shoulder. The drain that they inserted in the joint is not pulling any more nastiness and everything appears to be progressing in a positive direction. The hope is that the drain can be removed today and the dressing changed.

On another note, travel plans have been postponed until we have more information. There are a few things being thrown around by my family. There is currently potential that Leah, a friend, and I will drive straight through (about 28 hrs) and then caravan back with my parents over the course of two days. We're also considering the possibility of sending dad on a direct flight back from Denver, once he's stable, to avoid the taxing 2 day drive back. Our CO family is sprinkled between Denver and Colorado Springs so that gives us a few more options for flights in or out. As dad's condition becomes more clear we will be able to finalize our plans and take steps towards getting everyone there and home.

Praise the Lord for continued good reports on dad's shoulder, supportive family and friends both in CO and MI, understanding employers, provision for our travel needs, and for nationwide cell phone plans :) Please continue to pray for healing for dad, strength and rest for both of my parents, peace for my 3 siblings and myself, wisdom for the Dr's, and safe travel once our plans are able to be finalized.

I'll keep you posted ~ Ae

2nd Longest Day in Turner History

Most of this was copied from my email... I'm running low on the emotional strength required to put together a blog so I'm sure I'll change a few things later.

As many of you know, our family went through one of the longest days in our lives (second only to the day of his bike accident). Knowing our body of believers was praying brought to mind the words of Paul in Philippians 1:3-6. I do thank God for you!!

Expectedly so, our family was on the phone hit and miss all day yesterday trying to get information relayed. As of 9:30 this morning, I believe I have the full story to date. For those that didn't know, following dad's rotator cuff surgery on the 18th, Wednesday mom and dad left for Colorado Springs to visit my uncle (with terminal liver cancer) and my aunt (my dad's sister).

The trip was going fine until Saturday night when dad started to develop some pain and a fever. At about 1 AM dad was admitted into the Penrose hospital in Colorado Springs with a staph infection in the incision and he was placed on strong antibiotics. The hope was that the antibiotics would kick in and dad could be stabilized enough to travel back home to see his surgeon. Mom called the rest of the family at about 10:00 to let us know what was going on. Later in the morning, they found a second infection in the joint itself. The joint infection was much more critical and my mom was informed that if they were unable to clear the infection out, dad would lose his right arm. Due to dad's very limited usage of his left arm following the motorcycle accident a few years ago, we were alarmed for good reason.

Before the surgery, dad (who has a very high pain tolerance) was in a significant amount of pain and had a fever of 105.3° He was in surgery for about an hour and a half. They took a culture of the infection for further testing and then flushed the joint with 8 liters of sterile water to eliminate the infection. He is now on a broad spectrum antibiotic but in a couple of days they will get the results of the culture and know exactly what antibiotics he will need to fight this particular staph infection.

The surgery was successful and the infection and fever are under control. He's was still in a great amount of pain last night and was given a pain pump to get the pain under control. As of this morning, he still has the pain pump but hasn't needed to use it. I was able to have a conversation with dad last night through mom and then he called me himself this morning, so the high fever doesn't seem to have done any damage to his brain. (I can't describe the relief in hearing his voice following this.) For at least the next three days dad will remain at Penrose and will be closely monitored to determine whether a second flushing of the joint will be necessary. Our hope is that this will not be necessary and that near the end of the week mom and dad can begin the journey home.

Please continue to pray as he is not fully out of the woods. Its also very difficult for my siblings and I to be so very far away from our parents as we go through this as a family. I'm currently looking into the feasibility of flying to CO to help my mom drive home so prayers for cheap flights, safe travel, and cooperative weather, would be appreciated too.