Home From the Hospital

Well!  That was exciting.  Not the kind of excitement I'd like to repeat anytime soon though.  Most of the details are covered in the previous posts, and on Katie's blog: http://mcpheeandme.blogspot.com/  As long as Lee is on an antibiotic or there is any chance of him being infected, he will be off the active Heart Transplant Wait List and be placed as a Status 7 (inactive/not eligible for transplantation.)

The staph infection was identified as the hominis strain.  While still dangerous to have in the bloodstream, it is a relatively "wimpy" (this is the term used by the infectious disease doctor) bacteria, which generally can be treated with the antibiotic, Vancomycin.  After Lee had been on Vancomycin for 2 days, blood cultures were done again.  When the cultures were still negative for bacteria after 48 hours, a new PICC line was placed.  This then allowed us to switch back over to "Guido," Lee's backpack that carries his continuous pump IV medication, Milrinone.  When the nurse put the PICC line in, she also included an extra port for drawing labs or for administering another IV medication.  This extra port is where we are able to give the IV Vancomycin at home.

The plan is to stay on the IV Vancomycin for 2 weeks at home.  When that is completed, we will go to the Mayo for more blood cultures.  If the cultures are negative after 5 days, Lee will once again be listed on the Heart Transplant Waiting List as a 1b patient.

Today, Tuesday March 25, our home healthcare nurse came to instruct us on how to administer the Vanco (most of the nurses use this nickname.)

Part of the supplies for our new daily routine.

In the photo above, you can see a device (upper left) that looks like a globe with tubing coming out of it.  That container holds the Vancomycin.  The globe holds the medicine and there is a small pressurized pump in the center that delivers the medication through the tubing and into the port in Lee's upper arm.  Our very dear friend, Bert, who lives in North Carolina, has also been in the hospital with a bacterial infection & was released on the same day as Lee.  He will be doing the same IV medication routine as Lee, so we had a little fun with them. It's Spring Training time here in Arizona, so PLAAAAAY ball!! 

VANCO-ball!!  Comin' at ya, Bert!

Got it!  Now back to you, Lee!

We want to thank all who have been praying for us and for the many texts, emails, phone calls and words of encouragement.  Your support is SO very important to us.  We are truly grateful and humbled.

... so that the tested genuineness of your faith -- more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire -- may not be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:7

Update at the Mayo Hospital

First of all, Lee & I want to thank all of you for your prayers.  We have prayers and are on prayer chains from Canada to Mexico, from the West Coast to the East Coast and from the states of: WA, OR, CA, ID, NV, AZ, MT, VT, NY, NC, GA, PA ... and I'm certain there are more.  Truly, it is humbling and amazing. The Lord heard them and as of now, Lee does not have any signs of bacteria in his heart.  PRAISE OUR LORD.  Thank you all so much for the texts, email, cards and encouragement.  Each and every one is very very much appreciated.

On Thursday, a T.E.E. (Transesophageal Echocardiogram) was performed on Lee.  The procedure uses a scope inserted into the throat to look at the heart valve and surrounding tissue.  Lee has a mechanical valve (graphite) and also an ICD with pacemaker, including 3 leads (wires), which makes it easy for bacteria to stick and grow on the non-organic materials.  Endocarditis (inflammation /infection of heart lining) is a grave concern with the bacterial infection in the bloodstream.  It is difficult to treat and requires longer courses of antibiotics to treat.

His PICC line was pulled and that was cultured and checked for bacteria also.  It tested positive which was not surprising but also led to greater possibility of the heart being infected.

By Friday afternoon we were told that the heart looks clear of infection.  More blood was drawn to be cultured every 24 hours for the next 5 days.  We need to have 48 hours of negative results for bacteria and then the new PICC line can be placed.  The Infectious Disease doctor is monitoring the process and comes to see us once or twice each day.  He said the staph bug was one of the wimpy strains so that is even better news.  They identified a couple more strains of bacteria and all can be effectively treated with the Vancomycin that is currently being administered.

If all goes perfectly well (continued prayers for this please), Lee will be released from the Mayo Hospital on Monday.  We will be giving Lee iv antibiotics at home for 2 weeks, then back for another T.E.E. and more blood cultures.  When all is clear, he can then be placed back on the heart transplant list.

Last evening, Lee was feeling less tired and had less aching in his muscles so the antibiotics seemed to be clearing the bacterial infection.  Today he is feeling better still.  He is glad to have March Madness to keep him occupied somewhat.

A Bump in the Road

Lee is in the Mayo Clinic Hospital, but NOT for a transplant.  This is the life of waiting for a new heart.  Lee has a bacterial infection in his bloodstream (sepsis.)  The most likely cause is that bacteria entered through his PICC line.  Even with all the precautions we take (very sterile conditions when changing the dressing once/week, hand washing to extreme ...) it is not uncommon for this to happen.

PLEASE GO TO: http://mcpheeandme.blogspot.com/  for more information.  My brain is a little fuzzy this morning and our daughter, Katie posted all the details and prayer requests on her blog.  THANK YOU, Katie!!

.... and now, back to the hospital.