November 23, 2010

Today has been one of the longer days we have experienced since this journey has started. Late this afternoon we taken back a little when we learned that the doctors wanted to move Bonnie from her comfortable familiar location on Sparrow Hospital’s 5 West tower (where we know all the nursing and management staff and they know Bonnie) to the Intensive Care Unit.

Bonnie’s fever spiked back up to 101 degrees last night and then as the early morning hours rolled around her vital signs started to be a little off. Her heart rate was/is elevated, blood pressure low and oxygen level in the blood low. They started her on oxygen around 6:00 this morning and she continues to receive it tonight. Her temperature was closer to normal this morning and at an acceptable level for her to get her 6th bone marrow biopsy. Initial pathology results should be back tomorrow.

Throughout the day her vital signs continued to be up and down so the doctors made the decision that she should be more closely monitored and thus the precautionary measure of relocating her to ICU. Staying on 5 West would have been 1 nurse to 5 patient ratio and tonight in ICU it is 1 nurse with Bonnie.

Needless to say it was a little unsettling for all of us as we moved Bonnie to an older part of the hospital in an area that is for the most part locked down from too much activity. Only immediate family can visit, limited to two at any given time, no cell phones and a lot of monitors, beeping, IVs, and nursing attention. The entire scene and disruption has created additional anxiety for Bonnie.

The fever is very persistent and for awhile was back up in the high 101 range, but finally got within range for another blood transfusion, as her hemoglobin has dropped down again and may be contributing to her high heart rate, low blood pressure and low blood oxygen. The labs drawn tonight showed her white blood cells dropping down to 180.

They have drawn several blood cultures to see what infection and/or fungal is contributing to the depletion of her white blood cells. Tonight they gave her a second IV (which the selected vein to use was very painful accessing), so they could run additional products simultaneously.

For several hours they had a large oxygen mask with an inflatable bag that was strapped to her head to increase the amount of oxygen. The corners of the mask cut across her jaw and put pressure right on the areas where she has a couple of the more severe mouth sores. Meanwhile she was having difficulty breathing through her nose as the mask pulled her mouth open, drying it out. Bottom line is, a long night ahead is pending. I pleaded with the nurse to try just the nose oxygen hose before leaving and thankful that proved to be adequate in keeping her oxygen at an acceptable level. This change seemed to calm her down a little, along with no initial signs of any allergic reaction to a new anti-fungal med being infused.

I know through our network of friends that word would get out that Bonnie was moved to the ICU. We appreciate all the care and concern on Bonnie’s behalf, and want you to know the specific words Bonnie’s doctor said, “we want to move Bonnie to the ICU as a precautionary measure to closely monitor what is going on with her vitals.”

I sound like a broken record, but specific ways to pray include Bonnie’s comfort and peace in the midst of a new environment and uncertainties that lie ahead, wisdom for the medical team to determine what specifically is going on, understanding for the kids, and I guess stamina for me (Steve). Thank you!

Steve and Bonnie