So Sarah is doing well. She can't wait to get her pic line out for the antibiotics. 14 days and counting!!!! WHoo hoooo.

Her energy level has returned and Sarah's spirit is the same as ever.

A girl in my night class at BCC mentioned that she worked on the Cardiac Floor at Overlake. She said that she remembered Sarah vaguely and said that she was really nice.

This picture is from Alki Beach last Sunday. It was gorgeous outside and we definitely harassed some small crabs and poked some anemones.

Sarah also enjoys long walks on the beach as well as being crafty at puzzles. Its hard to keep up with this one!!! ;)

Thursday Upate 2/07/08

Hi everyone,

I just thought I'd update you since Sarah's been home...

She's doing okay, she just doesn't feel like talking to anyone right now (it wears her out). The iv antibiotics twice a day takes time & is tedious to do. Both arms are sore & hard to move, the left is doing better (more mobility) but the right she can't lift for a month. So everything is difficult from getting dressed to washing her hair or taking a shower.

She's happy to be home & sleeping in her own bed...the rest just takes time.

We're going to get her hair cut today...woooo whoooo! She's doing puzzles to pass the time. Thanks, Kathleen.

Thanks for the good wishes & of course, prayers...I couldn't manage w/o those...

XOXO,

Terri/Mom

Monday 02/04/08 Update

Sarah had her new icd placed this morning...all went smoothly & she had no memory of it. Praise God!

She should be released tomorrow, that's what we're hoping for.

Please continue to keep her in your prayers as she heals over the next few weeks.

I'll give a follow-up update later.

Again, thank you all for praying for her once again,

Hugs & Kisses to each of you,

Terri

Another day of good news

Still no growth on the blood culture, so she can be scheduled for tomorrow or Tuesday (Dr Leonard said the schedulers are here in the am) to put her new icd in. Then she can go home the next day.

Sarah slept well again last night. She's got some stiffness in her back due to all the craziness of the last week & a half, but a little motrin takes care of it.

We spoke to the nurse today & she said we can use a different anthesthesia than versed, since she had such a bad experience with it. That's good to know. We'll also make sure she gets the anti-anxiety med before. So the operation should be much smoother than when they removed her icd. The doc also told her that they did do a bit of clean up in the wound making sure all the "bad" stuff was gone.

That's about it for now, I would say we're in the home stretch, just keep praying for the operation,

Thank you all,

Terri

Here's a "praise the Lord"

Saturday Update - 2/02/08

Sarah slept w/o any sleeping pills last night & is feeling much better today. Her appetite is returning, woooo whoooo!

She's resting, eating some & watching movies, which is basically all she has the energy to do. She has not needed any meds for pain (a big praise) only some ibuprophen.

Dr Leonard (infectious diseases) said the tests are still negative on the blood culture & if it's still the same tomorrow, she could have the new icd put in on Monday & then go home on Tuesday.

As always, thank you for your prayers,

Terri

February 1st Update

Hi,

The aches & pains have been taking their toll on Sarah. The infectious disease doc said you have to realize that it may/likely take 2-3 months before you feel back to normal, once you realize that, you look at the small improvements day by day.

She got her 1st decent sleep last night in over a week. Her emotional side has been fragile, so her docs have prescribed something to help her rest/sleep.

She loves that you care about her to come to visit, but I would ask that you plan for staying only a few minutes when you come.

So far, the results of the blood cultures have been negative. There is a preliminary reading & a final; we are at the preliminary phase since they removed her icd on Tuesday am. So that's good. Today, she'll get the pic line in her arm (which she'll have for the 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotic). Right now, she is also on an additional oral antibiotic. After the 6 weeks of that combination, then she'll have a month of another antibiotic(oral). The vancomycin(antibiotic) can only be taken by iv, so that's why she needs the pic line in her arm so she can inject herself for the rest of the 6 weeks. (I hope I made that understandable)

A praise...her temps have been down (only a couple of spikes & not that high) & she has been able to take showers (which she loves)

Your continued prayers give me all the energy I need when I'm here. A miracle in itself. You all are a blessing to me & to our family...your caring means the world to us.

Again, keep on praying,

Terri/Mom

Follow Sarah's Progress

Sarah went to the hospital on Wednesday January 23^rd. She had been having headaches and a high fever for a few days. They did some tests trying to figure out what was causing the fever and headaches. She under-went a spinal tap (ouch) which ruled out meningitis.

They did some blood tests and an echocardiogram which confirmed that she had staph on the leads from her ICD to her heart. (You can read the emails below that Terri wrote bellow to fill in the gaps).

Currently, Sarah needs to rest and sleep as much as possible (she has been having a hard time with this). So feel free to check this blog for daily updates. Also check here to see if Sarah is feeling up to visits and receiving phone calls.

Continue praying for her.

Updates from Terri/Sarah's Mom 1/26-1/30

(These are emails that Terri sent out.)

January 30th
Hi,

Sarah's fever is close to normal today, but she's worn out from the pain & the not sleeping much. I'm hoping that she'll be able to get some restful sleep tonight. She's getting exercise by walking around her room (she can't leave until her blood test comes back clean)& is sitting up for the most part. The nurse suggested some pain management of getting it every 4 hours so it doesn't get too overwhelming. We thought that made good sense. They did run another blood culture, but that will take a few days for results.

We've got the DVD's going so that'll help pass the time & keep her mind off pain.

Not much else to report, only that her spirits are kinda low (knowing she still has another surgery to endure)...as always thanks for the continued prayers.

January 29th
Hi once again,

Sarah got bumped on the surgery yesterday, so bright & early this am she did get her icd removed. It's been a difficult day, but one you just have get through. Last night, the dr said all her bloodwork has come up to normal levels which is great. She's been overwhelmed & anxious throughout the day today, but I'm expecting a steady improvement day by day from here out.

Thanks for the prayers, we all need & are thankful for them. We are able keep on because of your diligence.

Sarah's brother, Sam's coming down from Bellingham tomorrow & her sister, Shannon is coming on Thursday for a visit.

January 28th
Here's what's next for Sarah:

Today she'll get her icd removed (since she is continuing having fever spikes & terrible headaches) she'll have the iv antibiotic & an additional antibiotic for 6 weeks plus an additional month or so to make sure. Around Thursday they'll do another blood culture & then the drs will clear her next week to put in a new icd. After that she should be able to go home.

She'll be in the hospital this week & I'm anticipating her feeling better throughout the week. She's certainly looking forward to less temp spikes & most of all those miserable headaches. She could really use some sleep...not much since last Wednesday night. She'll leave her phone off when she wants to sleep & turn it on when she feels up to talking or replying to text messages. As far as visitors I would say you can call & speak w/her nurse & she'll let you know if it's a good time.

She's also not contagious unless you do blood to blood, so you all should be good.

I think that's about it,

Thanks again for all the love & prayers without which we couldn't get through these days,

January 26th
The results of the echocardiagram is that the staph is on the leads in her heart, but they didn't see any on/around the icd itself. The strain of staph is the mrsa, the one I was hoping she didn't have. The abdomen cat scan showed fluid, so they're checking that out. What the doc's plan is to treat the infection with what she's on now (providing she's improving) not remove the icd (for now) & then do another echo in 3 weeks to see if it's shrinking with the antibiotics. If it is, then she'll continue for another 3 weeks of the antibiotic & they'll leave her icd in place, but if it isn't, or she's not improving enough then they'll remove the icd.

Right now, the antibiotic takes away her headache & fever, but they seem to return when it's close to needing her next treatments.

I hope I've made it reasonably clear for you...

Please pray for her strength both physically & spiritually,