Update #86

Quick prayer request this morning - on Thursday afternoon, although he didn't have a fever, Dave was feeling really hot and clammy. He slept for a good portion of the afternoon and still slept quite a bit that night. At the time, it seemed that the exhaustion and even hot feeling might be as a result of breathing on his own through his nose and mouth. Yesterday, however, the same pattern continued. Just before I left for Cincinnati yesterday afternoon, Dave remained feverless but was still feeling hot, and his heart rate was up considerably compared to the past few days (110 to 120 as opposed to 80 to 90). Even though he didn't want to sleep for fear that he would be awake all night, every time we started to do something to keep him awake (read a story, watch TV, etc.), he would doze off without even realizing it. On top of it all, the color in his face had changed from healthy to gray/ashy.

Even though Dave wasn't showing any typical signs of infection (fever, low blood pressure, etc.), we asked Bob, his day nurse, if he could run some tests anyway. When Bob went in to draw blood, he also noticed, after only knowing Dave for a few days, that Dave did not look like himself.

In the worst case scenario, the fatigue, heartrate, coloring, etc., could be a sign of another infection. Slightly better, many of the same symptoms in the past have resulted in a blood transfusion, which the doctors try to avoid unless it is absolutely necessary. Best case scenario, Dave was just having a rough day and will wake up calm and rested this morning.

Please be praying for Dave, for the blood tests, and for the doctors and nurses as they try to determine what is going on. Dave is so close to getting out of the hospital; it would be really rough (for him and for us) to have a setback like an infection that would keep him at UT even longer.

On that note, yesterday afternoon before I left, we gave the official go-ahead to the Sherri, the Case Manager, to pursue moving Dave to the Drake Center in Cincinnati, a move that, according to Dr. Taylor, could happen as soon as late next week. We have received word that Dave has been tentatively approved as a patient by the Drake Center, but the move is contingent on getting Dave's insurance company to pay for an air transfer (to save Dave from enduring a five hour ambulance ride). Please be praying that the insurance will come through and that Dave will be ready to transfer next week.

More updates later today once I talk to Dave's parents...