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Line Didn’t Culture From Yesterday
By Margot | July 1, 2009
So they are thinking it was probably an outside contaminant and not a line infection because the culture they did yesterday morning at 4am before starting the Vanco didn’t culture which means the blood was contaminated after they took it out of Sam. Hurray. Anyway, we hope so. If this mornings culture comes back negative tomorrow they will take Sam off the Vanco and assume it was an outside contaminant. ANC today is 32. We are slowly creeping up. Platelets are 96. Red Blood 8.2 and LDH…Ta da: 351 which is actually low. So good news all around today. Sam is still sleeping because we read Blubber until late last night. He still has horrible acid reflux. We switched to prevacid last night from protonix but it didn’t seem to help much. He’s eating but only bites at a time. He pitifully picked tiny pieces from the top bun of a grilled chicken sandwich and little bit of baked potato that Neil had to go on a wild goose chase for before taking Charlie and Andy home. I don’t even want to think about how much weight he’s lost in here.  We need to get him out of bed today. It’s very unlike him and I know he feels crappy,. but he’s just wanted to lay around. Yesterday I got him up for some tennis in the hall - Nadal is best on clay, Federer on grass, Sam was pretty good on Rady Childrens Hospital Tile. We almost nailed the lady setting up the afternoon parents tea several times but she was pretty good about it. It was quite the image, both of us with masks on, Sam attached by several lines to his pole, playing tennis in the hall. Sam is still spiking fevers – got to 102 last night. Hoping once that ANC comes up that nonsense will stop.  So mostly good news today. Sam is still sleeping so I can’t give you a mood report but as long as he’s not eating and in pain, he’s doing pretty well. Maureen came by last night which made all of the kids happy. Thank you Maureen!
Sorry about the false alarm report – at least we’re thinking it’s a false alarm – he’ll stay on Vanco today until we get another culture back. It was pretty grim around here yesterday morning contemplating the line infection but things are looking brighter today.
Margot
Topics: Progress Reports | 8 Comments »
July 1st, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Margot,
So happy to hear most likely no infection. I hate Vanco!!! Sounds like all the numbers are going in the right direction. I have no advice on the acid reflux, that’s something we never encountered with Nate that I can remember. Shelby and I would like to pick something up for the boys any requests? Books that Sam would like, things that Andy and Charlie are into? I think about you all alot lately and pray for you at least twice a day. I’m almost like your own personal stalker haha. Hope the fevers stop soon and that you guys can get out of there and back home.
With Hope,
Abra
July 1st, 2009 at 4:55 pm
GOOD news today… my heart sank after reading yesterday’s post… but now Sam is on the right track !
I think your psychology is working with Sam, and we’ll pray for understanding and patience for Andrew also !
We have my brother, his wife and three kids, 7, 5 and 3 with us this week… reminds us of the three wonderful Hutchison boys !
Love you all,
Colleen & gang
July 1st, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Good to hear about it not being a line infection. Hopefully, he can eat more and more today without the pain. Thanks Sam for letting me watch Mr. Baseball with you and then Spiderman with your knucklehead brothers! Can’t wait until you get home and in your own bed, and begin teasing Andrew and Charlie with vim and vigor.
Love, Maureen
July 1st, 2009 at 5:49 pm
SO glad to hear that things are looking UP. My best to all. Always check in but don’t comment too often.
July 1st, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Glad to hear that the numbers are going in the right direction. With the reflux, I remember the GI specialist for Grant telling us that prevacid really can take awhile before it works – kinda has to build up in the system – it worked well for him but did take awhile. Hope it works soon for Sam. Happy to hear that he was game for hallway tennis – a very good sign. Call when you want visitors again. Love, Lisa
July 1st, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Yay for the good news! I’ll be praying for lots more tennis time OUTSIDE the hospital:)
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:38 am
Fire up Samuel!
Sending big love from Abby.
July 2nd, 2009 at 4:32 am
Great news that the numbers are going in the right direction!!!Tell Sam to keep up the good work! Just in case Neil has to find a baked potatoe again-he can always go to the Souplantation on Clairemont Mesa. Let us know if we can bring Sam one tomorrow & play some Clue Jr.