Johanna (Cataholic) & Sister Jessica continue to Request Prayers for young Samantha

[Cinder & Smoke]

Monday, July 18, 2005 at 12:14 PM EDT

Sam did okay for the most part over the weekend,
but still had some vomiting, and spiked a fever this morning, and
has been sluggish since then.

She enjoyed some family visits, and played a bit,
but unfortunately, they don't think she's well enough for rehab yet,
and she will be transferring to the dialysis floor (3) today,
as she's not sick enough for ICU, but just not ready for rehab.

Besides the vomiting and fevers, her heart rate is up significantly and her bp is lower than usual. Another issue is insurance; ours covers 60 days of inpatient rehab, but if she's not being rehabbed while on the floor (i.e., she's too sick for any therapies today), we "lose" those days.

They'd rather her return to a medical floor, and then come back to rehab when she can take full advantage of it. She will be under the primary care of a nephrologist, and will receive more medical attention than they can offer on rehab.

So... a major, but necessary, step back.
Please send Sam some prayers, as she's having a rough time.

Thanks,
Jessica

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Prayers Offered that the upset tummy gets better!

GO Sammy! ~
We'll stick with you, no matter What Floor you're on!

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[DJFyrewolf36]

It stinks that Sammy is taking a step backward, but I do think that the doctors on the dyalisis floor will take very good care of her! Keep trucking Sammy!! We are all praying and hoping for you!

Sammy continues to be in my prayers! I hope this rough spot passes quickly.

[shais_mom]

Prayers on the way from California - from Zip - Kel- and I

[gini]

Sammy, come on little one............you can do it...............a bit of a setback - now take the next giant leap forward...........we are all praying so hard for you.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear that Sammy is having another setback. Lots of prayers and positive thoughts are being sent her way.

[cyber-sibes]

Prayers for little Sammi's family...it must get discouraging, but your courage and strength shine through!

[Logan]

Bless her heart..........praying for good things for all of you.

Logan

[luvofallhorses]

Prayers from Montana and {{hugs}}

[popcornbird]

Sweet Sammy, I continue to pray for you. Hang in there. You've come a long way, and I know God will help you as your health returns to normal. Stay strong little one!!! {{{hugs}}}

[Barbara]

I am so sorry for you- but we knew always it could happen on her long way to recovery. All the best thoughts to you

[Cinder & Smoke]

Tuesday, July 19, 2005 at 04:43 PM EDT

Well, as always, wait a little while and the plan will change.
We are still on the rehab floor, but not technically on rehab's "service",
which means Sam's only having therapies once a day (like during the latter part of her ICU stay), and under the primary care of a nephrologist instead of her rehab doc.

It looks like she has a UTI, which they are treating, and is not much of a surprise, considering she had a catheter for quite some time. The nephrologist thinks she can stay put -- sparing her another move, esp. a short-term one -- and they'll watch her for a few days, and then (hopefully!) be able to return her to rehab's service.

Sam had a pretty good day today, and
is officially allowed to drink from her sippy cup.
Of course, once actual liquid was put in the cup, she decided she didn't want a drink after all! That all changed when Daddy showed up, and pretended to drink from her cup, then handed it to her --
she took her first sip!
(Apparently, Mommy wasn't nearly as impressive when she tried the same stunt earlier.)

She's smiling a lot more now;
I put her sunglasses on her stuffed rhino, and that caused quite a grin.

She wasn't as sleepy today as the last few days, and we're looking for her to continue to perk up, once the infection is brought under control.
Her ICU nurse, Katie, came by to see her yesterday;
as nice as it was to see her,
we are relieved that we're not heading back there!

Sam appreciates your prayers, and she's working hard to get better.

Thanks,
Jessica

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Sammy ~

Thanks for Workin So Hard to get Better ~
We'll Keep On Prayin!

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[DJFyrewolf36]

glad to see Sammy had a better day today!

[Karen]

New update from the CarePages

67 July 21, 2005 at 10:43 AM EDT
And the plan changes yet again...we came back to the ICU late yesterday afternoon. Sam's bps were low, due to infection, and one of her ICU docs came down to take a look, and it was decided that Sam could use a closer watch until the infection was under control, and that the appropriate place right now was ICU. If all goes well--she started a new antibiotic yesterday, as the bacteria causing the UTI is resistant to the other one they tried--we will only stay 3-4 days. Her bp is fine again, and after sleeping all day yesterday, Sam was quite perky in the early evening, and played with Aunt Johanna, Mommy and Daddy. She sat up for a couple hours, danced to the Wiggles, and gave us lots of smiles. The vomiting is still an issue, and they will be checking into that again. Some good news, though, is that she hasn't had dialysis in a week, and her numbers still look good enough. We just need to clear this UTI, and get back to rehabbing. Send some good thoughts Sam's way; this is just another setback, but we'll move forward again!
Thanks,
Jessica
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Good news on the dialysis front, that's fabulous. Sorry about the slight set-back and infection, but we hope things continue to improve for *our* Sammy! (She does know she now has hundreds of aunties and uncles and grammas, right? )

[Barbara]

Oh Sammy, am I allowed to make a bad joke and tell you that we all know the UTIs from our kitties

So you will have to take the antibiotics (and I hope they have the right one now) until you are finished.

But it is true that life begins to be a little more fun- like dancing and drinking out of the sippy cup and not having had dialysis in one week (which is simply great ).

So things WILL look up

[luvofallhorses]

We're still pulling for you, Sammy!