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

[Kater]

Sammy has been in my family's thoughts and prayers. I'm so encouraged by the recent news and could not hold back tears when Jessica wrote about getting to hold her baby girl for the first time in many weeks.

Prayers continue to come from Hawaii for Jessica, Rob, Sammy and their entire extended family.

[Barbara]

I hold my breath by reading all that!

It is so good to hear that under these tough and worrying circumstances all indications point in the right direction.

We'll keep our thoughts with you, little Sammy.

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 09, 2005 at 09:37 AM EDT

Sam's dressing change went okay,
and they did an ultrasound of her kidneys;
unfortunately, they didn't see much flow in that area,
but that's pretty much what they suspected at this point.
We'll just have to take it as it comes regarding the kidneys.

Her lungs tested positive for a bacteria called pseudomonas,
which she had before; it's one of those opportunistic ones that
strike when the system's down. She's on antibiotics for it, and
hopefully they can wipe it out.

She was alert for a bit this morning, and I played one of her
favorite toys for her -- the Leapfrog alphabet toy
from Uncle Jerry & Aunt Ginny.

Rehab was in later yesterday, working her arms and hip joints,
and they want to start "whirlpooling" her soon as well.

The doctors are making rounds right now,
so I will find out any other news a bit later. That's it for now.

Thanks,
Jessica

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Prayers that the Lung Bugs go away quickly!!

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 09, 2005 at 12:10 PM EDT

Another update so soon...
mostly because they are putting a new line in,
and I was booted out of her room.

The new line is because they have to pull one out of her groin area,
so she can start her whirlpool deal--hydrotherapy, in other words.
That's supposed to start tomorrow,
when they are also going to try to switch her from continuous dialysis to the intermittent kind; they're worried that she might not tolerate it, esp. in terms of blood pressure, but in order to start some things necessary for rehab, they want to try and get her off constant dialysis, which gets in the way of everything else.

She's been pretty alert this morning, but they assure me she's as comfortable as possible; I worry about not only pain, but the fear that must be there, too.

One of the kidney docs talked to me briefly about the ultrasound results, and his feelings that things don't look too good in that area. It's likely Sam will be on dialysis for a while.

In better news, the pseudomonas was negative on the last test--
apparently the positive reaction was from when her old tube was in, and she received a new breathing tube the day before yesterday, and so far, that's been clean. They'll retest in another 24 hours, but so far, so good.

Keep the prayers coming, as she has a lot going on the next few days.

Thanks,
Jessica

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Sounds like a Prayer or two for Sammy's Kidneys is in order ...
*DONE*!

Cinder & Smokey offer to keep her company in the Hydro Tub ...
Bowser says he'd rather just *watch*.

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 10, 2005 at 10:44 AM EDT

Sam is now on her way to the whirlpool;
the actual therapy only lasts 20 minutes or so, but the
prep/transport/unwrap/anesthesia, etc. makes the
whole deal several hours long.

Then they will try the intermittent-type dialysis; lots going on today.

One of the residents just asked me if anyone had talked to me about Sam possibly returning to Shriner's for the long haul; apparently, it's been discussed, which was news to me, so who knows what the story is. It wouldn't be until she was stable enough. The official discussion hasn't taken place yet, but at least we've got a heads-up. Maybe they feel her recovery would be quicker over there, since skin is their specialty.

I'll post more on this development later.

Thanks,
Jessica

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Prayers that the Wrirlpool Therapy *helps*!!

[popcornbird]

Still praying for little Sammy!

[Albea]

Prayers and get well wishes for Sammy have never stoped and they will continue until she's back home and well on her way to recovery.

[luvofallhorses]

Prayers still going strong for Samantha and her family. (((hugs)))

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 10, 2005 at 03:31 PM EDT

Sam's had a good day, and surpassed everyone's expectations --
she tolerated both the whirlpool and the dialysis,
which is just wrapping up right now.
She didn't even need the vent during the whirlpool, and
was pretty much breathing on her own.
During the dialysis, her bp only dropped -- very briefly --
once or twice, which really surprised the docs.

All in all, she was a SuperSam!

We talked w/one of the docs again, and she thinks that though Sam could probably go without the vent now as far as her respiratory needs, if they took it out & didn't do the trach, they'd have to keep putting the tube back in & out for every surgery/procedure -- and there will be many surgeries. Keeping her as pain-free as possible is a top priority, so they're thinking a trach would be better all around: her face would be free, and she could be more interactive; and it would be much easier to deal w/in surgery.

So a final decision will be made sometime next week;
if they do the trach, she'll be in ICU at least 5 days after, to make sure it's healed properly. And it does seem like they think Shriner's can do the best job w/the skin, so we're still waiting for the final verdict on that as well.
Right now we're just thankful that today went as well as it did, and we'll deal w/the rest as it comes.

Oh, and they found time at the end of her whirlpool session to wash her hair, and new piggies were put in as soon as she was back in her room. Hopefully she'll rest well tonight after her big day.

Thanks,
Jessica

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WOW!
Quite a list of *accomplishments* for lil Sammy in just one day!!

Let's hope & Pray there are many MORE like this one to come!!

[Barbara]

Sammy it is amazing what you are doing! What a busy day. Love you with your new piggies

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 12, 2005 at 07:56 PM EDT

After Sam's heroic day, she had some setbacks over the weekend.

She was very agitated and in pain Friday night, and they had difficulty making her comfortable. The hospital's pain management team is now handling the treatment plan for this, so the pain control will be consistent.

Unfortunately, the pseudomonas is back, and causing Sam to spike fevers; the trach will be put off until the infection is resolved. It is likely getting in through her very compromised skin, and she is being treated w/antibiotics and a topical cream, as dictated by the infectious disease dept. It's imperative that this--or any other infection--not enter Sam's bloodstream, as that would be devastating.

Please pray extra hard for Sam, so we can get her past this.
She was off dialysis for much of the weekend, but is now back on the constant kind (CCVH), as the intermittent kind (hemodialysis) is more intense/taxing, and they want to go easy on her until the infection is taken care of.

In other news, I was able to hold her again Friday night--yay--
and she has whirlpool treatment again tomorrow,
so we'll hope that goes well again.

She's resting comfortably right now, and
I'm hoping for a peaceful night of rest for her.

Thanks,
Jessica

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Prayers that the lung bugs go away ...
and for a Peaceful Night for both Sammy and Mommy!

[popcornbird]

Sending lots more prayers and love Sammy's way.

[Barbara]

Sammy we think of you and all our thoughts weave a blanket as fine as a spider's net

[Cinder & Smoke]

June 13, 2005 at 12:16 PM EDT

Well, Sam's back up from whirlpool, and she did fine.
She was a bit "sleepier" this time, so didn't do much breathing
on her own, but tolerated the treatment and was comfortable.

She has a fungal infection along w/the pseudomonas,
which is common in patients w/conditions like her.

The plastic surgeon took a look at the skin while she was in whirlpool,
and wasn't too bothered by what he saw;
he plans on grafting more early next week.

It looks like her trach might go in Wednesday;
they feel she will have been on the meds long enough,
and it would be safe to do.

One possibly positive development:
the nurse said there was a semi-decent amount of urine in her diaper.

We'll take anything we can get.
As always, it's day-by-day here, and
we'll continue to hope & pray for the best.

Thanks,
Jessica

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Prayers from here, too!!

[Karen]

Sammy's still in our prayers.