Day by Day

A mama blogs the journey to transplant and beyond...

Monday, November 13, 2006

The Long Road Home


Joaquin was admitted to the hospital today. He felt a little warm last night as he was going to sleep and then this morning I took his temperature and it was 99.1 - which isn't alarming since it wasn't over 100 degrees. Then we got to the day hospital where we had a scheduled xenopax infusion and he was running a temperature at about 102 degrees. I, of course, got scared because that was a symptom of rejection. But Dr Weintraub reassured us that in all of her years working with post-transplant care, never have they seen rejection that started with fever. Joaquin's immune system is still suppressed more so than it will be in another few months so he's more susceptible to infections. Once he's a few months out of transplant, they will lower the dose of immunosuppressant drugs and his immune system will be better at fighting these things. With small guys like Joaquin they worry about dehydration that commonly accompany fever, but his creatinine looks fine so they are just giving him some antibiotics. Luckily we were able to quickly pinpoint where the infection is coming from: his urinary tract. So they were able to give him a more specific antibiotic rather than just giving him a really strong one and then testing and ruling out what it could be.

So we are staying at the hospital for a while. We were told in the beginning before it was determined that it was a UTI that it would probably be for 72 hours. In out-side-hospital life that might seem like nothing, but in the hospital it's forever! But now that they know what the infection is coming from it might not be as long. Also, they couldn't get an IV line in him. They tried three different times. Fortunate for Joaquin, these antibiotics can be taken orally and he is keeping fluids down. I think not being able to place an IV line actually worked to Joaquin's advantage because now they won't have the excuse of keeping him to do the antibiotics intravenously. I'm hoping that we can be released tomorrow if things continue to remain stable and his fever does not raise. It's already down to 99 degrees - so here's hoping.

Every time something like this happens it makes me feel like a failure. And I know that it's only in my mind. I always want Joaquin to be the exception, to make it through the 100 days without hospitalization. To me it feels like he's been hospitalized a lot but when were talking with the doctors today they said that they don't consider the last few times to be true hospitalizations because they weren't really that serious. They were more or less for monitoring. And that is what this hospitalization is turning out to be as well because he's not hooked up to any monitors. Every time we go into the hospital we put Joaquin at risk for infection because of all the people coming through. I voiced my concerns about this to the doctors and they feel the same way too so hopefully we will leave soon.

So please Joaquin in your thoughts and prayers. Send him healing energy to help his body overcome this so that we can get out of the hospital soon and so we can go home to Reno soon. I don't think we'll be moved back by Thanksgiving like I had thought a while ago and I'm not so sure that we'll even be home by December 4th, which is the 100th day post transplant. They said that they're goal is to have us home by Christmas and at this point it's sounding more realistic than Thanksgiving. I'm prepared to stay longer but I'm also so ready to get home. I think that Joaquin will only get better and do better once we're home.

5 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am sure there are times, like the present, that feel like you are pushing a boulder up a mountain (and not getting very far)... But, girl, you have climbed so much farther than you realize. And that is because, when you have such a monsterous task, the best way to deal with it is to get a little help... and if there is one thing I have learned as I follow Joaquin's transplant story it is this: you all have so much love in your life and that equals help with the boulder. The peak of the mountain is not far... almost there.

Hugs and Kisses!
-molly

11:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

(((Joaquin))) sending healing vibes and lots of love to you lil man, I hope the fever drops and the UTI clears up quickly and your discharged soon!
And mama you are so so strong, and I love how you remain positive always. Feel the love of all of us around all of you, we love you & support you and we're always here for you!!!!
Much Much Love & Healing Vibes,
Meghan & phamxxxooo

2:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

(((((joaquin and meghan)))))
love to you both
iamleabee

6:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Meggars and fam,

Love from Rapid City and the Quinn family. You remain in our thoughts and prayers!!

8:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hang in there, Meghan and Chris! Joaquin is one tough little bird!!
Thank God that you are venting your frustrations (somewhat) through writing on this blog....I have a real peace about all of this. You WILL be home for Christmas and it WILL be a SPECIAL CHISTMAS for your whole family.

All of our love and prayers,
Ron and Pam

8:44 PM  

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