Day 27 – Grayson’s Condition

Dear family and friends

Today was not a good day.

Regina went to the hospital this morning, and was quite surprised to find that things were a bit of a mess. Grayson was agitated all night long, and after 10 hours the result was that, among other things, he had torn out his PICC line, his IV line, and was bleeding from where his legs had struck the side of the bed. While there was clearly some inattention from his sitter, there is a reason for the increased agitation. There was a rising amount of ammonia in his bloodstream, a result of reduced liver function triggered by the antibiotics he has been on for the past weeks. Today he was sedated, had his 3^rd PICC line installed, his medications were adjusted to eliminate the antibiotics, and new ones administered to reduce the ammonia. When we left him this evening, he was resting peacefully. We also had a conversation with the nursing manager to enable a teaching moment in patient care. For the record, after 27 days, this is the first time we have been displeased with the nursing staff.

We are expecting a quiet day tomorrow, as it is Sunday, and all non-urgent things are generally held until Monday. Let's hope this is the case after today's experience!

I realize that, in the blur of events at our house, we have entered the Christian Season of Advent, and the Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah. May your expectant waiting and preparation for the Feast of the Nativity, and the celebration of the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, bring us all closer to God, and may miracles, like those that form the basis of those holidays, also bless Grayson in his fight to recover.

Pax!

Brant and Regina