Friday, March 20th

Today is a very different day. It is like we left one world to go into a completely new one. We are not sure if it is faulty lab equipment in Louisiana or if he truly took a turn for the worse in the ambulance in transport here. It is amazing the difference in the resources and the level of care we are so blessed to have here in Houston.

He now has a team of physicians caring for him and all are communicating and staying on top of his condition literally hour by hour.

There are 4 doctors caring for him (Cardiologist, Kidney specialist, Liver specialist and a G.I. which is intestinal doctor.)

Today we learned his kidney function is not normal. In fact it is back to the original admitting level back 5 days ago and he is in renal failure. His urine is very dark again and the output is down. He is toxic because his body has not been able to process the toxins our bodies produce. They put in a large catheter tube in his groin to begin dialysis. This could have stemmed from the dehydration and the fact that he only has one kidney (by birth) and it was already in limited function.

Secondly, he has tissue damage to his liver but they do not know the extent just yet. They are not sure if possibly a vessel is blocked to the liver. The best test to evaluate this is a CAT scan with I.V. contrast however he cannot have it because of his renal failure. The contrast is processed through the kidneys. They are doing a CAT scan now (11p.m.) with just oral contrast to further evalate. They do not feel this is related to the kidney function.

Thirdly, he has a small leak from the graph that was put in back in January for his aneurysm. They do not feel it is significant but they are waiting on heart ultrasound results to further evaluate.

Fourthly, he is jaundiced today and his blood pressure is still bottoming out and very unstable. In fact his potassium is too high and tonight before they could take him for his CT scan, they have had to pump him with insulin and glucose to bring it down to a level where he could at least go for the test. Apparently at the level it was, he was at risk for his heart stopping. He did just come back from that with no problems!!

He still has fluid on his legs ,is in pain and weak but he is in the right place now and we are thankful for the team here at St.Lukes. They are on top of it and doing a great job. They are even addressing the fact that there has been no nutritional supplements provided for him and he hasn't eaten in almost 3 weeks other than small nibbles here and there.

He is on a host of medications that can be dangerous to the vessels over time so they did place a central line into his jugular today in his neck. In spite of all the tubes coming out of everywhere, his spirits are up at times. He still is joking with the nurse now and then.

I will not lie, there are times he is depressed as well so please keep him and us in your prayers!