ed's been doing ok until pneumonia and hospital

Just when you think it's safe to go back in the water...

Ed really has been doing quite well - eyes open every other day or so, moves his legs when you turn the sheet back or rub his leg, startles at noises. Not improving drastically, but certainly maintaining the baby steps that he has taken.

Then on Friday his temperature went up to 104 degrees and they couldn't get it down, and he started coughing up lots of stuff from his lungs, so the doctor recommended taking him to the emergency room. The E/R doctor at our favorite hospital (Presbyterian/St. Luke's) agreed that Ed had pneumonia and wanted to admit him, but there was no room at the inn until about 10 PM - sure glad it wasn't longer!

Then on Saturday morning the hospital called me because his heart rate soared and his blood pressure dropped, so they wanted permission to administer electric shock treatments if necessary. Not a good way to wake up after just a few hours of sleep! Anyway, they were able to get his heart rate down with medication and his heart rate came up to about 100/60, so they did not need to do the shock treatments. Then on Saturday afternoon his blood pressure plummeted to 62/44, so they took him off the heart medication and started working to stabilize his blood pressure. By Saturday evening he was looking much better - blood pressure back around 93/55 and pulse in the 80's.

Thankfully he stayed stable overnight, and seemed pretty comfortable when I saw him today. He's on intravenous antibiotics, and his lungs seem to be clearing up - not coughing up as much stuff.

I don't know how long he'll be in the hospital, but normally they finish the course of intravenous antibiotics before they release him, so he'll certainly be there for a few days. Since he has pneumonia, all visitors must wear the usual mask, so it's not the most comfortable to visit right now.

Back at the ranch, I no longer itch, for which I am extremely thankful! The rash hasn't really gone away, but it looks better than it did - it's progressed from an "angry red", as my dermatologist described it, to what I would describe as a "petulant pink". Definite improvement.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers! They make a world of difference to us! I read the cards he receives to Ed and he seems to like them, so many thanks for them too.