ed's condition is essentially unchanged

Just a year-end update. Ed is still non-responsive.

He continues to have significant infections. In August he had a suprapubic catheter inserted into the bladder, which seems to be a better arrangement.

Ed is still at Orchard Park rehab facility. We continue to think well of them and appreciate their care.

Thank you for all of your good thoughts and prayers.

ed was in the hospital but is back at nursing home

I feel like I jinxed Ed - I posted my optimistic news on July 7, and on July 9 he went into the ICU!

The PICC line in his arm became infected and the infection quickly spread, so he was a very sick puppy for a number of days. He did eventually get the upper hand on the infections and was transferred to a regular ward, then back to the nursing home on July 16. He finished the IV antibiotics last Wednesday, July 28, so we're hoping that he continues to do okay.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers.

ed is staying infection-free

Ed finished up his antibiotics on May 22. Since then, he has been doing a great job of staying infection-free and keeping his temperature normal. I think it could be a record. We are very grateful!

He's still at Orchard Park nursing home.

ed's back at orchard park nursing home

Well, the hospital never did figure out what was causing Ed's fever, but they did figure out an IV antibiotic that seems to fix whatever the problem is. So, Ed will continue to get the IV antibiotic at the nursing home for the next 10 days, and we pray that his temperature will continue to be normal.

back to the hospital :(

Ed's temperature went up to 102.7 this morning, and continued to go up after Tylenol. We called the ambulance when Ed was at 103.4, and when they arrived less than an hour later, he was up to 104.2.

We don't know what's causing the temperature. His chest xray looks OK. We'll just have to wait for the labs to come back. It may take several days for the cultures. When I left tonight, his temperature was back down to 101, for which I'm thankful.

ed's back at orchard park nursing home

Ed was doing better yesterday, so he was transferred out of ICU and into a regular ward over at Porter Hospital. He continued to keep his temperature down, so this afternoon they released him back to Orchard Park nursing home. We are very thankful!

ed's back in porter icu

Well, at least Ed was at the nursing home a little longer this time before going back to the hospital.

Ed was on IV antibiotics for quite a while, went off of them for a week and got a urinary tract infection. The doctor who cares for him at the nursing home put him on a penicillin derivative for a week, then yesterday morning he spiked a temperature of 103, vomited, and aspirated, so the nursing home rushed him to the hospital.

Ed went into sepsis and was admitted to intensive care. At least this time he's still breathing on his own and is not on a ventilator. Today they got the blood work back and Ed has a blood-borne infection, so they now have him on three IV antibiotics. Hopefully that will fix the problem and get him stabilized.

Thanks for your prayers and good wishes. Marian