ed is in rose hospital with infections

Ed was running a high fever Thursday evening, and was sent to Rose Hospital. He has a recurrence of the GI bacteria "C. dif" and a urinary tract infection and an infection in the lung secretions, so he was a pretty sick puppy when he went in.

Hopefully the antibiotics will help get the infections under control and his fever will come down a lot.

ed seems to be over his pneumonia - hope it lasts

As it turned out, Ed had a very nasty pneumonia bacteria (klebsiella), so we are very thankful that he held his own and did not run any really high fever. I think that the respiratory practitioner that we have hired to work on Ed once a day has definitely made a difference, both in his individual work on Ed to clear his lungs and in training the staff at Monaco Parkway how to use an "ambulatory bag" to expand his lungs before suctioning secretions out.

Ed does seem to be over the pneumonia - tamperature is back to normal. Now we just pray that it does not come back!

ed has developed pneumonia again

So much for Ed being stable - sigh!

Anyway, they think that they've caught the pneumonia pretty early and have hopes that it will be sensitive to run of the mill antibiotics.

More prayers and good wishes are appreciated!

ed's been pretty stable

The private respiratory therapist that I hired to work with Ed daily seems to be helping. Ed has had an ear infection and a urinary tract infection, but so far (knock on wood) hasn't had an infection in his lungs.

Other than that, he's pretty much the same. Please keep your good thoughts and prayers heading his way. Thanks!

doctor says ed needs more visitors / stimulation

We talked to Ed's doctor at Monaco Parkway, and he said now that Ed is free of infection, he needs more stimulation than we are giving him. (For reference, Ed is at Monaco Parkway Health and Rehabilitation Center at 895 S. Monaco Parkway, Denver 80224, room 117 - just walk in. Main desk telephone number if you need directions is 303-321-3110.)

The doctor recommends that people come and not only talk or read to Ed, but also rub his face, shoulders, arms, and/or calves so that the sensory nerve endings are stimulated as well as the auditory nerves. I'd recommend starting with rubbing his cheeks, since he really likes that. Ed does often "flinch" and draw back when his arm or leg is first touched, but that is just a protective reaction, so please don't be put off by his initial reaction.

It would be especially good if folks could visit Ed at times other than when I visit him. I'm usually there about 5 PM - 7 PM on weekdays, late Saturday afternoon, and about noon-2 PM on Sunday. It's always nice for me to see y'all, but it would do Ed more good if we only overlap visits a little.

Since Ed is still unresponsive, it might be easier if folks took something to read, or went with a friend.

And of course, prayers and good wishes are always appreciated!

Thanks! Marian

ed is in room 117 at monaco parkway (not 128)

Ed is in a different room this time - same hallway, but on the other side.

Seems to be stable - no fever or anything ugly, thank the Lord!

ed doing better, back to monaco parkway friday

Lungs and fever doing good, diarrhea getting better, so he's good to go. Now let's just keep him that way (or better of course)!