There is a Reason We Try Not Get too "Up"

We just had a conference with Dr. Katz. He was gracious as always. He told us some things we already knew. Jenni's lungs are not demonstrating enough improvement, they are out of treatment options and we are running out of time.

We probably have about 36 hours for things to get better.

Please continue to pray for things to improve with the bleeding in the lungs and that we would see it on the vent.

Grace and Peace
Layne

Minor Update & Thank You

First of all, I want to mention a few things that Layne hasn't. He tends to be a lot less wordy than I am and that's probably a good thing, but I'm going to keep blabbing on here either way and add a few points that, alongside the other news, seem rather minor but I feel should be mentioned:

• The chest tube in Jenni's left side is useless at this point, and they clamped it off yesterday. The doctors intend to remove it today. I asked if removing it would be more traumatic than leaving it but Dr. Katz explained that if it isn't functioning, it is more dangerous in than out (and Judi agreed). Out it will go.
• Jenni's labs are showing signs of improvement in both the blood and the kidneys. The kidneys are probably only improving because of the dialysis (because she is still on several of the drugs that negatively affect the kidneys), but the improved blood work is a good sign, in my humble opinion. Yesterday was also the second day in a row that Jenni didn't need a blood transfusion.
• Jenni's temperature dropped yesterday morning, so they put her under a heated blanket. Her temperature returned to normal, but I hope they keep the heated blanket. If she was awake and aware right now, she would want it on, so I hope it will still be there when I get there in the morning.

Now that those points are out there, I want to thank everyone who has been checking on Jenni...

• everyone who has continued to pray
  
• those of you who have helped accumulate the 7000+ visits over the last three days that I could check the numbers (and probably several times that number before Google Analytics started counting)
  
• the people in all of the 18 countries who have visited the site (USA, Brazil, Canada, Finland, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Switzerland, Panama, Israel, Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Serbia, Australia, Latvia, Spain, Denmark
• the people in all of the 45 states who have visited
• the 75 followers and 157 people who have signed up for email updates
  
• the people whose traffic has generated over $1500 through Adsense to help pay the family's expenses as we stand vigil nearby
• the people who have donated money, both online and in person... unfortunately I've lost count of the amount... but it has helped

 I hope I feel like updating more often. Describing this as a rollercoaster of emotions would be the underestimate of... the year? the decade? my lifetime? However, I feel confident today that things will be okay... I am not in control. We all know who is... and I trust Him.

And I want to give Layne a special thank you for taking over "updating the peeps" in the times I've been a wreck.

Conference with the Doc

We had a good conversation with Dr. Katz. He is one the few who seems to have any concern at all.

At this point he suggests that we continue on the course we are on. The dialysis is removing 100 ccs of fluid from her body per hour. This will help take pressure off of her body. We are trying two meds to help the clotting. One is a clotting drug one is an arthritis drug that seems to help in cases like Jenni's

If the bleeding Jenni's lungs slows or stops the evidence will be in the decreased need for the vent.

Please continue to pray for us

Grace and Peace
Layne

PS Dr Katz is actually rather kind---so scratch him off of the disturbed cottonmouth list.

No news

Well maybe no news is good news. Jenni is stable. We have had no setbacks today. All of this is good.

Jenni looks better. Her swelling is down, and numbers look good. However, I cannot emphasize this enough, if the bleeding in the lungs is not slowing or stopping she will not recover. When you pray pray that the bleeding will stop and that it will be demonstrated by a decreased need for the ventilator.

The doctors have all the charm of a disturbed cottonmouth, but seem to be on top of things. The one doctor we have liked is supposed to come by later and speak with us.

We are awed and amazed by your love and prayers. Thank you so much. You have my eternal gratitude.

Grace and Peace
Layne