Set back

Bonnies lungs are worse today. Filled with fluids. She is also having stomach paint too. Poor little woman is just having the roughest time.

Slow recovery

Tuesday the swelling in Bonnie's knee went down and she was able to get up and move around more. It is not as painful but still hurts. The weeping sores looked better on her legs too. Her heart is doing well. Not sure how it happened but it is squeezing harder now and pumping enough blood through her body now. The healing had begun but will be slow and long. Her lungs are weak and not forcing the co2 out so that's concerning. It may take some time to get the fluids out of there so the lungs can function correctly again. If she is well enough a plastic surgeon will close up the deep bedsore she's been struggling with at the end of this week. That's about all the details we have. If we are nOt there when the dr comes by we don't get any updates. Thanks for your prayers and kindnesses.

A few infections but not impossible to cure

First thing, this blog is for close family and friends. Please use this information with courtesy to my family. My dad is very private and stressed out. If you see him please don't not pester him about any of these details or tell him how bad his wife looks. Have some manners please and use some care if you have to drag him through all this medical stuff.  He does not understand half the illnesses and can't always hear the doctor- eh? Deal?

Now to put my mom's good neighbors at ease---


Bonnie has form of strep in her knee joint called beta hemolytic strep. We don't know where that came from. Her bedsore did get infected with a form of staph that is curable with antibiotics. Called gram-positive bacteria coccide. This staph is also present in the stuff she's coughing up. They also think she has pneumonia as well.

The good news is she does not have the hard to cure MRSA and there is no infection in her blood or her heart. This is a dodged bullet and a miracle. Her heart however is in a failure-type mode but I do not understand what that means or what is failing. Her blood pressure is very low so maybe that's the problem.

Obviously the swelling of her legs the care center did not try to correct was a sign of a weak heart. Her body retained water due to poor circulation and eventually created the swelling of her legs. When her legs could no longer handle any more water, the water came out of her legs in weeping sores. Hope you aren't eating while reading this.

This is a bad set back but we are hopeful once the infection gets under control she can resume healing from her heart valve surgery. Oh yeah that's where all this started.

She's back in ICU

Dragged mom back to the hospital Wednesday night. She was having trouble staying awake and her swollen legs made it hard to walk. Today they think her bedsore is infected with MRSA or a staff infection. She's very sick and has been fighting.

Home at last

Bonnie left the Avalon care center Saturday morning. She's home now enjoying her plush mattress and better food. She requires oxygen but is doing well. My dad says she's improved tons in just one day. He's a salesman for sure ;) Anyway while she is home a nurse will check on her daily to make sure everything is working right. In the mean time if you'd like to visit, call first to make sure the nurse isn't there. Not fun to wait while she has a breathing treatment or a bandage changed. Also visits are wearing so we are thankful for those that want to help out but don't want mom to get worn out hostessing. Use your best judgement and know that a short visit is more helpful. Excited to be closer to having mom well again!

Little lady wants to go home

The care center has been good for my mom but she is ready to go home. So the plans for now are to set up in home nursing services and release Bonnie on Saturday. She's been doing well with food and the nurses will have to remove the feeding tube before she leaves.
Mom has developed very swollen feet. So swollen that one has split open causing an ulcer type sore. She suffered from a very painful ulcer on her foot many years ago and finally it healed after years and years of trying everything. We are hoping this new wound will not develop into such a painful sore.
Well that's the latest. Catch back up on Saturday after the (hopeful) move.

Moving along!

After visiting the wound dr and the throat dr Bonnie is finally able to eat. Slowly she'll get weaned off the feeding tube. She moved rooms as well. She is in room 114 now. Her new phone number is 801-951-1736. Her voice is still hoarse but getting better. She's going to visit home Saturday hopefully. She is wanting to be at home for good. Maybe by next week sometime.