I'm back on EX...

[SkyGirl]

My daughter, Hayley, will be fine.  It was a very tense few days while she was kept in the Infectious Disease wing and was being administered huge doses of broad spectrum antibiotics while the laboratory tried to figure out why the "gram negative" bacteria had shown up in some of her blood cultures, but not in ALL of them.

She had been brought into the ER by her best friend last Sunday night, thinking she had a violent case of the flu.  She didn't ask to have me called until the blood cultures started showing up with a potentially-fatal bacteria.  She told me she KNEW I would come immediately, and she didn't want to "inconvenience" me.  WHY do children never understand, until they have children of their own, that a parent will lay down their LIFE for their child????

Her condition was worrisome enough that the nurses immediately offered to bring a cot into the room so I could stay with her 24/7, which I did.  The nurses were amazing.  And for the first time in about a decade (since Hayley is almost 29) my darling independent daughter did not resist my mother-tigerness nor my advocacy with the doctors. 

I was told by my middle son's fiancee, Jennifer, who is a physician at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, that if Hayley was not treated in the ICU, it was a good sign.  Hayley was never admitted to the ICU, but rather into a "step-down unit", so I was breathing easier right away.  However, despite the fact that Hayley's condition did not seem to be deteriorating, as would have been expected if the gram negative bacteria had gotten a strong foothold in her system, the blood cultures continued to breed conflicting results, sometimes between blood draws that had been taken within just FIFTEEN minutes of each other.

The lab ruled out the possiblity of contamination, but still could not explain the varied levels of bacteria in her blood nor the fact that she did not continue to sicken.

(Personally, I knew she was going to be okay when she roused herself enough to ask me to brush her hair and put it in a ponytail.  When she asked if there was a Wendy's anywhere nearby, I obliged her request and started planning to bring her home to her apartment!)

The Department Head of the Infectious Disease Department (he looked a bit like God to us...) came into her room this morning.  He told us that, although he can't explain the presence of the "gram negative" bacteria in about half of all those blood samples they took during the last few days, he was "encouraged" enough by her improved condition to let her go home today with her promise that she would continue antibiotics for another week and would PROMISE to be readmitted if the latest blood cultures came back positive for the gram negative bacteria. Of course, she promised.  She would have promised ANYTHING to be released.  I felt less confident in this decision, but I'm her mom.  Of course I would worry more, right? 

This was heavenly news to her: she is the Communications Director for the Michigan Suburbs Alliance and has been heavily involved in trying to get the Regional Transit Authority bill passed in the Michigan House of Representatives.  Being held in the hospital with needles pumping her full of antibiotics while this important vote went on in the Michigan House of Reps today was KILLING her. 

I got her settled in her apartment late this afternoon.  She seems well, but weak.  Her friends came and insisted they would take care of her, so I flew back to DC tonight because I am on Reserve tomorrow and needed to be back in DC.

I know all of my wonderful friends here were thinking of me and worrying and I am so gratified that you all care that much!  I care so much in the same way for all of you...  (I only wanted to smoke ONCE during all this.  It was a BIG urge, but...hey, I don't smoke anymore.  Today is Day 71.  Wow.)

I love you guys.  I do.  I DO.  Thank you SO much for caring...

Sky