Wednesdays visit back to Duke for a followup 5-10-16

Ray and I traveled to Duke yesterday for a followup since his release last Friday (a week ago)
He had followup blood work and had his staples removed. The surgeon was very pleased with how his incision was looking and the infection that had occurred after surgery is healing very nicely. He will continue on his at home IV antibiotic for about another week in a half. That has been going well and we are handling the Picc line and administering the antibiotic nightly as "pros" now.
On the 20th Ray will take a picture and email to them to see how it looks since the staples have been removed. If it continues to heal and look better then they will stop antibiotics that week. Otherwise the surgeon released Ray from her care and turned it back over to Rays liver Dr., Dr King. He is able to drive now so he was EXCITED about that!

Dr. Sudan said his total amount of healing time and time out of work from the date of surgery will be 8-12 weeks so it seems he will return to work July 1st.

He will have weekly blood work done here to continue to monitor his liver numbers and his antibiotic levels to make sure he isn't receiving too much or too less of the vancomycin.  A home health care nurse will come each Tuesday to draw his blood and to change his picc line dressing. Once the antibiotic stops, they will pull the Picc line and then he will just have labs done as he did before.

His liver numbers were about the same yesterday- 2 numbers are in the normal range and one is still elevated (Alk Phos). They are hoping that as the duct heals, swelling goes down, once the infection is completely healed and he is off the antibiotic that, that number will go down. We will just continue to pray about that and wait it out.

Ray is feeling better and stronger each day. He looks healthier and more rested this week since being home for a week now. The kids have been so happy to have him home to hug, kiss and say "I love you too" in person!

We continue to thank you all for the support and ask that you continue to pray for healing for Ray and for those liver numbers to continue to stabilize as well as his kidneys to bounce back.

Thank you again friends and family

Ray and Janet

Ray was released from Duke on Friday May 6, 2016

Ray was released from Duke on Friday and Riley and I brought him home! Riley rode with me and surprised her Daddy!

He is happy to be back at his own house, in his own bed, able to rest and be comfortable and sleep "normal hours" not hospital hours!

The kids and of course "Scout" were and are happy to have him home too!

We go back to Duke on Wednesday for a check up with the surgeon, I am sure they will probably remove staples that day as well from surgery.

Ray continues at home with IV antibiotics once a day. We both learned how to hook him up and administer them (which is way easier than I imagined!)It is actually quite cool!
A home heath nurse will come twice a week to change the bandage/dressing on his picc line and to draw blood.

I am sure at our Wednesday visit we will learn more about how much longer he will need to heal, when he can begin driving, etc....

It was a good, low key FEVER free weekend! The quietest we have had in what seems like WEEKS! Somehow Ray even surprised me with getting flowers delivered for Mothers Day and he and the kids cooked me a mothers day breakfast, so those were both unexpected treats!

Thank you all for the cards, texts, emails, words of encouragement, Facebook messages, sharing our post with church groups, members, bible studies to pray for Ray, etc....it has meant the world to us and continues to.

We as that you continue to pray against this infection, healing of this billary duct that was operated on a few weeks ago- that it was successful and for swelling/inflammation of that area to go down and for all numbers- liver and kidney to go BACK down to normal and stay that way. We pray that we are coming down the other side of this mountain now.

Thanks friends!

Ray and Janet

Isaiah 40:4

Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

May 1st....beginning the month BACK at Duke again

Just wanted you all to know that Ray is back at Duke as of last night.

He went to the ER here (Greenville) and then was transported by ambulance to Duke.

He is currently on IV antibiotics AGAIN.

Since returning home last Wednesday his incision has been red, angry, somewhat feverish. When he was released on Wed the doctors were aware and sent him home on antibiotics 3 times a day to prevent any infection.
He has continued to have low grade fevers 99-100 off and on from Wed-Saturday.
On Saturday it became more red, tender to the touch, and swollen/inflamed above the incision.

The ER here felt it was a superficial infection and felt treating it with IV antibiotics would control the infection. They consulted with Duke, who agreed but wanted him there for treatment.

So he made it to Duke about 1:30am and has been on IV antibiotics ever sense.

No fevers today, of course!

He had labs here on Friday- liver numbers were elevated- of course!

The doctors it seems are at a loss. Today they said they will get this infection under control first and then tackle the next issues- reoccurring fevers, liver numbers rising.

The good news was his kidney function was down 1.7- that is a praise and he is getting rid of a lot of this fluid in his abdomen and legs/ankles that he came home with.

We still have a lot of questions for the doctors this week and hope that as tomorrow comes we will know more of what their plan of attack is.

As you can imagine- this is frustrating, exhausting, nerve-wracking, and as Jackson put it last night "this just stinks". I know we just have to keep our chins up, keep praying and stay faithful but I would be a liar if I tell you it isn't easy.

Thanks for the continued prayers and support

Ray and Janet