Quarantined

This is Kathy’s husband Randy posting. Kathy has been in the hospital since Monday, September 25, 2006 and likely will be there at least through Tuesday, October 3. The problem is a result of the damage done to her skin from the radiation treatments. The treatments, along with the chemo, have been very effective and the medical and radiation oncologists both are pleased with Kathy’s progress. But the radiation effect on her skin was very much like severe burns. The damage led to blisters and peeling, which eventually developed into a skin infection. Kathy continued to receive chemo therapy over the past several weeks and one of the side effects of that was that her red and white blood counts drop below normal. When her blood counts are low, her body’s immune system can’t deal with infections of any sort and so the radiation damage developed into a severe infection over time. We had gone to the treatment center because Kathy was complaining of pain in her left side which we thought at first might have been an abscess under the skin or possibly even some sort of bone fracture. When nothing was obvious on a CAT scan or ultrasound, she began taking oral anti-biotic drugs and using topical treatment for the skin. The problem persisted and the pain intensified so we went to the CTCA ERMC facility. We decided that the infection had advanced to the point where it needed more aggressive treatment, specifically intravenous anti-biotic and anti-viral medication along with specialized wound care for the large skin area that had become infected. Further tests have diagnosed this infection as MRSA or methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which has placed Kathy in semi-quarantine at CTCA. She is also battling a major outbreak of shingles, also because her immune system is weakened. Since Kathy, like most of us, had chicken pox as a child, the virus is ever present in her system. Since her immune system can’r keep it under control, it is expressing itself and that is basically what causes shingles (Herpes Zoster). I know all of this sounds pretty rough, but we can visit her. We wear masks and rubber gloves while we are there. She is not permitted to leave her room for any reason. The doctors and staff at CTCA are doing a wonderful job of taking care of Kathy and she is improving slowly but steadily. She is in good spirits and was able to visit with her cousin Lance who came up from Texas for a brief visit. Kathy had hoped to entertain him at our home, but we ended up all going to the hospital for the visit. Kathy’s mom is coming next week to help with the kids since I need to travel to my work in Arlington, Virginia next week for a few days. My employer has been very understanding of our situation and provided me with a lot of support and flexibility during these times of uncertainty. My staff is just amazing at keeping things going at the office and I value them all as the dearest of friends. I know many of you are praying for Kathy and the LORD has answered many of your prayers over the course of many months. Please continue to pray that all of those involved in Kathy’s treatment will be given great wisdom and skill from the LORD and that Kathy will continue in His grace each day.