Nani/SheriRUth/Gentylwind Update

[Gunner]

continued strength to you and your family

[Dee_Dee]

Lots of prayers going up.

[Lori]

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.



Prayers for dear Joseph.

[Abbey32]

Today sounds like a trying, tough day. Hang in there. More prayers are coming.

[septembergirl]

More prayers going up for Joseph.

[Layla]

Prayers of strength and wellness for Joseph.

[emmie]

I really don't know what to say. This is just so horrible. Continued prayers for your family.

[AliMay]

absolutely.

((((sheri, joseph and family))))

[Tazcat]

Originally Posted by gentylwind

Tuesday update

Today is a day of good news and bad news. I know I am getting tired again because I am starting to get emotional. I have spent the last two nights at the hospital and have to spend tonight again. Average sleep on a hospital night is a very interrupted four hours.

Last night was a night of explosive, very smelly diarrhea and simultaneous vomiting, high fevers, shakes that made his teeth clench and chatter, sweats, watching Star Wars together in the middle of the night and a touching, tender conversation between us in which Joseph opened up about a fear of telling his special friend (girlfriend? ) Bree about his illness. He has apparently been delaying telling her because he does not know how to do it and is afraid she will be sad and worried. I reminisced with him about the last time we spent a significant amount of time together in the hospital (when he was born) and we told soft stories of memories of his infancy, toddlerhood and growing years when I was his sole caretaker, the years his father was in the military and frequently gone from home. Our talk last night was precious to me. I am glad he has not forgotten when I was able to live with him every day and care for him.

Good news: So far all of his bacterial cultures have come back negative...that would be blood, spinal fluid and stool cultures. Blood cultures will continue to be done every day that Joseph remains febrile (feverish). No more spinal taps for at least two weeks. His spinal fluid is free of cancer now. Stool cultures, which Joseph found very humiliating, will be done as needed.

Bad news: Joseph is running an average temperature of 103.7 with his most recent climbing into the 104.8 range and becoming resistant to all attempts to lower it. No bacterial causes have been found through cultures and chest X-ray. This means likely he is developing a systemic fungal infection. This is very, very serious. It is the cause of death in 15% of leukemia patients. His fungal cultures have turned up negative so far, but from what his oncologists tell us, once they turn up positive its pretty much too late to treat. It takes a while. He will be starting anti-fungal medications by IV immediately. Side effects of this new, dangerous drug is kidney and liver damage, fever and severe shakes.

Joseph is at a very dangerous and critical point right now. He is "concerningly ill" according to his physicians. They are monitoring him closely. I know how concerned they are by how many of his team have actually come into his room to personally check on him today and talk to his father and I rather than just relaying things to us through the nurse.

Prayers please.

Lighting a candle and keeping Joseph and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[mmmommmy]

Praying the biggest prayer I can that God's healing grace will be with Joseph.

[parrot]

huge prayer that Joseph gets through this latest trial. And a big for you.

[Mootzee]

May angels watch over you and Joseph during this latest trial. Much love and peace to you.

[Shuga Dahlin]

[2BoysMom]

I just wanted to check in again and let you know that I am thinking of you and Joseph every day. He was on my mind constantly as I did my marathon last week - especially during the pre-marathon pasta party for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society participants. I wish you could have seen it - at least 2,000 people there - all raising money and walking/running their hearts out to fight these hideous diseases. It was awe-inspiring.

My hear and thoughts are with you...I couldn't bear it if this was one of my boys. Your strength is amazing.

[lynnjp]

for your entire family-you are in my thoughts daily!

[mamagiff]

So sorrry to hear he's having such a rough time. More prayers and good thoughts for some good news soon.

[lovemykids]

Jospeh is in my thoughts .........

wish I had a magic wand :hug:

[Stormyskies]

Oh, I feel so bad for Joe Joe. This must be unbearable for you to have to watch. I'm so sorry you're all having to go through this! Please know that prayers will continue.

[Shirrell]

Keep the faith girl. There are so many that are pulling for him. I think of you and him so many times thru out the day. I light a candle every day for him, send healing thoughts. Honestly, I can be working in my flower beds or garden and suddenly I can see his face from the pic in your avatar and whisper a prayer......send good thoughts and vibes.

[Majerus]

((((Joseph and Sheri and Family))))

You are in my daily thoughts and prayers.

[gentylwind]

I have started a website at caringbridge for Joseph. It will be open to family members and friends who wish to follow Joseph's journey to wellness. I will be keeping a personal journal there, posting pictures and the like.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/josephmorrison

[hereslizz]

((((JoeJoe and Sheri)))))

Thinking of you always.

[Abbey32]

Lovely web page.

[Angebee]

More prayers for sure.

I wish I could take some of the pain away from you.

[alittlemopo]

Sheri- I hope this is just a temporary setback and nothing more serious. I think about you all every day.

[Mair]

Sheri, you and Joseph are in my thoughts and prayers!

[5foot2eyesofblue]

[gentylwind]

Wednesday update

What a roller coaster ride this is. Whew.

Joseph did not have a fever over 101.0 ALL NIGHT. He slept like the dead...was talking in his sleep, mumbling, griping..but sleeping SO HARD. He didn't even wake when they came in and messed with him taking vitals and such. I could not sleep from checking on him all night waiting for that fever to go up like it has been for a week now every time the medications to lower it wore off. But it just never happened. His doctor is not sure if it is the anti-fungal medication or not, but it sure looks like it is. He'll be on that for the foreseeable future. Let's hope it doesn't do too much damage to his kidneys.

He is being started on IV nutrients today..his blood levels have finally fallen below what they need to be to sustain him. He will also be getting extra potassium as that has gotten dangerously low as well. He had platelets given yesterday, will get a red blood transfusion today and platelets again tomorrow and so on. The donated blood definitely makes a difference for us y'all.

He is grumpy. He is very talkative while watching television now, but never wants to play any games together. He hates on the nurses regularly, especially when they send him a new one he has never met and they do things differently. He got a bit snippity with me too this morning. Like water off a duck. I don't care. Just glad he is feeling well enough to be a grouch. He has to take a little walk every day, take a shower every day just to maintain his bone mass and he hates both. Lured him into walking yesterday by putting his Darth Vader voice changer on his head and telling him he could do his walk in that. The nurses loved it....skin and bones body in SpongeBob boxer shorts wheeling an IV pole with a huge Darth Vader head breathing around the nurse's station. He thought he was very smart.

Love you all.

[Tazcat]

I',m so glad to hear he slept through the night and his fever is down. Wishing some sleep for you too.

[Mootzee]

Too bad you don't have a picture of that, Nani. That would be cute! My imagination has a pretty good idea though. I'm so glad he's doing a bit better.