So the third time is a charm – I have created and lost this update twice….here goes!

I spoke with Kristina last night and she is not feeling well.  It has been a rough week. Over the weekend she began spiking fevers and experiencing very low blood pressure. Her medical team ran tests and blood cultures to try to find the source.  So far her cultures have grown out a run-of-the-mill staph infection.  For we healthy folks, this would be no big deal, we all carry staph in our bodies and fight it off regularly.  For Kristina, in her compromised immune state, however, this infection is making her feel, well, like crap. She is being treated with IV hydration and IV Vancomycin, a strong, broad-spectrum antibiotic to fight off this infection.  Her blood counts are not coming back up as quickly as she experienced previously and this is distressing to her, although her physicians say not to worry, every “body” reacts differently at different times.  She is unable to walk or stand unassisted due to her low pressure and this is very frustrated and defeating to her as she cannot do her “laps”.

Her nurse did have to shave her blond locks over the weekend as her hair was beginning to fall out and was, as she put it with a tired, frustrated laugh, “all over the place”.  Kate ordered her a Smartwool cap that she will rock, I’m sure. Kristin and I are going to show up with Henna and decorate her beautiful bald head!

While she welcomes and loves our visits, please call first as she is not always feeling up to having visitors at this time.  Use the hospital phone number first of 206-906-7470.  Also, her hospital meals have been arriving cool or cold and have been rather unappetizing.  If you bring food, please let her know ahead of time. If food is brought into her room it cannot be taken out to be reheated.  You may heat a portion for her prior to entering her room and leave the rest in the floor refrigerator for her to enjoy later. 

Kristina added a caregiving calendar link to this page just to the right of this post under “critical links”. We need to get folks on board and committed to a caregiving schedule. While it is not critical at this point, SCCA will not proceed with her transplant until they see a firm schedule in place prior to her discharge.  Kristin Munnell and I both took care of Kristina last time and although I have a medical background, it is certainly not needed.  She will need help with meals, errands, light housekeeping, keeping up your end of the conversation (we all know how this woman can talk!), and generally keeping her healthy and safe.  Its and easy rewarding way to show our love and support of this amazing lady.

Continue to send your positive thought and healing energy her way, she is feeling pretty defeated at this point and needs our love and support!  Thank you my friends – more soon!

Neva