Hazie's Sunday Update

This is Jen and Hazie when she was younger.
Hazie is no stranger to medical problems
but she has a lot of love to keep her going. ♥

I spoke with Jen this morning and here is the best interpretation of what I learned. It is a little detailed but I am giving it to you so you can know better what is going on and what to pray for specifically.

The diagnosis with Hazie is always changing it seems, but this is what it is right now. She has a severe and very serious infection that originated with a nasty ear infection. When kids normally get something like this a large cyst will form and a pocket of fluid will develop at the mastoid bone behind the ear. This bone is porous and looks like a honeycomb on an x-ray so the infection takes the path of least resistance and goes there. Normally they can just drain the cyst and treat with antibiotics.

Yesterday they did some inflammation tests and her number was 26. Normal is 0 and they told Jen that pneumonia was a 10. This is where we got confused and thought she had pneumonia but thank heavens she does not have pneumonia. They just used pneumonia to show how elevated her inflammation was by comparison. So the good news is it is going down so the antibiotics are working, 17 today.

Now the reason they cannot extract the infection is that Hazie has a shunt in her head that drains her excess cranial fluid on an on-going basis. The shunt is encased in plastic tubing that runs from her brain to her stomach. So instead of the fluid going into a cyst it has taken the path of even less resistance and the bacteria has attached itself to the plastic tubing so now it can run freely up and down that tube from her brain to her stomach causing a much bigger problem. Of course the plastic doesn't respond to the antibiotics so it creates a safe harbor for the bacteria to grow. But it does treat the surrounding areas so that is a blessing. But it makes killing it much harder.

So tomorrow they are putting in a PIC line so they do not have to keep poking her with needles for fresh veins as the tiny veins in a child burn up pretty fast with heavy meds. She lost her vein last night so they had to redo the IV, not a pleasant thing on a little one. Placing the PIC line in a main vein is a surgical procedure they are planning to do tomorrow morning. When they get the PIC line in too, she would be able to go home for the AB treatments once they feel she is well enough for that.

Another good thing is that they are calling in another specialist today to check her out and so they can collaborate on the treatment.

So this is what I am praying for today. That her infection will continue to respond to the antibiotics. That the Pic line will go in with no problems with anesthesia or the procedure itself, that it will eventually result in her being able to go home and continue the meds there. I am also praying for the roads to be clear of snow and ice so Jen and Lowell can drive the hour between home and the hospital with no incidents. And also that the Lord will keep Hazie relaxed and comfortable and uplift everyone's spirits with a perfect brightness of hope! Thanks you for any prayers you can offer up! Jen, if I have left something out or messed up something, please clarify in a comment.

Love,
Bonnie