The Latest Scoop

Well there is never a dull moment. Bruce had a wound team come in and address his bed sore with a Plastic surgeon. They concluded it is at a level 4 wound. The results after another cat scan shows the infection isn't in the bone. Thank you Dear Lord! Bruce does have the early stages of ammonia, c-diff, and a newly found infection. Today an infectious diagnostic team is looking at Honey. He is very weak yet memory and quiet whispers are coming back. His pulse remains around 120-150 and has held a fever of 100-104.5 for almost 4 weeks now. Keep the prayers coming please.
I saw my Dr. this week and my Talus bone in my ankle has died. Not the best news is it. Now we can pray that it strengthens and makes a good filler for the space it takes up. It is a wait and see game for it's strength, arthritis, and mobility. I now begin wait bearing to see. I'm to apply 25 lbs. of pressure for 4 days and if that goes well, I'm to add another 25lbs. every 4th day until I'm at full weight bearing. If my math is right and better then my spelling it will be a while before I'm walking but the journey begins. I'm Letting Go and Letting God.
Pray this prayer with me for (Honey) Bruce and Me Please:

Father, we come to you just as we are, struggling to cope with the trails of life. We're grateful tat you never turn your back on us. You promise to give us the wisdom and strength we need to face each day. Continue to test us until our character shines and brings glory to you. This is all for thee my God give us strength through this journey and may our actions make you proud.
Love Shelly and Bruce

Hi to all,

I got a call on Monday with the news that Bruce is doing better and is getting prepared for a move. He still needs allot of medical attention so we still can't be in the same nursing home. Then, 20 minutes later I got a call and I was informed he began running fevers again so they will keep him for a while longer for more test. Tuesday he ran 104 on and off. Today, Wednesday, I was with him 9:30- 3:00. His fever was 103 and by the time I left it was 100 degrees. Bruce has c-diff, but they also are going to test him this evening. He is going to have a cat scan of his stomach. They want to check for healing from his surgery and make sure there aren't any complications or leaks. He too is being scanned for amonia. He is coughing all the time and has a rattle to his breathing. Pray with me that he keeps his strength to keep his airway clear. I was sadden again by our visit. My Bruce truly is trying yet how much can he struggle and endure before his body gives up from fighting? I do believe in the power of prayer, healing, and faith to watch this journey through. I feel the presence of God with us answering even the littlest things. I've seen God give me the strength when I grow weak, the hope when man announces the limits of this journey and the blessings of renewal through people I know and are meeting. God uses even a stranger at times to give you that sign that He is in control and has it under control. All that is asked of me is to believe that. God knows all and runs the show. I know through His word left for me to read that with God all things are possible and we are not given more then what we can't handle. Here is a warm fuzzy God sent me: I told Bruce he looked alert today and that I'm sorry if my question will make him mad but I told him I was going to ask it anyway and it went something like this: Honey some days you remember things and for a long time you seem to have forgotten our time together. Do you remember me? He answered, "I remember you from day one. I remember your my Shelly Rose and I love you very, very Much and I'm sorry for all the Bull shit I'm putting you through lately. I want to go home, I miss our home and time together." Thank you God! I really needed that moment. I told Bruce none of this is Bull Shit. I cherish our time together, moments like this and the hope of growing through this and returning to our new life together. That's all for now until I know more.
Love,
Bruce's ShellyRose

Still Not Good

Bruce's galbladder was bad. So bad, that what should have been a 45 minutes surgery took 3 hours. So bad, that they are pretty sure he must have had unknown galbladder problems before the accident that got a lot worse in the accident. We're glad its gone! The problem is that all the symptoms Bruce had to make them think he had a galbladder problem haven't changed since the surgery!
He still has fevers ranging between 100 and 103 - all the time - for a week now. They have litterally been packing him in ice at the hospital to try to keep it under control - and they still don't know why it's happenning. His heart rate hasn't dropped below 100 for very long in that same time. In fact, he has spent a lot of this week between 130-180. That would be hard on a young healthy person.
On top of all that, they had to take him off his blood thinners for surgery. Between thickining blood and excessive heart rates, he has gone 4 days in a row of having to stop his dialysis short (sometimes after barely starting). So while he should have had two full "cleanings" by now and he has only had the equivelant of one - but thats not as good as actually having "one."
Those are the internal symptoms. He has a bunch of external ones too. He is in isolation now, but the ones who have seen him have seen a loss of a lot of progress in his "alertness." He's not talking much. The blank stare is often back. He doesn't seem to remember names. At first his arms were irradically moving, but they are back under control. In fact, he tried to kiss Shelly's hand at the last visit!
As optimistic as we all want to be, and will be, we also want you to know the situation: It's serious. Pray hard. It's not over. All this is beatable. But every fight makes the next one harder. He needs prayers - for whatever God's will may be.

Shelly needs your prayers too.

My Dear Family and Friends

Bruce is in need of our support and prayers. Pray for comfort please. Bruce had surgery Sunday which left us hopeful that he would win his fight against his fevers and infections. Due to high potassium count he also had dialysis Sunday evening. Monday he needed dialysis again but his heart rate went dangerously high while having it so they had to stop it immediately. Then he ran 103.5 fever most of Monday.

Bruce isn't very well. He has lost a lot of memory that we can only pray on being restored after these fevers end. He has lost 160 pounds. He still fights to live. Please join me in praying for his comfort and peace during this tremendous journey. I'll take a prayer or two too. My heart is breaking over my honey.

I/We Love you all!!!
Shelly and Bruce

Gallbladder

Bruce is still in the hospital and is still struggling with infection. While the doctors still aren't sure of the cause, the current "best theory" is that it is a problem with his gallbladder. So they plan to remove it tomorrow. Compared to what Bruce has been through in the past 3 months, this is a pretty routine proceedure. But because of what he has been through in the past 3 months, nothing is routine. We all would appreciate your extra prayers for Bruce. They are "squeezing him in" to the normal surgery schedule tomorrow, so we don't have a specific time. Currently we are planning on mid-afternoon. I'll keep you posted. Let's pray together:

• Loving Father, we entrust Bruce to your care. Guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of the medical professionals who will minister in your Name, and grant that every cause of illness and infection be removed. Into your hands, we commend the body and soul of Bruce and ask that You restore him to soundness of health in both body and spirit. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Checkin' In

Bruce is doing much better, but is in the hospital for a couple of days for monitoring. His lungs are fine, but his respiration rate is still a little high. He also has a urinary tract infection they want to treat. Thanks for the prayers! Thank you God for the help.

Better News

Bruce's fever worked all the way up to 104, but the hospital has it back down to just over 100 and the immediate danger has passed. They haven't officially identified a cause, but his bed sore is infected.

Please Pray

There is something going on with Bruce. His respiration is up, he has a fever, and Shelly does not like how he looks, so he is going to the hospital for evaluation. Shelly is very concerned. Please pray for them both.