Light

Well, it didn't get us far, but we were finally successful in using a pen and paper to communicate, and the first word was light, as in turn on the damn light! Unfortunately, once we got that, we couldn't get any more because it looked liked scribbles. He was really PO'd at the nurse because he was kind of dozing and she just pries open his eye to do his eye drops and wonders why he squirms! He wanted to communicate something but we just couldn't get it.

He was pretty lively for a while tonight, but the attempt to write wore him out. It's pretty difficult because he's trying to write with an oven mit on his hand (that's what I call it anyway). His all wrapped up because there's so much extra fluid in his arms it's just leaking right out. Hopefully soon they'll be able to take that off and he'll be able to write or get the ventilator off so he can talk. I told him he's doing a heck of a lot better than Saturday morning when he was actually dead for 30 seconds! He noded in agreement, and his hopefully settled down for the night.

We'll try the writing routine again tomorrow, but we'll see how far it goes.

It's really amazing how far he's come, and we'll have to see where he goes from here. The other good things about today were that he's getting some food, his sugar was 159 when I was there, and his pulse was down to 90 beats per minute. It was usually about 120 for most of the weekend, so 90 means his heart is getting a bit of a break after the dialysis wicked off a lot of extra fluid.

Keep sending us your positive thoughts and prayers as it really seems to be helping.

Holding his own

Well since Ron was pretty stable all yesterday, we decided we needed to go back to work today. Please feel free to visit Ron at Botsford Hospital in Farmington HIll. He currently is in room 154 in the Critical Care Unit. Please - if you are sick - stay home. but he does enjoy visits even for only a few minutes. He needs his rest as well.

I spoke to the nurses this morning and he was still maintaining his own blood pressure with out medicine, and she noted he did decent with the dialysis yesterday (being sedated). So we are happy. My dad is up there now and I'll have an update later today.

Please continue prayers that Ron will be pain free and at peace - no matter what the outcome may be. That is what we want, him to be pain free and if possible to come home (nursing home or heaven).

Ron's very strong - so there is a good possibility he can pull through, but it will be a long haul. His body is just failing in many different systems. The doctors don't know much more of things to do - right now it may appear the ventilator is helping keep Ron alive.

Thanks for all the prayers and we will continue to update as major changes happen.
Gail

Ron is doing better

Ok - nothing makes sense at the moment, but Ron's doing a lot better today. He was able to stop taking the one medicine that was keeping his blood pressure normal (well considering) last night. And its maintaining something fairly normal now all on his own. He also was able to do dialysis today - and now he's resting. Craig's on his way up now - well I just dropped him off after dinner. WE've been up at the hospital all day again. Its been a very long, tiring and extremely emotional weekend.

But the good news is - he's still here and still alert typically. So we are happy for that. Not sure how things will turn out, his main doctors don't know what else there is to do for him - right now its keeping him on the machines to stay alive. So we'll see.

I'll be updating the blog from now on - so you can keep tabs that way and I will not bombard people with emails. you can get to the blog by going to www.craigbackus.com. The very top link is to the Backus/Wilcox blog - and on there you will be able to see all the postings.

Please remember, we will try and keep this up to date. However, its very difficult trying to update everything. Right now, we figured we will both head to work tomorrow, and Nate will probably come home tomorrow night. So with a 2 year old, work and visiting Ron we do not have a lot of time to update every detail all day. WE also are exhausted - so its hard to keep up to speed on emails - but just know we will do the best we can. If Ron continues to maintain - I'll be able to update from work daily - lets hope for the best. Its still very touch and go - but better than it was 36 hours ago.

Love
Gail

Ron's still hanging on

We are not very sure what has happened today, but after Ron told us and some doctors and nurses he was ready to go - we were all ready. Then when the intern talked to us, she had to ask Ron and he said no - so needless to say its again a waiting game. There isn't much anyone can do for him now, he can not live without a ventilator at this moment. His heart and lungs just can not function. He is too weak to survive dialysis as well. So we will "re-evaluate" in the morning.

Craig is there with his sister Jen right now. Her husband and I came home to relax. Craig and I were called around 6:15 am this morning and been there pretty much all day.

Please keep us all in your prayers, its a very emotional and trying time right now. We want to abide by Ron's wishes, but also do not want to see him in pain. We know he does not want to live like this either.

Love,
Gail

Dad is ready to go

Dad is ready to go to heaven. He'll be there soon.

Not good

Please pray for Ron tonight, he's not doing well in the critical care unit. He's got sever bleeding in the esophagous (spelling?) - and his blood pressure is VERY low. They had to put in a central line to even get the pressure.

We are very scared and will have all phones by our heads tonight.
Continue to pray that he will make it through the night and day and then weekend.
Love,
GAil

dad is moving to the

dad is moving to the Icu. He's been coughing up blood today and they need to get him stabilized.

Shunt being placed today

They're moving forward with dialysis. They will be placing the shunt this afternoon, and plan to proceed with the first round of dialysis tomorrow. Gail spoke to his primary care doctor today, and he said that if Dad responds well to the dialysis, then he'll likely move to a rehab facility with the hopes of building up strength to return home. There's a lot of what ifs involved, but it's some encouraging news anyway.

We've got a lot of visitors coming through over the next couple of weeks with his brother Lynn in town this week, Jennifer due to arrive on Saturday, and Mom is coming in at the end of next week.

I'm really hoping that this dialysis will have a positive impact and give Dad some encouragement, because he's really down right now.

Too Much Fluid

Dad is still fighting the battle of the fluid. They're seeing how he responds to a different diuretic, and hopefully that will show some positive signs. The doctors are going back and forth on doing dialysis, evidently because they're concerned about his heart and how well it can take the added stress. Something's going to have to give sooner or later because all of the extra fluid is putting too much stress on all of his systems.

I'm sure he'll be glad to see his visitors this week. His brother, Lynn, will be arriving later this afternoon from Tennessee and will be here through Thursday, and my sister will be arriving later this week for a couple of days.

Ron Update

Well it looks like Ron will be starting dialysis very soon. They need to put in a shunt or something to get that started. We think it will probably start within the week or so. The doctors also think that its possible Ron will need to enter a longterm care facility. Its still not 100% sure, but I know Ron is disappointed at the idea. So please keep everyone in your prayers. Ron still has a horrible rash on his legs, a bed sore now and can barely move from his bed to a side chair. Its not fun. Please pray the dialysis will work so that he can go back to a fairly normal life.

Dad moved around

Dad was moved to the fifth floor for a planned colonoscopy this week, but had to move back to progressive care because his heart rate was erratic. Gail spoke directly to his doctor today, and he outlined that they're dealing with a number of different issues from his lungs, to his heart and kidneys. Everything is connected, and when one area has problems, it starts impacting the other areas. He may have to go on dialysis sooner rather than later, but the doctor hopes to get his strength built back up so that he can return home after a stint in the rehab facility. I think he still has some time left in the hospital until they can get him stabilized and over this rough spell.

Dad is back in the

Dad is back in the hospital. his pneumonia was not cleared out which is why he's had such a hard time this week.

Dad is home from the

Dad is home from the hospital.

Dad's Still in the Hospital

Well, he thought he might be released over the weekend, but it didn't happen. He said that his lungs are still clear, and that he's been moving around some, but he's still concerned about his sugar. He said that his eyesight has been really poor lately, and he's guessing that his high sugar has had an impact on it. He's been getting insulin injections over the last few days which has helped to manage it, and I'm guessing he's going to have to continue this on his own in the future.

I know he was having a hard time watching the Lions game yesterday, and I saw him a few times just listening to the TV broadcast. I think he was still able to enjoy it, but his eyesight must really be bad as he wasn't even making an attempt to watch it. He has a larger TV at home, so hopefully that will help when he gets out because that's his chief form of entertainment these days.

I haven't heard anything from him yet today, so I don't know if he'll be getting out or not. I'll plan on stopping by there later if I don't hear anything to see how he's doing.

Craig

Dad May be released tomorrow

I saw Dad tonight and he says he may be released tomorrow. He still looks pretty haggard, but they said his lungs are clear, and he is feeling much better. He mentioned that his sugar is still screwed up, so he's going to have to follow up with his primary care physician on that, so we'll see what comes of it. It could be screwed up from all of the other various drugs he has to take.