Posted by Becky
Today Leif got to ride in an ambulance with the siren going! The new experiences just keep rolling in. The infection that was causing his low-grade fever got worse, and the antibiotics weren't keeping it under control. So we went to the emergency room in Belfast this morning. After he met with the doctors there and got some blood drawn, it was decided to transfer him to Midcoast for inpatient treatment. He's scheduled for chemotherapy here on Friday anyway. Because his low blood counts made him a cardiac risk, they used the ambulance siren this time, and made it from Belfast to Brunswick in an hour. He says that driving Route 3 at 80 mph while lying down provides a nice massage.
The blood cultures aren't back yet to tell us what bad guys, exactly, are causing the infection. He's on an IV antibiotic, and they're couriering platelets from somewhere else -- Portland, I think. As soon as they arrive, he'll get them, and then a couple units of red blood cells. Once the bug is identified tomorrow, the infectious disease specialist will determine what course of antibiotic(s) he should get.
He feels pretty blah because his blood pressure is low, he's running a fever, and the infection is in a delicate location, so it's painful. If you'd like to help take his mind off all that, give him a call in his room at Midcoast at 207-373-6236. His cell phone doesn't work here and he can't call out, but he's always up for a chat. Visitors are welcome unless you think you might be sick or coming down with something. His white blood cell count is basically zero, so he's susceptible to any bacteria or virus that might drift by. He also isn't allowed to have plants or flowers in his room this time around, for the same reason.
Today Leif got to ride in an ambulance with the siren going! The new experiences just keep rolling in. The infection that was causing his low-grade fever got worse, and the antibiotics weren't keeping it under control. So we went to the emergency room in Belfast this morning. After he met with the doctors there and got some blood drawn, it was decided to transfer him to Midcoast for inpatient treatment. He's scheduled for chemotherapy here on Friday anyway. Because his low blood counts made him a cardiac risk, they used the ambulance siren this time, and made it from Belfast to Brunswick in an hour. He says that driving Route 3 at 80 mph while lying down provides a nice massage.
The blood cultures aren't back yet to tell us what bad guys, exactly, are causing the infection. He's on an IV antibiotic, and they're couriering platelets from somewhere else -- Portland, I think. As soon as they arrive, he'll get them, and then a couple units of red blood cells. Once the bug is identified tomorrow, the infectious disease specialist will determine what course of antibiotic(s) he should get.
He feels pretty blah because his blood pressure is low, he's running a fever, and the infection is in a delicate location, so it's painful. If you'd like to help take his mind off all that, give him a call in his room at Midcoast at 207-373-6236. His cell phone doesn't work here and he can't call out, but he's always up for a chat. Visitors are welcome unless you think you might be sick or coming down with something. His white blood cell count is basically zero, so he's susceptible to any bacteria or virus that might drift by. He also isn't allowed to have plants or flowers in his room this time around, for the same reason.
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