Friday Scope

Bronchoscope found some blood in his lungs most likely from his platelets being so low. Lung tissue looked healthy and samples were taken and sent to the lab. Fever was still a problem starting the day with 105.8 and staying most of the day at 103.5ish. He did get cleaned up and it seemed to wake him a little and he ate a small amount of applesauce and broth. He was given several units of blood, platelets, plasma and it seemed to help the blood pressure. Cool wet towels helped bring his fever down some and made him more comfortable.

Thanks for all the support,
The Herricks

Bronchoscopy 10:30 am

Friday at 10:30 am doctors will preform Bronchoscopy procedure to look in the lung through a thin camera and remove some flem/disease and test it to find the best way to treat Hunter. The sample will then need to be grown in the lab for 48 hours to determine what it is and what meds to use.
Also, Hunter has not eaten for 7 days so the are starting nutrition through his central line at about 2am. He has bouts of nausea and a lack of appetite have been tough and made him weak.
His bone marrow is starting to work as we can see some white blood cells slowly beginning to show in his counts. Hopefully this will soon began to help him fight this off.

Part Two

Doctor talk with us regarding Hunter lack of progress. A lung specialist will come in today and discuss operation in which Hunter will be put under and a scope will be inserted in to his lungs and a sample of the fluid will be taken then sent to lab to find out what can be done to more directly treat him. He was started on Tamaflu yesterday an antiviral for H1N1 and other Flu. It is believed his pneumonia is viral but, tough to say if other infections will or will not start because of him low immune system. The blood in his flem my be due to his low platelet counts but we will know more later.

Fever won't go away

Yesterday brought more of the same and up most of the night with 103 fever. Hunter has an hour or two where he seems to be ok then the fever jumps to 103 and Blood Pressure drops. Doctors started some antiviral meds and he was able to cough up a small amount of flem which appeared to have blood present. It was sent to the lab and we will see what that brings. Blood and platelets transfusion today, thanks to those of you have donated that to him. Wish I had answers for you but all I have is more questions for the doctors.

Doctor visit

CT scan yesterday and we were able to see the scan as the doctor showed us fluid in both lungs. Blood cultures are coming back negative for infections in the blood, so looks like pneumonia is what is causing the problems. Medications will take care of bacterial or fungal infections. However, if it is viral it will have to run its course, problem is his white blood cells, used to fight such infections, are at zero because of his last chemo. His count won't start to rise till probably Friday.

His fever is lower at times with tylenol (99 - 101) and his blood pressure is still fluctuates from 83/30 to 120/70. So prayers for a normal temp and higher BP will be appreciated.

Hoping its not viral and the meds do there job, as soon as he can stabilize his vitals he can leave the ICU and be moved to normal room and then home.

He seems to be feeling a little better over all. I am trying to update this daily for everyone, so if you can pass this blog address along it will help keep people informed.

Post a comment here and I will share it with Hunter.


Thanks for all the prayers
The Herricks

New Day

Hunter is still running a fever of 103 can't seem to shake it. Doctor are doing a CT Scan today to get a good look at his lungs. They are thinking it's pneumonia of some kind but waiting for blood cultures to rule out infection in his central line or fungal infection. Still on strong antibiotics- must be 10 IV bags hanging now. He had a rough night last night cough kept him up most of the night. He was able to keep down some clear liquids and jello yesterday afternoon and had some appetite, he had not eaten since Friday night. Seems to be more coherent yesterday and talked with us some at times.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

Thanks

First we wanted to say THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for the fundraiser on Saturday! It was great to see everyone and can't thank Lisa Sharp, Mom Marie and the whole family and Shelly Bailey for putting it on. Joe and Hunter wished they could attend.

That brings us to the update. Hunter is very sick. He entered the Kaiser hospital in Anaheim, Saturday night and was air lifted to Kaiser Sunset in LA. He is in the ICU with a high fever and very low blood pressure. He is on an array of antibiotics till all the lab work comes back tonight. Because he just finished chemo his count are very low which adds to the problem of fighting this off. Please pray for his recovery and we will do are best to update more and make a longer post on the Saturdays fundraiser.