Tuesday

Yesterday's procedure went great. They were able to easily access the areas of concern,extract the fluids and biopsy tissues.The culprit appears to be an area on her liver that received trauma (most likely from her seat belt during a car accident that happened at the end of October) that did not heal correctly and became infected. The body produces fluid to protect the area and then walls off the fluid so that it can't go to other areas (much like an overgrown cyst) Typically, they extract the fluid and the area collapses on itself, patient gets antibiotics to control the infection and we are done. We should get the labs back this afternoon or tomorrow morning. They believe that this infected area has been the cause of the ongoing pneumonia.

Kristi is so over "procedures", they cause her severe anxiety and fear and I certainly don't blame her; it is definitely her turn to catch a break as she has gone through more than most of us will in a life time. This acute anxiety is very common with patients who spend long periods of time in hospitals,especially ICU, and is described much like post-traumatic stress.

Kristi is going to be OK and I feel that this recent discover has shed light on the "WHYS" of all of this and her medical team can treat it and we can move on. It has definitely been a long haul and the therapists tell us to plan 3 days of recovery for every day she spends in the hospital. She gets visible stronger everyday.

LUV J