I had a great time with Jonas, Vera, and Jessah last weekend. They went back Wednesday morning. Britney is very very comfortable. She has been more sleepy with fentanyl patches for pain after her surgery. I'm not sure if the Baclofen pump is helping her wake up but she has been very relaxed. It is much much better than watching her suffer in pain. She has been lifting her legs off the bed more and more the the last few days and smiled today. I got to tell to her hi on the phone tonight. I really miss her. It was great having the kids here but I miss her really bad. I was really depressed that she hasn't been waking up more since she got her baclofen pump but every time I worry I get a really peaceful feeling like she will come back. I can't describe it but I have always had it everytime I doubt. It's what keeps us all going. Britney's sister Mckenzie got married yesterday and Vera woke her up that morning to tell her it was her day to be a princess. Vera is obsessed with princess movies. She has talked about the wedding non stop for the past two weeks and couldn't stop talking about it tonight. I couldn't make it cause of work. My call schedule got changed around. I will have a hard time getting back to Denver the next 7 weeks because of my hard rotations Trauma and Orthopedics. I get one day off a week and if I get to fly out I can only stay for less than 1 day after being up for 30+ Hours and coming back to work 12 hour days. I have already done 3 weeks like this. After this I will get to go back more. We are trying to have Jonas and Vera come back with someone else in a few weeks so they don't go too long without seeing me. We talk on the web cam a lot and it helps.

very comfortable

Britney has been much more relaxed since she got her pump. They increased her dose 2 days ago. She has much less pain. Her heart rate is much lower and her face looks relaxed and she has been able to sleep much better. Dr. Yager and many of her nurses think that she has progressed a lot since getting the pump and has been a lot more aware. I called a few days ago to have the nurse tell her I love her and she woke up and looked at the phone when she heard my name. Jonas, Vera, and Jessah are coming to Tucson tomorrow for 4 days. I can't wait to see them.

Back at Kindred

Britney did very very well today. She was uncomfortable for a few hours this morning but her pain got under control and she slept most of the day. She came back to Kindred tonight and is breathing very well and has a normal heart rate for the first time in a few weeks. She will be monitored in the ICU at Kindred for a day or two until she gets used to the pump so they are sure the dose she is on is not too much because Baclofen can affect her breathing.

Pump is in

Casey just called and he just finished talking to the NeuroSurgeon who is very happy with the surgery and the pump placement. The catheter that goes in her spine can stay in for a long time and the actual pump lasts for 3 years. It is under the skin in the abdomen, and can be changed out easily. They did extra infection precautions because she is colonized with MRSA and are continuing her antibiotics as a precaution. 30%+ of all people have MRSA in their noses, and it is a common problem for people who have trach's to have their trachea's colonized because of routine trach care by heath care workers who are colonized. It's good they are taking extra precautions. She will stay at Sweedish hospital for 12-23 hours to monitor the function of the pump. After that she may go back to Kindred or stay at Sweedish Rehab floor to be monitored for a few more days after that. Please call the Fosters before you visit so you can be sure to visit the right place. I will put up a post when we know where she will be going. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers today.
John

Getting Baclofen Pump Today

This was just sprung on Casey and Jana yesterday afternoon and I was on call for 30 hours and didn't find out until this morning about 1 hour ago. She has been cleared by the Infectous Disease Dr. Fisher to get the baclofen pump. The neurosurgeon with the most experience in Denver with Baclofen pumps at Sweedish hospital who works with Dr. Ripley was able to get her in on short notice today for the pump. She is leaving Kindred Hospital now to have surgery at 3:00 pm Denver time in about 3 1/2 hours. Pray that it goes well and that the pump does not get infected. She is very calm and comfortable now. She has not had a fever since 9/30 and Dr. Fisher said she probably didn't have a pneumonia and was just colonized with MRSA in her trach which is common and she has been treated with a very powerful antibiotic for the past 4 days to decrease colonization. We are going on his word even though she has had very thick sputum and high heart rates, and a high white blood cell count over the weekend. The chest X-rays have been clear and what was thought to be a infiltrate was scarred lung tissue from previous surgeries in the left lung. She will be given a few more days of antibiotics as a precaution. I hope everything goes well. I will post an update after the surgery.

doing better

Britney is doing much better since Sunday. She is a lot more calmed down and still getting better. The official read from the chest x ray isn't done yet but nothing glaring. It's possible she was colonized with MRSA but has had a lot of sputum so maybee it's an early pneumonia. She hasn't had any more fevers since the 30th. I came back to Tucson late Sunday and am doing my OB rotation. Long hours and miss my family but having fun.

Britney has Pneumonia

Britney had a lot of spasms when I got here yesterday and more secretions. She was having a hard time breathing. The sputum they took from the day she had her fever on the 1st grew out MRSA a resistant antibiotic. She was given a very very strong antibiotic linezolid starting last night and has been getting fluids. She has not had any fevers but her heart rate has been very high and she has needed more oxygen overnight. Thank you all for still praying for her and following her blog despite the sparse updates. We love you all and are so so grateful for all the support that has been given in every way. You all have showed us incredible compassion. We are and will always be so grateful. Even though her progress has been slow and she is having set backs she is improving and we still have hope that she will come back to us fully through a long road. Thank you all of you for not giving up on her.
John

Sorry for the delay in posting this week. I had a very busy week at work. Britney had a fever a few nights ago and the Baclofen pump has been delayed. She had a hard day and a half Tuesday through Wednesday. None of her cultures grew out any bacteria and her fever resolved in a day. She has been very comfortable the past few days. I am at the airport getting ready to fly to Denver to see everyone after 2 weeks away. I miss them really bad, especially Britney. I've been able to talk to the kids on the webcam a lot but not Britney. She is still making sounds but has not talked yet. As soon as she can things will be much easier for me. I miss her so bad constantly. Her pump will likely be put in sometime next week if she doesn't get any more fevers. I am taking the kids to the circus tonight after we go to the hospital. Talk to you soon,
John