May 24, 2008

We've had a pretty quiet week this week, although we did get some goals accomplished. Caitlin was able to meet with her astronomy professor on Wednesday to begin the work needed to complete this last semester she missed half of when she got sick. Her philosophy professor has emailed her an assignment that will take a little while to complete and she's still waiting on her history teacher and anthropology teacher to get assignments from those classes. Her teachers are giving her the summer to complete the work so she will be able to start the fall semester on track with where she would have been if illness had not sidelined her. Her doctor wants her to take the semester off stating that her full recovery will most likely take 6 months to a year but Caitlin has told her that she needs to take at least 12 credit hours to keep her Hope Scholarship. The doctor has relented somewhat and told her that she needs to take really easy classes and would prefer they be online classes. I'm not sure where this compromise will lead - it will be interesting to see. On Thursday, Caitlin had a blood draw and it would be Friday before the results were available. The doctor's office called yesterday to say that some of her numbers had gone back up, some were still going down but very slowly, and others had gone back down. She is so disappointed because she thought that with her dialysis catheter out the results would show much improvement. She will need to go back next Wednesday for another blood draw - the doctor will continue to monitor the results. She didn't need any medication changes but really needs to follow her low potassium diet more faithfully than she has been. All in all, her recovery continues to amaze all involved in her care and, while slow, is moving forward. We plan on spending a quiet weekend at home and getting Jordan ready for his six week adventure with the Northwest Youth Corp. I continue to have a few additional prayer requests for those who have touched our lives in different ways. Our neighbor died on Thursday evening after being ill for a bit of time, a church member lost his battle to stay alive after a car accident two weeks ago, and a fellow classmate of Brandon's in high school lost his 5 year old son when he accidentally ran him over. Such sadness in these families. We continue to appreciate and thank all of you for your support, prayers, thoughts, and love. Chris

May 20, 2008

It's really quiet here at 6 or so in the morning. Jordan is getting ready for school, he has an exam today and that should be it until school is finished for the year on Thursday at 11:10 a.m. Such excitement knowing that the last day of school for the year is almost here. He'll be a senior this next year and plans to take a dual enrollment curriculum. He'll be taking classes at a local community college and then come back to his high school to take some classes. Caitlin is preparing to work on the rest of the semester she missed from her illness - her teachers have all been wonderful about letting her take incompletes and then giving her the summer to complete the work. The doctor is encouraging her to take the fall semester off and take it easy - they continue to feel that for her to feel completely recovered could take 6 months to a year. She told the doctor that to keep her Hope Scholarship she has to take at least 12 credit hours per semester so it may be that she takes online classes for the fall semester. Since her dialysis catheter is out, she feels 100% cured and I am having to remind her to take it easy. It's hard to keep a good gal down!!! The yard sale was fantastic - over $3500 was raised to help pay for her medical bills and other expenses. Thanks to everyone who donated items, who bought items, or both. It was great seeing so many people at the sale and they were so happy to see Caitlin and see that she was doing so well. I am so truly blessed, as is my family, and I can't thank everybody enough for their continued love, support, thoughts, and prayers. Chris

May 17th - GOOD NEWS!!!

We have worked soooo hard to get the benefit yard sale together and today was the last day. We were able to get pretty much everything packed up and cleaned up in the church basement by 6:30 tonight. Thanks to all of you that participated by donating items for the yard sale, shopping, or both! The best news is that Caitlin's BUN and creatinine continue to be high but are still showing a downward trend. She was able to get her dialysis catheter out yesterday and does not need another blood draw until next Thursday. Her potassium is still high so she is still on her low potassium diet, but she can live with that knowing that her dialysis is done for now. We went to Murfreesboro last night to see Ryan because Brandon was leaving this morning to move back to Houston. We are really going to miss him but he left his two dogs so I know he'll be coming back - I'm sure not to see us but to love on his dogs!! It has been so nice to have him here while Caitlin was in the hospital and has been recovering. Pretty soon it's going to be quiet in the house because Jordan leaves on June 6 for Eugene, Oregon to participate in the Northwest Youth Corp program. He'll be getting back on July 20, so for that 6 week period of time, it will be just Caitlin and myself here at the house. Thank you again for all the support you have given myself, Caitlin and the rest of my family - it is so very much appreciated. God has been so good to us as evidenced by the miracle of Caitlin's recovery. Chris.
If I might add a prayer request - Chuck Dyer from our church was in an auto accident approx. 2 weeks ago and is not doing well. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers - my prayer for him is that God's will be done and that there will be peace in his brother's heart with any decisions that need to be made. Thanks!

May 14, 2008

We have had some really good last few days, read on for the reason . . . Caitlin had her blood draw on Monday and her numbers were beginning to show the downward trend that the doctor has been looking for. Then yesterday she had her appointment with her PCP - the doctor commented on her weight loss and said that she wanted to see Caitlin gain 10 pounds by the time of her next appointment in August. No changes were made to her medications and her sores are still healing nicely. Today we had another blood draw at the dialysis center and again the numbers are lower still. The doctor is going to do another blood draw on Friday and if the numbers are continuing to go down, he wants to have her permacath removed. Caitlin has been going around telling everybody that she finally has working kidneys and she is sooooo excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel!!! Of course, she feels that with this good news that she is healed and is starting to try to tackle too much - she still doesn't have the stamina to expend much energy so I'm having to play the bad guy and tell her that she needs to settle down. We continue to prepare for the benefit yard sale this Friday and Saturday - if you're in the Fairview area, stop in and say 'Hi', it's at Westview UMC. Thank you for your continued love, support, prayers. You have made this journey so much easier to bear and we (my kids and I) thank you!

Happy Mother's Day

I am such a blessed mother to be able to celebrate Mother's Day with all four of my children at home. I am so thankful because I know the outcome could have been so different - I am so blessed, God is so good!!! Sorry it's been almost a week since my last post but we're getting ready for the benefit yard sale this Friday and Saturday. Also, there hasn't been much change in Caitlin's condition in the last week. Her numbers continue to go up (BUN, creatinine, potassium, phosphates) and go down (hemoglobin) but the doctor is watching it carefully. Even though her numbers are off she has not had a dialysis treatment because the doctor doesn't want her kidneys to get lazy by having dialysis take over the filtering. I will be taking Caitlin in to the dialysis center tomorrow morning for her usual blood draw and then we'll park ourselves somewhere in Nashville for a few hours while we wait on the results and find out if dialysis will be needed or not. I will make this short because my kids are making dinner for me and treating me like a queen. I hope the same for any mothers reading this - enjoy it, we deserve it!!! Thank you for all the cards that continue to wish Caitlin good health and for the support that has been shared with me. Chris

Cinco de Mayo

Hola amigos/amigas!!! Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!! Que pasa? OK, that is all that I'm going to force upon you with my elementary Spanish. The kids and I just got back from celebrating Cinco de Mayo at the local Mexican restaurant and it was CRAZY!! Caitlin has been looking forward to celebrating and it just so happens that it's been 8 weeks ago today since she was admitted to ICU and wasn't expected to live. She lived, we celebrated!! She had to go to dialysis this morning for her blood draw and then had an MD appointment with her kidney MD. Her numbers were up higher than they were on Wednesday and Friday but they decided to wait until Wednesday to see if they would do a treatment or not. Actually, Caitlin and I were both surprised that she didn't have it today - she seems to need it every 4 days or so. The doctor is still cautiously optimistic that she will get 100% of her kidney function back and said that he is surprised that she's needed dialysis this long. He also said that if her numbers don't show much change or start trending down over the next few weeks that he will need to do a kidney biopsy to see what is happening with her kidneys. She has a doctor's appointment with her PCP on Monday and, until we get an order for out-patient physical therapy, has her Tuesdays and Thursdays free now. She's really excited about that, she said on the way home that now she can sleep in tomorrow. Please continue to keep Caitlin and our family in your prayers - it really means a lot to all of us. We're still on track for the benefit yard sale at Westview UMC in the basement on May 16th-17th, thanks to the youth of Westview and the Brison's for the help they are providing to help 'get it together!' Chris

May 2

It's been an interesting day today and one that I would prefer not to repeat. Caitlin had PT yesterday and again today. The good news about PT is that she has been released from at-home PT and is going to be scheduled for out-patient PT. We got up this morning and went into Nashville for her blood draw. Because she had to have PT, we were planning to come home, she would have her PT and then we could head back into Nashville for dialysis, if needed. While Caitlin was having her blood drawn, Brandon called to tell me that my mom needed to go the Centennial Hospital to get her eye checked due to extreme pain upon waking this morning. Brandon and I met up at my mom's house in Bellevue and Caitlin went home with Brandon and I took my mom to the doctor's. It turned out that she had corneal abrasions (very painful) and she was given some medications and within an hour we were on our way back to Bellevue. Got my mom settled in at home then headed home myself to await the phone call from the dialysis clinic to find out if Caitlin would need dialysis or not. Thankfully, her numbers were better than they were on Wednesday and she didn't need dialysis today. I have to take her back on Monday morning for a blood draw, we'll wait for the results and either have dialysis or an MD's appointment, depending on the results. Not a whole lot going on this weekend, we're just going to take it easy and get ready for the benefit yard sale that is planned for May 16th-17th. My living room is full of items donated by multiple folks with more coming in. Thanks to all of you that are donating items - they are very much appreciated. The cards continue to be delivered, reassurances of thoughts and prayers have been spoken, and again, we are so eternally grateful for all we have been given by God and mortals both. Chris

April 30

I can't believe that it's the last day of April already. It seems like just yesterday I was writing an entry for the blog and getting ready for April Fool's Day. Caitlin and I have had a looong day today. We left for the dialysis clinic at about 8:30 a.m. and didn't get home until 4 p.m. We went to Panera's after her blood draw and then got the call that she needed to come back to the clinic for dialysis. She is now tipping the scales at 112.5 but seems to be eating a little better. Her creatinine was up from Monday's blood draw which was up from Friday's blood draw. The doctors are still very reassuring in the fact that they believe she will get 100% of her kidney function back, it's just going to take time. I'm getting kind of antsy about her still having to be dialyzed because I'm 7 weeks into my 12 weeks of leave time thru FMLA and I really thought she would be further in her recovery than she is. I'm hoping that before I have to go back to work she will be off dialysis and PT. Craig, the physical therapist, came yesterday and will be back again tomorrow. I think this is his last week for in-home PT unless he and the doctor feel that she needs to continue. Caitlin is able to get around the house but doesn't have the stamina for extended time on her feet so, thank goodness, she has a wheelchair that we are using. Thank you to all of you that continue to send Caitlin cards for a speedy recovery and all the thoughts and prayers that continue to sustain myself and my family. Chris

April 27, 2008

It's somewhat overcast here in Fairview and looking like rain. Great news for flowers, veggies, grass, etc but what I'm actually seeing is the grass getting knee-high and another afternoon spent mowing!! I can't complain, though, it's good exercise and gives me a chance to commune with nature! Caitlin had dialysis on Friday after she had physical therapy with Craig. They did post dialysis blood work and I got a call back on Friday evening stating that Caitlin's phosphates were back to being on the lower side and her hemoglobin was really low (7.3 - normal is 12 to 13). They didn't want any changes to her medications but told me that if she became short of breath that she needed to be seen in the ER over the weekend. She is expected back on Monday for another blood draw and we'll find out whether she will need dialysis or not. She has had a quiet weekend - her cousins came over yesterday (Saturday) and spent some time visiting which really lifted her spirits. She continues to feel nauseated but it has been over a week since she has actually gotten sick to her stomach. I continue to stay home from both my jobs but feel the love and support from both St. Thomas ER and Cool Springs Surgery Center management and employees. I can't express my true gratitude to all those who continue to offer help, call, visit, pray, etc. Keep up the good work - I know that all the previously mentioned gifts are what has helped me and my family thru this difficult time. I truly feel blessed on so many levels and know that God has been watching over all of us. Chris

April 23, 2008

Caitlin and I have had a reeeally long day today. We left for the dialysis clinic at 8:15 this morning for her blood draw. We stayed in Nashville until the results came in which was at 12:15 p.m. The doctor decided to go ahead and perform the dialysis today because her BUN was increased from the Monday blood draw. They had to go ahead and set up her machine so she didn't actually start dialysis until closer to 1 p.m. We finally got home before 5 p.m. and dropped. The doctor has already decided that she will have dialysis on Friday and will go back on Monday for another blood draw. Caitlin has her appointment for her EGD tomorrow morning so we have to be up by 5:30 a.m. to get there on time. I'm not certain if they'll find anything or not, but she really needs to start getting nourishment in some way because when they weighed her today she weighed 113 pounds. She seems to be eating better and hasn't vomited since Saturday but continues to be nauseated. For any of you in the Fairview area, there was a 3 page article, with pictures, in the Fairview Observer about her illness and her recovery thus far. She has come so far since she was diagnosed but she still has a 'fur piece' to go. We so appreciate all the birthday wishes and get well wishes that she continues to get from folks all over - thanks!!! Chris

Happy Birthday Caitlin!!!

We have had such a celebration today! We had to leave the house this morning to be at the dialysis clinic by 9 a.m. for a blood draw. Rather than go home and wait to see if Caitlin had to have dialysis and drive back into Nashville, we stayed in the area and shopped at Target for a little while then went back to the dialysis clinic to wait. We didn't get the results of the blood work until about noon but the long and short of it is that her numbers still show kidney failure but no dialysis was needed. Again, the doctor wants her kidneys to start working on their own and only use dialysis if absolutely necessary. We go back on Wednesday for another blood draw. The doctor took her off the medicine that they had her start on Saturday because her phosphates are now on the higher side rather than the lower side, as indicated from Friday's blood work. We got home by about 1 p.m. and Caitlin was able to visit with some of her friends in the afternoon. Caitlin got such nice birthday cards, flowers, gifts, and phone calls from friends and relatives all celebrating her 19th birthday. In the past years, she has always looked forward to her birthday but this year she realizes that she is so fortunate to be alive to celebrate, as we all are to be able to celebrate with her. She requested white chicken chili for her birthday dinner and she got her requested Dirt Cake for dessert. All in all, we have had such a great day really enjoying what God has graced us with - life, beautiful weather, friends and relatives, and so much more! Thanks to all of you that make these special times more special. Chris

April 19, 2008

Caitlin has had a busy few days. She had PT in the morning and we left as soon as the session was over to go to her PCP's office for her 10:30 a.m. appointment. She weighed in at a whopping 117 pounds and the doctor spent quite a bit of time covering all aspects of Caitlin's care thus far. She referred Caitlin to a gastroenterologist for an EGD which is scheduled for Thursday morning. I asked her if she wanted it on Monday, but she said that was not exactly the plan she had in mind when talking about celebrating her birthday! We left the MD's office and went straight to dialysis where they did a blood draw pre-dialysis and then she had to stay for an extra hour after her 3 hour dialysis time for a post-dialysis blood draw. They called from the clinic and said that her phosphate was low and she now has ANOTHER prescription medication to add to her regimen. Brandon and Jordan were able to spend the afternoon with Ryan today at Family Day with the Marine Corp. Caitlin and I were going to go but when I checked the weather report, all I had to see was highs in the low 60's with possible rain - well, Caitlin and I are fair weather fans and we decided to see about getting our hair done instead! Caitlin is not supposed to take showers because of her permacath which means that she isn't able to wash her hair as frequently as she likes. She said it felt sooo good to have her hair washed today and get it cut. She was really ready to leave after the amount of time it took to wash, cut, and style her hair. She was able to rest a short bit of time before we went to the high school to support her cousin (my niece) Heidi in a beauty pageant - Heidi came in third runner-up. All in all, a very busy couple of days. We have nothing planned for tomorrow except to take it easy. I want to thank all the folks that are letting me know in person, by notes, etc. that this blog website is helping them keep up with Caitlin's progress. This has been such therapy for me to be able to write about what our days are like and I'm glad to know that it is helping others, as well. Thank you for all the prayers, offers of help, notes/cards, love and support that continue to be offered. Chris

April 17, 2008

Well, I wish I had better news but Caitlin continues to be nauseated and sick to her stomach which is causing her to not be able to eat. She had dialysis yesterday and they gave her 3 liters of fluid over her 3 hour dialysis time which caused her to go to the bathroom - a lot!!! - but didn't relieve the nausea. I talked with her kidney doctor today and he prescribed a few other medications that may or may not help. Also, he called her internist and she wants to see Caitlin tomorrow morning. Caitlin's physical therapist had to change his schedule around a bit to accomodate the MD's appointment so she'll have PT at 9 a.m., an MD appointment at 10:30 a.m., then dialysis after that. Her dialysis time is 3 p.m. but I'm going to see if they can get her started aound noon so we don't have to drive back and forth into Nashville multiple times. I will be soooo glad to see her recovery back on track again and I'm sure Caitlin will, as well. She had PT today and then we had a lunch date with her Aunt Kathy and cousin Meghan at Kathy's house. Caitlin started throwing up just as we were leaving for Kathy's house and by the time we got there, all she wanted to do was lay down on the couch. Kathy, Meghan, and I had a wonderful lunch and conversation. By the time we were close to leaving Caitlin perked up a little and joined in the conversation. She still tires easily and came home from her excusion and went straight to bed. We also had an opportunity to spend some time with her Granny Brison and aunts, uncles, and cousins to celebrate her Granny's birthday tonight. Thanks to all of you who continue to keep all of us in your thoughts and prayers. The cards are so very much appreciated, too. Chris

April 15, 2008 TAX DAY!!

Ah, the dreaded April 15th Tax Day is upon us. I finally took some time last night to do my taxes (and Caitlin's and Ryan's) and it was close - I'm getting a minimal refund but at least I don't have to pay! I took Caitlin in yesterday morning for her blood draw and they called and said that she needed to come back in for dialysis. They plan on doing dialysis this entire week rather than just drawing blood and making a decision to do dialysis based on the results. She weighed in at a whopping 116 pounds, which is waaaaay too thin for her. The doctor is concerned because she continues to be nauseated and ultimately throws up every day which is preventing her from eating. They gave her some fluids while doing dialysis yesterday because she was dehydrated. The doctor is still trying to figure out if it could be medicine or something else that is causing the nausea/vomiting. Caitlin is so bummed out - like she said, "two steps forward, five steps back." She had planned on going to watch her brother, Ryan, play in his indoor football tournament last night but just didn't feel good enough to go. We're just taking this day by day and seeing what the good Lord has in store for us. It's hard to believe that in less than a week, she'll have a birthday (19 years old on April 21st). Let me tell you, this will be one birthday we will really be celebrating!!! She hasn't told me what she wants her birthday dinner to include but the birthday cake will be her favorite of Dirt Cake. It's a layered dessert of crushed Oreo cookies, a creamy middle filling, then more crushed Oreo cookies on top with Gummie worms coming out. Anyone needing the recipe, let me know! Thank you for your continued support and prayers as we continue down this road to recovery. Chris

April 13, 2008

Good morning! I'm up somewhat early and it's really quiet in the house. The kids are sleeping, the animals are either outside or in their beds so it's a good time to update the blog. Caitlin has had a rough time since the last entry was written. She has continued to be sick every day, even with Phenergan on board. She wakes up nauseated and stays nauseated throughout the day which makes it difficult for her to want to eat. She'll finally eat a few bites in the late afternoon then she's done for the day. By 10 p.m., she has become so nauseated that she is throwing up but because she hasn't really eaten anything, it's mostly dry heaves. That continues for about an hour, she feels a little better and she tries to go to bed to get some sleep. She didn't have dialysis at all this last week although we took the trip in on the days she was supposed to go for her bloodwork to be drawn and on Friday, the antibiotics were given. Her bloodwork continues to show that her kidneys are still not completely functioning on their own but they are not doing dialysis because the doctors don't want her kidneys to get lazy and depend on dialysis to clear the toxins from her blood. I'm not certain if it could be side effects from the medicines she's taking or if it's because her kidneys are still not completely clearing the toxins from her bloodstream, but she just doesn't feel good. She's so tired of feeling this way and as her mom, it's really hard to sit by and watch your child struggle as Caitlin is doing and has done for the last 5-6 weeks. The bright spot in our day, though, is when the mail comes and the wonderful cards arrive. Thank you so much for continuing to support us through this trying time with your cards, calls, prayers, and visits. Chris

April 10, 2008

Oh my gosh! I can't believe ALL the wonderful notes and letters that have been arriving for Caitlin. You (collectively) are the most wonderful folks to be so responsive - I really appreciate it and so does Caitlin. Caitlin had quite a full day today - her PT came to work with her, she then had to get ready for a proposed lunch with her grandmother before her MD's appointment this afternoon. Just as we were leaving to meet my mom for lunch, Caitlin said she wasn't feeling good and proceeded to get sick. She took a bucket with her in the car, we had to cancel lunch with Grammy, and headed straight to the appointment. Her temperature was 101.6, she had chills, and she hurt so badly all over that she just broke down and said she wished that this ordeal was done and over. We go back to the dialysis clinic tomorrow - they want us there by 6-6:30 a.m. They are going to draw a full panel of blood work including blood cultures and then give her an infusion of Vancomycin, an antibiotic. They are not sure if she may have picked up a virus or if her permacath for dialysis has become infected and is causing an infection in her body. She took some Phenergan when we got home and even though her stomach is still not feeling well, she doesn't feel like she needs to throw up. I've been taking her blood pressure and temp throughout the afternoon to make sure her blood pressure doesn't drop like it did when she first got sick. Please continue to hold her in your thoughts and prayers, she seems to be over the worst but still has a long recovery ahead of her. Again, thank you for the love she/we have been shown, I can't express the overwhelming gratitude I feel for each and every offer of help, the cards/notes, dinners, love, and support we have been given. Chris

April 7, 2008

It's 3:15 in the afternoon and I'm updating the blog. Why?, are you asking, is that significant as you're scratching your head. It's because it's 3:15 in the afternoon and we should be at dialysis BUT WE'RE NOT!!!! I took Caitlin in this morning to have her blood work drawn and they called back in the late morning to say that her numbers were OK that she didn't need to be dialyzed today - we can wait until Wednesday morning to go back. On Wed. morning, they'll draw blood again and decide if she needs dialysis. The doctor put her back on the blood pressure medication that she only took one of last Wednesday before she had a syncopal episode (fainted) so I'm watching her pretty closely today to make sure if it happens again, I'm right here. She has home health PT tomorrow, Thursday, and Friday - I think she'll be released to go to out-patient PT here in Fairview to work with her on her strength and endurance. We had a relatively quiet weekend. Caitlin saved up her energy to be able to go back to the high school to watch her brother in the production of The Wizard of Oz. This time she took some pain medication and so was able to sit in the theatre seats a little more comfortably than on Thursday. She continues to suffer from generalized pain/aching, most especially in her left knee and right foot. She's trying really hard not to take pain medications during the day, but we've had a lot of rain and I think the dampness exacerbated the aching. She has a doctor's appointment with her PCP on Thursday afternoon, so we're still doing a lot of driving back and forth into Nashville. Your continued comments, prayers and cards are very much appreciated - we thank you! Chris

April 4,2008

Well, Caitlin had her hopes dashed this morning when we went into the dialysis center for a blood draw. Depending on the results, she might not have had to have a treatment this afternoon. Unfortunately, her BUN and creatinine were still too high, so off we went to dialysis. She was definitely upset, shedding tears, and right after she got the news that a treatment was in store for her, her physical therapist showed up to work with her. He could tell her heart wasn't in it so he cut the session short and asked her to work on the exercises after he left. Her blood pressure continues to run on the higher side and they almost had her stay for a fluid bolus again due to her heart rate being in the 130's again. The doctor was called and I just have to watch it at home - if her resting heart rate is in the 130's I have to take her to the ER. We go back Monday morning for another blood draw and hopefully there won't be another trip back into Nashville for a treatment Monday afternoon because her numbers will be within the range they're looking at. Caitlin was able to see her brother's performance in the Wizard of Oz last night but only made it to the intermission before needing to come home. We're going to go back tomorrow night for the last perfomance at the time of intermission so we won't have missed anything. Brandon left this morning at about 3 to head back to Houston for a week to take care of some business - we already miss having him here! Thank you for the cards that are coming in with such wonderful notes. Please continue to keep Caitlin and her family in your prayers during this trying period of recovery. Again, Caitlin's address is: 7114 Boone St., Fairview, TN 37062 should you want to pass this information on to anyone wanting to send a card, postcard, words of encouragement. Chris

April 3, 2008

It's a rainy day here in the fair city of Fairview and most likely a lazy day to stay in and reflect (who wants to clean when there is reflecting to do!!!). Caitlin's physical therapy on Tuesday had to be cancelled because her blood pressure was too high. We're hoping today, after starting on her new blood pressure medication yesterday, that her blood pressure will be less than the 160/110 parameter that the MD has set up as the outside limit of when she can participate in PT. Yesterday, Caitlin had dialysis but prior to going had a fainting episode. Very worrisome for her brother who was upstairs when it happened. I could definitely here the panic in his voice and took the stairs 2-3 at a time to get up there quickly. Her doctor has been notified but we haven't heard back from them as to the possible/probable cause. Poor Caitlin, she said she got dizzy and tried to call for me and that's the last thing she remembers until hearing Brandon calling for me. She was upset, Brandon was upset, and me, well, I'm trying to take her blood pressure while she's on the ground. The bloodwork from the dialysis clinic shows that Caitlin's BUN and creatinine are coming down slowly but surely, which is really good. Caitlin had to stay at dialysis an hour longer than expected last night because her heart rate was too high (135-140's). They gave her some saline and called the MD for further orders. As long as her resting heart rate was less than 115-120 they told me she could go home and that I just needed to check it. She continues to have little energy and these trips really take a lot out of her. She's resting up today for a big night tonight - her brother Jordan is the Wizard in the Wizard of Oz, a production by the high school tonight, tomorrow, and Saturday. We're going to try to go tonight and hopefully Caitlin will be able to make it thru the whole play. Please continue to send your messages of encouragement to Caitlin as she really needs them to lift her spirits. Your prayers are always welcome and very much appreciated, as well!! Chris

April 1, 2008

Well, Caitlin had her dialysis treatment yesterday and her numbers still aren't looking good. Her albumin is 2.0 (L), her BUN and creatinine are high, her hemoglobin is 8 (L) which means her hematocrit is low and her blood pressure is high - at one point during dialysis 176/115. The doctor was notified of these numbers during the treatment and a prescription was called in for another blood pressure medication to be started today. She is trying really hard to eat but by the time she gets home from dialysis - at about 7:30/8 p.m. - she doesn't feel very good. She did say that she was hungry for a Subway sandwich to eat for dinner last night so about 9 p.m. she did her best to put a dent in a 6" sub. She got 2 bites into it and started vomiting. It seems that she is her worst after a dialysis treatment, so I talked with her today about changing the diet plans around a bit on dialysis days. We're going to try to get her to eat a good lunch and then just have a smoothie to eat during dialysis and right after. Maybe that will help with the nausea/vomiting that she is suffering. Her skin lesions continue to heal, some are worse than others and will most likely leave scars. All in all, a small price to pay for such an aggressive bacterial infection. She is starting to really feel the effects of being pretty much home based except for MD appointments and dialysis treatments. Any of you folks out there that want to send her messages of encouragement, her address is: Caitlin Brison, 7114 Boone St., Fairview, TN 37062. She's not much into talking on the phone - it just seems to take a lot out of her - but it would be great if she could get cards, postcards, etc. from you to lift her spirits. The prayer chain has worked wonders and if you could make a card chain, I really feel that it would help her in encouraging her during her recovery. Please feel free to pass this address on to anyone you think would send words of encouragement. Thank you again to all who have been sending notes of encouragement, bringing meals for the family, and most especially keeping her and the family in your daily prayers. I will never be able to fully thank everybody for the overwhelming gratitude I have felt and continue to feel during this time in our lives. Chris

The last day of March

I can't believe that tomorrow is the first day of April (I will try to be kind with April Fools' jokes, be prepared!). Caitlin had a big day yesterday when she was able to participate in her grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration in the afternoon. We arrived just in time to take family pictures then proceeded to the basement of the church for the reception. She had to lie down at one point but being the trooper that she is actually made it about 2 hours before needing to come home and get back into bed. Her recovery continues to move forward, but again, it doesn't seem to be fast enough for her. She thought that when she got home that she was going to be 100% and it's been difficult for her to find that it just isn't so. We leave for dialysis at 2 this afternoon and hopefully will get good test results from the bloodwork they draw. I will post more this evening after we get home. It has been so wonderful seeing and talking with the folks that have wished her well throughout the last 3+ weeks. Please continue to pray for her as her doctors say that her recovery will be long and hard. Knowing her the way I do, though, short and sweet is what she's working towards and what she anticipates. Chris

March 30, 2008

It has now been just over a week since Caitlin arrived home and time passes quickly when you're on the go! Caitlin had dialysis treatments on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, her PT evaluation on Monday with therapy on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, then met with her PCP on Thursday afternoon. I'm not sure who is more worn out at this time, her or me!!! She is definitely getting stir-crazy here at the house - the only time she gets out and about is for medical reasons. I took her to a local restaurant yesterday and after about 45 minutes she was asking if it was time to go home. Her stamina has taken a hit with the infection that she had plus the lingering after effects of the renal failure. Her blood work is being monitored thru the dialysis clinic and she is now on a special diet due to her high potassium. Her blood pressure has been trending higher so she is on medication for that (a loop diuretic - the MD's think her high blood pressure is being caused by the fluid still in/on her) and because she's not eating, she has now been placed on a medication to enhance her appetite. With her renal medications and OTC vitamins that she is taking plus these new meds you'd think you were looking at an older person's medication regimen, not that of an 18-year-old. She has been receiving injections of epigen (sp?) to enhance her red blood count because her hemoglobin was down to 8.5 this last week and to see if that will prevent another blood transfusion. She is also receiving IV iron during her dialysis treatments. All in all, she is doing well at this point in her recovery considering where she was just 3 weeks ago. I continue to be on leave of absence from my jobs and will continue to take her to her appointments. I want to thank all of you wonderful folks that have offered to help in any way possible, it is very much appreciated. I have had so many people call me or come up to me to tell me that they continue to pray for Caitlin's full recovery. I thank you for the all the messages of support, love, and caring that I and my family have been shown. Chris

March 26, 2008

Wow, I can't believe it's been 3 days since we last updated this site! I guess time flies when you're having fun!!! On Monday, Caitlin had her evaluation with her PT and then had to be at the dialysis center by 2 to fill out paperwork then have a treatment. We didn't get home until almost 7:30 - stopped by Grammy's house because she had baked Caitlin some of her special cupcakes. It was a long day and I couldn't tell who was more worn out, her or me. On Tuesday, the PT came back in the morning to start his therapy to help with her mobility. Then, because he told her she needed to get out and about more, we took a drive to Murfreesboro to see Ryan and take him his Easter basket that he also found virtually. We got home at about 4 in the afternoon, she took pain meds and crashed for a few hours while I went to the store to pick up some much needed items to aid in her recovery. I got home by 8 p.m. or so, just about the time Caitlin was stirring. She seems to be sleeping better at night since returning home from the hospital, I'm still on a hospital schedule and can't seem to get any sleep. Today we have a quiet morning then have to leave for dialysis by 2 or so this afternoon. Tomorrow, Caitlin has PT in the morning then an MD appointment at 1:30 p.m. and on Friday she has PT in the late morning and we leave for dialysis by 2 for her appointment there. Whew, it makes me tired just thinking about it!!! All in all, Caitlin's recovery is nothing short of a miracle and everything leading up to her full recovery is minor and very welcome considering the alternative. Again, thank you for your words of encouragement, love, support, and hugs, as now we are out and about here in the City of Fairview. I believe in the power of prayer and know that Caitlin continues down the path to a full recovery, thanks to the continued prayers from folks all over the world. Chris

Easter Sunday

What a beautiful day to celebrate! Caitlin arrived home yesterday at approximately 2 p.m. and I can't tell you how excited she was. When the discharge transporter brought her down to the door where my car was parked, she saw me, her Aunt Gwen and cousin Kristin waiting for her. I've never seen such a big smile on her face and then she burst into tears because she was sooooo happy. By the time she got into the car everybody around was crying. Then, when she arrived home and got just inside the front door in her wheelchair, she saw her brother Brandon and burst into tears again and just hugged him and cried. Again, tears were flowing all around. We got her settled into a room downstairs and she got to eat some of her Aunt Kathy's manicotti, then it was time to just savor the moment of being home. All was going really well until Jordan came downstairs and complained about not feeling well. His temp was normal, he got some Pepto Bismol and back upstairs he went. Not too much later, the vomiting started for him. His temp was up to 100.4, so Brandon took sick duty upstairs while I was on sick duty downstairs. Then while I was on the phone in the evening, Caitlin sat straight up and said she was going to be sick. Sure enough, she started vomiting as well. I think that hers was due to some medicines she was taking (vitamins, meds for her kidneys) while Jordan probably had a touch of a virus. Brandon checked on him thru the night and I stayed with Caitlin to make sure all was well. This morning, Jordan and Caitlin had a virtual Easter Basket hunt. Instead of looking for their Easter baskets somewhere in the house, the City of Fairview became hunt material. After asking very good questions, they were able to narrow down where their Easter baskets were and Brandon would bring the basket to them. It was definitely a different kind of Easter morning but one that won't soon be forgotten. Caitlin continues to rest, watching movies and making origami pianos, cicadas, and lanterns for entertainment. She starts her first out-patient dialysis treatment tomorrow and is scheduled for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at this time. Out-patient physical therapy will most likely start on Tuesday. By the way, please don't fret if I haven't talked on the phone or returned messages. It just gets so overwhelming to talk to everybody wanting to send their love, prayers, and support. Please know that all these calls, cards, and messages are so very welcomed and appreciated. Chris

CAITLIN IS HOME!!!!

After much trial and tribulation, Caitlin is once again resting at home!

March 21,2008

Happy 1st day of spring!!!  It truly is beautiful here in Nashville, the high is supposed to be in the low 70's and the sun should be shining for most, if not all, of the day.  The kidney doctor came in this morning and talked with Caitlin about wanting her to stay another day.  He wants her to have dialysis today and felt that waiting until Monday afternoon would be too long to wait without another treatment.  So, he's arranged another dialysis treatment for tomorrow here at the hospital and then she can be released.  She is understandably very disappointed as she was really looking forward to going home today.  She's shed a few tears but the nurse told her that when she gets back from dialysis today that I can take her outside for some sun and fresh air.  Nights seem to be the hardest time for her - she wakes up multiple times during the night and has to take pain medications because everything hurts.  The doctor said that this is not an unusual occurrence and that the all over generalized aching that she's feeling will get better.  Thank you for your continued messages of support, love, and most especially the prayers.  Tomorrow, when I update the website, it will be to let all know that she's home and she's ALIVE!!!!  Chris

March 20, 1 day before discharge!!!

Caitlin and I are just stirring and MD's have begun making their rounds.  Everything is still looking good for Caitlin's discharge tomorrow.  Actually, they wanted to make it today but I talked to the doctors about the work of leaving today and getting out and about tomorrow for outpatient dialysis and we all felt that it might be better to wait one more day, get her dialysis here in the hospital then she'll have the weekend to take it easy before we have to take her out.  She was VERY disappointed but understood the reasoning behind the decision and continues to keep such a good attitude.  Her nights seem to be the worst as far as restlessness and insomnia.  She will feel like she's slept an entire night and wake up to find it's only 1 in the morning.  I think that's when she feels her most testy.  Maybe that will turn around after she gets home and is on a better routine AKA no one running in and out at all hours to draw blood, take vitals, etc.  She has a pretty easy day on tap today - no procedures scheduled, but PT looming over her head.  I got some of her own clothes on her this morning and got her out of bed, sitting in a chair, watching a movie.  All in all, everything looks good for my miracle girl.  All of you have been so wonderful to continue to send her best wishes, prayers, and love her way.  I know it means a lot to her and to me, as well.  Chris

March 19, 20 08 8:20 p.m.

Well, Caitlin made it thru her surgery this morning and her dialysis right after that.  Her femoral vas cath was removed and she had to lie flat for one hour with a 5 pound sandbag on the site.  She then had to spend the next 3 hours moving very little.  She will most likely be released on Friday, start outpatient physical therapy on Saturday, and outpatient dialysis on Monday.  Right now, her schedule for dialysis is Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays in the afternoon.  They tried to make it 5 in the morning but neither Caitlin nor I were much into that, we both decided that it was just a little too early for either one of us.  She is doing really well and the doctors continue to call her recovery a miracle.  Oh, and just to clear things up, her official diagnosis is meningicoccal septicemia not bacterial meningitis (the spelling is not correct but I don't have a medical dictionary close by) with acute renal failure and DIC.  All I can say is, if you have kids that haven't had the vaccine, please look into it because I would hate to see any other parents go thru this with their child/ren when it can be prevented.  Again, thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support for Caitlin and her family.  It is so very appreciated!!  Chris  

March 19, 2008 0620

Well, Caitlin and I are up and at 'em, totally not our choice!!  The surgical team is on their way to take her to surgery for placement of her permacath.  Once she has recovered she will go on to dialysis to make sure everything is running and will have her femoral vas cath removed.  She had two units of blood transfused during the night and her temp got up to 100.3 which was somewhat worrisome.  With the help of Tylenol, though, it hovered between 99 and 100.  We seem to be still on track to leave the hospital by Thursday or Friday, providing no major setbacks.  She will continue to recuperate at home with the help of her brothers, mom, dogs, cats, fish, and rat, Napoleon.  Please continue to send good wishes her way.  I know that it's the prayers of many and the skills of the medical staff that saved her life when no one thought she would make it.  Chris

March 18, later!

Well, we really just got some great news!!  Caitlin will probably be released from the hospital on Thursday or Friday after she has a day or so to recover from the surgery of putting in the perma cath.  We already have arrangements made for her to start out-patient dialysis on Friday afternoon if she gets released on Thursday.  Her red blood count continues to go down so they are going to transfuse 2 units of blood just to give her a leg up before she goes home.  The best news yet though is that she peed on her own today, 200 cc's.  YEAH!!!!  She's not out of the woods completely as far as her kidneys are concerned but this is definitely a step in the right direction.  Got to cut this post short - they're here to take her out of special care and up to a regular room.  Thank you again for all your posts - it is not only helping her, but I'm enjoying reading them too.  Chris

March 18, 2008

First of all, I need to apologize to those that have been trying to access the blog from the information from my cell phone - I had it wrong but it has been corrected.  Sorry!!!!

Caitlin's doctors have been in to see her this a.m. and she continues to improve, not in the leaps and bounds that she is expecting, but slowly and surely.  I think I may have to remind her of the story of the tortoise and the hare!

She has gone to ultrasound for a renal study to see how much blood is being processed by her kidneys.  Then, when she gets back from there, they are waiting for her in dialysis - another 4 hour session that she will most likely sleep thru.  The vascular surgeon is supposed to put in her permacath sometime today and the doctors are in agreement that she can be moved to a regular room today.  She can't wait to get into a regular room where she can sit in a shower chair and take a shower.  That's all she's talked about for the last week or so, even when she was feeling her worst.  All in all, things are certainly looking up from the place we were just a week ago.  Thank you again for all your continued prayers, thoughts, and comments.  As she regains strength she is looking forward to opening her cards, reading her email, and reading the comments that you folks have been so wonderful about posting.  This is truly a Holy Week and one that we'll be celebrating with more enthusiasm than in the past.  Caitlin's mom, Chris

March 17th, 4 p.m.

Hi all, I guess now that Brandon and Ryan are in Michigan I'll be the one updating Caitlin's condition (which I guess makes sense since I'm sitting right here next to her  :) !!!).

Caitlin has had a long day today.  She went to dialysis this morning for 4 hours and slept pretty much thru that, then when she got back to her room, a wound care specialist arrived to take a look at the skin lesions she has.  Her Aunt Kathy arrived with reubans for us to eat but just when she was settling back in, physical therapy showed up.  They were able to wait an hour or so before they got her out of bed and after 30 minutes she was back in bed.  This infection has taken so much out of her - she can't walk more than a step or two and only with a person on each side of her to support her.  She continues to be in acute renal failure but the doctors feel strongly that she will get kidney function back, it just may take a bit of time.  The kidney MD is planning on putting a permcath in her chest tomorrow so that she can continue to enjoy the dialysis process even after she goes home.  Her white blood count continues to rise but the doctors say that all the numbers they are seeing are not surprising and part of the recovery process after such an aggressive bacterial infection.  Her red blood count is down and they are saying that she may have to have a blood transfusion or two by the end of the week.  They are giving her SQ injections to help build up her red blood count to try to alleviate the possibility of a transfusion.  All in all, the outlook today compared to this time last Monday is nothing short of a miracle.  Thank you to all who continue to pray for her recovery, it's probably going to be a long one.  

St Patty's update

Hey everyone, though I am not nearly as eloquent or witty as my son, I will try to give you an update. Caitlin's condition is still continuing to improve slowly each day and today is another such day. She started her physical therapy regime yesterday and will continue with this for 6 out of every 7 days. Yesterday and today she was able to get up from her bed and sit in a chair for about an hour. Her therapist was very pleased with her progress... it's hard to fathom that sitting in a chair is work, but for Caitlin this is a tremendous amount of exercise. After being sequestered to her bed for the last week she even stated she was willing to try to stand long enough to take a shower. She underwent dialysis this morning and once again slept soundly thru the majority of the 4+ hour process. Her doctors continue to be pleased with her progress and the absence of any setbacks in her recovery. That in itself is a miracle and is proof positive of the power of prayer. Caitlin is becoming more bored each day and is ready to be outside in the sunshine. I know this will motivate her to continue to work on her mobility thru physical therapy. Again thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers. I know without doubt this has been a tremendous help in the healing process.



The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

Update 3-16-08

It's the day before St. Patrick's Day and it looks as if Caitlin will be celebrating her Irish in the hospital. Not that that's any big surprise, but I couldn't figure out another way to bring St. Patrick's Day into the blog on short notice. For the notice is short indeed. I just got back home from the Anniversary Sunday service at church (fantastic, by the way) and I'm on my way out the door to go visit my sister. She's doing the same as yesterday--her platelet count is rising but so is her white blood cell count. The doctors are still attributing that to leftover immune response to the meningococcal septicemia, not a new illness, but it's still somewhat worrying to us non-medical folks. I'm kicking myself for going to see her the other day when I felt like I was coming down with a cold! Oh well. I'm resolving the problem by buying a little cloth mask to wear when I visit her today. Better safe and ridiculous looking than sorry and devilishly handsome.

The doctors got 2 liters of fluids off her during dialysis yesterday, which will help with the swelling quite a bit. She's also due for a bit of physical therapy this afternoon, which she is not looking forward to at all. Apparently, it's a pretty painful process somewhat akin to having toothpicks jammed into your joints and then set on fire, but I think she's just being a sissy. I mean, I stubbed my toe last night really hard and you don't hear me complaining!

Keep those comments coming please! She has her laptop and she loves hearing from her friends and family. As soon as she starts feeling a little better you will be hearing more from her and less of me, so keep checking this blog. Oh! One other thing. Our church has designated tomorrow, March 17th, as a day of prayer and fasting for Caitlin. Those of you who are interested in joining us in this observation, please refrain from eating from sunup to sundown and and pray for the gifts of health, wisdom, discernment, and strength for Caitlin, her family, and her doctors and nurses. It would be really neat if you put your thought/prayers to paper, physical or virtual, and brought it by the hospital to pass on to Caitlin or posted it here for her to read when she's feeling a little better.

Thanks so much for your support everyone!

Update 3-15-08 9:30 am

It's Saturday morning, 3/15/08, and here's the latest update regarding Caitlin's status....
Her Mom reports that she slept very well last night but woke up with joint pain and stiffness, especially in her knees; the medical staff are addressing this with some pain medication. Dialysis is in store for Caitlin sometime this morning as her lab values are creeping upward...still no kidney function, obviously, but doctors are still not surprised as it may be 7-10 days (maybe even up to 6 weeks) before her kidneys "kick in". All of Caitlin's vital signs are good this am, no temperature, good blood pressure and clear lung sounds. Her white blood cell count has escalated from 3,000 when she was admitted to ER last Sunday to 44,000; this is not too unexpected or worrisome at this point, as it may indicate that Caitlin's immune response is working on its own and mounting an attack against this bacterial infection. Blood cultures are negative for ongoing bacterial infection at this point, with all the antibiotics Caitlin has had infused. A real concern, however, remains the possible onset of secondary infections, such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections, gastric issues, etc. Please continue to pray hard for Caitlin and her family...it is a long road ahead in her recovery. Our sincerest appreciation and love to all who are doing just that!!!
--Aunt Jo

Update 3-15-08, 7:12 am

There's a thunderstorm outside and I'm at home with the dogs, who are currently cowering under my feet. I feel fortunate to be able to be home and away from the hospital because Caitlin is doing so well! Since she has her laptop I'm guessing that later today she'll take over the blog entries, so you'll be hearing your news straight from the source. I haven't talked to mom yet for an update from last night as it's still somewhat early and I want to be sure to let them sleep as much as possible. We're all exhausted from lack of sleep and worrying 24 hours a day so rest is important for everyone at this point. I will have to double check, but they're letting Caitlin receive more visitors now! She really wants to see her friends as us old folks are kind of boring because we're taking things so seriously--her words, not mine. Please be sure to call the hospital before you visit to ask what visiting hours are and to make sure that Caitlin's feeling up to visitors.

Edit: Okay, the call for visitors has been rescinded. Please do not come and visit the hospital right now as Caitlin is too tired to receive guests and does not need to be exposed to unnecessary germs.

Update 3-14-08

Caitlin's doing a lot better, everyone. When I saw her this evening she was attempting to eat a piece of cheese pizza and she was cracking jokes left and right. Everyone agrees that she looks 10 times better than she did even yesterday but certainly a few days ago. I brought her her laptop today, which she is keeping in her room. She is very pleased with all the comments being posted on this blog so keep them coming!

She still has no kidney function but she's off dialysis and we're hoping that those suckers will start up any day now.

Hey there everybody! it's me Caitlin....yes, the sickie of the group. My brother just brought me my laptop, and coincidentally saved me from weeks of hospital boredom.I'm doing much better today than yesterday, and i even got moved from the Intensive Care Unit down to the Special Care Unit....YAY. Unfortunately, though, today wasn't all peaches. I began my first round of physical therapy, or, as i like to call it, MY OWN PERSONAL HELL!!  It seriously felt like i couldn't breathe, and that the other people there were just going to sit and watch me struggle for air. After the horibleness (yes, i know it's not a word) was over, and i was finally able to regain my composure, i definitely passed out in my hard hospital bed for at least a good five hours. So that was pretty much my day, and that has also been pretty much all of my other hospital days.               start: hope

middle: intense pain

end: determination

Update 3-14-08 9:43 am

Hi everyone--for those of you who didn't already know this, Caitlin's at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. We're requesting that those who want to visit wait a little while, because even though she's feeling better she's still very weak and needs peace and quiet. If you go to the hospital you will probably not be able to see her yet, but you can sign her guestbook to let her know that you've stopped by! We're taking it up every night before she goes to bed so she can read the comments people leave throughout the day, and it's a huge source of happiness and inspiration for her. So leave comments and/or sign her guestbook, please!

GOOD NEWS! 3-14-08 7:55 am

Mom called this morning with fantastic news--the doctors decided this morning to take Caitlin out of intensive care to place her in the step-down unit of the hospital. This means that she will be off dialysis later today and will be removed from most of the gadgets and thingamabobs that have been doing whatever it is that gadgets and thingamabobs do. Her kidneys are still not working but this is a step in the right direction. Later today a physical therapy expert will start working with Caitlin, helping her to walk and get a bit of exercise. I'll have Aunt Jo do a more specific update in a few minutes as she actually understands what mom's telling us.

This is the happiest pi-day ever!

Caitlin Update 3-13-08 6:51 pm

Brandon again.

Just got done visiting with Caitlin and it was very encouraging. The diagnosis hasn't changed--she still needs her kidneys restarted and she's still on dialysis--but her spirits have improved tremendously, thanks in large part to the massive display of support from her family and friends. And strangers, can't forget the people she's never even met. She's overwhelmed by the number of people around the world who are thinking about her. In fact, she specifically asked me to let it be known that she has a priest in Ireland praying for her (and around St. Patrick's Day moreover!).

New medical stuff--the doctors are taking her off Zygris tomorrow at 7 pm, which is awesome news.

I'll try to post a picture I took of her if I can figure out how to do it.

Aha! Here we go:

Caitlin Update, 3-13-08, 4:41 pm

This is Brandon again--right now me n' Jordan, Aunt Jo, Ms. Debbie, Granny and Papa, and dad and Terri are in the waiting room, partaking of the many snacks that have been dropped off and waiting for more news. Caitlin's condition hasn't changed-- her kidneys aren't working and she's still on dialysis. She's looking better though (better meaning she's still puffed out from all the fluids that have accumulated in her body and she has tubes poking out from every imaginable part of her body but she smiles occasionally). She's finally starting eating some simple stuff like Jell-o, a popsicle and some beef broth. She is still asleep most of the time.

Earlier today she began a heroic effort to text message her friends--heroic because her fingers are fat little sausages and she hits two buttons at once every time she tries to input a letter. I am secretly delighted at this development because I've been saying for a long time that she needs a lesson in patience. I think that 15 minutes per text message qualifies.

It's also good because it's an exercise in dexterity, which is a current concern. She's been completely immobile for nearly five days now and her joints are getting stiff. They had a person in the room earlier today who was working with her ankles and legs, rolling them around so she doesn't lose mobility while she's convalescing.

Caitlin Update, 3/13/08

Hi all! Apologies for the mass email but responding to individual requests for information is getting overwhelming so I'm going to start updating everyone at once. I've established a blog (http://brisonfamilynews.blogspot.com/) that my family and I will update as regularly as we can; alternatively, you can call my mom's cell phone (615-417-1282) for updates.

Here's the brief rundown so far. Caitlin was exposed to bacterial meningitis sometime during the week of spring break. She fell ill on Saturday, March 8 and by Sunday March 9 she was running a fever and had developed several rashes on her legs. Fortunately my mom recognized that it was not the flu, it was a medical emergency, so she took her into the emergency room at St. Thomas hospital in Nashville at around 11 pm, where the doctors quickly diagnosed her with bacterial meningitis and started administering massive amounts of antibiotics, almost certainly saving her life by preventing the infection from reaching her central nervous system and brain. On Monday her kidneys shut down and she was doing extremely bad, so bad that the doctors told her and mom to prepare for the worst. She was dealing with kidney failure from low blood pressure caused by a blood infection that was making her to bleed internally. She gained 27 pounds in a day as the doctors attempted to salvage her kidneys by pumping over 12 liters of fluids into her. So Monday was the worst. By Tuesday, the blood infection had been taken care of, more or less, and her blood pressure had stabilized, but she was having trouble breathing and keeping oxygen in her blood due to low platelet levels, so she received a transfusion and they put her on oxygen, with talk of possibly putting her on a ventilator. Wednesday showed no improvement, but at least nothing getting worse, which is good-ish news. Which brings us to where she is now. She's not out of the woods yet--swollen, in an intense amount of pain, but breathing on her own. She's lucid and able to communicate, even laughing at the dumb jokes I make, but she's exhausted and can't handle many visitors so please, if you stop by the hospital, don't expect to visit her but please sign her guestbook! Her fighting attitude is fuelled not just by her own strength--the amazing love and support of her community of friends and relatives play a huge role in keeping her spirits up.

One last thought: it's a wonderful thing to feel overwhelmed by love, and my sister teared up in happiness when I told her yesterday that people literally all over the world were praying for her recovery. That's some good medicine. I mean, the antibiotics and coagulants and blood pressure regulators and whatnot are pretty good medicine too, but you know what I mean. Thank you so much for your concern, and I will pass all of your well-wishes on to Caitlin. It means a lot to her.

Brandon

PS If you've noticed that I've left someone out, or you would like to forward this on to someone else, please feel free to spread the word! I would like to have tons of comments on the blog for Caitlin to read once she gets out of the hospital.

PPS For your reading pleasure:

http://media.www.mtsusidelines.com/media/storage/paper202/news/2008/03/13/News/Meningitis.Places.Mtsu.Student.In.Hospital-3266742.shtml

http://dnj.midsouthnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080311/NEWS01/80311047
http://www.wsmv.com/health/15572856/detail.html?rss=nash&psp=news
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23590801/

Update on Caitlin's Condition, 3-13-2008, 9:43 am

Caitlin remains in critical condition in St. Thomas's ICU department but is "holding her own"!! Her kidneys have not resumed function to date and doctors may attempt to "jump start" them by giving her Lasix this morning. She was totally off oxygen for a period of time but had to resume using O2 (only at 1 liter). Caitlin's platelets are still low and she may require a second transfusion today. However, Caitlin appears more alert this morning, is able to use her incentive spirometer to full capacity (Yeah!) and is performing ankle rolls, etc. to help regain her range of motion (she has had to lie so still due to the many catheter and IV lines she has). It will likely be another week or two before she is released from the hospital. She remains so sweet that, when she drifts off to sleep during the middle of a conversation with someone, her mother reported that Caitlin will catch herself and wake up and then immediately apologize for being rude!!!! That's why we love her so much and continue to send prayers and well wishes her way!! --Aunt Jo