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