Please Wait One Week for Your Answer

One week ago tonight, I brought Cathy in to the emergency room. What an experience! Valet parking, a brand new facility and no waiting. Cathy was whisked straight into an observation room. At that time I had one over-riding question in my mind. I am sure it is the same question everyone else had when I called letting you know Cathy was in the hospital....

"What is making Cathy sick?"

The doctors have been saying viral, bacterial and fungal infections. Well, it seems that doctors like to hedge their bets. (If they say everything is making her sick, then somewhere in that statement is the correct answer).

After seven days we have a specific answer. The fungus that they have cultured, aspargillis (don't count on that being spelled correctly) is the one Cathy was exposed to sometime during her transplant. She has 'always' had that fungus in her and it has not "bloomed". Also, they have not been able to culture any bacteria. They are now confidant that Cathy does not have any bacterial infections. They are consistently seeing virus in the cultures. The virus they are seeing is a common one this season (although they thought it was a little late in the 'flu season' to still be seeing it). So.... Cathy was brought into the emergency room because she has viral pneumonia. It has taken a week, be we now have an answer to our over-riding question.

The doctors are going to continue with the antiviral treatment regimen until they do not culture any more of the virus (however, no more IVIG). One target, one tactic, one answer. I don't know about everyone else, but as someone who prefers to deal with absolutes as opposed to pie in the sky generalities, this brings comfort to me.

Next Question: When will Cathy be able to go home?....

Please wait one week for your answer.

David