24-48 hours

A friend who reads my blog emailed me today asking about my grandmother and said she hoped that no news was good news.

I wish that was true.

The last few days have been tough.

Just when things were getting so much better, my grandmother's condition took a detour.

Her kidneys stopped functioning again. The infection got worse. Her blood pressure wouldn't stabilize on its own.

Her body is currently holding more than 60 pounds of extra fluid because of her kidney issues. She is bloated and swollen to the point that it is hard to look at her. Her hands look like surgical gloves that have been blown up like balloons. She is not suffering because she is constantly under sedation. All of the fluid is putting pressure on her organs and could soon begin to cause other problems beyond the ones she is currently experiencing.

Yesterday they tried to do dialysis again, but her body couldn't take it.

The infection is causing her colon to be distended and not work properly.

I flew back home yesterday. Things have only gotten worse today.

My dad says the doctors seem much less optimistic now and have only two more options to try. This afternoon they started giving her the strongest antibiotic possible, directly into her colon. This is not a standard treatment, but they are hoping it will work.

Tonight they were starting her on CRT which is a continuous form of dialysis. It is less difficult for her body to tolerate and they are hoping it will work to reduce the immense amount of fluid that has built up.

According to the doctors, the next 24 - 48 hours will determine whether they can help her or they have exhausted all of their options.

We are still hopeful.

We know the chances are slim.

We are still praying for healing and recovery.

We love her beyond words.

Please continue to pray for her and the rest of my family.