Another Setback: Why Can't We Get a Break?

Brianna had a good day Saturday and visited with Trevor, John and me. It was nice to just sit around and talk about "normal" stuff - school, movies, our dog and such. Then Saturday night Brianna's body began to hold onto water. Actually, water was seeping out of her vascular system into other parts of the body. She began coughing more and by Sunday it was apparent that both lungs were getting some fluid built up around them and that there is some fluid inside her good left lung. At one point, she had four liters of excess water that her body was holding onto, even with some diuretics. Again, it wasn't in her system, but is leaking out of her cells into other parts of the body.

All this excess fluid meant she began coughing more and was having trouble breathing. So she has had to have oxygen and last night, needed an oxygen mask and a higher rate of oxygen. Plus, she's been having slight fevers for the past few days, but last night it went to 39.1 Celsius (a fever is considered 38 cel.) - I forgot what it translates to in Fahrenheit.

It just seems that whenever things seem to be heading up, we get hit with another setback. And her poor body is just being hit with so much. She's fighting the chickenpox re-activation virus, the fungal infection, a chest tube, too much fluid and yet she's very thirsty, coughing, not enough oxygen, menustration and now possibly another infection - bacterial this time. The doctors say that a bacterial infection may be the culprit to all this excess fluid. But yesterday and last night she was given three doses of a broad spectrum antibiotic and no change - in fact higher fever. So they've added another antibiotic to ensure that they've covered everything, including Staph. Because she has an IV in one arm and a chest tube, a Staph infection could be very likely. Again, we won't know until we see if the antibiotics work later today.

I pray so hard every night and I try not to cry, but there are just so many bumps. Brianna is so strong-willed and determined and I know she'll perservere, but why does it have to be so damn hard?

Now we are told that they may not be able to put in a smaller chest tube, because for obvious reasons, they don't want kids undergoing surgery who are having respiratory problems. Why can't we get a break? It seems that it's two steps forward, one step back....then....one step forward, two steps back. So the thoracic surgeons said that an anticoagulant should be put in the tube only to ensure that it's draining correctly. That will happen later today also.

Brianna said this morning that she thinks her body is giving up. I told her it seems that way because she has a high fever - the highest she's had since this all began. And she hardly slept last night. From 11:30 pm to 5:30 am, she was up every hour coughing and going to the bathroom. Sleeping upright, with an oxygen mask and a chest tube sticking out your side is not comfortable either. Even though I tried to sleep with earplugs knowing our wonderful night nurse Angela is here to take care of Brianna, I just couldn't drift off.

My strength is waining and I hate seeing her go through all this. It's a good thing my husband and dear friend Alissa are coming tonight. They will help me remain positive, upbeat and strong for Brianna. I wish I could give Brianna a break and take some of the load she's carrying.

I seem to end all of my posts with a request for positive thoughts of healing and for prayers. I am sincere when I ask, and I know there are a great many people out there who are with us in this and keeping us in their daily devotionals and meditations. We need them ever so much.