Friday, February 6, 2009


We still don't know for sure whether it's viral, bacterial, or both, but she did get a freakishly fast result back from her blood culture (usually it takes from 24 hours to 48 for the bacteria to grow and come back positive). Since it's back already, it could either mean she has an uncommonly nasty infection in her blood, or that the culture was somehow contaminated. She also now has cellulitis in her right leg--and no girls, this is not the same as cellulite. Her white blood count also just came back really, really low. She is on reverse quarantine, which means that she's not going to infect us or the other kids in the hospital--but we could infect her and that would be deadly at this point.

So it's gown, glove, and mask time. Also time to just wait . . .

I don't know what's harder: seeing her like she was when she moved from the Vent to the CPAP over a month ago--mad as a hornet and really unhappy with life; or seeing her like she is now--limp as a wet noodle, pale as a ghost, not even crying or caring when they poke her for the umpteenth time to draw blood.


josette said...

oh nat, I am so sorry for everyhing thats happening. I never wanted anyone to go through what we did with Mathias. That backslide is soo scary and difficult to witness because when they were first born you expected it. Now it is like a punch in the stomach because you have the knowlegde of what can be.I will be praying constantley about brynn as I have about our little baby boy. Good luck I hope today is a better day

Monique said...

I suspect contaminant. Not that it helps much, but I would also guess she caught something viral or possibly aspirated from her feeds.

Do they think one of her medications made her neutropenic? I'm left scratching my head.

Regardless of what the diagnosis is, the immediate treatment plan will likely stay the same: vent, IVF, and antibiotics. Plus a whole lot of prayers, which you've got coming in droves.

Again, hang in there. I've been thinking a lot about your words on hope and faith. I don't know how things will turn out, but I agree that they will be for the best.

I would like to send along a quote by Elder George Q. Cannon: “The Saints should always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by.”

Taz said...

It's going to be okay, no matter what there is light at the end of the tunnel. 1 Corinthains 10:13 says "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to descape, that ye may be able to bear it. " This trial is long and painful but as you taught in our laural class faith, prayer, and the Holy Ghost as the comforter you can endure anything because with God anything is possible. Even when there is no light that you can see once you turn to Christ the stars shine through. I love you, all the laural class loves you, the whole ward loves you, and we will be there no matter what to support you.
James 1: 12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

Bonita said...

I'm so sorry, Natalie. I can't imagine the heartbreak and anguish at seeing her so sick and being helpless to make her better. So many of us are praying for you and Brynn. Hang in there.