Help a fellow VN member. "We love Ashlee"

Status
Not open for further replies.
#276
#276
Borrowed from my wife (she's a nurse, so she uses a lot of big words that I don't understand):

It has been a long, tough week. I am going to explain this as well as I can. The incision looked good underneath but there was a collection of cerebral spinal fluid causing the wound not to heal. They took her to surgery, cleaned the incision, placed an ICP drain to allow her incision to heal and determine if her pressure in her head is going to stay down. If so, they will remove the drain and send us packing late next week. If the pressure goes up, concerned with the absorption of cerebral spinal fluid and we would have to consider possible VP shunt. She will remain in PICU here at Vandy as long as the drain is in. We will not know anything more until Monday when they begin to manipulate the drain. Lord help us. We appreciate your continued prayers. We are all a little exhausted and need God's strength and encouragement.

Ashlee's doing good. There's a possibility that she'll need another surgery but we won't leave the hospital this time with that hanging over our heads, she'll either need it, have it next week, and then come home in a week or two or she won't need it and we can come home next week and it's over and done with...thank God.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#277
#277
orangeblood79 said:
Borrowed from my wife (she's a nurse, so she uses a lot of big words that I don't understand):

It has been a long, tough week. I am going to explain this as well as I can. The incision looked good underneath but there was a collection of cerebral spinal fluid causing the wound not to heal. They took her to surgery, cleaned the incision, placed an ICP drain to allow her incision to heal and determine if her pressure in her head is going to stay down. If so, they will remove the drain and send us packing late next week. If the pressure goes up, concerned with the absorption of cerebral spinal fluid and we would have to consider possible VP shunt. She will remain in PICU here at Vandy as long as the drain is in. We will not know anything more until Monday when they begin to manipulate the drain. Lord help us. We appreciate your continued prayers. We are all a little exhausted and need God's strength and encouragement.

Ashlee's doing good. There's a possibility that she'll need another surgery but we won't leave the hospital this time with that hanging over our heads, she'll either need it, have it next week, and then come home in a week or two or she won't need it and we can come home next week and it's over and done with...thank God.
Click to expand...

Praying for you and your family sir
 
#279
#279
Kind of hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now but, it's there.

So, Ashlee is dealing with three things right now:

1. She has bacterial meningitis.

Good news is they found it before any bacteria grew in her Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) and began treating it with antibiotics immediately. She should be through the woods there reasonably fast, say less than a week, hopefully.

2. She may need another brain surgery next week.

The root cause of her brain issue was that the ventricles in her brain were not circulating the CSF like they should. They performed the surgery two weeks ago to correct, which it did...partially. The obstruction that blocked the ventricles is all but gone but the ventricles haven't healed as fast, which caused the CSF to back up at the incision site, which caused it to leak, which likley made her more prone to infection, which lead to meningitis and here we are. They went back in and cleaned the wound but also placed a drain for any excess CFS. That will not only allow them to test the CSF for meningitis, and the efficacy of the antibiotics, but it also tells them whether she'll need the VP shunt (which I expect she will).

3. She'll likely also have another cardiac procedure through the cath lab before she leaves.

We've been waiting for this and knew it was coming. Glad it's now and not after we go home and have to come back.

All that being said, regardless of whether she needs both procedures or just one, we're not going home this time with a huge question mark hanging over our heads. She's coming home healed, without anymore "what if's" or "buts" or "...hopefully this works"...she's coming home healthy. While she may need one more cardiac cath after this one next week...what ev's. We can do that now, no biggie.

The MD's also say that this will all be done and we'll be home in two weeks. Crazy, right? Modern medicine...

Prayers, as always, are very much appreciated. Thank you all for your prayers, support, and concern.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#280
#280
orangeblood79 said:
Kind of hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel right now but, it's there.

So, Ashlee is dealing with three things right now:

1. She has bacterial meningitis.

Good news is they found it before any bacteria grew in her Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) and began treating it with antibiotics immediately. She should be through the woods there reasonably fast, say less than a week, hopefully.

2. She may need another brain surgery next week.

The root cause of her brain issue was that the ventricles in her brain were not circulating the CSF like they should. They performed the surgery two weeks ago to correct, which it did...partially. The obstruction that blocked the ventricles is all but gone but the ventricles haven't healed as fast, which caused the CSF to back up at the incision site, which caused it to leak, which likley made her more prone to infection, which lead to meningitis and here we are. They went back in and cleaned the wound but also placed a drain for any excess CFS. That will not only allow them to test the CSF for meningitis, and the efficacy of the antibiotics, but it also tells them whether she'll need the VP shunt (which I expect she will).

3. She'll likely also have another cardiac procedure through the cath lab before she leaves.

We've been waiting for this and knew it was coming. Glad it's now and not after we go home and have to come back.

All that being said, regardless of whether she needs both procedures or just one, we're not going home this time with a huge question mark hanging over our heads. She's coming home fully healed with anymore "what if's" or "buts" or "...hopefully this works" she's coming home, healthy.

The MD's also say that this will all be done and we'll be home in two weeks. Crazy, right? Modern medicine...

Prayers, as always, are very much appreciated. Thank you all for your prayers, support, and concern.
Click to expand...

Praying for Ashlee and for her parents. I pray for healing for her and strength and comfort for you. May the God of heaven bless you all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#281
#281
So my wife, the nurse, wanted me to clear one thing up...

"Technically" Ashlee does have meningitis but it's not the kind most people know about and (rightfully) freak out over. According to the Neurologist, it's an infection of the CSF, meningitis type...whatever, lol.

The fluid stuff in her brain's got bad stuff in it and they're fixing it with medicine.

Nurses and doctors...
 
#282
#282
I'm saying a prayer for your family. You all are doing an amazing job of staying strong. God bless all of you.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#285
#285
I wouldn't know you if I saw you but I wish I could hug you. You have all of VolNation joined together hoping and praying for the best.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#286
#286
Wow man. Seeing/hearing about kids in bad health is hard.

But especially when it's your own. Not much compares to the anxiety and fear of knowing your kid is in pain and/or danger and not being able to take it away.

So sorry OB. Keep your head up. Will be praying for y'all.
 
#289
#289
volssam said:
Are y'all still in the PICU at vandy?
Click to expand...

Still here...was just coming to update.

Surgery tomorrow, folks. Ashlee is having the shunt placed that will alleviate, if not completely cure, this problem. As fot her heart, she had an ECHO this morning and we're awaiting the results of that now. We know she'll need another cardiac cath procedure but it will likely be the week after Thanksgiving, not while we're here...at least that's the plan for now. That could change but, that's the plan...for now.

As usual, she's all smiles and happy as can be, which is amazing considering she's woken up every two hours for Neuro checks and vitals but she's almost learned to sleep through that.

She'll have her surgery tomorrow afternoon and hopefully go home the next day.

Thank you all for your prayers and concern. It humbles me and strengthens my faith that people whom have never met me, Ashlee or my family continually and fervently pray for my baby girl. God bless you all.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#290
#290
orangeblood79 said:
Still here...was just coming to update.

Surgery tomorrow, folks. Ashlee is having the shunt placed that will alleviate, if not completely cure, this problem. She had an ECHO this morning and we're awaiting the results of that now. We know she'll need another cardiac cath procedure but it will likely be the week after Thanksgiving, not while we're here...at least that's the plan for now. That could change but, that's the plan...for now.

As usual, she's all smiles and happy as can be, which is amazing considering she's woken up every two hours for Neuro checks and vitals but she's almost learned to sleep through that.

She'll have her surgery tomorrow afternoon and hopefully go home the next day.

Thank you all for your prayers and concern. It humbles me and strengthens my faith that people whom have never met me, Ashlee or my family continually and fervently pray for my baby girl. God bless you all.
Click to expand...

God is great!! He has brought you this far...I fully believe He will take you the rest of the way. Prayers for all involved with Ashlee's surgery tomorrow and for strength and comfort for mom and dad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#292
#292
orangeblood79 said:
Just got your package you sent us. Thank you, sincerely. And dude...honey buns?!? That deserves a hug!!

Did you drop it by? If so, I wish I had a chance to meet you.
Click to expand...

So much awesome in this thread!! I don't care what our spouses say, Volnation is the best!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#293
#293
orangeblood79 said:
Just got your package you sent us. Thank you, sincerely. And dude...honey buns?!? That deserves a hug!!

Did you drop it by? If so, I wish I had a chance to meet you.
Click to expand...


Ha. You're welcome man. I hope we were able to provide a little pick-me-up or distraction or something for y'all. Will be praying for y'all.

No, I wasn't able to come by. I'm working today. My wife dropped it by. She was actually going to come up and drop it off in person. But she said our newborn was screaming, and with it being an ICU she didn't want to disturb the patients and their families up there with a screaming baby. Ha. So there was a gentleman employee there who said they could deliver it.

May God bless little Ashlee with a successful procedure tomorrow!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#294
#294
volssam said:
Ha. You're welcome man. I hope we were able to provide a little pick-me-up or distraction or something for y'all. Will be praying for y'all.

No, I wasn't able to come by. I'm working today. My wife dropped it by. She was actually going to come up and drop it off in person. But she said our newborn was screaming, and with it being an ICU she didn't want to disturb the patients and their families up there with a screaming baby. Ha. So there was a gentleman employee there who said they could deliver it.

May God bless little Ashlee with a successful procedure tomorrow!
Click to expand...

Awesome. Thank you. And I understand on all fronts, I'm just grateful your wife decided to come out herself and deliver it. Hospitals are one thing but, Children's hospitals...not the most joyful place to be, even if only for a few minutes.

Thank you. To you, your wife and everyone on here who have taken your own personal time and money and prayers and helped my family and my little girl.

Just don't know how I'll ever be able to thank y'all enough.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#299
#299
InVOLuntary said:
Screw our spouses. Literally speaking. 🙌
Click to expand...

I think that's what got us in this parenting cycle to begin with!


OB, I will continue to pray for y'all. With everything baby girl has been through, she is made to change the world.
 
New posts
Status
Not open for further replies.

VN Store



Back
Top