Medical Updates - (archive 2004) - Page 1
Kelli's Page
Wednesday, October 20, 2004 0:53 AM CDT
Miss Lucky in Lungs got her flu shot, but the rest of us have not been so lucky. Kelli visited the
pulmonologist today. She has been sporting a sinus infection since August. The last round of
antibiotics has effectively loosened all the crud. There were no signs of infection in her blood work
(whew!), so a viral culture was taken -- boy that was fun! They also want a sinus CT to see if the
sinuses are packed tight like last time or if they really are draining. It is unsettling to have an infection go
on this long. Hopefully the cooler weather will have a positive affect. Please keep her in your prayers.
U
Friday, August 13, 2004 0:13 AM CDT
Hello Everyone:
Just got back from St. Louis for another round of Kelligar's testing. All in all, it was a good visit. She had
a VERY long day on Monday and was not the least bit interested in getting up on Tuesday to go to the
hospital to have a bronchoscopy. We were alarmed when we went to check in at the Procedure Center
and were told that the doctors had cancelled the bronch. We, of course, thought it meant that the
previous day's tests must have been so bad that.....well, we didn't know what to expect. Instead, we
were told that since she is about 5 years out now, that they will not be doing a bronch every visit
because a bronch checks for infection and acute rejection. Unless she is symptomatic they will not
bronch her every time we visit. Since she has been diagnosed with "BO" the only way to check to see
what the status is is by doing an open-lung biopsy (which they won't do again) or by following the
results of the first day's testing very closely. This means they will be studying the X-rays, profusion
scans, CTs, Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) and always comparing them to previous results to make
sure they are unchanged.
Kelli was very happy not to "have to be put to sleep" for the test but was not pleased with the trade
off, which was an additional blood draw. She got over that quickly.
We were able to include some fun in this visit. We were lucky enough to have our old neighbors (Dick &
Jo - who use to live across the street - here in AZ) who now live in Illinois come to visit. We enjoyed
much time together and they spoiled Kelli rotten! We also got to see Kelli and her transplant buddy -
Annie celebrate their 5th birthdays together. It was a Princess Party to remember! We even made it to
the Magic House.
As always, we are super glad to be home and we appreciate the prayers and support always sent our
way. We certainly have the best of friends. U
Miss Lucky in Lungs got her flu shot, but the rest of us have not been so lucky. Kelli visited the
pulmonologist today. She has been sporting a sinus infection since August. The last round of
antibiotics has effectively loosened all the crud. There were no signs of infection in her blood work
(whew!), so a viral culture was taken -- boy that was fun! They also want a sinus CT to see if the
sinuses are packed tight like last time or if they really are draining. It is unsettling to have an infection go
on this long. Hopefully the cooler weather will have a positive affect. Please keep her in your prayers.
U
Friday, August 13, 2004 0:13 AM CDT
Hello Everyone:
Just got back from St. Louis for another round of Kelligar's testing. All in all, it was a good visit. She had
a VERY long day on Monday and was not the least bit interested in getting up on Tuesday to go to the
hospital to have a bronchoscopy. We were alarmed when we went to check in at the Procedure Center
and were told that the doctors had cancelled the bronch. We, of course, thought it meant that the
previous day's tests must have been so bad that.....well, we didn't know what to expect. Instead, we
were told that since she is about 5 years out now, that they will not be doing a bronch every visit
because a bronch checks for infection and acute rejection. Unless she is symptomatic they will not
bronch her every time we visit. Since she has been diagnosed with "BO" the only way to check to see
what the status is is by doing an open-lung biopsy (which they won't do again) or by following the
results of the first day's testing very closely. This means they will be studying the X-rays, profusion
scans, CTs, Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) and always comparing them to previous results to make
sure they are unchanged.
Kelli was very happy not to "have to be put to sleep" for the test but was not pleased with the trade
off, which was an additional blood draw. She got over that quickly.
We were able to include some fun in this visit. We were lucky enough to have our old neighbors (Dick &
Jo - who use to live across the street - here in AZ) who now live in Illinois come to visit. We enjoyed
much time together and they spoiled Kelli rotten! We also got to see Kelli and her transplant buddy -
Annie celebrate their 5th birthdays together. It was a Princess Party to remember! We even made it to
the Magic House.
As always, we are super glad to be home and we appreciate the prayers and support always sent our
way. We certainly have the best of friends. U