Tests/Studies

Maggie has undergone several studies in the last couple of days. On Friday we found out that Maggie's echo from Monday showed an increased blood flow in a vein above her heart. They decided to repeat the echo again yesterday to determine if it was a fluke or a real reading. The echo yesterday showed the same results and so they decided to do an ultrasound on Maggie's veins above her heart and in her neck. They hoped to be be able to find a blood clot through the ultrasound, but this is often hard to find and was the case for us as well. If there is a blood clot, it is near the heart and the ultrasound was unable to see that. The only other option is to get a CT scan, but this is on hold because of the same reason as before-- it means sedation and intubation. If they do find it is a clot though, they really have their hands tied because to get rid of the clot, they put a blood thinner in her. This is something that they cannot do right now because of her stomach issues. It could result in another GI bleed if they thin her blood. So, for now they will wait and watch and hopefully it isn't a big problem. Lord knows we don't need another.

Maggie also had an impedance probe inserted through her nose and into her stomach on Friday for 24 hours. This probe was to measure the gastric juices in her belly, how high they go into her esophagus, etc. We still are waiting the results from this study. The reason for the study was to determine if she is having acid reflux and if this might be the reason why she continues to de-sat at night. Based on the results of this study, they will determine if she will have a sleep study done as well. They are trying to figure out why she has these oxygen desaturations at night. That is one of the reasons why we are still here and won't be going home anytime soon.

They continue to try to dry Maggie out, however, they are running into an electrolyte problem. In the diuresis of Maggie, she is losing a lot of potassium. They have had to give her boluses to bring her back to a normal or even lower than normal level. It is a happy medium between trying to dry her out from a lung standpoint and not end up hurting her kidneys or other body systems. Maggie will most likely be on diuretics for the next year, but it is now trying to get her on a plan that doesn't harm her body and one that we can go home with. Another reason why we are still here and will be here for awhile.

Maggie continues to act wonderfully. If any of you knew her before, you'd know her to be shy, reserved, and not very social. She is a completely different person now. She tells people "hi" and "bye," she will answer their questions and even voluntarily talk to them (normally about what she's watching on tv). She repeats words and has become very verbal. We have to laugh at her sometimes because she is such a riot. That is the silver lining to all of this. We finally are able to see what our Maggie is really like minus all the chemo. We hope this continues and it's not the weaning drugs that are still in her system.

Please continue to pray for Maggie. Pray for complete healing of all of her body. Pray for answers to the unknown and for easy solutions.