Infection Update

Joe remains in Strong Memorial hospital fighting a staff infection. He is on the 6th floor, 3400 unit, room 27. He can have visitors, but tires easily.

On Sunday afternoon they removed his central line as it also is infected. They are keeping the abdominal catheter in place at this time as they do not believe that this line is a problem. The staph infection has invaded his blood stream along with his urine and abdominal fluid. Yesterday afternoon they once again tapped his left lung pleural space and removed a liter of fluid from around it to help ease his breathing. They also want to check the fluid to see if the staph infection is present there. Joe is on oxygen at this time as he cannot sustain the proper O2 level without it. He is in a great deal of abdominal, chest and back pain. He will stay on antibiotics for 10 days, when they will assess if he can have his central line reinserted or a pic line inserted so that he may have a shot at the chemo treatment. Without the central or pic line, they are unable to administer the chemotherapy. At this point, time is not on our side.

He has recovered from the confusion state that he was in and has returned to his normal humorous self. This is a huge relief!!! This morning, however, he said he had a rough night with pain. The procedure to removed the fluid is painful and he is struggling with the site pain.

Gina will be sitting with him this morning before she goes back to school and then Bill will sit with him until I get there this afternoon.

I do not believe that he will be released before Monday of next week.

Thanks to all for your support and help. Colleen, Sue, Fran, Silvana , Rose - thanks for bringing food to the hospital and my house. Roseanne & Dominic - the card and generous gift you gave me at the game made me cry. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives.

Thank you to my sister Toni and Bill. They came to the hospital to visit with Jamie and Amanda and were able to make us all smile. Thanks for coming to Mrs Cassarino's funeral with me and for helping to keep me sane. I know that I don't say thank you enough for all that you do, but you know how much I love you all.

Keep praying for our miracle!

Much love,
Vicki, Gina & Tom