This will be a short update. I am absolutely exhausted! I will post a much more detailed blog later. Thanks for your understanding.
Katy was still bleeding this morning. They sent her to nuclear medicine to track down where she was bleeding. Luckily, the blood was coming from an artery and NOT seeping through her stomach lining. She then went to IR (intervention radiology), and they embolized the artery. Simply, they put a wire up her femoral artery and coiled off the bleeding artery with titanium wire. They then ran contrast dye to make sure it wasn’t still bleeding. There is still a possibility of more of these (not uncommen). They left the sheath in her leg so they could evaluate her, and quick fix if anything else starts to bleed. If no problems occur in the next day or two, then they will remove the sheath.
I also addressed a concern of mine. I was under the impression that she should be done with her course of antibiotics. It turns out that EVERy time she goes in for a procedure, they zero out her order and restart it. In the morning I am meeting with the doctors to find out exactly when she should be (or have been) done with the antibiotics.
Also, I am addressing whether or not she should be getting treatment for menopause due to the removal of her ovaries. As she has been in bed for a month, I am worried that her bones will become brittle. With rehab in the near future, I want to make sure we are fully prepared.
I would also like for you to all send a prayer to the Strickland family. Their 21 year old son, Cody, passed last weekend in the BICU. I had the pleasure of meeting the family, and was there when they had to make their toughest decision. James and his family had to what no parent should ever have to do. I pray that they may find peace. Thank you, in advance, for adding them to our prayers.
Love to all,
Al
Dear Al and Katy! We are still praying for you guys daily!! You guys are incredible!! Love, The Yarbrough’s
Dear Al,
I am so sorry for everything that is happening and can only say that I am honored to know you and Katy! Your strength and composure is truly astounding. I found out about Katy last week, Monday to be exact. I was so shocked to hear that Katy was struggling with so much, trying to survive and you are with her giving her the strength and will to survive. I have been thinking and praying for you, your family, and especially Katy! I have been so inspired by your updates, such insight and perspective in such a difficult time. Reminding us all to live each day one day at a time and remember to love each other and to care for each other. Kristen and I were so happy to see Amber at Skeeters on Thursday night. It has been a few years since we have seen her she is such a beautiful girl and looks so much like Katy, she has her fantastic smile! Amber was so excited to have spoken to her mom on the phone earlier and was so happy that she was going to see her on Friday. I know that having your family all in the same place had to be such a relief for you and Katy. You are blessed with your love for each other and will pass this on to your children and they will be blessed. I just wanted you to know that Geoff, Melissa, Kristen and I are praying for you all and wish Katy a very swift recovery!
All our love and prayers are with you, from the Hale’s!
Yes sir!! You have no idea how many times I read these blogs and get moved to tears every time!! This is soooooooo big that we just don’t understand. Al I know it can’t be understood at times but I promise you when I read your blog I truly do feel the presence of GOD!!! Something so AMAZING is in the works here and if we are wise we diffidently will want to be apart of it! Pray and think about you guys every day and will lift up the Strickland Family in the fullest!!!
Al, you do not know me, I heard of your story through the emails for prayer. I wanted to first, let you know that we are praying daily for you and your family and secondly, I have to let you know I was so touched by the above update. You are such a blessing, not only to Katy, your family but to those reading your update. Your compassion and love can be felt as one reads about your concern for Katy, advocating for her and determination as you all move forward. God is using you, Al, and is so proud of the example you are setting on what we are called to do. May the Lord Bless you abundantly and give you the peace that only He can. Take Care.
Al –
You probably don’t remember me. I’m a friend of the McMillian family and have watched you guys in Surfside a few times (you even humored my husband and let him sing a bit). I just wanted you to know that I have been following your posts since I heard about Katy. I have been and will continue praying for Katy and for you. I just had to tell you that I am consistantly amazed by your posts. You have such an amazing attitude! I find that checking for a new post is one of the first things I do each morning. While I started checking out of concern for your family, it’s become a bit selfish because you lift my spirits each day. The reason I say this is because if you are lifting the spirits of a complete stranger… I cannot imagine what you are doing for Katy. Thank you for sharing this journey, and add my name to the long list of people praying for Katy and your family.
Holly
Al,
Thank you for the update. May you get some peace, rest & a break so you can come back clear headed & ready to start again. I worry that this daily stress is going to wear you down. Praying for strength & energy for you. You are surrounded by people that are going to keep helping you guys with what ever you need.
I know Katy, with all her health knowledge, is so happy you are thinking of hormones, antibiotics, etc. That is exactly what she would be doing!
Thank you for sharing of Cody & family. We are praying for them at this unimaginable point in their lives.
With much love,
Laura
Thank God they found the problem, I can’t wait until you let us know when she will be in acute care!
Al – I know you have so much going on right now, but thank you so much for keeping us up-to-date on how Kary is doing. We serve an amazing God and I know that is where your strength and wisdom is coming from. Katy, you, your family and the doctors & nurses are in my prayers.
Praying for the Strickland family, May God rest the soul of Cody Strickland in Peace. JMJ
Al,
When do you get sleep? Thank you for keeping us updated on Katy. We will pray for the Strictland family. What a hard time for them. God will take care of Cody now.
How was your visit with the kids? How is the baby doing?We are keeping all of you in our prayers. Katy is so lucky to have you and the whole community of family and friends that are careing for all of you. Wish there was something Ben and I could do besides pray.
Is Katy aware of anything that has been going on? She seems to be sitated most of the time. This all sounds so much like what Ben went thru last summer. Everytime we got good news then bad always seem to come along next.He is doing well and we can only thank God and all the prayers of the faithful.
Blessings
Love
Claudia and Ben
I’m glad they found the source of the bleeding & got that stopped. Working in medicine they are probably going to keep her in antibiotics until all of the necrotic tissue from her limbs has been removed & her skin wounds start to clear. The last thing they would want to happen is a secondary infection or even a recurrance of the primary infection to set in while she is in a weakened condition. Sorry to be kinda a science geek. Praying for all of you guys daily.
Good job on keeping up with the medical details and questioning the doctors at each step. Doctors are great at what they do, but it never hurts to have another brain involved in the treatment process. And often the specialists don’t have as good a picture of the entire case as the caregiver does.
Hi Al, i am a distant cousin on the Driscoll side–also a nurse–have learned with the Wellnes Specialty i have with my RN that antibiotics wipe out good bacteria in the colon along with the bad, that effect can result in horrible c-diff infection–with diarrhea, fever,,–we used powdered probiotics the dr okayed for my mom when she got this condition after having colon cancer surgery..hope it will prevent a prob for katy when on lots of antibiotics,,if i can be of help contact me–i have a connection with a Nutritionist who taught the drs on the subject of how to use nutrtion as a medicine for all kinds of conditions, Debbie Barna–am on facebook, too
Hi Al,
I wanted to tell you again that you are AMAZING! You have a special gift of sharing your heart and I have a feeling although this whole thing has been terrible, you may just have found your new calling (in writing)!
To Claudia, I saw Michele Dykstra (Arielle’s caregiver) yesterday and she is doing Wonderful! She got an A+ on her check up and is doing well!
We will request prayers for Cody through the Pray for Katy Hayes page as you requested. I am sure this is so hard for the family and lifting them up too, is the least we can do.
Please take care, and rest yourself!
Blessings,
Paula
Keeping you and your family uppermost in our thoughts and prayers and we so much appreciate the updates. Just a quick note – you might want to take some more time to think about the hormone replacement issue – time to research it thoroughly and discuss with Katy as there are risks attached to taking Premarin, especially long term.
Look forward to the next update and good news with each one.