Posted on 04/25/2002 4:39:33 PM PDT by barker
Update on my brother-in-law, Charlie, who has been in the hospital almost 2 weeks with necrotizing fasciitis, commonly called the flesh eating disease. Original thread is hereAfter some improvement last week the news over the weekend and early this week was not nearly as good. They found a soft spot in his lower are where they thought the disease may have spread and a spot on the bone itself where they also thought the disease was spreading. They had already removed some of the damaged tissue down to the bone. His heartbeat has been irregular and when they tried to let him breathe on his own he couldn't. Breathing was shallow and blood pressure and heart rate shot up.They decided on a tracheotomy before the tubes in his throat damaged his vocal cords.
Now for the GOOD NEWS:
The soft place they had found in his arm was a small deposit of fat which they removed. Closer examination of the spot on the bone showed it was a place where it was healing and not the disease spreading as they thought. A plastic surgeon decided there is just enough tissue left around the bone in his elbow for skin grafts to take. They plan on starting them next week if all continues to go well. He will have limited use of his arm after all the skin grafts but not like before because of the damage done and parts of the muscle removed. Tne doctors are talking about a year of skin grafts and physical therapy for his arm.
The incisions they had made different places to check the spread of the disease look clean and any redness that was around them before is gone. Barring any complications the doctors believe he will get through this. His irregular heart beat is now normal after the tubes were removed. They will insert a feeding tube in his stomach today. The doctors believe, barring any complications, the disease is no longer life threatning.
Did get to spend a couple of hours alone with my sister on Tuesday. She described the last 11 days as a rollercoaster ride through hell. It looks like God has heard all the prayers and is smiling down on Charlie. He has also been blessed with very good doctors
Prayers ongoing ..... for continued healing for Charlie, for wisdom for the medical staff who are treating him, for peace and rest and calm for your sister and all your family.
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Also, would you let us know when/if you find out what caused his illness?
So far they don't know. Could have been a spider bite. Or the doctors said he could have carried this Strep A bacteria for years without it doing anything. Something simple like a bump or even a small cut could set it off under the right conditions. He did have a slight injury to his elbow and that may have set it off. They're just not sure yet and may never know.
Sounds like a good prognosis. Praying for a speedy recovery.
Leni
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