A Very Close Call

 Monday afternoon, September 27, Mark was awake, ate well, watched a movie, and was better than he had been in weeks. Tuesday morning, he was dizzy, nauseous, and vomiting.  Around 10 am, he passed out on his way to the bathroom. Fortunately, his sister helped block his fall. He came to enough for our son to help him into a chair, but soon he was totally unresponsive, his pupils were large and staring straight ahead, and his jaw was slack. It was awful for our son, who thought he was watching his father die. By the time the EMT arrived, Mark's blood pressure was around 60/40. He was strapped onto a stretcher and taken to the ambulance. Neither Meridian Park, the closest hospital, nor Providence Portland, where we typically go, were accepting patients into ER, as they were totally full. St. Vincent was the next option, and fortunately, they were open. We all thought that this was the end. If EMT had not arrived promptly, it could have been. 

Labs were done that indicated infection in his body, which had gone into sepsis shock. Other signs indicated cholangitis, an infection in the biliary tree caused by a partial blockage. That would account for his jaundice, nausea, vomiting, and pain in his upper abdomen. An MRI was ordered, which needed to be done yesterday, but the overwhelmed staff could not get him in until this morning. The MRI is essential to determine if an ERCP can be done to clear the blockage, He is still on vasopressors to keep his blood pressure from dropping, but it's now a low dose. He must be weaned off of them before he can leave the ICU. 

Visitors are not permitted in the hospital, but thankfully his mind is clear so he can communicate with us via phone, and he actually sounds quite good. The MRI is being done now, so we just wait to hear what will happen next. Please, please keep those amazing, beautiful prayers going. We believe he will pull through again, which is incredible. Yesterday, my prayer was to keep him alive until I could be with him in the ER. I was amazed that he was responsive when I arrived and so very thankful. Your love and support have sustained us! Thank-you!!!