Good News

Dr. McDonald thinks Jon is on the uphill. His levels have stayed stable. The infection that he has had is staphylococcus aureus. It is the most common staph infection. However, it is very difficult to treat. He also talked to us last night saying the infection was in his blood and urine, meaning it was spreading and because of that they need to check his heart. So Jon is going in for an echocardiogram this morning to make sure everything is fine there. He also said they will need to check the spine as well to make sure it hasn't spread there. But, the bacteria cultures they ran yesterday came back negative-- meaning he is fighting the infection off slowly but surely. It is very resistant to some antibiotics, so they are switching him to an oral antibiotic today, that works better, they need to make sure they keep it away. They will also give him a medication to prevent pneumonia-- before they thought he may have it, they were inconclusive-- but as of right now, he doesn't. I also talked to the respiratory therapist this morning when they were doing his treatment. Everytime they have done the treatment, they have said his lungs sound great. Jon has been saying he feels like he only has half his lung capacity right now. I asked them why he would be having such a hard time breathing if his lungs sound fine. They said that he is having anxiety and that is why he can't breathe. Everything he is going through has put a lot of stress on his body and so he is experiencing a lot of anxiety. The breathing treatments are to try to get him to relax. As long as his levels remain stable through today and tomorrow, he may be able to go home tomorrow night or Saturday at the latest. But like I said, it is all contigent on making sure his levels stay stable for a few days.