10-06-2003
Jake is in Abbott hospital again.  He has a MRSA  UTI.  He was admitted late last night.  He was very dehydrated and perked up considerably after IV hydration.  

 He also has two skin ulcers on his butt.  One of them is down to bone.  He needs to have surgery on  that ulcer.  Medically speaking, he is not doing too well right now.

 Jake has lost a lot of weight; probably weighs about 125# now.  So Medicaid has allowed him 3 cans of Boost every day. 

 We are trying to figure out how he will be able to access his laptop during the recovery stage of his surgery.  He must stay in bed for quite a while and if he could talk to friends via the internet it would help pass the time. 

It’s always something.

10-25-2003
Jake is starting to feel better.  He is finally eating (a little but it’s a start).   The Boost drink is a life-saver.

 The skin ulcers are a big problem.  The deep one especially.  It could be life-threatening for him.  He has been told different information from 2 physicians and one wound-care nurse.  The nurse comes to Jake’s apartment X2 daily and changes/repacks the wounds.  He is supposed to be in bed, off the wounds 21 hours a day; he may get into his wheelchair for 3 hours.

A vacuum-pump therapy has been suggested and Jake is in favor of that.  Terri and I like that idea too.  A second opinion is that surgery must be done.   And the wound-care nurse states that she is giving him about the same treatment that a vacuum-pump would do.  She is of the opinion that her care will heal the ulcers.  And you know what, I tend to agree with her because she is the expert in the field, one on one X2 daily. 

I miss Jake.  I miss his hugs.  Hopefully he will be home for the holidays.  I guess it depends on his medical status.  I don’t think he could handle the 4-5 hour drive right now.

11-08-2003
Jake’s ulcers have become infected – MRSA again.  The surgery was scheduled for Dec 1^st but now the docs think it will be sooner.  Jake is frustrated by their lack of commitment but I think the docs really don’t know how to proceed.  I hope they make a decision soon.  Docs are afraid that this will lead to sepsis, and they mentioned limb  amputation which totally freaked Jake out. 

He’s 20 years old.  An awful lot is coming down on him.  I have urged him to find a church near his apartment.  He asked me (nicely) how he could do that when he’s in bed about 21 hours out of the day.  I mentioned his third appendage – that thing that hangs out of his ear almost every waking moment… his phone J.

Thank you for your prayers – they are especially needed now.