October 11 Afternoon Update #2

Hello People,

We just got to talk to the resident. He was very nice and helpful. He said that right now dad has too much ammonia in his system which they think is contributing to his lethargy. They are giving him three doses of medicine of a drug that combats the excess ammonia that they are hoping brings his levels down. They already gave him a dose and they will give him another at 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. They think this will help him to become more responsive. When they can wake him up, he usually answers correctly. He recognizes people when he is awake. He is still being fed by a feeding tube through his nose, but the resident says that the food may be like a foreign substance to him hence the reason he is not absorbing it and taking in nutrition. Mom signed the papers to have them put in a feeding tube surgically and the doctor thought that this would help him take in nutrition better.

The doctor says our body naturally swallows as a reflex and since his "swallower" is not working right now, they are giving him some medicine to dry up his mucus so it does not just get stuck in there. He is not complaining of pain today, but he is not staying awake for any length of time either. We are scared about his condition but the doctor seems to think once the ammonia issue is taken care of that we will start seeing progress. He thinks tomorrow will be a better day. My friends are still here just hanging out in the waiting room, they made us laugh all night and took our minds off of what was happening some. I just feel bad for dad and hope and pray that he will get better soon. The doctor says we just have to get over a hump and then he thinks we will be okay. The nurse, Kasia, is very nice and helpful and so is the night nurse, Michele.

Please keep praying for him. Mom and I are trying to rest and eat, so don't worry about us. I will be staying here until next weekend but then I have to go back to work. Thank you so much for your calls and emails. We are so grateful to have so much support and we are thankful for your prayers! Thanks too for the scriptures you have sent, they have helped us so much. We have to remember that God is in control and only wants good things for dad. We have to leave at 6:45 but then can come back from 8:00 to 9:00 so I will have more news before bedtime.

Keep up the prayers, my family appreciates them more than you will ever know!!!!!

Love,
Cejae & family