I received a phone call from my mom at about 2:30pm, informing me that my dad was being transported to the ER. He had gone unconscious while laying in bed at the rehab center. Dads blood pressure had dropped dangerously low.
He arrived to Swedish Hospital ER late in the afternoon and was taken in for emergency surgery by 7:30pm. He was out of surgery by 9:30pm and is now in the ICU.
We're pretty sure that the remaining infection in his right leg and hip had sent him into the beginning stages of Septic Shock.
The surgeons removed more infection, bone , muscle and also cleaned out pooling blood. Dad went from serious condition to stable condition. He still has his life and his leg, but he is still not out of the woods.
My Uncle and two close family friends where with my parents at the hospital. My sister, Scott and Makayla are all in Oregon and Luke and I are on Orcas. It's was difficult to be apart at a time like this. We are so grateful for telephones.
We're not certain what the doctors have concluded on dads conditon,but my sister and I got on line and did some research on Septic Shock and it seems to fit.
Definition of Sepsis:
Sepsis is the body's response to infection — an inflammatory process marked by an elevated heart rate, rapid breathing and abnormal temperature. Even a minor infection, such as strep throat or influenza, can trigger sepsis. It's usually not life-threatening. But complications of sepsis can cause serious illness and death.
Severe sepsis occurs when your natural immune response to an infection goes into overdrive, triggering widespread inflammation and blood clotting in tiny vessels throughout your body. One or more organs may stop working properly or fail. Sepsis can lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure (septic shock).
About 750,000 people in the United States get severe sepsis each year, and more than 200,000 people die of it. Those at increased risk include older adults, hospital and surgery patients, and people with impaired immune systems. Neonatal sepsis affects a small percentage of newborns, particularly low-birth-weight and premature infants.
Most commonly, bacterial infections lead to sepsis, but it may result from any type of infection — bacterial, viral, parasitic or fungal. Although sepsis often can't be prevented, getting prompt medical care for infections can reduce your risk.
We will do our best to provide updates about my dads condition as the days pass. We want to thank all of you for your prayers. Our family has been strengthened and encouraged by your love and hope for a brighter tomorrow. Thank you for walking through this storm with us. We trust that God is in control.
In Christ's Love and Care Always-
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