Summary

Well, we have decided to do one last post - kind of an overview of the journey we have taken:

Diagnosis:
Group A Streptococcus Pyogenes resulting in septic shock (organ failure due to an infection of the blood stream). This is sometimes called Toxic Shock Like Syndrome which differs slightly from the Toxic Shock Syndrome which occurs with excessive tampon use (Strep aureus strand).

Timeline:
May 23 5:55am - Marika was born.
May 24 10am - Julia and Marika were discharged.
May 28 7:30pm - Julia sent to the hospital by ambulance. Though she didn't have much of a fever, she had extreme abdominal pain, didn't eat much all day, and could barely walk. She was admitted into the ER, given an Ultrasound and CT scan, sent up to the Intensive Care unit for pre-op prep, and then to a surgery room for the D&C to clean out her uterus.
May 29 - June 9 - In the ICU fighting off the septic shock.
June 9 - 16 - In post-op recovery wing.
June 16 - Discharged but returned back to emerg 4 hours later due to a high temperature.
June 16 - June 24 - In post-op recovery wing.

Counts:
Number of days in the hospital: 30
Number of hospital rooms: 11
Max. number of IV pumps/meds at one time: 16
Amount of fluid Julia gained while her kidneys didn't work: 11 liters.
Number of IV attempts: too many!



Julia continues to improve and is probably at about 80-85% of her normal strength. Julia's mom and dad left this morning so today was our first time home without some help so we thought that was a good enough step to warrant our last post.

There are so many things that we are so thankful for that is hard to know where to begin, and where to end for that matter. I have been told that this blog has been very helpful and a blessing to a lot of people, but it has probably benefited me the most since it gave me chance to work through a lot of things. It was also really nice for Julia once she was conscious since I was printing it off each day and bringing it in for her to read.

We still don't know what the road ahead looks like. As Julia continues to get stronger the fear of having to return to the hospital has passed. However, some of the long term implications are still unknown so more then likely there will be some appointments in the future with an infection disease specialist.

We can't say thank-you enough to the many people that have prayed for us over the last two months. Your comments here have been a blessing to both of us, but especially to Julia. In some sense, her journey started later then mine and she is still working through all that has happened. However, I am overjoyed to be able to see her with Marika on a daily basis for the last three weeks. Marika continues to grow under the watchful eye of her mother, father, and Oma. She is so interactive with people and will take anyone on in a staring contest. Well what better way to sign off but with a few pictures:

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100:5