Update on Luisa

Hello everyone. I'm back in Ireland. We just beat the really dreadful snow in the UK and flew back from Gatwick airport as the snow was just starting. Here it's not too bad except for the ice which is treacherous. We have the heating going at full belt and are keeping warm in the minus temperatures. Gatwick airport was closed yesterday!

Luisa

K stayed in Sheffield overnight last night because of the deep snow. She put this update on her blog just now, so I've copied it for you all:

Yesterday was both glorious and dreadful. Her skin is totally back to normal, all swelling gone, yay. She looks more like herself again, and although she still has septicaemia, it's finally turning around, whoop! The wounds are being treated well and are going to heal, just take time.

Basically all news was positive except that she still struggled to breathe, really badly. So, another scan was arranged, of her chest again but this time particularly to look for any other problem than the chest infection.

Bingo! There was massive fluid gathering at the base of her lungs, no wonder she couldn't inflate her lungs! The answer was a really dreadful but truly miraculous big needle shoved between her ribs, to drain the fluid. Scanner was brought in and the surgeon did his job there and then, poor Lu was roaring with pain but then.. Omg it was amazing.

The fluid came rushing out and within minutes of that I realized the sound of panting and gasping we'd so got used to this past fortnight... had gone. I looked at Lu and smiled and said, do you realise you're not struggling to breathe? She raised heh eyebrows and smiled saying, without gasping... you're right!

Awhile later, morphine relieved and smiling, she slept properly for the first time. Still on a facemask but with her chest rising and falling almost normally. I laughed out loud and woke her accidentally when she snored! Bearing in mind she's not been able to blow her nose, cough, hold anything for lack of breath.. to hear her snore was beautiful and amazing!

Well I managed to type all that out so not bad. Sorry for the delay. Last night I just hurt all over, hardly surprising.

Off into the snow again soon in order to get there again today, and I'm really hopeful that she'll be feeling lots better now she can breathe!

-doffs cap-
DK

So apart from the nastly needle, it's all looking so much better. Phew! It's been a rocky road, up and down with her temperature, the infection, her scar and white blood cells. Now I can truly say I think Lu is really over the worst.

Thank you to everyone who has been thinking and praying for Lu, K and Rachel and me too. It's really meant a massive amount to us all. I hope to be able to catch up with some blogs soon, please forgive me for my lack of visits.

Much love to all

Gina
xxxx