Marshall Jones’ MRSA Story

Marshall has had a low fever all day (

Joe Gorzycki and Paul Sandel were there with CB and I at the early visitation. Paul has been unbelievably sweet and emotional over this. It was nice to see them bright and early this morning.

At the 9:30 visit, Dr. Spencer said that they tried to take the ventilator out earlier this morning, but he breathing was still too shallow and rapid. He says he will try again in a couple of days. He has been on the ventilator now for 8 days.

They got an amazing 9.2 liters of fluid off of Marshall in dialysis today. I can finally tell a difference, he doesn’t look like the Michelin Man anymore. His toes looked like they were going to pop!

We have the nurse again today who won’t tell me anything. But, I have to say, she is taking extremely good care of Marshall. That is the important thing. I feel bad for being so angry with her yesterday.

Ryan came in today, it is a shame Marshall didn’t make it off of the ventilator yet. Maybe before Ryan leaves. My dad and brother got here today too.

Saw Dr. Lemos (inf. disease). Marshall has pnemonia in his right lower lung, and it appears a little more dense then before. They are putting Marshall on a second antibiotic, as he also is getting infection in his dialysis catheter (in his femoral artery) and the pic line in his neck. He said there is nothing unexpected about these infections, so I guess I won’t worry.

Dr. Schwartz (cardiologist) is doing Marshall’s endoscopy today. It showed a tiny bit of vegetation (bacteria) on one of his heart valves. He also said that there is no way that it is the source of the infection. His heart looks good, no murmurs. I just know there is something in his back that Dr. Lemos did not see, I just know it.

Dr. Schwartz said that antibiotics will kill the vegetation, and that it will take 6-12 months for it to dissolve. He is happy with the procedure.

Dr. Lemos also said that the culture of the pustules on his legs were not growing bacteria after 48 hours, which is good.

White blood count-6

Uncle Donald and Aunt Delores are back. Ryan and I went with them to the night visitation. Marshall was more awake than he had been earlier, I know that was a relief to Delores, who had seen Marshall before.

Marshall has an angry dark red rash forming between his legs and the underside of his forearms—>reaction to antibiotics? Marshall is allergic to penicillin.