Emily’s Smiles through Difficult Trials

Updates about the Emily Hollis Medulloblastoma Cancer Journey

In surgery

Filed under: — sho at 6:18 pm on Friday, January 26, 2007

Eddie called to say Emily was officially in surgery.  Should only take about 45 minutes and she will be able to return to her room and not have to go to PICU.  Drs decided to replace the drain and try to relocate it somewhat to see if it works better and are going to be able to use the same incision as earlier in the week.  It all came about very quickly, no time to notify everyone. Sorry!  By the time many of you read this, she should be back in her room resting comfortably.   Emily wasn’t upset but was just ready to get it over with!  Will post more when I know more.

Surgery to replace EVD drain line

Filed under: — sho at 5:13 pm on Friday, January 26, 2007
Stephanie, just a quick note,  This morning Emily had another CT scan done.  Drs. decided to do surgery and remove the EVD drain  line and replace with another.   It could be the line problem or pressure increase.    Emily has been vomiting today, and they want to try and place the drain line in a slightly different location, to see if this helps drain the  fluid.   We don’t know if her vomiting increase is due to a day and night without Zofran or pressure, but Emily is not complaining of headache pain, so maybe this is a good sign.  The CT did show a small amount of increase in the ventricals. The Surgeon said Emily has gone this far so lets give it another chance.  We are praying she will not have to have a permanent  shunt placed  in the next few weeks.  We will know more about that, after a week of evaluating this new EVD drain line.  Will give you more info later, they are her to take her to OR now. 

Hives during the night

Filed under: — sho at 3:07 am on Friday, January 26, 2007
Emily is now sleeping. We had another breakout of  hives  tonight and know its the   Vancomycin, and not the Zofran.    Vancomycin is every 8 hours  along with Rifamphin  2 times a day (think that’s the right way to say that).   Its a strong antibiotic that  increases the antibiotic Vancomycin’s ability to attack this type of Staph.  Emily has been taking Benedryl  for pre-med   throughout the day  and  afternoon , and she still  broke out in hives. She was maxed on Benedryl already for   pre- meds,  so we tried to give her 12 MLS of Aterax by mouth but it was so thick and way to much for her to try to hold down,  and of course it didn’t,  but she tried so hard.  We had 8 MLS (syringe) down, but that is a far as it got.  She did hold down the tylenol!!  Its hard on the nurses when orders have to be written for meds to be given through her lines, and they’re not alreadywritten,  It Takes so long to get them from pharmacy,  and you try to do what will work fast, especially when they are reacting to a med.    It really gets our BP up when we have to see her do these unnecessary large dosages that cause all that deep vomiting especially when she has to have all these platelets to keep the area in the brain from bleeding. All that heavy vomiting is not a good situation plus orders for Zofran were stopped  early because they thought this may be causing  the hives, and nothing was written in its place,  and she has not been on any nausea med today  other than benedryl (which was for  pre-med precautions), not her regular nausea med., we did not know this.  She said  “Well mommy at least I held down the tylenol”. She just tries so hard.    But on a great note, this afternoon (Thursday)  Emily  made progress,  Colored in her big Scooby Coloring book,  and was more alert.  We are just sooooooo amazed by her determination and strength!   The CT scan showed only small amont of blood in the ventricles.  Platelet count looks good as of today.   OK,  GOD IS SO GOOD!  He was right by Emily’s  side the  whole time.    A neurosurgeon,  just came in to check on her surgery sites,  was  able to ask if there could be any problems with all the vomiting, and  he said her platelet counts are fine,  and that tubing  they placed in surgery  will  drain any pressure buildup.  God just sent the answers  needed to be able to  get some  sleep .  Good thing God never sleeps!  He knew we were so worried,   He sent the neurosurgeon,  in at 2:30 am , so questions could be asked.  We are so greatful  He loves us so much.  
Dawn & Eddie
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