MetaChat - Update on my stepdaughter's condition:

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01 July 2007

Update on my stepdaughter's condition: She's still in the hospital.→[More:] Still in a medically induced coma. She's not making any real progress against the ARDS, but she's not declining either, right now. My heart feels like it's in suspended animation, only there is no unfeeling bliss... simply prolonged pain and anxiety. I went to the counseling service at school last Friday and just broke down. I've another appointment this Friday.

She gave us a huge scare last Tuesday night. Her nurse phoned us saying, "Come to the hospital, NOW." We nearly lost her. Her saturation levels were falling and her fever was rising. All we could do is cry by her bedside. Her mother flew in from Wisconsin, Wednesday.

If my stepdaughter survives this, there will be months of rehabilitation. She's on 100 percent oxygen more often than not, which will damage her. If her lungs don't begin to function better soon, she won't survive.

Please keep my family in your thoughts. Thanks.

post by: Luminous Phenomena at: 14:03 | 27 comments

you and your family are in my thoughts.. and hugs to you.

posted by By the Grace of God 01 July | 14:09

Luminous, I'm so sorry to hear this. I missed your first post about your stepdaughter. I am truly sorry, and I'm wishing for her recovery and good health. You and your daughter are in my thoughts.

posted by LoriFLA 01 July | 14:15

Be good to yourself, Luminous. I am thinking every good thought in your and her direction that I can.

posted by Sil 01 July | 14:23

I am very sorry. Remember to take care of yourself in all this.

posted by essexjan 01 July | 14:29

Luminous, I'm so sorry. My thoughts are with you.

posted by small_ruminant 01 July | 14:33

:-( So sorry to hear it! My thoughts and prayers are with you!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 01 July | 14:41

best wishes, cry as much and as often as you need. ARDS is incredibly distressing, and worse seeing it in kids. But you know kids are resilient. The lungs are more plastic than adults so don't give up hope. Ever.

posted by Wilder 01 July | 14:47

((((((LP)))))

posted by LunaticFringe 01 July | 15:29

I'm so sorry. I somehow missed the first post too. I can't even begin to imagine how hard this is for all of you.

posted by iconomy 01 July | 15:32

I'm another person who missed the earlier post. I'm so sorry. Courage and strength to your whole family, plus hugs particularly for you.

posted by tangerine 01 July | 15:51

Candles have been lit for you and your daughter over here.

posted by dabitch 01 July | 16:01

Here's the earlier post. I, too, missed it the first time.

I am so sorry you are having to go thru this.

Prayers from here as well as hugs.

Keep us posted...

posted by bunnyfire 01 July | 16:30

I'm so sorry. I'm keeping your family in my thoughts.

posted by Fuzzbean 01 July | 16:40

I'm so sorry.

but she's not declining either, right now.

Good.

What Wilder said -- NEVER give up hope.

posted by jason's_planet 01 July | 17:20

I'm with everyone.
Never give up hope.
Sometimes the body keeps the will to live longer than the mind.
And when she awakens, she will be in a place where she can't opt out of life.
My wishes are with you.

posted by wendell 01 July | 17:29

I'm keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

posted by deborah 01 July | 17:39

LP, please let us know if we can do anything more than just keep good thoughts for you. I can't even imagine what your family must be going through.

posted by occhiblu 01 July | 18:48

My god. Hugs and strength to you, LP.

posted by BoringPostcards 01 July | 19:02

(((lp)))

posted by rainbaby 01 July | 19:05

Really sorry to hear about the whole thing, LP. Hang in there.

posted by chewatadistance 01 July | 19:33

Thanks for taking the time to let us know what's going on LP. I had been wondering how things were going. I hope things take a turn for the better soon. You've been through too much.

posted by jrossi4r 01 July | 20:02

Hugs, LP. You and your family are in my thoughts.

posted by smich 01 July | 20:09

I'm horrible at knowing what to say in situations like this, but wanted to add my voice to what everyone else has been saying. (((lp)))

posted by mike9322 01 July | 20:21

I'm so sorry, LP.

posted by brujita 01 July | 22:41

LP, don't know anything to say except sorry, it can seem so unforgiving... The suspended animation you and your family are going through are horrible. Thoughts are with you all. Hugs.

posted by mightshould 02 July | 07:09

Thank you for taking the time to give us an update, especially when you're under such stress. I'll be thinking of you and yours, sending my best thoughts your way.

The counseling sessions sound like one very good step in taking care of yourself at a difficult time. Good for you. (And what's good for you is good for your family.)

posted by Elsa 02 July | 08:37

I'm keeping her in my thoughts.

posted by theora55 02 July | 12:50

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