Medical Madness for Sure!

The last 24+ hours have been quite interesting.
Yesterday afternoon I got a call from a concerned and compassionate friend watching a football game, wondering if I was there in the crowd or parking lot watching the same game she was watching. (Anthony had a football game and I didn't listen well enough when he told me he had a game to know that he had a game. I was clueless.) Because I was clueless I was not there watching.

Here is what I didn't see - Anthony getting pushed backward landing on his head, neck, upper back and laying on the ground, being told to just stay there and not move. The ambulance was on it's way. I then tried to get a hold of Terry (who's phone drowned the other day in the pond). Just as I was walking out the door, the coach called to tell me about Anthony. I headed out the door, found (and told) Terry, and got to Anthony just as they loaded him in the ambulance.

They took him to Moses Lake Samaritan Hospital and I met him there. Among the other emergency room experiences (like the lady on the other side of the room needing a cigarette and not shutting up about it, and having dibs on the remote control with a not so nice show on the TV) they took x-rays and checked him out. The wait brought us news that there were no broken bones, but he was to wear a neck brace until he saw his doctor and had an MRI. After 3 1/2 hours on his back unable to move (half of that time being strapped to the board) he was free to go (still having his head and neck in a fixed position even while he slept).

He had a good night and this morning we got an appointment with Dr. Estrallada here at our clinic. Anthony was feeling pretty good this morning and the doctor determined that it was okay to leave the brace off, and that there was no need for an MRI. I was in agreement. Anthony does have a bit of a sore neck, but that is to be expected when it's been injured. He is not to play sports or PE or do anything that might re-injure it. We will let it heal for a few days and then get back with the doctor to decide when he can play again. I took Anthony up to the school after his appointment so he could get his things he left there yesterday and we decided he could stay for the rest of the day if he would be careful. Other than being just a bit stiff and sore, He is doing fine! YEAH!



Part of our confusion this morning was trying to get Terry to the doctor too. Terry had a terrible night (coughing, sore throat, and not sleeping) and couldn't talk this morning (laryngitis) and had a slight rise in temperature (not bad, but on it's way up). Both of his doctors were in Wenatchee today, so we headed to Wenatchee to see Dr. Smith. Terry had a chest x-ray and went to the lab, then saw the doctor. First thing we learned was that his temp was 104. AH! Then we learned the lab results:
WBC = 2.2
Neutrophils = .5 What? They were 1.0 Monday and because he wasn't feeling well doctor gave him a Neulasta shot to help bring that number up. Good thing he got one - what would that number have been if not??? It should have helped him - it's only Friday - but then really, is this surprise really a surprise?!?!?!
Hematocrit = 33.8
Platelets = 50
They swabbed his throat to check for strep. Then we spent a couple hours in the infusion room giving more blood, getting some Tylenol, some IV fluids including an IV antibiotic, and ending with another Neulasta shot. Terry was feeling slightly better by the time we left. We picked up another (stronger) oral medication for him and headed out. (Oh, the second blood draw was this from each lumen and also from his arm. They are testing to see what blood is "sick", to see if they know where it is coming from. We won't know anything for at least 72 hours.)

Terry headed to bed early. I hope that he can sleep and not have to get up tonight.

I wish we had as good of news about Terry as we do about Anthony, but we don't...maybe tomorrow.... We do think he has what he needs now to get better. At least Terry's news is better than his phone's news. It's a waterproof phone, but that does no good when it floats and/or sinks into no-man's land. By now it's surely dead.
Anyone trying to contact Terry by cell phone the last few days now understands why he hasn't answered your call. Maybe he will feel good enough to look for a phone Monday.

What will the next 24+ hours bring? I guess we'll see!