3.17.16 update

Our last full day in here!  Yea!! We should be released tomorrow, probably in the afternoon.

A PICC line was placed in the right upper arm and it in the correct position.  An x-ray was taken to verify the placement.

The antibiotic, cefapime, is the correct one for the bug, acinetobacter, according to the study that has just concluded.  John has been on the drug since Monday, via a drip, and it requires a two week course.  So we will be doing the drug via the PICC line for another nine days.  Three times a day.  We received training so that we are now qualified to use the PICC line.  At some point in the next nine days we will see the infectious disease doctor who will determine what drug to take in pill form.  The bug is one that develops resistance so the antibiotics may change to keep ahead of the infection.

Medicare won't pay for the drug to be infused at home so our secondary insurance will pay most of it.  There will be some out of pocket expense for us.  Oddly enough, Medicare would pay if we were still inpatient.  Really makes no sense, since being hospitalized would cost much more. 

The good news is that John is now a 1A, the highest level on the transplant waiting list.  There are three other 1A patients needing blood type O hearts.  We did find out that the 1A status is definite for two weeks and then it could be challenged by UNOS.  The UWMC will defend John's status but it is possible that he could be reduced to a 1B once again.  We hope not.

We'll let you know when we are home.

Colleen and John