T+109...Waiting for Steroids

Unfortunately, not much has changed here. We're all still waiting for Torie's kidneys to remember what they're supposed to be doing. She was started on steroids Saturday afternoon, but we really haven't seen much improvement yet. Dr. Orchard feels that it may take a few days. When Torie was admitted on Saturday, her weight was 14.7 kg. Yesterday morning she went up to 15.3 kg, and this evening she is up to 16 kg. That's almost 3 pounds of fluid. She is so swollen, and her skin is so tight, that she looks like a water balloon. She is on both Bumex and metolozone, and they increased the dose of both today. Her BUN and Creatnine continue to climb - 81 and 0.96 this morning - so they don't want to stress her kidney much more with higher diuretic doses. Her hemoglobin is staying at 7.9, which is good because they don't want to transfuse her until she is less than 7. Her kidneys can't handle the volume right now. Platelets are up to 203, though. That's the highest they've been since January! She doesn't have any energy or appetite. All she's done is sleep. Hopefully that's helping to heal her poor little puffy body.

Although we don't have a lot of good news right now, we are still grateful and fortunate to be where we are. I am especially thankful to have Kim and Pat, Joseph's parents, and Nicole and Todd, Wyatt's parents, to talk to. Joseph is weaning from steroids for Nephrotic Syndrome, and Wyatt had to deal with Hemolytic Anemia. I can't wait until we're part of the "Been There, Done That" group. We're also lucky to have so much support from our Ronald McDonald House family. Torie has had messages left on her door from Cowboy Danny and his family, and Baby Sydney and her family, and people at the House always ask how she's doing. And of course, all the happy thoughts and prayers from you. Thank you so much, and please keep them coming! Vic-Torie!