Today, after many tests, a CT, and liver biopsy, they found that my husband has an abscess on his liver. He has septicemia, and is now in the Intensive Care Unit. The blood cultures are not yet definitive, so they are not sure yet, exactly what bacteria they are fighting. They are draining the abscess. He is on IV fluids and antibiotics. Please keep him in your prayers.

Sepsis: Commonly called a "blood stream infection." The presence of bacteria (bacteremia) or other infectious organisms or their toxins in the blood (septicemia) or in other tissue of the body. Sepsis may be associated with clinical symptoms of systemic (bodywide) illness, such as fever, chills, malaise (generally feeling "rotten"), low blood pressure, and mental status changes. Sepsis can be a serious situation, a life threatening disease calling for urgent and comprehensive care.

By Tink on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 - 10:37 pm:

Oh Bea, I'm so sorry to hear this. You and Karl will be in my prayers and I truly hope God will guide the doctors in healing him. Please take care of yourself and know that we're all here thinking of you. Many {{{Hugs}}}.

By Crystal915 on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 12:55 am:

(((((Bea))))) I am so sorry to hear this. Your family will be in my thoughts, and I wish Karl a speedy recovery.

By Chelley on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 01:13 am:

(((HUGS)))I am so sorry to hear this,You and Karl and your family will be in my prayers and Thoughts.

By Colette on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 05:43 am:

Oh Bea, I am so very sorry. I will keep you and your husband in my thoughts.

By Cat on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 08:06 am:

You are Karl are both in my prayers, Bea. Hugs

By Bemerry84 on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 08:39 am:

Bea, you and Karl are both in my thoughts and prayers. Hope all turns out well.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 10:00 am:

Karl, your family and yourself are in my thoughts and prayers. Please, if you have the time, keep us posted. Poor Karl.. Storming heaven.. (((BEA)))

By Karen~admin on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 10:28 am:

Bea, I'm so sorry Karl is ill. You and your family are definitely in my prayers - sending out positive, healing vibes your way!!!!!!

By Dawnk777 on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 10:59 am:

{{{HUGS}}} Will keep you and Karl in my prayers.

By Jtsmom on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 01:18 pm:

I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

By Dandjmom on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 02:27 pm:

Bea, I'm sorry to hear this, please know that Karl, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 03:38 pm:

You are Karl are both in my thoughts and prayers!

By Kernkate on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 04:06 pm:

{{{Karl and Bea}}} I figured something was up when I haven't gotten an email from you. You guys are in my thoughts and prayers.

By Trina~moderator on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 05:49 pm:

(((HUGS))) and prayers!

By Bellajoe on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 08:10 pm:

I will say a prayer for Karl too Bea

By Debbie on Thursday, October 25, 2007 - 08:32 pm:

I am so sorry, Bea. My thoughts and prayers will be with you both. My Dad had an abscess on his brain last Spring. It is very scary stuff. But, if it helps any to know, he made a full recovery. I will be praying for the same thing for Karl.

By Tunnia on Friday, October 26, 2007 - 07:12 am:

I will pray for Karl and for you too Bea.

By Brandy on Friday, October 26, 2007 - 07:17 am:

Prayers for you and Karl...how are things today?

By Bea on Friday, October 26, 2007 - 08:47 am:

Thank you so much for all your prayers and good wishes. I think they are working. Karl seems to be finally improving. They gave him three units of blood Wednesday night, and his color was much improved yesterday. He spent most of the day sleeping, with no fever spikes, shakes and sweats, thank God. He still has fever, but it's staying below 103, thankfully. The doctor said his blood count is slowly improving, and his kidneys and lungs remain in good shape. They think they have isolated the pathogen to e-coli and strep. The infectious disease doctor told us that it will probably take four to six weeks of IV therapy to heal his liver.

They got him out of bed in the evening. He was sitting up and watching TV while he had dinner. He still is on liquids, but it's no longer clear. He enjoyed his ice cream last night.

Please hold your emails and calls right now. Between my days at the hospital and time home for a little sleep, I don't have time or energy to answer them individually. I promise to try to get an update off to you every day. Thank you again for all your prayers. I know they are working and we appreciate your care and concern so much. Please keep them coming.

By Nicki on Friday, October 26, 2007 - 11:39 am:

I will keep your husband in my prayers, Bea. You, too. I hope you'll be able to get some rest.

By Bea on Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 09:24 am:

Karl continues to improve. Yesterday they returned him to a regular room. We can't say enough about the ICU team at Riverside. They put in a PIC line so that he can continue with his IV after the hospital. He is eating solids again. Although his appetite hasn't returned, at least his choices have multiplied. His fever is down even more, hovering just above normal. They continue to pump antibiotics into him through the IV line.

As usual, Mr. Macho is thinking of all he needs to do at home when he is released. I suspect he will be shocked at how long it will take to recover from this, but it's good to see him thinking this way. He spoke to Nichole on the phone last night, and that seemed to perk him up quite a bit.

Thank you all yet again for your continued prayers and support. They have meant the world to us. I know that your prayers have made the difference, and I'm so grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your love and support.

By Debbie on Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 10:05 am:

Oh Bea, such great news. Yes, it will take a long time for him to fully recover. My Dad would get tired so easily when he first came home. And, he will have to be very careful with the PIC line. My Dad is just now getting back to "normal" and it has been 7 months since he had his brain abscess.

I will continue to keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. I am just so happy he is doing better. This is such scary stuff, and it comes on so quickly.

By Bea on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 01:21 pm:

Karl continues to improve, and may get his walking papers tomorrow. We have to meet with the Home Health Coordinator to arrange for his IV antibiotic treatments, which will continue for another 4 to 6 weeks. He is still very weak, but is sitting and walking now. Thanks again for all your prayers and good wishes. They have made all the difference. We are so very grateful for your love and support.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 - 02:32 pm:

I'm glad he continues to improve. Will keep both of you in my prayers, though.

By Bea on Thursday, November 1, 2007 - 10:53 am:

Karl is home. They let him go yesterday afternoon. About 5:00 p.m. his medications were delivered, and about 15 minutes later, the Home Health Care nurse came, and showed us how to use the pump, and administer his antibiotics. He wears the pump in a fanny pack 24/7, and it delivers the IV antibiotics every six hours. We have to change the bag of antibiotic, and flush his PICC line once a day. We also must flush the drain tube in his liver. It all went smoothly through last night. Hopefully it will continue to work well. He is able to go up and down the steps, (slowly and carefully). He was back on his computer within minutes of his arrival. ;o) Your thoughts, prayers, and support are what have gotten us this far. We can never thank you all enough.

By Enchens on Thursday, November 1, 2007 - 11:41 am:

Such good news, Bea! Glad to hear he is home. Still praying for his complete recovery.

By Tink on Thursday, November 1, 2007 - 11:47 am:

I'm so glad to hear that things are settling down for the two of you. Karl's continued recovery will remain in my prayers. Happy to hear he's safe at home!

By Karen~admin on Thursday, November 1, 2007 - 04:26 pm:

Bea, that is wonderful news. Hope he takes it relatively easy and recovers soon!!! I know you must be terribly relieved.

By Cat on Thursday, November 1, 2007 - 08:53 pm:

Bea, I'm so glad that he's home and doing so well! PTL! Hugs and continued prayers for his recovery and for you.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, November 2, 2007 - 07:57 am:

I'm glad he's back home!

By Nicki on Friday, November 2, 2007 - 12:45 pm:

Good news! Glad he's home.

By Tunnia on Saturday, November 3, 2007 - 10:15 am:

Great news, Bea! More prayers that Karl continues to steadily recover.