Heidi,

Matthew and I will send as many good vibes and positive thoughts as we can muster. I'm so sorry to hear this news. Stay strong and please don't hesitate to call if you want/need to talk.

How awful for you and your family, you can count on me sending out good thoughts and energy her way, and to you as well.

You are in my thoughts! May everything turn out for the best. >hug<

Big prayers and thoughts from this household. For your mom and you.

Health problems suck. So sorry to hear it. Good vibes and prayers headed her way.

I’m so sorry that you have to go through this. I worry about my own parents and their health a lot, and I can relate to what you must be feeling. I’ll also be sending thoughts, prayers, positive waves and all of the good vibes I can muster your way. I hope that everything works out.

Take care.

You and your family will most definitely be in my thoughts and prayers, Heidi.

My best thoughts that the penicillin does its job, and mom is home in time to talk about the Tonys with you.

((hugs))

Thank you all for your energy and support. My family appreciates it, and I truly do as well.

We found out this morning that the particular strain of bacteria is called pseudomonas. It is, apparently, the bacteria most likely to mutate and therefore not respond to antibiotics. They have changed her IV to a cocktail of more aggresive medicines, and hopefully that will help.

Her leg continues to improve, and oddly enough, her blood platelet count is as high as it's been since she developed her auto-immune disease. We think it's possible that her immune system has been distracted from misguidedly killing blood cells, trumped by the need to kill the infection.

Spirits are shaky, and she wants to get the heck out of there-- especially since the nurses around her don't always listen to her. Yesterday she asked repeatedly not to be moved from her bed to a chair until my father arrived to help (he had waited for another elevator.) They refused to listen, and injured her arthritic knee just as she told them they would. They're also messing up her diabetic meals, just as they usually do when she's in this hospital. Argh. I know people are human, but sometimes I think they forget they're dealing with people who have needs and questions and know a lot about what can and won't help them. Fortunately, she recognizes that she's where she needs to be, and she'll be vigilant about how she allows herself to be treated.

On the up-side, the earlier part of the trip was very lovely. Everyone genuinely liked Tom, and the feeling was mutual. We even got to cook for them a few times before Mom got sick. For as stressful and upsetting as the trip eventually became, our time with my family was very pleasant.

Thanks again for all of your support. It's helping me through this time.