Monday, September 26, 2011

Another week

Martin remains in Intensive Care. His nurses are so kind. I have noticed a large number of them are American.
He is supposed to be on constant dialysis to help remove the ammonia in his blood stream, but the machine keeps clogging. The Doctors are talking about a liver biopsy this week and maybe putting in a trachaeostomy, but with his clotting levels so low that presents a problem of bleeding.
Let's hope this week is kinder to us.


I have no idea how I managed to put the photo here;0) When I have time I will go back and investigate.

I made this card, a very quick one I confess, and not my usual style for my niece's husband.
Sorry about the duck in the background..
Crafting with love.
Cally x

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Update and card

I really don't know where to start.
I had hoped, when I went to Addenbrooks yesterday morning, that there might be a slight improvement. Martin had been put on dialysis to help clear the ammonia from his bloodstream. The machine had clogged after 12 hours and it was not put back on until 4.30pm yesterday.
The ammonia levels had been reduced slightly.
The liver would normally pick up the ammonia in the bloodstream and change it into Urea {check you beauty products girls, lots of them contain Urea!!!} It is then returned to the bloodstream, where the kidneys pick it up, and, out it pops when we have a wee.
Martin was pre-comma when he was sedated and put onto a ventilator on Monday. They have tried to take him off the ventilator, but when they reduce sedation he becomes very agitated  and will not respond to simple instructions.
This is a card that I made at a Workshop with, I believe, my lovely friend Sharon. She will slap me if I an incorrect.
I gave it to my Brother-in Law, Tim, yesterday along with a pair of "Gold  Leaf" gardening gloves. For any gardeners out there - the gloves are fab. They are made of the softest leather, but, really protect your hands.

Crafting with love
Cally x

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Update

Martin was transferred to ICU early Monday morning. His condition had deteriorated over night. He was not responsive to painful stimuli's. 
It has been a very tiring couple of days.
The Doctors are constantly monitoring him.
Yesterday afternoon sedation was withdrawn to see if Martin could breath without assistance. He can, but he became so agitated and, seemingly, unable to understand simple requests. So a light sedation was administered to calm him. The breathing tube remains in place.
The team want to "sit down and talk to me" today. Good or bad?
Cally x

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Hospital visits

I would like to apologise for my lack of blogging.
I had hoped that, on my return from Crete, I would find Martin slightly improved.
The opposite has happened.
Sunday night he was taken back into HDU on the Transplant Ward.
He is very poorly.
The Doctors cannot find the source of the problem and it now affecting his brain as well. Today they are going to try a lumber puncture to see if there is any infection there. His clotting factors were too low to do it yesterday.
Cally x 

Sunday, September 4, 2011

A weeks R&R

I am not having much time to blog, what with my exciting life.
Tomorrow morning I shall be packing, then visiting Martin before I head North. Tuesday morning I am off to Chania in Crete with my Mother and sister for a much needed break.
Martin's little nuclear isotopes have found the source of his infection. It is behind his new stomach, where they suspected it was all the time.
Tomorrow Mr Butler decides whether to operate and remove the infection. It is hiding behind a lung as well, making Martin short of breath. The worry being that this could then start up other problems with the grafted stomach. Why is life never simple?





I wanted to share with you a card I made for my friends Janet and Ken {they love their garden}
It was both their Birthdays in January, but it was a rotten month for them. Ken suggested they celebrate an Half Birthday in July. So I made this card for them.
Crafting with love
Cally x

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Another Shrubbery Tale

Yesterday afternoon was spent, back in the shrubbery, arguing with the Pyracanthus. I have managed to fill 2 green bins, which the bin men kindly emptied today. So I shall be back out there tomorrow. 
Hopefully Martin is starting to feel a bit better. He had the naso-gastric tube removed a few days ago and he was able to eat a little.
He has had a trip to Nuclear Medicine this morning. I shall hear all the details this afternoon.

Here is a card I made, again, some while ago. Not much time for crafting at the mo.
But saying that, my good friend Marion and I have booked to go to a Little Claire Workshop in mid October. I am really looking forward to it.


You may have guessed, I am fond of LOTV
Crafting with love
Cally x