"Looks like its getting close"

Cameron, called me yesterday and said that someone came into his room at Sacred Heart Hospital and said, "So, your leaving soon?" Cameron said that they thought he was getting ready to discharge that day. So he called me and said, "Looks like its getting close." He has been a patient, patient.

I am so fantastically excited to deliver this message to all of you. Family and caring friends, God gave the devil 2 black eyes and through Dr. Obermiller completely killed the two bacterial infections in his blood!!!!!!!! I'll give you a moment to shout for joy and scream hallelujah.

He is spending his days at Sacred Heart walking with physical therapy and doing exercises for strengthening. He is referred for extensive rehab at St. Lukes following his Sacred Heart discharge at Cam's request to return to work. All of the swelling in his arms and hands has decreased completely to normal size due to the blood clots resolving. He is able to use his left hand and fingers more to do things because of this. His nieces Star and Lily come over to play most days and Uncle Cameron helps give them clues when playing several games of hangman. He also teaches them about various things such as telling Star about all of the planets and the characteristics of each. Lily has decorated his hospital room with her toys. He has been feeling perky enough to take some phone calls now.

His admission on January 1st began with treating the two blood infections and finding out what caused them. In Cali they talked back and forth about an alternate site for dialysis and assumed the central line was the cause of infection. They were treating him for one bacteria with Zyvox. They never removed the central line. They kept using it for dialysis and talked about a femoral vein/groin catheter. Finally the vascular surgeon placed a graft in his right arm to attempt dialysis via another route. By the time he came home for the holidays his blood was growing 2 bacterial infections. While reviewing Cameron's extensive medical records and history in Cali-thanks to Curtis' hard work going and harassing every facility for Cam's records prior to coming to Idaho, Dr. Obermiller removed the central line, inserted a femoral groin catheter for dialysis, and cultured the tip of the catheter for bacteria. He had an extensive procedure to check his heart and the replacement valve. Cam's heart is within normal limits and no abnormalities to the valves. The catheter tip also did not grow any bacteria. Although there is the possibility that the bacteria could have been further up the line that was not cultured, Dr. Obermiller was intent on finding the source for infection. After a head scan and barium swallow showed up normal, Mom said, "We may never find out where the infection came from and Dr. Obermiller may have to leave it in God's hands."

However, one view showed a hazy appearance surrounding Cam's transplanted kidney. Dr. Obermiller said that it can mean inflammation of the kidney. He told Cameron he has had this happen before and it is caused by further rejection of the transplant kidney. If it is inflammation, then it can be infected. He advised Cam he would like to take it out. A usually very compliant patient, Cam spoke up in a loud voice looking at him with question, "Take out the kidney!" Dr. Obermiller reassured Cam he has done this before and in doing so he could be taken off the prednisone completely. Dr. Obermiller quickly realized how Cam felt about this and offered a biopsy to ensure reason for removal. Cam was ok with this.

There are 2 procedures needed to get Cam closer to discharge:
1)Incision and drainage of all of the fluid above the graft site, in order to prevent infection or damage to the graft and ensure use.
2)Kidney biopsy to check for inflammation or infection.
3)Needle aspiration of fluid below left lower lobe/lung. He has had this drained once thus far while staying at Sacred Heart and Cam said, "they removed 2 quarts of fluid!" This was cultured and negative for bacteria, also.
All of these procedures require an above 50 platelet count. Cam's has been 47. He has had low platelet counts on and off while in Cali. Dr. Obermiller has been working with a hematologist to find out why. He has a clotting problem not a bleeding problem. He questions whether it is over the years from Lupus or damage to the bone marrow. He had the pharmacy check his medications and one of them was discontinued due to the possible cause of lowering platelet counts. Dr. Obermiller was able to talk a radiologist into finally 2 of the 3 procedures today and Cam seems uplifted since they have been done. The excluded procedure was the kidney biopsy.

So, if you are in the Spokane, Washington area despite the weather and road conditions, Cameron would love to visit with you.
Much hope, health and happiness to you all and thank you for your much needed prayers, Cameron's sister-Susan