Thursday, November 19, 2009
We went to see the neurologist at UAMS yesterday afternoon, Dr. Lee Archer. He specializes in treatment of multiple sclerosis. Dr. Archer will be treating Laura with daily injections of a medicine called copaxone. The injections will be similar to a person getting daily insulin injections. A visiting nurse will be coming to our house to teach us how to give the injections. Laura wasn't very happy to hear about this.
She continues to go to physical, occupational and speech therapy and will through the middle of December. She is getting stronger but her speech continues to be the most difficult issue at this time.
Thank you again for all of the prayers said on Laura's behalf.
Miles and Trela
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Laura's time in the hospital lasted 47 days. We came home last Tuesday and she's so happy to be there. Trela has been taking Laura to outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy. Her strength and stamina are gradually improving. Her appetite is very good, almost too good, which may be the result of the steroids.
This Wednesday we have our first visit with the neurologist who specializes in multiple sclerosis. We're anxious to get started with the treatment plan he recommends.
Laura's continued frustration (and ours) is her inability to put words together. She can say certain words, but putting them into a sentence is another matter. She's learning how to communicate through pictures in a book that was made for her through speech therapy.
Thank you, again, for all the love, prayers and support.
Our love,
Miles and Trela
Tuesday, November 10
Laura is home as of this afternoon!!!
Miles & Trela
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Day 42
Laura is doing pretty well today. She had a scan done this morning to check out her liver, spleen, etc. We're going to try and get a pass for Saturday to take Laura home for a few hours. On Monday they're still planning to do the MRI, and then a meeting on Tuesday with the medical team to discuss Laura's progress and if there's any news of a discharge date.
She has made great progress since September 25. Her biggest issue continues to be her lack of speech.
We have an appointment scheduled in a couple of weeks with Dr. Archer, the Neurologist at UAMS who specializes in Multiple Sclerosis. We're looking forward to getting Laura on a treatment plan.
Thanks to each of you for all the love, support and prayers,
Miles and Trela
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Day 34
Laura had a good day today. She went outside for the first time with the physical therapist. She walked with assistance. The pneumonia is better. She's now standing up in the shower with help. She is saying a few more words. Tonight she had a visit from a therapy dog named Priscilla. Laura loved it.
They took out her feeding tube today and right now she's not hooked up to anything. They plan to re-evaluate her pneumonia on Monday to see if she's capable of enduring another MRI.
Miles and Trela
Monday, October 26
Laura said a few more words today. She is really trying to talk but mostly gets out sounds that aren't words... her own language.
It has been determined that Laura's infection is pneumonia, so they're treating her with an antibiotic. She's still in strict isolation.
She has shown some agitation today and even cried some. She worked very hard in speech, occupational and physical therapy. Hopefully she'll sleep well tonight.
Miles & Trela
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Today is Laura's 30th day in the hospital. She has had a setback due to some type of infection. They are treating her with tamaflu (spelling?) and some kind of antibiotic. She also has a stomach issue.
Laura is trying to talk. She can say a handful of simple words but most of what she says are just mumbled sounds. Not much change otherwise.
Miles and Trela
Friday, October 23, 2009
Day 29. Laura was to have an MRI and an audiology test yesterday but it was called off due to too much "crud" in her chest/lungs. She has finally started to talk. She can say a few simple words (Mom, Dad, David) but most of what she says are just sounds. She is trying hard. She is still very weak, especially on her right side and there's very little balance. Laura smiles like an angel and can laugh. She is a tough young lady and she'll bounce back from this as much as she can.
Miles & Trela
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Today is Laura's 27th day in the hospital. She's getting a combination of physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. She is eating slowly, and as soon as she's able to drink and eat enough, they'll take out her feeding tube.
She continues to be very weak, especially on her right side and she's not conversing.
Word from Slidell, Louisiana is that our niece, Lisa, is improving in the hospital.
Miles and Trela
Monday, October 19, 2009
Today is Laura's 25th day in the hospital. Great news... she has been moved out of Intermediate Care to the Rehab Floor. Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy will be intensified. She's still not talking other than whispering a word or two a day. She's very weak and she'll need a great deal of therapy in the days ahead.
Miles & Trela
Sunday, October 15, 2009
First of all, we invite you to join us in expressing our deepest love and prayers to our niece and her husband, Lisa and Andrew Peffley, in Slidell, Louisiana. Lisa is the daughter of Trela's sister and brother-in-law, Tammi and Kim Reynaud. Lisa went into labor and their baby, Landon, died Friday. He weighed six pounds. Due to extensive hemorrhaging, Lisa had surgery and will hospitalized for at least a week. We don't understand why things happen as they do, but we do know that God is with the Pelphrey's in the most personal, loving and caring way. Funeral services for little Landon will be planned following Lisa's release from the hospital.
Today is Laura's 24 day in the hospital... 15 were spent in ICU and then to the step-down unit. She is making slow progress. She passed the swallowing test and can now eat soft foods and can have liquids. She's not eating much and they continue to give her calories through the feeding tube.
Laura is still not conversing, but she communicates through her eyes, the expressions on her face and her warm and beautiful smile. Her movement is a little better, however, she is extremely weak. We hope that she can be moved to the Rehab section of the hospital this week.
Thank you again for your love, support and prayers, and especially to Lisa, Andrew and Landon during this extremely painful and difficult time in their lives.
Miles and Trela
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Today is Laura's 21st day in the hospital and she remains in the "Step-down" unit. Laura's still on the feeding tube. She is showing signs of better strength and response. It's very slow progress but it's progress!
She's still not talking and remains weaker on the right side of her body. They shaved her head completely the other day so that her hair will grow back evenly. They got her a very stylish pink hat that looks good on her. Every now and then she'll give a little bit of a smile.
Miles and Trela Cook
Tuesday, October 13
Yesterday Laura tried to get out of bed, and in a separate incident, she pulled out her tubes. Not good to do either of the two, but it is very good to see the fight in her. She continues to stare into space when her eyes are open. No talking other than a couple of words.
Today is Laura's 19th day in the hospital. The physical therapist got her out of bed for the first time and put her in a wheel chair. The CT scan from yesterday looked improved, so she's taking baby steps in the right direction.
Miles and Trela
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Today is Laura's 17th day in the hospital. She was released from ICU yesterday and was moved to the Intermediate Care Unit. They took out her EVD (External Ventricle Drain). She has a rather large C-shaped scar on the right side of her head from the brain biopsy.
She is moving but still not speaking, saying only a word or so here and there. The results of her biopsy shows that she has what's called Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis.
Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a neurological disorder characterized by inflammation of the brain and spinal cord caused by damage to the myelin sheath. The myelin sheath is the fatty covering, which acts as an insulator, on nerve fibers in the brain.
It's a very serious disorder that is very similar to Multiple Sclerosis. As Laura recovers from the acute part of her illness and get stronger, they'll start her on a long-term treatment.
We would greatly appreciate prayers for her recovery (physical strength and for her speech to return) and for the long haul concerning her disorder. Thank you for your support and prayers as it truly lifts us every day.
Miles & Trela
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Today is Laura's 14th day in the Intensive Care Unit.
Laura is more and more aware of things, though she's still somewhat sedated. We love seeing her eyes and hearing her make sounds, but her desire and attempts to pull out all of her tubes and get out of bed is pretty exhausting, both for her and for us. Laura actually said, "yep" this morning, but her other attempts to talk have been unsuccessful. She is moving the right side of her body a little.
She had a CT Scan about noon and no results so far. If things look better, they may possibly try to remove the EVD (external ventricle drain) from her head. That will be one step closer to being moved out of ICU.
Results of the brain biopsy will hopefully come in next week.
Miles and Trela
Wednesday, October 7
Day 13
Yesterday was a good day of progress as they removed the ventilator, so Laura is now breathing on her own. She is more alert. Not able to talk right now. She is moving her left side quite a bit, very little movement on the right side. She has been trying to get up and out of bed. We like seeing this "fight" in her. The major results of her brain biopsy will be known next week.
Miles & Trela
Tuesday, October 6
Today is the 12th day Laura has been in ICU. They did a CT Scan today but no results so far. The big news is they took her off the ventilator and so far she's breathing pretty well on her own. Her face is very swollen from yesterday's surgery. Results from the biopsy will not be available until next week.
Miles & Trela
Monday, October 3
Laura's surgery this morning went as expected, and she returned to her room in ICU shortly after 1pm. The doctors successfully obtained a biopsy of her brain cells and removed a small piece of skull to lessen pressure. The focus for prayer right now is for no bleeding or clotting around the surgical site.
Thank you,
Barb Jones on behalf of
Trela & Miles
Friday, October 2
Today is Laura's eighth day in the Intensive Care Unit. Not much change since her 2nd MRI which was done a few days ago. The swelling in her brain is definitely greater than it was when the first MRI was done a week ago. She is still being followed by a great team of doctors. So far all of the studies from the spinal fluid have come back negative. If there's not any definitive finding of the cause of this by the weekend, they're talking about possibly doing a brain biopsy on Monday. She continues to be on the ventilator and feeding tube under sedation.
Love,
Miles
Day 6
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
An MRI was done late last night and Laura has increased swelling in her brain since the last MRI was done on Friday before she was taken to ICU. The team of doctors is evaluating the next steps to be taken. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors to make the best decisions and for Laura's strength and health.
September 28, 2009, Day 4
Laura was very restless today and the sedative needed to be changed because she was trying to pull on her tubes. She is resting better. They will do another MRI tomorrow morning to see how things have progressed. They continue to analyze the spinal fluid and are doing numerous tests to see if they can determine the cause of this. It's amazing to see how many physicians are involved in her case. Arkansas Children's Hospital is a wonderful place. We are taking turns staying in the room with Laura so that one person doesn't get worn out. We appreciate so much everyone's support and prayers.
Miles
Sunday, September 27, Miles reports that Laura is heavily sedated and is being kept in a coma; is in critical condition but is stable. Just like last year, the doctors are chasing down what viral, bacterial or fungal agents may be causing the swelling of her brain, but nonetheless the task now is for her body to rest and heal. Miles and Trela, with last year's experience, are going into this with far more knowledge and appreciation for what is ahead in this battle. Trela's sister has come from Lafayette, Louisianna, and the three of them are taking turns being present. Visitors are discouraged at this point. Prayers and words of support are welcome.
Friday, September 25, Miles and Trela took Laura to the ER at Children's Hospital with symptoms similar to last year's illness. Tests were scheduled and she was admitted to ICU in isolation.
There is in information at this time, only request for prayers. When informaton is available it will be posted. Thank you for your love and prayers.