Leif's condition update by Mom 6/2/11PDT
Posted: Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:54 pm
2 June 2011 Beijing China 4:30 pm 2 June 1:30 AM PDT
Leif up date
Hi all from sunny Beijing with bluer skies than I have ever seen here.
Moon and Leif's friends continue to be present in unimaginable numbers. At MN there were 3 new visitors at home, and calls asking if we couldn't do something to ease the restrictions so more people could visit Leif in the hospital. Moon is almost never alone. Friends manage to be here for her at all hours, keeping her spirits up and helping with everything.
No good news on Leif's condition.
The American Embassy says Moon is eligible to apply for an Immigrant Visa, Not what she wanted since her home is here, but still good news since if she has one she can at least visit with us, altho I'm uncertain of all the restrictions. A visitor visa was denied in the past and she still has a couple of weeks left on her business visa. She will fill out the application today. - Our days are full with just dealing with all that needs to be done and sitting and talking and singing to Leif.
I had a long discussion with his doctor today and his doctor feels Leif should be kept alive as long as possible even though he agrees there is no chance for any brain function. It is the Chinese way to cling to the body. Moon feels the same. Since Leif is young and strong this could go on for a long time.
In my American way of thinking the body is a vessel for the soul and death is a transition of some sort for the soul or spirit. I won't argue exactly what that is like, only that it is. I, nor do I believe any of my family, would want to be kept “alive “ like this. What is “living”? Because of this difference in belief dealing with medical issues is emotionally exhausting.
We discovered a reason Leif might have had the accident. There is a surveillance video of him in front a a Bar he liked, where Lance also went when he visited in the past. He was eating skewers from the street vendors and drinking beer. At one point he puts his hand on someone's arm, and the fellow turns around and socks him in the face – knocking him down out of the video. His head may well have hit something because then folks are eventually helping him to his feet. After this he is again walking around in the video trying to talk to people, but he seems to be staggering slightly. This may account for the black eye and nose injury he has. He was not staggering before this incident and whether that had any connection to why he had the accident is. And will probably remain unknown.
For those of you of a medical bent, Leif has pneumonia and a rash over his torso and arms which appeared yesterday when they stopped the dexamethasone. It is splotchy, red brown, about 3-10 mm in size, flat and blanches. It looks like a vasculitis to me, altho I thought it was an allergic reaction yesterday when it appeared suddenly. It does not look like folliculitis, which is their diagnosis. He has been intubated 14 days and needs a tracheostomy, but the surgeons are afraid to do it because his platelets are too low at 48,0000, and they are uncertain about stabilizing his broken neck during the procedure -something that is done routinely in the US. Current meds are imipenim, clindamycin, linezolid, fluconazole, interleukin -11, Oxygen at just under 50% and 7mm PEEP. I think they will restart the dexamethasone tomorrow.
More news as it happens.
MOM
Leif up date
Hi all from sunny Beijing with bluer skies than I have ever seen here.
Moon and Leif's friends continue to be present in unimaginable numbers. At MN there were 3 new visitors at home, and calls asking if we couldn't do something to ease the restrictions so more people could visit Leif in the hospital. Moon is almost never alone. Friends manage to be here for her at all hours, keeping her spirits up and helping with everything.
No good news on Leif's condition.
The American Embassy says Moon is eligible to apply for an Immigrant Visa, Not what she wanted since her home is here, but still good news since if she has one she can at least visit with us, altho I'm uncertain of all the restrictions. A visitor visa was denied in the past and she still has a couple of weeks left on her business visa. She will fill out the application today. - Our days are full with just dealing with all that needs to be done and sitting and talking and singing to Leif.
I had a long discussion with his doctor today and his doctor feels Leif should be kept alive as long as possible even though he agrees there is no chance for any brain function. It is the Chinese way to cling to the body. Moon feels the same. Since Leif is young and strong this could go on for a long time.
In my American way of thinking the body is a vessel for the soul and death is a transition of some sort for the soul or spirit. I won't argue exactly what that is like, only that it is. I, nor do I believe any of my family, would want to be kept “alive “ like this. What is “living”? Because of this difference in belief dealing with medical issues is emotionally exhausting.
We discovered a reason Leif might have had the accident. There is a surveillance video of him in front a a Bar he liked, where Lance also went when he visited in the past. He was eating skewers from the street vendors and drinking beer. At one point he puts his hand on someone's arm, and the fellow turns around and socks him in the face – knocking him down out of the video. His head may well have hit something because then folks are eventually helping him to his feet. After this he is again walking around in the video trying to talk to people, but he seems to be staggering slightly. This may account for the black eye and nose injury he has. He was not staggering before this incident and whether that had any connection to why he had the accident is. And will probably remain unknown.
For those of you of a medical bent, Leif has pneumonia and a rash over his torso and arms which appeared yesterday when they stopped the dexamethasone. It is splotchy, red brown, about 3-10 mm in size, flat and blanches. It looks like a vasculitis to me, altho I thought it was an allergic reaction yesterday when it appeared suddenly. It does not look like folliculitis, which is their diagnosis. He has been intubated 14 days and needs a tracheostomy, but the surgeons are afraid to do it because his platelets are too low at 48,0000, and they are uncertain about stabilizing his broken neck during the procedure -something that is done routinely in the US. Current meds are imipenim, clindamycin, linezolid, fluconazole, interleukin -11, Oxygen at just under 50% and 7mm PEEP. I think they will restart the dexamethasone tomorrow.
More news as it happens.
MOM