update on Lissa
Hey all,
So, I just got off the phone with Melissa's mom. She's still in the hospital and not doing better, but the running of tests has helped some. She has C-Diff (Clostridium Difficile...you can google it for a full definition). Basically her good and bad bacteria are killing each other off and the bad regenerates quicker than the good. It causes major colon pain and severe infection. This is also highly contagious, so if you visit her you need to gown up with gloves and all. Apparently you can hug and kiss her as long as you are sure to wash your hands and de-gown as you leave the room. This is mostly to prevent the disease from spreading. Her mom figured its pretty safe if you're healthy, but you still need to gown up. Anyway, she's on a couple different types of medicine to help with the C-Diff and on fluids to rehydrate her since she can't keep stuff down still. Her diarrhea is better (from her UC and the c-diff) already, so that's a plus. Also, they've given her demerol for some of the pain (she had severe stomach pains today).
Anyway, her mom said cards, flowers, whatever are most welcome and I'll put the information below. You can also call the room, just don't keep her on the phone for too long since she's still pretty weak and tired. Boone County Hospital also has a thing where you can send e-cards and they print them off to take them to her in the room.
If you want to visit her, there are a few guidelines her mom asked:
1) DO NOT go if you are even the slightest, itty-bittiest sick or such. Melissa can't handle being exposed to ANY germs since her immune system is so shot.
2) Don't stay too long. I mean, don't overwhelm her because she's still weak and tired. If she seems like she wants you to stay, do, but just be careful and watch out for how tired she is. (Also, it might not hurt to offer to stay while her parents go out for a bite of lunch, dinner, or anything since they are there all the time).
3) Remember to put the gown and gloves on when visiting and take it all off b4 you leave the room and wash your hands.
They're not sure how long she'll be in the hospital. It will be at least through Friday, maybe through the weekend. If you want to cheer her up at all, she'd always welcome the phone calls and love. Anything to cheer up our girl! Down below is the location and the room number.
Mail things to:
Melissa Hutsel
c/o Boone Hospital Center
1600 E. Broadway
Columbia MO 65201
Her room number is #2025.
If you mail things, they recommend you use the patient's home address as a return address for easy forwarding if she is already checked out.
You can call her between 7am and 11pm, but I wouldn't call too early or late. Her parents usually leave her around 9:30pm. I don't know the phone number, but you could look it up online. The website also has a place for you to send the eCards if you wish.
I think that is all the information I have. I know its alot, but I promised to keep you updated. Let me know if you have other questions and I'll try to answer them. I'm still planning on going to see her Friday.
Keep praying and I'll keep you updated!
So, I just got off the phone with Melissa's mom. She's still in the hospital and not doing better, but the running of tests has helped some. She has C-Diff (Clostridium Difficile...you can google it for a full definition). Basically her good and bad bacteria are killing each other off and the bad regenerates quicker than the good. It causes major colon pain and severe infection. This is also highly contagious, so if you visit her you need to gown up with gloves and all. Apparently you can hug and kiss her as long as you are sure to wash your hands and de-gown as you leave the room. This is mostly to prevent the disease from spreading. Her mom figured its pretty safe if you're healthy, but you still need to gown up. Anyway, she's on a couple different types of medicine to help with the C-Diff and on fluids to rehydrate her since she can't keep stuff down still. Her diarrhea is better (from her UC and the c-diff) already, so that's a plus. Also, they've given her demerol for some of the pain (she had severe stomach pains today).
Anyway, her mom said cards, flowers, whatever are most welcome and I'll put the information below. You can also call the room, just don't keep her on the phone for too long since she's still pretty weak and tired. Boone County Hospital also has a thing where you can send e-cards and they print them off to take them to her in the room.
If you want to visit her, there are a few guidelines her mom asked:
1) DO NOT go if you are even the slightest, itty-bittiest sick or such. Melissa can't handle being exposed to ANY germs since her immune system is so shot.
2) Don't stay too long. I mean, don't overwhelm her because she's still weak and tired. If she seems like she wants you to stay, do, but just be careful and watch out for how tired she is. (Also, it might not hurt to offer to stay while her parents go out for a bite of lunch, dinner, or anything since they are there all the time).
3) Remember to put the gown and gloves on when visiting and take it all off b4 you leave the room and wash your hands.
They're not sure how long she'll be in the hospital. It will be at least through Friday, maybe through the weekend. If you want to cheer her up at all, she'd always welcome the phone calls and love. Anything to cheer up our girl! Down below is the location and the room number.
Mail things to:
Melissa Hutsel
c/o Boone Hospital Center
1600 E. Broadway
Columbia MO 65201
Her room number is #2025.
If you mail things, they recommend you use the patient's home address as a return address for easy forwarding if she is already checked out.
You can call her between 7am and 11pm, but I wouldn't call too early or late. Her parents usually leave her around 9:30pm. I don't know the phone number, but you could look it up online. The website also has a place for you to send the eCards if you wish.
I think that is all the information I have. I know its alot, but I promised to keep you updated. Let me know if you have other questions and I'll try to answer them. I'm still planning on going to see her Friday.
Keep praying and I'll keep you updated!