Well...I was told I needed to update the blog by a few people. So sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you hanging.

Brent is doing well. He has gone back to work for a couple days this week, and has worked from home since coming home from the hospital. We’ve been to various follow-up appointments and all seems to be going in the right direction. Our infectious disease Dr. discontinued the IV antibiotics, which truly surprised us. She’s very cautious with Brent and one time kept him on IV antibiotics for several months just to be absolutely sure the micro bacteria was gone. She is confident that identifying the bacteria so quickly, and removing the Hickman IV in his chest so quickly was key to his rapid recovery.

We continue to be amazed that he is even still alive. This one really threw us for a loop and has made us really think about things. As we’ve said many times, we are ever thankful for his life being spared yet once again. This one was definitely the second worse ‘event’ we’ve had in the past 13 years. The first being on January 12, 2006, at approximately 7:30pm, when his intestine ruptured, which led to three months in the hospitals. (Yes, the date and time is forever etched in my memories.)

Depending on his labs today, we hope to be able to actually get the trailer out for the first time next week. I’ve had our favorite spot in the Uintas reserved since January. Wish us luck! We truly need to get away and regroup. Our emotional health is pretty raw right now.

Thanks for your love and prayers and support.

We love you.

Lisa and Brent

I guess I never updated that Brent did in fact make it home on Friday night. It took all day to get released because hospital time is in some weird twilight zone of its own.

After previous hospitalizations due to sepsis Brent usually crashes super fast and then responds and recovers super fast. Enough so, that if this were a normal sepsis threat, he would have gone to church today and work tomorrow. This sepsis event was different. Brent was in full septic shock and none of us thought he would survive this one. When you’re told you should gather your family, reality hits like a brick wall. He survived and luckily this strain of infection was responsive to the antibiotic. He’s home, resting and trying to recover. We have a long way to go this time. Thankfully we have time.

Friday update:

Brent’s still holding tight in the hospital. I can’t really remember what I’ve posted and someone asked me this morning if he was still in the ICU. No, he’s out of the ICU just chillin in a normal room. He’s tired, weak, and sore from the fever and the restraints and the intubation. He’s eating, getting up for short walks, and currently watching the Tour de France. They pumped him full of so many fluids and now he can hardly move. Working on getting rid of all of that. The only things he’s currently hooked up to is his TPN and the IV antibiotics. They put a PICC line in yesterday but he still has the central line in his neck that they had to put in in the ICU. All in all he’s as good or better than expected. I guess that’s kind of a dumb statement since we didn’t expect him to make it this time. 🤷‍♀️

I know I always say this, but it is so very true each and every time we face a crisis. You, our support team, are what gets us through. We believe in the power of the Priesthood, the power of prayer, and miracles.

I read a post yesterday by a sweet young woman that we know. I am always questioning why we have been so blessed with so many miracles. Yes, we’ve gone through hell and back too many times to count, and yes, our ‘normal’ is definitely not normal. Why, when my friends and loved ones have lost their sweet precious babies, spouses, and faced other trials, are we the recipients of so many miracles, small and large? I wish I had an answer. I do NOT believe that we are more deserving, more worthy, or that Brent has a greater work here to do than any of those who have not survived. I do not believe that more people are praying for us, than were praying for them. I do NOT believe that God loves us more than anyone else. What I do believe is that He is aware of us. He does love each of us irregardless of our beliefs, lifestyle, sin, and faults. Each of us has a purpose to fulfill. We don’t know how long our time on earth will be. For some it has been cut oh so painfully short. Others live to be 100. I do not have the answer as to why some receive the miracle they are hoping for, and others may not. I do know that sometimes the miracle is not what we expected. The miracle may be comfort and peace granted to a broken heart, it may be that the miracle is not to be healed and the trial taken from us, but to see life restored and the acts of service and love performed all around us.

We are eternally grateful for Brent’s life being restored once again.

UPDATE: the dr just released him to go home today!!!!

Brent’s doing ok today. They are currently putting in a PICC line. He won’t be able to have another Hickman central line put in for quite awhile due to the massive infection. Not sure when he’ll be able to come home yet. Hoping this weekend sometime.

We rarely take people up on their offers to help since we can never really think of anything that we really need. We have such a huge support system and Priesthood blessings and food are never an issue. (HUGE thanks to all involved.)

I actually thought of something I could use help with. If anyone loves to do yard work in 95+ degrees, I could really use help getting the lawn mowed. Stupid, I know, but the kids aren’t around to do it and I know I just can’t this time. If anyone is able and willing, I would be forever grateful. You can use our mower/gas. It’s set kind of high because we don’t like it scalped super short. Anyways, let me know if anyone can do that. Thanks in advance. We love you.

Quick morning update. I have not been to the hospital yet, as I came home last night to sleep. Brent texted me and said he had a quiet night. That’s awesome. I had a really hard time leaving the hospital last night. It’s that whole ‘faith’ thing again. We’ve been burned so many times that I have a hard time accepting the positives and an easy time thinking something else is going to go wrong. 🤷‍♀️  We do, however, acknowledge the miracles and blessings. More, later, when I have more news.

Brent had a really good day yesterday and a good night last night. After being extubated he was a whole new person playing in a whole new ballgame. Losing the ventilator was huge for him. They also removed the femoral artery IV line. He is talking, chewing his ice, thanking everyone who cares for him, and sleeping. We believe he is out of the woods and on the trail to recovery. They started his TPN yesterday, and the only other thing he’s getting right now is the antibiotics.

The dr was just in and is starting him on food, and said he will transfer out of the ICU today. Wow! He continues to crash hard and fast, but also thankfully continues to respond to the antibiotics hard and fast. He goes from perfectly healthy (well, as healthy as he gets) to septic shock and back to normal so fast.

We are continually amazed at the amount of love and support we receive from near and far. We have no doubt that your support, strength, faith, prayers, fasting, good vibes, etc. mixed with the world of modern medicine are what kept him here once again. We feel it. Truly. Our kids have felt it also. Our sweet Violet was able to see her Papa yesterday and was assured that he is ok. She’s been worried. She has taken it upon herself to decorate his room with pictures.

Here’s hoping all goes well today and stays quiet. I know some of you appreciate specific things to pray for. Pray that the antibiotics continue to be effective. Pray that as we are moved to a normal floor that our anxiety levels will be kept in check and that the care given is adequate for his recovery, physically and mentally.

We love you.

Tuesday morning update:

2 Nephi 27:23
For behold, I am God; and I am a God of ​​​miracles​; and I will show ​​unto the ​​​world​ that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I ​​​work​ not among the children of men save it be ​​​according​ to their faith.

Brent had a quiet night.(sedated, but still). He is off all blood pressure meds and holding stable. He was just extubated and is so happy about that. White blood cells are down to 9.5 which is normal! Lactate is down to 3.5 which is much better than it's been. The blood cultures we did yesterday are negative so they're gonna start him on TPN (his IV nutrition) today. Moving in the right direction!
He is whispering, asking questions about what happened and how long he’s been here. He just got his arm restraints taken off and is happy to move them around.

I don’t know why we are continually the recipients of mighty miracles but we’ll take it and run. We feel the love and prayers offered on our behalf. I am sobbing at the thought of all that ha transpired thus far.

We love you.

Brent had a pretty good afternoon with great baby steps. I went home to take a nap and all sorts of activity occurred while I was gone. I decided maybe I should leave more often? 🤷‍♀️

We’ve had an amazing nurse today. She’s all about making him comfortable. She was able to reduce and eventually discontinue both blood pressure meds. His blood pressure thus far has stayed in a good range without the meds. If the trend continues he will be extubated tomorrow. She also reduced the sedation and he was able to communicate a little bit through hand motion and scribbling on paper.  The sedation is back up due to him being too agitated. He wanted to know what day it was, and also told them he was hot. I brought a small fan from home for him.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I feel them and he is evidence of them.

Morning update:

Brent had a pretty restless night even though he’s heavily sedated. I feel like I competed in an arm wrestling tournament trying to keep him from pulling out various tubes and wires. His fever stayed down through the night, so that’s good. His blood pressure is being kept up with medication and they are trying to wean him off of that to see if he can maintain it on his own. He will remain on the ventilator for now. So far he is not responding to the many IV antibiotics they are pumping into him and his nonexistent white count when we got here has jumped way high. They have confirmed that his central line was the source of the infection. He has had this one for almost three years with no problems.

All in all, I guess we are just watching and waiting. So far he has been treated well here despite our  hesitancy and anxiety about the level of competency and care offered at Utah Valley. I find myself watching every little thing and questioning every procedure or medication. I’ve earned that PTSD many times over. Just walking through the doors of this hospital brings on an anxiety attack like none other. I admit it is nice to not have to drive to Murray but it comes with a price.

Brent is not out of the woods. He’s deep into them. We are praying for a miracle, even though we have been the recipients of more than our share over the last 13 years. If you would like something specific to pray for, please pray that he can be calm and comfortable. Pray that his body will begin to fight this infection that has spread throughout his bloodstream. Pray that he can maintain a stable blood pressure on his own, as the medication doing it for him can be very damaging.

Everyone always asks how I’m doing. As well as expected. I’m tired, I’m freezing (I always freeze at the hospital even with blankets. I think it’s a combination of stress and fatigue.) I’m eating well thanks to many good friends. It’s always a reflective time for me. How’s my faith? How’s my hope? How’s my mental being? Does he know I’m here? Does he know I love him more than anything? Will we have more time together or is he finally so tired and worn out that he just can’t fight anymore? Does he feel the love and prayers of so many of our family and friends as I do? What’s he thinking while in this deep state of sedation? So many things run through my mind. Yes, I do know I should go home and sleep, but what if I miss something? What if he crashes again and I’m not here? For my own sanity I need to be here. And this is when I feel your prayers, your strength, your positive vibes. I truly have felt them. I feel a sense of calm that I know does not exist within myself. I feel strength beyond what my few minutes of sleep would logically grant me. Thank you. From the bottom of all of our hearts, thank you. Even if we never take you up on your offers of help, they are noted and appreciated. Thank you to the many friends that have come and just sat in the waiting room to show your love and support.

We are asking for no visitors except family and those we consider our family (and clergy) in the ICU. He is supposed to have as little stimulation as possible. I know Brent is loved by so many, but let’s let him rest and hopefully heal.

Here’s hoping for a good day.

So, it’s with a sad heart that I have to reactivate the blog. It’s a love/hate relationship. The blog allows me to reach everyone who wants news on Brent’s condition, but it’s only bad news that usually gets delivered.

Last night Brent started to not feel well and went in to lay down. His temp was normal. A half hour later it was creeping upwards. He crashed very quickly, which we are used to , but this was different. I know I could not drive him up to our hospital in Murray. If you’ve followed us or know us at all, you know the reasons for avoiding Utah Valley at all costs. Luckily we did not avoid it this time, as I am sure he would. It have made it up there alive. He requested an ambulance, which tells you how bad it was; A) he knew the ambulance would take him to Utah Valley, and B) he knew I could not get him there. By the time the paramedics arrived he was in full septic mode and fever of 104.5.  In the ER he was 105, and it got even higher after they transferred him to the ICU. His blood pressure kept tanking and he gave me a scare I shall never forget in this lifetime.

Brent is now in the ICU, on a ventilator, sedated, and fighting for his life. His central line was pulled, as that is the suspected cause, even though the cultures are not back yet. He’s on so many medications and hooked up to so many things. His fever has come down and blood pressure is getting a bit higher.  He is one sick guy. My heart aches for him, as I know there’s not much in the tank to fight this infection. It’s been a long time since he has been this bad. We are just watching and waiting to see if he pulls through.

This ones serious folks. If ever he needed your thoughts and prayers it is now. Please pray for his blood pressure to stabilize, his fever to stay down, and his body to have yet another fight left in him. We are praying for another miracle. I believe in miracles and I believe in the power of prayer.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

These are the machines keeping him alive. I am ever thankful for modern medicine.