Brent had a busy day with lots of Dr's coming in. He was able to go down for a bronchoscope, which is where they put him out, numb the throat, go into the lungs with a camera, flush the lungs, biopsy whatever they get out, and send him back. He says his lungs actually feel better after being washed. 

GI doc came in. He doesn't foresee any surgical needs. Yay. 

So, still just a lot of hurry up and wait going on here. We will see what the bronchoscope shows and go from there. 

Usually, when Brent is on high dose IV antibiotics his Crohn's is super quiet, so here's hoping it stays quiet. 

The lung problems he's had over the past few years have been worrisome. We are looking into getting a small portable oxygen concentrator for when we go to the mountains at 10.000 ft elevation and he gets low sats. The mountains are our escape from reality and we are not willing to give that part of our mental health up. 

While we've been here this time, we are witnessing first hand how stretched and critically in trouble our health care system really is. The healthcare providers are exhausted, and stretched so thin due to Dr's and nurses leaving the profession due to burnout. The facilities are suffering due to lack of maintenance due to lack of workers. Supplies are always in shortage. We've been dealing with so many drug and supply shortages for the past few years. It's quite scary when you can't get the drugs you need, or even the supplies to administer them. It's absolutely nuts and so frustrating. Brent relies on an IV for 11 hours every night for his TPN (nutrition.) There was a time when the tubing for the IV pumps was not available. He was having to reuse tubing, and only doing his TPN every other night due to the shortage of tubing. It is insane. I pray that this crazy world we are living in right now can recover. Peoples lives are on the line, and many have lost the battle. 

STEPS OFF SOAPBOX . . . 

The nurses we have had this time have been primo for the most part. We are always so grateful for the Dr's and nurses, and the care they do give. Now, if they could just figure out what is going on so we can go home, that would be awesome. We have mountains to climb. . .

OH!!!!! Our sweet grandbaby Lilly came home from the NICU today. Her big sister and brother adore her, but keep waking her up. Ha. I had to fight Joseph to hold her for a minute. Ha. They are all pretty enamored with her. She is so snuggly and cute. 

Joseph & Lilly. I think he's a bit smitten.

Erin, Violet, Marshall and Lillian

Baby Lilly

this is Brent's "I'm bored and want to go home" face.