March 26, 2002 (Tuesday)

Day 31

Today began around 6:30. My stomach was hurting so I tried to go back to sleep but couldn't. Rhonda and I left around 9:00 for the hospital. Jared was pretty much the same. It was hard to see him like that.

Dr. May came by with news that we didn't want to hear. He said Jared has a 50/50 chance of making it. His liver has been damaged by the VOD and will probably end up in the severe range. Dr. May then said Jared's kidneys were having a hard time so they were going to start dialysis to help him. I was upset and tried to hold back my tears. William kept asking questions so I finally just turned my head and waited for Dr. May to leave. He finally left and we talked about what the doctor had said.

William went out to the waiting area and started sending everyone back. My mom, Rhonda, Wanda, Michelle. They all came in to see Jared. My mom, Selena, Della and the babies had just arrived at the hospital. Selena and Della came back to see Jared too. It was really hard for them. It was getting close to the end of visiting hours so we decided to get something to eat. Rhonda said she would stay with Jared. Adam and I went with Wanda, Michelle, Tasha and Kim to the Chinese restaurant. We had lunch and then went back to the hospital.

I went back in to see Jared and then waited in the lobby while they placed his line for dialysis. They finally came out and said they were finished. Wanda, Michelle, Kim and Tasha left for home. Rhonda, Adam and I went upstairs. William was already upstairs. Momma said she would stay in the waiting area.

I talked with Angela and filled her in on the latest. I fell asleep soon after and slept until 5:00 or so. William had left around 4:00 and went back to Jared's room. I got up and went downstairs. Momma, Selena, Della and the babies had left to get a hotel room and William was with Jared. I went back to see Jared and read the Bible to him for a while.

Our boys

We left Jared's room at 6:30 for the next nurses shift change. We all went to the lobby to wait for Momma, the girls, and babies so we could go eat. It was close to 8:00 when we left to go eat. We had a good meal and then came back to the hospital. Della and Selena took the babies back to the hotel. We all took turns visiting with Jared.

The nurse had checked his blood levels and said that it looked like the dialysis was helping his kidneys. William asked her what she would be concerned about. She said Jared's liver and the fact that he was still so sleepy and unresponsive. We left at 10:30 and went upstairs. Momma, Rhonda and I went to the Hope Lodge. We talked and played Yahtzee. It is now 1:45 and time for bed.

*Lord, I thank you for this day. I thank you that Jared is in your hands. I pray that you'll touch him. Have your way. In Jesus name. Amen.     _____________________________________________________________

If you're read Jared's Story for a while, you can see that things have changed at the hospital.  We've went from being in the same room with Jared 24/7 to now having to leave him during nurses shift changes, etc.We are no longer his primary caregivers. He is now taken care of by the PICU nurses.

We've also had family and friends visiting.  The PICU only allows a few visitors at a time so everyone has to take turns visiting with Jared.

Jared was unresponsive the first few days in PICU. We talked to him and loved on him and supported him as always.  He is our hero.