LeRoy Jarchow

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I'm reopenning LeRoy's CaringBridge site today to keep everyone updated. The outpouring of support that came through Facebook and texts/calls has been amazing. I can't keep up with everything, so I am going to give you information here.


LeRoy has been sick since last fall. He was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia (which is a nerve condition affecting his face.) Further testing led some doctors to think his lymphoma was back, so they did a spinal tap. No cancer showed up there, but he had complications from the spinal tap, headaches, leg pain. Trying to manage the nerve pain at one point sent him to the hosptial because the drugs made his sodium get critically low. More tests, more doctors, they said he had a Schwanoma , which is a tumor that is sitting on this nerve in his face. Next was a referral to a surgeon. 


Well, then the pandemic started and LeRoy's sickness was deemed "non-critical" and he couldn't be seen. 


Last week he started to develop difficulty swallowing. Of course, since he wasn't exhibiting signs of Covid-19, it seemed that he would have to deal with it. Finally on Monday morning the doctors said we should bring him to Regions. I had to drop him off at the door of the Emergency room and wait. About 3 hours in, they said they were going to keep him overnight and schedule an endoscopy. So, I left him there.


Tuesday morning they did the endoscopy and didn't find anything conclusive. The next test they ordered was a brain scan. Last night, while they were trying to keep him comfortable, LeRoy became very disoriented. Something is not working right in his head. The nurses tried to have him talk to me several times during the night to calm him down, but it didn't seem to help. Today he is much more disoriented and confused. He is exhibiting behaviors that are not LeRoy at all and it's scary. He, in fact, told me this morning that he is not LeRoy. Everyone that knows him, knows that he wouldn't hurt anyone, but the staff at the hospital doesn't know him and he had to be restrained and sedated. 


This is scary stuff. He doesn't have Covid, he is sick and they need to figure out what is going on. People are asking about cards and calls, those are wonderful, but I wouldn't do any of that right now. Pray for LeRoy and the doctors and nurses. Send him positive thoughts and prayers. When I can, I will share the messages that have been left on Facebook and on here with him.  


LeRoy has been through a lot already. I can't help but wonder what part of the "plan" this can possibly be. He is always one of the first ones to be there for many of us. Thanks for being there for him. 


He's in the best place right now, with staff that can try to help. I will keep you updated. Thanks for loving LeRoy/Bunny!