Rachel Messner

Rachel started feeling really sick about 3 weeks ago (with fatigue, shortness of breath, foggy thinking, etc.) so Michael (Rachel's husband) took her into the ER.  They took different blood tests which indicated all types of blood (white, red, and platelets) were low and they were going to possibly look at a bone marrow biopsy.  Then her blood numbers started coming up, so the doctors starting thinking more that this was "infection driven" issue.  

Then last Sunday, Rachel collapsed/fell at home due to dizziness.   They took her to the hospital the next day and admitted her into Mason City Hospital with very low blood pressure (88/44) and started with every scan you can possibly think of (MRIs, more blood draws, etc.).  The labs were sent off to Mayo Clinic.    Finally, on Wednesday, a doctor came in with news that they found an infection in her heart valve and floating pieces of infection on the brain scan on the MRI (all part of the same infection issue).     Mason City hospital was not comfortable trying to save her valve at Mason City.    She would need to go to Des Moines for surgery.   So, the transfer process started.   

On Thursday (yesterday), they transported her to Mercy One Hospital in Des Moines, where she had an ok night, but she did need oxygen and she was given a blood transfusion.

This morning (Friday), they started reviewing all her veins/arteries to ensure she had no blood clots.  An infectious disease doctor came in to tell us that they have diagnosed and discovered that she has a rare infection called Haemophilus and that all the antibiotics that they were giving her were not the right ones  (they were more broad).  They stopped all those wrong antibiotics and kept her on one that is pretty effective in treating this infection (THANK THE LORD).   They are also growing a culture of her bacteria as an outside test to ensure that this antibiotic is in fact working for her. 

The current plan is to allow the antibiotic to work through the weekend (unless she declines) and to have surgery 1st thing on Monday morning 6/28/2021 to work on her heart valve.  They will go into to try to cut out the infection and save the valve (if they cannot, then they will have to replace it).     

She is pretty weak and was having more shortness of breath so they have her in the cardiac critical care unit at the ICU at Mercy One.  She does have a nurse that is only dedicated to her and one other patient so she is getting well taken care of. 

Please continue to pray that she stays stable, the antibiotic works to knock back/take care of this infection, and that that they can save her heart valve.   Above all, we do pray for His perfect peace, His perfect will, and wisdom for all the amazing doctors and nurses that have been with her this past three weeks and past days.  

The family appreciates all the prayers, texts, and emails.

We will update you here going forward!   The Messner/Massner Family!