Journal entry by Jerika Cummings (Ward) —
Hello Team Cassie!
After the appointment on Wednesday, Cassie woke up with significant swelling around her eyes and parts of her face. After icing and resting on the way home, the swelling continued so they called Harborview to check in. They recommended some over the counter treatments for allergic reaction and to continue to keep an eye on it for the day as they traveled home.
By yesterday morning the swelling had not improved (she was looking like she did right after some of her surgeries even), so they decided to make an appointment with a PA in Eureka, who consulted with the Harborview Team. They weren't really sure what exactly was wrong, so Harborview wanted her to go to Kalispell ER to get a CT Scan before any treatment.
After calling ahead to the ER in Kalispell, they were brought back for CT and evaluation. They reviewed the scans and consulted with Harborview, and found that Cassie has a severe sinus infection that is progressing, causing the swelling and inflammation around her face and eyes. The ENT Dr. Kent Keele is caring for Cassie at Kalispell Regional Med Center, she will be receiving IV antibiotics and steroids to get the infection under control before she returns to my parents to recover. She stayed there last night and will stay again tonight and then possibly talk about being released tomorrow or sometime soon. They said it is a serious infection but was caught early enough that she is already improving. Since the infection seemed to be progressing they will continue the inpatient treatment until she is stable.
Dr. Keele is the doctor that treated her in Kalispell the night of the accident, he was amazed with how far Cassie has come post-accident!
Poor Cassie, a big bump in the road to recovery. We are glad everyone took the symptoms seriously and got treatment sooner rather then later. A good reminder of how fragile her health is still recovering from all these major surgeries, even though she has come so far. She is already feeling much better today, and knowing a diagnosis and treatment plan is always comforting.
Prayers, love, and happy thoughts for Cassie today please!
OXOX Jerika
After the appointment on Wednesday, Cassie woke up with significant swelling around her eyes and parts of her face. After icing and resting on the way home, the swelling continued so they called Harborview to check in. They recommended some over the counter treatments for allergic reaction and to continue to keep an eye on it for the day as they traveled home.
By yesterday morning the swelling had not improved (she was looking like she did right after some of her surgeries even), so they decided to make an appointment with a PA in Eureka, who consulted with the Harborview Team. They weren't really sure what exactly was wrong, so Harborview wanted her to go to Kalispell ER to get a CT Scan before any treatment.
After calling ahead to the ER in Kalispell, they were brought back for CT and evaluation. They reviewed the scans and consulted with Harborview, and found that Cassie has a severe sinus infection that is progressing, causing the swelling and inflammation around her face and eyes. The ENT Dr. Kent Keele is caring for Cassie at Kalispell Regional Med Center, she will be receiving IV antibiotics and steroids to get the infection under control before she returns to my parents to recover. She stayed there last night and will stay again tonight and then possibly talk about being released tomorrow or sometime soon. They said it is a serious infection but was caught early enough that she is already improving. Since the infection seemed to be progressing they will continue the inpatient treatment until she is stable.
Dr. Keele is the doctor that treated her in Kalispell the night of the accident, he was amazed with how far Cassie has come post-accident!
Poor Cassie, a big bump in the road to recovery. We are glad everyone took the symptoms seriously and got treatment sooner rather then later. A good reminder of how fragile her health is still recovering from all these major surgeries, even though she has come so far. She is already feeling much better today, and knowing a diagnosis and treatment plan is always comforting.
Prayers, love, and happy thoughts for Cassie today please!
OXOX Jerika
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