On Wednesday June 20th, Chuck wasn't feeling well and went to the hospital in Albany, MO. Albany determined that Chuck had a blood clot and needed to go to a bigger facility for evaluation. Chuck was taken by ambulance to Liberty Hospital about 6:00 that evening. Shortly after he got there, Liberty began medication to breakdown the clot. As the clot started to break up, piece went to his heart and lungs causing a traumatic event. After about 30 minutes of CPR, doctors and nurses were able to get Chuck's heart beating and him breathing on his own again.
By noon on Thursday, it was decided that Chuck should be transferred to KU Med for further treatment. KU's first course was to enter a line allowing for medication to administered localized to the remaining clots in his lungs. We need those clots to eliminated in short order to take the strain off his heart. As the day wore on, that treatment had to be paused as acidity levels rose exacerbating organ strain. Chuck began to receive dialysis around 10:00 pm that evening. The dialysis was successful, dropping acidity levels into a healthier range by early Friday, however the strain from the previous night's event and remaining blood clots heart and lungs was proving problematic for Chuck. KU determined that EMCO is Chuck's best chance. The procedure took place around noon Friday to start that process. It was successful and Chuck currently has a machine taking care of blood flow, allowing his heart to rest and recover.
Chuck is still a very sick kid, but it is very positive that ECMO and dialysis are allowing his organs to get better. For the next few days, machines and medicine are taking care of blood flow, breathing,dialysis, and keeping his blood pressure stable. After everything that's happened talking about days ahead and recovery instead of hours is promising.
No visitors are allowed besides immediate family at this time with Chuck's risk of infection and need for rest.
We'll make sure to get updates out here regularly.
If you'd like, leave him a little message here and I'll read it to him. Anxious to start getting him better and back to all of his loved ones - both family and friends, Diesel, and country roads.
Chuck loved animals very, very much. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Albany Animal Shelter. Checks can be sent to Albany City Hall with Chuck/Animal Shelter in the memo line.
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