On Monday an infection was found in Lauren’s ankle. She went into surgery on Wednesday. The surgery went well, some hardware was removed and the infected area cleaned out. Sadly though the infection is in her bone which will require daily intravenous antibiotics for at least six weeks. Yesterday she underwent a procedure to receive a Picc Line which is a long term IV catheter that starts in her upper arm and extends to her Superior Vena Cava. 

Prior to being released from Craig Lauren had an infection in her right ankle that was diagnosed as cellulitis.  Initially, the infectious disease doctor wanted to treat this with intravenous antibiotics. However, the medical professionals could not find a good vein to insert either a typical IV or even a midline IV which requires the use of an ultrasound machine. All of her veins were hardened with scar tissue from the many IVs and blood draws that she endured over the course of her medical stay. So instead of intravenous antibiotics she was prescribed oral antibiotics which, at the time,  seemed to do the trick. Sadly they did not. The infection continued to grow and eventually found it’s way onto the hardware in her ankle and then into her bone.

This is her third infection. First, the serious case of sepsis which required surgery then the cellulitis and now the bone infection which required surgery and an aggressive antibiotics regimen. Toxins and bacteria have become enemy number one. They’re sneaky and destructive and I’m praying that these nasty little buggers be eliminated and never cause my daughter another day’s agony.

The good news is she can still move into her dorm on Tuesday (with a few more complications). She’s still moving forward and, if she chooses, will become the best Physcian’s Assistant the world over.