Please pray for my brother

[AngieDoogles]

We are all at the hospital still, but they moved us to pediatrics and out of the ER. Bobby got more medicine so he's sleeping again. I stole his laptop to write a quick update.

Mom and Bobby have to decide whether or not to do pulmonary surgery in the morning. They will go inside his chest, irritate his chest cavity so that it will harden and cause the lung will stick to it making it less likely to collapse again. They'll also staple all of the weak spots on his lung so that they won't allow air to escape anymore. Even with the surgery there is always a chance this could happen again, but without it, the likelihood is 50/50. The doctors are impatient and are pushing for a decision, but Bobby is scared and doesn't want to do it. We still don't know how long the tubes have to stay in. Mom thinks the surgery is the best option, but doesn't want to pressure him to do it.

It's scary and I hate seeing him in such excruciating pain... I really hope this never happens again.

Last night his blood pressure and heart rate bottomed out and dropped so low and so suddenly that 10 or so doctors and nurses rushed in like you see on TV calling for stats and tubes and all yelling over each other. Mom said it was one of the scariest things she's ever witnessed. Thank goodness they were able to stabilize him!

Anyway, I will update you when I know if we're doing the surgery in the morning or not.

[Mandy]

I can definatly understand Bobby's fear, poor kid is petrified.
Can they give him something that will relax him, so he wont worry so much?
That must be so terribly hard on your mom to see him this way.
Maybe the Doctors can have a gentle talk with him, and tell him that if he has it done, most probaby he wont get those terrible pains anymore?
Gosh Angie, i wish i had the right words to say, but really... i am praying for all of you.

[teri88]

Thanks for the update. I am praying that Bobby can have peace and know the right choice to make for himself.

[Janet]

I'm just going to keep checking for updates. If he knows the likelyhood of having the terrible pains again is much lower, maybe he won't be so frightened. Still keeping you all in my prayers.

[Tiramisu]

Angie, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! I don't know your brother's history or what's causing the collapses, but when I had my lung surgery, they pulled my ribs open on my back/side and pulled my lung out. Then, they scrapped the pleurisy from the outside and tacked my lung to my inner chest cavity so it doesn't collapse again. I had two big drain tubes coming out for about 12 days.

Thank GOD for the morphine button. I was in ICU for about 20 days.

[Shada]

My prayers are with you and your family.

{{HUG}}

[Dobie]

I had a spontaneous pneumo about 4 years ago - my problem was that every time they reduced the suction that was keeping the lung inflated, it would go down again - I ended up having a surgery that prevented the lung from deflating.

4 years later, I continue to have severe asthma symptoms ( I never had any issues before the pneumo.)

I'll continue to keep your family in my prayers.

[pope1982]

I know the emotions you must be overcome by, I am very close with my brother.
Glad to hear he has been able to come home and surgery is an option.
Your family is being thought of here in Baltimore as well Angie.

[AngieDoogles]

Thanks everyone! He looked much better and much more relaxed yesterday. I think being at home has really helped!