We friends, a long story is getting longer, which is what usually happens when Mom is hospitalized. 

Antibiotics were changed prematurely from the big gun, broad spectrum ones and doing so allowed the infection to thrive again. Her White Blood Cell count skyrocketed and they've spent the last few days getting that back under control. 

Following Mom’s sub total colectomy in June of 2021, there is only a small amount of colon left. Even with the illeostomy bag, Mom feels the need to go to the bathroom, which shouldn't be happening. Unfortunately, a CT scan shows that there is an impaction. This morning, the medical team performed a colonoscopy. It confirmed a huge, "concrete like" impaction was present in her rectum that should not have been there. Fortunately, they were able to break it up and get it out without surgery. 


However, they tore her anus, which was unavoidable, and it will heal. And because of the impaction, her rectum wall is ulcerated. She will be in some pain, and there will be a little bit of bleeding. Considering her subtotal colectomy, how did the impaction form, you ask? Apparently, the rectum continues to produce mucous and other waste material unrelated to food. And since she can't push, it just sits there and over time, it gets packed in. The medical team is looking into how to avoid this happening in the future.

Everything else - moving to any sort of skilled facility - is currently on hold. Mom has been in good spirits but she remains confused; the best way we can describe it is that she’s experiencing sundowner’s syndrome. 

Always coveting your prayers, 
Bethany