Sunday, February 15, 2009

Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis



Yep, try and say that 10 times fast.  That is what my beautiful amazing sister in law Robin has right now.  Last Thursday she was flown to Barrow Neurological Center because she had lost the ability to move.  This is where they found out that she has swelling in her brain that is causing her to lose motor function and other painful symptoms.  (For a better description click here.) She has been in the ICU for the past 12 days. She has been undergoing a procedure called plasma pheresis which basically functions in a way similar to dialysis.  Basically they stick an in tube and an out tube in Robin and they take her blood out and into this machine that cleans the blood of the extra proteins and other things that the doctors believe are causing this swelling.  The doctors have said that they feel they are seeing vast improvements!  Yesterday we finally got some more good news.  She has been able on one occasion to move her left eye on purpose and to move her finger on her left hand as well.  There is an excellent chance that she will be leaving the ICU the first part of this week.  They will move her probably to the telemetry unit where she will be monitored 24 hours a day but there aren't tubes and craziness everywhere.  The doctors expect her to be in the Hospital for the next 6 weeks though.  The doctors are very optimistic about her prognosis she has some serious physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy ahead of her but with the prayers of the MANY wonderful friends and family who love and care about Robin we have faith that all will be well.  

4 comments:

Amanda L said...

Oh Corri! Your family is in my prayers! I hope she is on her road to recovery! :)

Matt and Heather said...

Oh my goodness! I hope she starts gettin better fast! I've never heard of that before. How hard for them. Tell her and Jesse we're prayin for them.

Barker said...

That breaks my heart, sounds like a rare diagnosis. Hope everything goes uphill fast! Send my love.

{kim} said...

Thanks for the updates. We will keep praying for her.