Critically ill

Guard dogs

Overnight, medications kept Riley’s blood pressure in the mid-80s, however, as soon as they turned the vasopressin down, his blood pressure followed. He received another batch of platelets and FFP (fresh frozen plasma), which has boosted it a bit this morning.

He will be getting two pigtail drains this morning. The platelets will help him clot properly from the procedures. One drain will go in his stomach to drain fluid there and one will go in his lung. His pleural space on the left side of his chest is filling up. The hope is that removing some of the fluid will help his organs start to recover.

Both his kidneys and his liver function are declining. And he is so swollen. He is about 3.5 liters positive in fluid. That means that 3.5 liters more fluid has gone in than come out. As you can imagine, the body’s ability to stretch to accommodate the additional fluid looks incredibly painful. He is swollen all over, but his left arm is especially swollen around the elbow and after doctors examined it, they discovered that its blue and mottled and looks infected. They’ll be watching it.

The renal team is going to be called in today to start watching Riley, so that if they need to do dialysis in the coming days, they are already familiar with his case.

Also, Riley’s hair is falling out.

(This blog will provide Riley's medical updates. To read about his mother's state of mind, go here.)