It grew out...

Staph.

Trying to let that sink in.

Every culture taken grew out staph. All three line cultures and the peripheral culture.

Even if the team decides to re-list her for transplant they won't at this time. Not until a full two week course of treatment has been completed and new cultures come back negative.

In addition to the staph, she does in fact have chylous. With all the digging around during the line placement her lymphatic system was disturbed and at this time she will have to have all sources of fat removed from her diet in order for her to heal. Not sure what all the leaking is going to do the line site, but at this time its only red and has not begun to break down. The down side of all the leaking is performing daily dressing changes which is not only painful, and dangerous, but scary for Ash because we have to literally pin her down as we do it. She hates to be restrained, but its the only way to safely change the dressing. Her screams and cries are heartbreaking. Last night Blake had to be the one to pin her down for me and it broke both of their hearts in the process. I'm so grateful for him and for the way he loves her. He did an amazing job at being a man and getting through something that had to be done. Usually he and Allie take off to the back of the house so they don't have to hear her cries. They always show up just in time to play and comfort her after the whole process has been finished.

They are checking with the dietician and also with her doc in Shreveport who writes for her TPN to see how long we can safely remove her Omegaven from her to allow her body to heal from the chylous injury.

I was able to get her an appointment with her surgeon in Shreveport to look at the incisions. They too are leaking the chylous fluids.

Overall I think today is probably her best day since placement last Tuesday. No fevers today. She's actually sitting up without being forced to do so and looking at books, signing and requesting specific titles. I'm encouraged by all of that.