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Help Is On The Way



Wednesday, May 31, 2006 11:16 AM CDT

Well, quick update and then a shower and then back to the hospital.

Thank God for Dr. Bergstrom. He's the best. They started Z on two "bazooka" antibiotics, and his shin redness and swelling went from covering his entire shin to 7x7 cm, so the antibiotics are working. At this point they do not think the infection is in the bone, which is wonderful news! The infection is responding to the antibiotics, and there was a dramatic response the first day. Since then, it's been pretty stable, so they are worried about taking him off the iv antibiotics too soon. They are considering a PICC line so they can do the antibiotics long term. We'll know more today.

My mom is coming! Hooray. Thank you to all who visit Zach, it really lifts his spirits. Thanks to Bob & Judy for taking Kenny & Kate. Thanks to Dee for being there in every way. Thanks to Alex and Deb and Karen...

Our family is experiencing another crisis. Dave's very best friend from college, Doug Andrews...he was the best man at our wedding, our first son Kyle was Kyle Douglas after Doug, he and Dave were born two days apart and for years were inseparable. They called themselves twin sons of different mothers. Doug had broken his neck several years ago in Hawaii and after that struggled with severe and chronic pain. He dropped out of touch, but never from our hearts. Dave often tried to find him and stayed in touch with Doug's mom, Sharon. Doug had just found out about Dave's death. On Sunday, Doug took a stuffed animal to Kyle's grave and committed suicide. I am devastated and heart-broken and wishing I had done something, anything to find him, to reach him. He will be buried next to Kyle in Gig Harbor. My heart aches with this loss, knowing it is the last thing Dave would have wanted. He loved Doug, beyond all reason. Please keep his family in your prayers as we all try to understand and come to grips with this horrible, horrible thing.

I love you all, Shelley

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