Monday, June 02, 2008

Hello all Christi here....sorry for the delay posting, but I wanted to talk with the doctors before we posted again. We have great news we are currently off ECMO, let's pray that we never have to use that again! This is huge progress, but we are very far from in the clear. But it is nice to meet other nurses other than the ones that have won a ton of awards for their ability to handle the critical patients. We also might have the bleeding in his chest under control. They are performing chest x-rays all the time to watch fluid in his lungs, but this fluid is different than the previous fluid that was in his lungs, this is on the outside.
Bo is doing well, but we have come across our next set of complications. He is running an extremely high fever right now that they are working on controlling with medicine, ice and cooling wraps. We have been unable to test his neurological functions, so please let those come through fine. He also needs to work on his need for oxygen. Currently they are still assisting his still, but they did state that they would like to take baby steps with his lungs. But also extremely important Bo has an "infection" in his right hand that has currently lost necessary blood flow to his hand. If they cannot correct this, Bo will loose his right hand. I am extremely worried about this for his mental state when he comes through. We all know how much Bo loves to golf. Nothing will change the way I feel about Bo, but please pray that this can correct itself in the next 24 hours. I can honestly say this caught me completely off guard, but compared where we were this time last night, I will take Bo breathing on his own with assistance to a right hand any day.
I guess to summarize please pray for Bo's lungs to get stronger and work more independently, please pray for his fever to come down, pray for his neurological function to be normal and please pray for his right hand to heal. I know I am asking for a lot of prayers, but I feel if we keep taking this step by step progress can be made.
Love to all
Christi
Please kiss Addi for me!

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Christi, that is wonderful progress! You told me I could exhale once he was off the ECMO. I can tell you that Addi received tons of kisses tonight at dinner. We were playing a game where I would kiss her forehead and she belly laughed like you wouldn't believe. We had a great time at the fountain. I couldn't get her to leave! She is excited for her slumber party with Aunt Tracia. I have to say that the boys and I were a little bummed to see her go. She is a joy! Bo, keep fighting! We can't wait to see you! Love, Amy, Shawn, Jacob and Logan

Anonymous said...

Hey Christi,

That is excellent news about the ECMO machine. My thoughts and prayers are with you. Continue to stay strong and never lose hope. God is with you every step of the way!

Tundra said...

We will pray for all of those things. Stay strong and know you have a lot of people pulling for BO.

Doug B.

Anonymous said...

Christi,
Thank you so much for keeping the Blog updated. We all wish we could be there to support you and Bo. We don't want to bother you so the Blog helps us to be there with you and support you. We will continue to keep Bo in our prayers. Keep being positive. There are a lot of people praying for your entire family. I think all of Atlanta is praying for Bo!
Love,
Aunt Mary and Uncle Jeff

Anonymous said...

Christi, thank you for the very improtant update. We watch your messages all day in anticipation of positive news. This one surpasses all others. This is overall wonderful progress. I anxiously await updates on his hand, but am hopeful that this will improve through the night. We watch your blog hourly in our office and update friends and colleagues all day. I know we are not alone in this effort. You have many conerned loved ones across the entire nation. Please also remember to take good care of yourself throughout this stressful time. You know would want you to take time to rest. Fondly, Jeanne

Anonymous said...

we'll definitely keep praying for everything! Thank you for the update...babysteps! He's such a fighter and so are you Christi!!
Em

Anonymous said...

That's great news Christi. Thanks as always for being so strong and keeping us all in the loop. I hope the hand issue is resolved, but at least Bo can rest assured that he probably only needs one hand to beat Phil at golf (maybe neither hand in Shawn's case)...

Chris, Tracey, CJ and Hannah

Anonymous said...

Christi.

I am a friend of a friend of Amber and Blake Butler via church, LKNFBC. I was just emailed a link to your blog. I just wanted to let you know that my wife and I will be adding your family to our prayers. God is surely with each of you.

In Christ.

Greg (and Melissa) George

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the updates again Christi! I hope you get to visit with your mom tomorrow, I thought she told Michelle and I she would get to see you on Tuesday. Mom's always make things better!

Take care,
Mindy

Anonymous said...

Christi you are keeping the faith. Thanks for the update. We will say our prayers tonight and ask for God's miracles to keep on coming. I saw the comment about beating Phil at golf and did get a chuckle out of that one. We love you all and will wait for more updates tomorrow.
Jon and Donnelle Graham

Anonymous said...

Christi,
Just remember that slow and steady wins the race (even up the Campanile Hill). We continue to pray for Bo to take baby steps, for continued strength and patience for your whole family, and wisdom for the doctor's decisions and course of action.
Keep moving forward!
Take care!
Love,
The Glidewell Clan

Anonymous said...

Christie,

Thanks so much for keep everyone up to speed with Bo's condition - I know it is a lot to ask, given what you all are going thru. Please know that we continue to pray for Bo to fight thru this and regain all neurological functions, as well as full usage of his right hand. Please know that there are litteraly hundreds of people that don't even know Bo that are praying for him and your entire family tonight. Through folks at our church here in Boone, and my parents church in High Point - we are trying to build in this army of prayer.
Our hearts go out to you all. Keep fighting Bo!!
Rob & Chelsea Garrett

Anonymous said...

Thanks Christi for letting us know the latest. You are doing an awesome job for Bo, your families, for Addi, and for all of us who are constantly checking this blog for news. You've really got some guts girl. Bo and Addi are proud!
Also..as I read the messages posted by everyone, I can't help but notice the chain of people behind this fight, it is infinite! GO BO!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Goodbye ECMO! Awesome. Still praying and praying for Bo...I know all too well how much he hates to be in the hospital, so I'm sure he's ready to beat this stuff and get on with life!

Christi, he's so fortunate to have you as his champion! I'm praying for strength for you as well...I know you're working just as hard as Bo is on this one, if in a slightly different way.

Y'all are absolutely inspiring.

Sara from 9300

Ken and Mystina said...

Dear Christi ~
Thank God for baby steps. SO glad to hear that Bo is of the ECMO. We will continue praying. Thank you for the list of specifics. We know this is a difficult time but we are praying that you may rest a little more peacefully tonight.
Bo we are praying for a peacful night for you as well so you will be strong to fight even harder tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

Through trials, trouble and care

I know Jesus my Savior is there

Giving me faith through darkest days

Keeping me on the narrow way



Jesus savior, help me each day

Fill me with hope, fill me with faith

Darkness retreats at the touch of Your hand

Jesus Savior help me to stand



Jesus lived through darkest pain

Rejected by men, despising the shame

Man of sorrows, aquainted with grief

He gave his life so we may be free



Jesus Savior, help me each day

Fill me with hope, fill me with faith

Darkness retreats at the touch of your Hand

Jesus Savior help me to stand



I know that Jesus died for me

Cancelled my debt at Calvary

Rose from the dead, unlocked Heaven's door

Trust in His love and live evermore



Jesus Savior, help me each day

Fill me with hope, fill me with faith

Darkness retreats at the touch of your Hand

Jesus Savior help me to stand

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I'll keep praying for his fever, hand, and brain. Chrisit you are great, thank you for updating us all the time, you are a rock. Tonight in yoga class sending healing light and love to Bo was my intention, every breath I took was for both of us and reminded me to be grateful and to thank God he's made it this far and to get him all the way there.

Fight On!

Jenn in CA

Anonymous said...

Christi- he is getting there........we are ALL praying for you. He will get through this. You are not alone.

My Love,
MitchyB

Anonymous said...

Christi -- Kate and I read this regularly, we took great comfort in the poetry.

This is the day the Lord hath made:
Be glad, give thanks, rejoice; ...

The Lord will hear before we call,
And every need supply;
Good things are freely given to all
Who on his word rely. ...

For sin destroyed, for sorrow healed, for health and peace restored;
For life and Love by Truth revealed,
We thank and Bless the Lord.

You are all in my prayers -- for strength, for continued healing, for your love within your circle of family and friends.

Peace

Peter

Peony said...

Christi,
Just wanted to let you know that Brendon and I are thinking of you and Bo constantly and hoping for all the best. This makes what we went through look easy. You are an amazing woman! Please tell Bo we're pulling for him and remember we're always here if you need to talk.
Take care,
Peony

Anonymous said...

Christi,
Keep the prayers a comin' . We will keep a prayin' .
Jay

Anonymous said...

continue to stay strong and continue to believe - god is always with us and will always bring us down the path that is right - we may not always understand we may not always be ready but he is there and will be there holding your hand

Anonymous said...

Christi-
You can never ask for too many prayers! Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us"
Aaron & Paula Jackson

Cameron's Blog said...

Christy,

Prayer is truly a powerful thing. I have forwarded your post from last night to my Sunday School class of 60-70 and to my work approaching 300. We were aware of thousands of people praying for us when we had the surgery for our daughter Cameron last June. I cannot really explain the peace we had during that whole process other than the Grace of God that is available through prayer. Keep the faith--miracles do occur!!

God's peace, Casey & Shelly Mott

Anonymous said...

Christi,

As with us, many have prayed all night long for Bo. Hang in there, things will get better soon. There is always darkness before the dawn.

Terry & Kathy

Anonymous said...

Christi,
We are praying everyday for Bo and the family. We check the blog about ten times a day to stay up to date with his progress. Bo you are a fighter hang in there things will get better. We are all praying for you here at rehab. You are on a state wide prayer list. We can't wait to see your smiling face back in Pulmonary Rehab.
Keyara(Coach K)

Anonymous said...

Good Morning Christi,
That is very good news about the ECMO machine. We continue to pray here in Michigan and have told everyone we know about Bo so they too can pray for him. As far as his hand goes, that would be hard for him to lose it however, I am confident that Bo would find a way to play golf, we all know that :)Lots of love,

Theresa and Kevin

Anonymous said...

Christi,Thank you so much for keeping us updated. We all wish we could be there to support you, Bo and the family. So many people across the country & around the world are sending their strength & prayers for you and Bo to draw on. I know Bo will win this battle - baby steps, baby steps, Go Bo Go!!!!!!!
Love Andrea Gregory

Anonymous said...

Christi and all, we are praying for Bo and the entire family. Lanigan and I say a special prayer for Bo every night before she goes to bed. Stay strong and know that you have hundreds of people who are praying for, and thinking of Bo every minute of every day. The Whalen family

Anonymous said...

Praise be to God for coming off the machine. Prayers going up to God for the fever and hand. One question though...is Bo still in a sedated state? Thanks for the Blog updates and stay strong. We are all pulling for you!

Anonymous said...

Christi,
How wonderful to hear that Bo is off the machine! He is an amazing young man, and he will continue to fight. We all pray for his recovery and for your strength! Thank you for keeping us posted. You are in our hearts and prayers.
Love,
Aunt Debbie

Anonymous said...

Christi -
My heart goes out to you. I have continued to read the Johnson blog - and become inspired with your grace and composure. I could not imagine going thru what you have for the last two years. It's no wonder Bo is fighting with everything he has, with someone like you in his life - it's all worth it.

Keep believing and knowing that God is watching over you and your family.

Bo - Please know that you have a lot of peole praying for you and your family. Keep fighting - we are all here for you!

Nicki Potter said...

We just want you to know that all of my family is thinking about you and praying for all of you!! You are some of the strongest most insperational people I have ever seen! Stay strong. Nicki Potter