Libby News

These are the latest notes from Gracie. It sounds like Libby is responding well to treatment, but I know that this is discouraging. I talked to their sitter tonight. She was headed over to spend the night at the house. Eric is leaving at 4AM to head back to Houston to be with Gracie and Libby. Pray for save travels for him and for healing for Libby....thanks.


Libby's white blood cell count is elevated and indicates that she has an infection. Her chest x-ray looks the same (no pneumonia). She has on a bag to collect urine but no luck yet. She has slept all afternoon. They are trying to get the very best people to start an IV (ERGHHHH), but they are out on a transport getting a baby from another hospital. Libby is such an impossible IV start, that they are talking about giving her an antibiotic shot if all else fails. Thank you for your messages and support. This was a step back that we hoped not to make. Please pray that the infection can be located and treated effectively. Thank you.

The IV is in, with miraculously only 1 stick. Ya'll must be praying really hard. I looked at her incision site a little bit ago and there is a new area on it that looks like a collection of pus. A wound infection could be such a setback, so we are praying that that is not the source of infection. She still has not urinated, but no one seems concerned - yet. The cardiovascular ICU fellows and attending have been to see her and think she is doing OK. She is finally awake and watching "Buzz Life-Year", so I am feeling a litle better. Please pray for Eric. He is home with the boys and struggling with whether to come back to Houston or not. It is so hard to be there and want to be here and be worried but not able to look at Libby himself. We also have to consider the boys and their needs. Please pray for discernment, strength, courage, wisdom, and healing and peace for sweet Lib. She continues to be very brave, but is so tired of being here, especially since she thought we were going home today. Thanks as always. You lighten our load.

Love, Gracie

Libby has perked up a bit this evening, and I even just saw a smile and a "BOO!" She asked for a wagon ride which we took for 3 laps. The heart surgery fellow came by to look at her incision site and decided not to do anything with that spot tonight but is concerned that it may be infected. He thinks the more likely culprit is the central line. Even though it was removed yesterday, it could have set up a blood infection that has been brewing since then. Either way, it looks like we will be here for several (up to 10 or even 14) days of IV antibiotics. She will need a better IV than what she has right now, so that will likely be the task tomorrow. Thank you for your encouraging words. Sometimes I feel like we are running a marathon and you are all at the sidelines cheering us on, or sometimes running along side us, or even carrying us when we can't take another step. Please keep praying. This is discouraging, but God is good and has a purpose here, even if we don't understand. I'll keep you posted.

Love, Gracie