More info on Sara

Hello Family:

I wanted to give you another update on Sara. This infection SUCKS!!

My last update was that she had to have the PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) inserted because her veins kept collapsing in her hand and they needed a full proof way to get the Vancomycin into her body to kill the MRSA. I have attached a picture below of the procedure.


Unfortunately she started to get cold chills and a fever (while on ibupropen) so she now has doctors fighting over her condition and wondering where to go next. The pharmacist in Salt Lake City thinks that the PICC line was causing another infection and her own doctor thinks that she was having a reaction to the Vancomycin because they had upped the dosage from 1.5 to 2.0.

So to be on the safe side the PICC line was removed today and she will be now starting another antibiotic that is supposed to be even stronger than the Vancomycin, and this wonder drug is called Zyvox. Zyvox however for the 20 pill/10 day dosage costs over $1600.00. Blessedly her doctor was able to get Medicaid to approve it.

The pharmacist joked with Andrew and asked if he wanted a bodyguard as he left because of the expense of the drug.

One of the other reasons Sara is not getting better as quickly as we would like is because she is so tired. Mary's Grandma Val took her the other evening so hopefully Sara could get some solid sleep . The other hard thing for Sara is that she can't nurse Mary right now because of the strength of the drug. She is having such a hard time with this as you can imagine because all Sara wants to do is get better and enjoy motherhood with her precious little girl.

We just pray that this new drug does it's job and continues to kill the MRSA and that Sara will finally be on the road to healing. This is such a difficult time for Sara, Andrew and Mary but also for her family here in California as we feel so powerless.

Thank you so much for the prayers on our behalf as it is truly appreciated.

Love to all

Marilee