Fighting for His Life

April 22nd, 2009 by Lynne

Scott is fighting a massive system-wide infection called sepsis (old term is “blood-poisoning”), and has been trying to pull out of septic shock all night. It’s taking 2 IV pressor infusions to keep his blood pressure up, and he’s been really struggling to maintain an appropriate  O2/CO2 balance with his respirations, needing many adjustments all night long to the ventilator settings to keep him from going deeper into shock. They had to give him meds to paralyze him for a few hours so the ventilator alone would do his breathing to try to correct the acid/base imbalances. He’s on 3 big gun antibiotics to combat the infection, but his anti-coagulation therapy (Coumadin) is very tricky to balance, so he is also at high risk for bleeding right now. 

I’ve been here at the hospital since about 12:30am, got about 1 1/2 hours of sleep in a chair in the waiting room, but when I had to leave the Unit at 7am for them to give report, they thought he seemed to be turning the corner. The ICU doc described him as “critically ill,” and his survival will still be uncertain for some time to come.

Amazingly, his mentation is intact when he is awake. In spite of all the infection and chemical imbalances his body is fighting, he still nods appropriately to my questions, and it bugs the heck out of him that he can’t talk since he is back on the ventilator. They can see he is a fighter, and that is much of the reason he is still alive.

Thank you all, SO MUCH, for you prayers. God’s peace has definitely been there through all of this uncertain night. Life is hard, but God is good.

Love from all the Halversons

25 Responses to “Fighting for His Life”

  1. Kerry Geist says:

    Dearest Lynne,

    Thanks for this update. We continue to pray for all of you.
    klg

  2. Dave says:

    Praying for you and yours,
    Dave

  3. Richard says:

    I am grateful for the update. Thanks for the details as it gives me the specific needs he faces at this moment to pray for.
    May out Healing Father restore Scott to health and physical integrity.
    I pray for rapid removal of the sepsis and the normalization of the immune system that it would not occur again.
    And rest for Lynne.
    Blessings upon you and a Godly hedge of protection around your family.
    Richard

  4. Arlie says:

    Will be praying in the time to come.

  5. Eric Bollman says:

    Deep in prayer for your all and the medical staff!
    The Bollmans

  6. Leslie says:

    Just know how much you are all loved and prayed for.

  7. robert & suzanne ross says:

    Also thanks for the update..and joining the prayer flood here…

  8. Garrik says:

    Thanks Lynne for all your effort to update this site. Being so far away this is the only way to know what is happening. As always keeping you, Scott and your family in my prayers

    Garrik

  9. Kim Ross says:

    We are praying continually!
    Love, Kim and family

  10. Darlene Johnson says:

    Will light a candle for Scott and you all today. God be with you. I keep praying!
    Love,
    Darlene

  11. Dean and Betty Bouzeos says:

    Praying with you.
    b

  12. Lesley & Jeremy Johnson says:

    We’re praying.

    Lesley & Jeremy

  13. Jenny Baker says:

    Believing God for healing

  14. Bill, Patrice & Landon Fernald says:

    Lynne,

    You are an amazing woman of God. We pray for strength for you and Scott right now.

  15. We are praying for you Lynne,and lifting you and Scott up to the Lord. May you feel the prayers of many lifting you up in this difficult time.
    Dick & Bev.

  16. Howie & Amy Biemeck says:

    We are praying with you!

  17. Susie Lipps says:

    Wow… We continue to pray for strength and peace…

  18. Jerry and I are praying as Scott is “fighting the good fight”…….”I have fought the good fight……I have kept the faith” 2Timothy 4:7….Jesus tells us…..Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid……..John 14: 27. May Scott and you, Lynne, and Daniel and Becky truly experience God’s peace as the Scott’s flight goes on. Trust in God. Many prayers are being said for the four of you at this time and in the hours to come.

    Much love to you……Jerry and Rosie

  19. Susan Schaaf says:

    Dearest Lynne,

    My heart is with you today as you patiently hold the space for your beloved friend.
    Prayers Prayers and more prayers…

    MIchael and Susan

  20. Joanne and Dave Sasscer says:

    Sending a hug and praying much. Keep fighting Scott! May you all feel God’s peace and presence.

    Joanne

  21. Lyn & Linda Loven says:

    Continue to pray with you.

  22. Patty Hayes says:

    Keeping Scott in our prayers…He is a fighter.

  23. Ron & Cheryl says:

    We continue praying. We love you.

  24. Brett Morgan says:

    Lynne,

    First, thanks for all of the updates. I have read each one, and tell my son James about them so we can pray together for Scott, you and your children.

    If I can be so bold as to correct the doctor who said Scott is a “fighter,” Scott is more than that. He is a warrior in the truest sense of the word. A warrior is someone engaged in or experienced in warfare. Scott has that down on the spiritual, physical and mental fronts. I have got to believe that Scott feels God’s calling to battle with all he has and with all He has given him. That Scott has been an unrelenting warrior inspires me and brings glory to God.

    My prayer is that God miraculously heals Scott and that he gets to go home soon, and the order of those two things is up to God. “God, you can do both of those things, so why not?”

    Lynne, please tell Scott that James and I believe he is a warrior through and through, and that we are asking God heal him completely.

    Brett

  25. Dana Orlando says:

    Just wanted to let you know that your entire family is in our prayers, that God would continue to be close and evident in your fight against cancer. Our daughter is also an honoree for TnT – that’s how we heard about Scott. Thank you for expressing your faith and courage through your website… it offers strength for the rest of us too!
    God bless,

    The Orlandos
    Dana, Dominick, Natalie (4yrs- Luekemia ALL for 1.5 years)& Nicole (2yrs)
    natalieorlando.blogspot.com

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