Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism

Sorry I don't have time to write a more thorough update about Richie's crappy medical condition, but it has been a very long two days. It is almost 2:00 a.m., and I am going to try to get some sleep tonight because I think another long day is in store for Saturday.

In a nutshell, Jake and I brought Richie to the ER on Thursday because he was very short of breath. After a few hours, he was diagnosed with Bilateral Pulmonary Embolism - blood clots in the lungs. His immediate course of treatment was to begin a blood thinner to discourage any new clots from forming. The next step was to try to discover where the clots - yes, more than one in each lung - had come from. Lastly, it still needs to be determined how best to get rid of the clots already there. (Option 1: allow them to dissolve. Option 2: use clot-busting drugs. Option 3: thread a catheter to the lungs to remove them. Each option, of course, has pros and cons.) The shortness of breath came on quite suddenly for Richie, beginning last weekend, and growing progressively worse each day.

The doctors tried all day Friday to stabilize Richie's vitals, but his O2 level is just too low, even with supplemental oxygen. He has a nasty cough and is not allowed to eat or drink anything. He was moved to the Respiratory Critical Care Unit just before midnight.

Jake and Richie in his original room. Richie has proclaimed hospital beds to be hideously uncomfortable.