Helping Jerry Thompson After Medical Emergency

Hi, my name is Jonnie, I’m Jerry Thompson’s youngest daughter. So many have asked how they can help after hearing about Dad’s medical emergency last month. I thought perhaps this would be a good platform to inform everyone and to allow you to help if you so desire.

 

On February 6th Dad went to the urgent care with fever and severe joint pain. He was immediately sent to St. Mary’s hospital by ambulance and was admitted shortly after arriving because his condition was so poor. Over the next couple of days many tests were run and multiple doctors called in. The cause of his rapid deterioration could not be found and he quickly got worse. That Thursday he was admitted to the ICU and the next day he was placed on a ventilator in a medically induced coma because his heart was beating 55 beats per minute and he was completely worn out. The cause of his illness still unknown. Test after test, culture after culture, all negative. Nothing. Meanwhile Dad’s kidneys were failing and so was his liver. Dialysis was used to remove all the extra fluids, I’m talking over 2 liters every time! Antibiotics, lots of them. Steroids. High blood sugar, low blood pressure. You name it, he was dealing with it.

 

On Sunday, the 20th, things began to level off. Numbers were improving or at least stabilizing. They began to wake him up little by little. Tuesday morning they took the breathing tube out. He was himself, very tired and sleepy, but he knew me and was able to answer the nurses questions in his own very funny way. “Mr. Thompson can you tell me your name?” To which he responded “Mr. Thompson”. We thought we were home free, prayers answered, miracle complete.

 

He began getting confused. The doctor told us it was hospital delirium and with everything that happened and all of the medications in his system it would take some time to wear off. His numbers were still improving so after over two weeks in the ICU the dialysis catheter was removed from his neck and he was placed in the “step down” unit, still considered in critical condition. The next five days were some of the very hardest. The delirium seemed to have completely taken over.

 

Monday the 28th we got a new doctor in the unit who told us that Dad had no quality of life and people rarely recover from being this way. He told us they couldn’t give him nutrients through an IV, occupational therapy could not help and a feeding tube was really just prolonging a life with no quality. That doctor had counted Dad out without even fully examining his records. I was livid. Our God is good and he had started a miracle in my Dad, we weren’t giving up. With some phone calls and conversations with nurses and our patient advocate the next morning (1st) we had a doctor who was ready to help. That afternoon Dad had IV nutrition and we were planning to have a temporary feeding tube placed. Physical therapy had him in a chair and he started to act like Dad again. He is so weak from being in the hospital for almost a month, has lost the little bit of fat he had and most of his muscle.

 

On March 2nd I got to the hospital early and found him in the recliner with his tray of “food” in front of him. I had breakfast with Jerry Thompson, he was back. We talked and he made me taste his puréed eggs before he let me feed them to him. (Gross) We joked with the nurse and he said some very Jerry Thompson things, “No indeed”, “Oh happy day”, “Now lady”. Before I left to get home to the kids he whispered “Sneak me something in here to eat”. It was a good day, one of the best.

 

Today, March 3rd, he was supposed to have his feeding tube placed but it was decided that 24 hours of antibiotics would be done before they placed the tube in case of any infections hanging out inside his body. We are on the schedule for placement tomorrow, March 4th.

 

I hope this catches those of you who have been wondering about his progress up and I will try to keep updating information and how he’s doing.

 

He has come so far, back from the brink really. But he still has a long way to go. Work is out of the question for the foreseeable future and medical bills will start coming in soon. If you would like to help, we would be incredibly grateful. If you can’t help monetarily, please be in prayer for Dad’s strength and the doctors knowledge. And please share this link with anyone who might like to help/pray/need an update. We believe God is going to complete a miracle in Dad. Please continue to pray. Thank you all so much for everything.

Jonnie