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**patchouli Lover** · 06-23-2007, 11:35 AM

So I know that some of you know that Courtland is in the hospital. If you've been following the thread why gentleman ride road bikes then you know that he's been sick for a week then was hospitalized early Friday morning for a seizure. I was posting updates in that thread but I wanted to start this one and let those who weren't aware know what is going on.

I'm also asking everyone to keep him your prayers and/or thoughts. I'm going to post updates on here, but if anyone wants I'm also updating my blog for updates for his friends back home. http://blog.myspace.com/gembaby83

Sarah

This is the most recent update, the two before are on my blog:

As things stand now they aren’t looking good right. Yesterday Court was awake and coherent. He was tired, but he was still able to interact and even seemed like he was getting better.

Last night at 4am he had another seizure. Not as bad as the first two, but still a seizure. They sedated him so he could sleep. About 6am he started to have what one doctor described as “absent seizures.” Basically he opens his eyes, stares blankly, doesn’t respond, chews his tongue and drools. He’s been having these all morning. He goes back to sleep right afterwards. His vitals are fine, no fever.

Here’s what I know so far. It’s not a lot. I saw the regular doctor this morning and the neurologist an hour ago. They don’t think it is a bacterial infection and they don’t really think that it was caused by a tick bite. They think the kind of infection he has is encephalitis. Which is an infection/inflamation of the brain. Most likely causing the seizures. They aren’t sure what is causing this infection. They have a few ideas and are running tests. Right now he is on a seizure preventing medicine, the doxycycline for the tick bites (just in case), and some meds for the encephalitis. The problem with the meds for the encephalitis is they aren’t sure what exactly caused it. They are starting to think it isn’t West Nile Virus (though they are testing for it just in case). They would just start giving him medicine to see what works and eliminate possibilities but his kidneys are failing.

So as of now I’m waiting for the Kidney specialist and the infectious disease specialist. Hopefully they will know more. He is also going to have an MRI performed. His CAT scan and is EEG brain waves are fine (they were performed Friday and yesterday).

If anyone has any questions feel free to call or email me. With him sedated I really have nothing to do but read, crochet, and keep a journal of his activities. I should sleep since I’ve had 6 hours in 2 or so days, but I’m afraid if I do he something will happen.

Thank you again for all your kind words. I’ll post another update after I see the other doctors. Oh and for those of you who I’ve been asking to hunt down his mom, I did manage to find her. Thank you for your help.

Please please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

**joe7f** · 06-23-2007, 12:29 PM

Thanks for the update Sarah. The "absent seizure" sounds scary

I'll keep you two in my thoughts...

--Joey

**travelpunk** · 06-23-2007, 12:52 PM

Our thoughts and prayers are with you c0urt. You hang in there, bud.

Thank you for the update, Sarah.

**expatben** · 06-23-2007, 01:15 PM

Court man, you hang in there and get better soon. Sarah thanks for the updates.

**Esterina** · 06-23-2007, 01:38 PM

I hadn't read the previous thread, I'm in shock ! My thoughts are with him and with you, Sarah. He's lucky to have you by his side, but I hope you're able to find time for yourself as well.

**noke_travel** · 06-23-2007, 02:23 PM

i'm sorry to hear all this. i hope you feel better court, and sarah, thanks for the update. i'll be thinking of both of you. get well soon!

**beergal** · 06-23-2007, 03:24 PM

My thoughts are also with you Sarah!

**MissChick** · 06-23-2007, 04:58 PM

Our thoughts are with you both!

**patchouli Lover** · 06-23-2007, 05:30 PM

Things are looking slightly better. I was able to talk to the kidney specialist at about 4pm this afternoon. He told me that Courtland’s kidneys are the least of his problems and that when someone has multiple seizures their body releases a CK enzyme that hurts the kidneys. So he is putting Court on some medicine that should fix that problem.

I still haven’t seen the infectious disease specialist. Hopefully that will happen later tonight. And we are still in the dark about what is causing the encephalitis. Here soon Court goes in for his MRI. So hopefully tomorrow we might know something.

Another great thing that happened is he woke up for a little bit today (he had been asleep/sedated for almost 12 hours). He was awake when the kidney specialist came in. He was tired and confused and disoriented, but he was awake and not in too much pain. His vitals and temperature are still normal. He hasn’t had a seizure since last night at 4am and he hasn’t had an absent seizure since noon today. Let’s hope it stays this way!

His mother should be arriving soon, So for those of you who are worried that I’m not sleeping enough and not taking care of myself, her presence will be a great help.

I’ll keep you guys updated! Thanks again everyone for being so supportive! And for the thoughts and prayers.

Sarah

**freespiritz** · 06-23-2007, 06:13 PM

*hugs*

Good to know that things are looking better. Hang in there girl, we're all with you two.

**TERI** · 06-23-2007, 08:11 PM

wow Sarah, I'm sorry. I hope everything works out OK for Court, and yourself. so glad to hear that his moms comming in. Just hang in there.

**kiwichick** · 06-23-2007, 10:36 PM

thoughts and prayers with you both, have faith

**mooloo** · 06-24-2007, 01:18 AM

thinking of you both from the other side of the world

**tumblezweedz** · 06-24-2007, 04:59 AM

Our thoughts and prayers are with you too.

Hope the docs can find the problem soon and get Court on the mend.

**BelfastFlyer** · 06-24-2007, 05:48 AM

I'm in total shock as well! My thoughts are with you both.

**benna2** · 06-24-2007, 06:57 AM

I am keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers. Something like this can be a really scary thing to witness, so you get some rest too Sarah. Try to anyway.

Court, we are all thinking of you here and hoping for a quick recovery. We miss you!

**MolsonGirl** · 06-24-2007, 08:24 AM

I'm gald to hear things are going a bit better. stay tough, we're all behind both of you.

**patchouli Lover** · 06-24-2007, 10:31 AM

Thanks guys for all your kind words! It really means a lot and when Court gets better I know he'll appreciate it!

Not much to say. He really hasn’t change except that he is no longer sedated. He sleeps alot but when he wakes up he talks to us. He’s very confused and only has a vague memory what is going on. He keeps forgetting the number of seizures he had and how many hospitals we’ve been to. But overall he is doing ok. Vitals are fine and no fever. There hasn’t been a seizure since the last one at 4am Saturday morning. And no absent seizures either.

His mom arrived here late last night and has been a big help. I was able to get six hours of sleep last night, so I feel a lot better today. We talk to his regular doctor who said they still aren’t sure what is causing the viral infection and seizures. They say encephalitis is a big possibility but no guarantees. Right now we are just waiting for his MRI and cultures from the spinal tap. The neurologist and kidney doctor will be in later. They are not bringing the infectious disease doctor in till they know what is up with his test results. Anyway I’ll let everyone know how he’s doing later this evening.

Thanks for everyone’s support!

Sarah

Oh and Joe I got your message. Let me talk to the nurse and find out the address and I'll post it on here later today!

**joe7f** · 06-24-2007, 11:13 AM

Okay great Sarah, glad to see things are starting to look a little more positive

--Joey

**lauren313** · 06-24-2007, 12:08 PM

Thanks for keeping us updated, and again, you're both in my thoughts. x