Second Entry~

Leila, my beautiful, sweet wife, continues to hang on, fighting with everything she has.  Doctors and nurses are surprised that she's managed to survive this long.

Leila is in the Intensive care Unit (ICU), where she is under strict isolation.  Nobody can see her except for "immediate family"; those who do visit have to gown up because she may be contagious, according to the doctor in charge of her care.  Leila has the customary monitoring equipment, which is standard practice in the Intensive Care Unit.  She looks pretty rough lying there, not moving or knowing what is going on with her or around her.

My wife caught the chickenpox from our six-year-old son, Kyle Lane, who was getting over them when she first started getting sick.  She developed a fever and as it rose higher, Leila started having trouble with her breathing and had a seizure.  It scared me, so I quickly summoned an ambulance.  

The ambulance then rushed her to the hospital.

She was officially diagnosed with adult-onset chickenpox, which can be deadly serious in adolescents or adults.  It can even kill or give them complications ranging from hepatitis to necrotizing fasciitis (rare) and total organ failure.  Pneumonia is another complication that can occur.

 This is what happened to Leila.  Leila has pneumonia of both lungs and is currently on a ventilator to help her breathe.  Doctors have her knocked out, so she doesn't try to pull out any tubes.

It is a day to day thing, but the doctor did say this much: as long as she gets through another day without any new complications, there is a chance that she could possibly pull through.  She still isn't out of the woods, however, and so I continue to keep a silent vigil by her bedside, whispering desperate prayers to Heaven.

Leila's mother has been a godsend through all of this.  She has been at our house, taking care of our son while I spend it here at the hospital.  That way, I don't have to worry so much about him, but I sure do miss seeing his sweet, angelic little face or hearing his voice!  I know Kyle must feel responsible for his mother getting sick, but I and "NeeNah" (as he calls his grandmother) have both been telling him it is not his fault and he shouldn't blame himself.

I wish I could bring Kyle to see his  mommy, but according to hospital policy, no children under 12 are to visit, and if anyone is sick, then they should just stay home until they fully recover.  

Don't blame the hospital one bit: there are patients there who are very sick and/or weak and they wouldn't survive something like a cold or the flu (or any other communicable disease like chickenpox, for example).

It is frustrating.

Well, I am going to get something to eat at the cafeteria, then go visit my wife when ICU visiting hours resume at 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.  Hopefully Leila will continue to improve.  Just keep those prayers coming; they are very much appreciated, more than you will ever know!

~To be continued.~