June 10th, 2011

Still checking in and praying for all who may be enduring this catastrophic medical enigma.  Dean, my son, is healthy, and will stay for a long happy life.  I pray for the same results for your loved one. 
Our Center for Disease Control must start checking for Lemeirres...they still aren't...this is often fatal.  Tell your friends, your co-workers, your neighbors, tell everyone;  let's protect our young, healthy youth. 
God Bless You, Janice

January 15th, 2011

Just for those of you that may be checking in....All is spectacular!  God Bless you in this new Year, 2011!  Dean is healthy as a horse and both of his parents are elated!  We have our boy back!!!   And our boy has his life back!   One year after... Love, Janice

Alive and Well !!!

Summer 2010 already!  Dean has been doing fantastic and has regained all of his weight and muscle.  It has been a very tough year so far, to say the least, but things are very good and we expect it to stay that way!  Thanks for checking back to this site and for your positive, healing, thoughts and prayers.  J, B, & D.

New Life - Perfect

Miracle accomplished!  No Blood Clot!  Nothing - Dean is 100% healthy!


The most thanks to you God!  


Family and friends - true love and thanks for your many prayers which facilitated this very happy and healthy ending.

In true joy, Janice, Barry & Dean Tadlock

Marching Onward!!!

Thanks is the word!  

 All is great and Dean is seemingly back to himself in almost all ways. 

He still needs to wait a while longer to get his body weight back until his blood clot situation is resolved.  Coumadin, hopefully, will be discontinued following a final echocardiagram next week. All other tests have shown no sign of the demon Lemierres - Victory!!!  Yeah!!!

Blessings and prayers to everyone out there that may be experiencing this nightmare;  fight, fight, fight, and pray!!!

Much love,  Janice, Barry, and Dean

Sweet Victory - Precious Life ! ! !

CT scan on Feb 19, 2010 shows Dean is clear of Lemierres!!!   Dean has won the fight with the demon, with much strength, faith, focus and a true will to live a long and healthy future. 
H-o-o-r-a-y!  Time for Disneyland on Saturday to celebrate this conquest!!!


Visit back to the hospital was enlightening and satisfying!!!   Dean visited many of his caregivers all of whom greeted him with genuine joy and astonishment!!!  Gratitude to them is beyond any words!!!


Now it is time for true recovery of Dean's body.  His soul is obviously protected.  We will post new pics when he is back in shape and of further medical news relating to the blood clot and hopefully its total disappearance so all med's including Coumadin can soon be discontinued.


Thank you dear God for this miracle!!! 
Love, Janice,  Barry & Dean.

Life is Awesome!

Dean started back to his Spring semester of college this week.  He is driving, socializing and living his life.  Such a blessing, marvel, miracle, and absolute splendor it is for him to live!


I will update this site following a final Cat scan which is scheduled for next Friday, Feb. 19th, to check for the complete obliteration of this horror named Lemierres!   We cannot and must not forget to thank Our Lord for his Hand in this healing. 


PTL!  -Janice

Two Weeks Home !!!

Dean has been home now for two weeks and getting stronger every day! 

Wow!  Thank you, everyone for your support!  

This frightening experience is now rounding into a true God given miracle. 

Dean continuing  IV antibiotics at home and will continue for another three weeks and a final cat scan Feb.19th to be certain the demon Lemierres is gone, for good.  Mobility returning, all health returning, in all ways! 

So many reasons for relief and joy! 

Life will be forever better for Dean,  if just for the chance to live it! 

Plans are to return to college on Monday, Feb. 8th, and to dive into his academics with focus. 

Thanks to all his Professors at Saddleback College for their patience and cooperation during this unexpected illness.  

 Love to All,  PTL, Janice! 

"That which tests one's self and attempts to create unknown havoc shall surely make one stronger than before; especially in light of the failure of such a pitiful and lame attempt"    jms-1-6-10

Feb. 2nd, 2010

Dean weak and tired and moving about with a heavy limp but moving and feeling better every day. 

Thanks for your thoughts. 

Time for him to rest and think of his marvelous future. 

Love  Janice,  Barry and Dean

Chronology

Dec. 16, 2009 - complaining of a sore throat
Dec. 21, 2009 - first faint case of rigours (no fever yet)
Dec. 22, 2009 - vomiting and diarrhea - slight fever
Dec. 23, 2009 - Dr. Visit - misdiagnosis - Gastrointestinal flu - Prescribed anti-vomit med's
Dec. 24, 2009 - Elevated fever - 104 - ER visit for 8 hours - sent home after fever was regulated
Dec. 25, 2009 - Elevated fever 104 - and increased rigors and complaint that his 'lungs hurt' -ER visit - sent home after 8 hours - prognosis 'viral', "it'll work itself out in time, nothing you can do" - prescribed Zofran and Motrin/Tylenol every 4 hours.
Dec. 27, 2009 - Rigours much increased - fever every 4 hours controlled by Motrin/Tylenol - complaint that his shoulder and foot hurt really bad.
Dec. 29, 2009 - Unable to walk, unable to eat in several days, large baseball sized mass on right upper chest; right foot beginning to swell; continued fever. 3rd ER visit at midnight. After much discussion and paperwork (despite the fact we have insurance coverage which had already been verified) and pleading Dean finally admitted after 7 hours in the ER.
Dec. 30, 2009 - many tests including CAT scan and ultrasound - moved to ICU - hooked up to a variety of IV's - Prognosis Sepsis - Gram Negative rod -Septic emboli - surgical aspiration of many parts of his body to release the puss including his Liver.
Dec. 31, 2009 - emergency surgery on right foot to stop the toxins from attacking Dean's ankle bone. 4 inch incisions (very evasive) on each side of ankle successfully got the poison out.
January 1, 2010 - Sepsis identified as Lemierres and treated aggressively with various Antibiotics.
January 5, 2010 - Moved out of ICU into Critical Care. Continued IV therapy - no mobility.
January 8, 2010 - Physical Therapy begins - very painfully due to the surgery on right foot and all over elsewhere. CAT scan still shows area of bacteria on spleen. Lungs and all other sites stable.
January 10, 2010 - CAT scan shows infection free and spleen bacteria reducing.
January 14, 2010 - Blood clot located on right neck area - Coumadin introduced. Weight loss at 35 lbs. Starting to regain appetite. Severe pain all over.
January 16, 2010 - all sites clear of Lemierres except Liver (original site) which continues to drain.
January 17, 2010 - moved out of Critical Care to a regular 'medical' ward. Very good for Dean 'psychologically'.
January 19, 2010 - liver clear of Lemierres - drain removed from liver.
January 21, 2010 - Discharged from Mission Hospital - Home Health Care and continued IV 'Ertapenem' treatment and oral meds at home for next three weeks.
January 26, 2010 - Home Physical Therapy starts along with Home Health Care. Moving about a few times a day and up the stairs to bed with a cane and very slowly and painfully. Improving with each and every day.

Fifth Day Home

Dean is doing fine here at home with the help of Home Health Care Nurses and Physical Therapy all who have been excellent and instrumental in his ongoing recovery.  Each and every day he is coming fully back into normal life although it will be a bit prolonged due to physical challenges.  He will be seeing his Dr. on Friday (first out-patient visit) and I will update more then if not sooner.  Coumadin blood levels are perfect so far. 

Blood was drawn today to check his white count. I am told that he will have the 'pik' and antibiotics removed Feb. 11th, God willing. 

He is in good spirits and many thanks for checking in! 

Love,  Janice 

Home is Good!

Dean is doing great! 

Barry and I are doing excellent! 

Home Health Care and continued IV treatments.  All good! 

Solid rest in our own beds. Certainly well appreciated! 

One really learns much through these trying times. 

We learn patience. 

We learn kindness. 

We learn to 'listen' carefully. 

We learn to be grateful. 

We learn "Thank You" is not just something you say without meaning.

PTL!      Love,  Janice

Home Again!

Dean was discharged from Mission Hospital yesterday and we are all now back home with Home Health Care for his continued antibiotic IV therapy and dressing change care, pain patch, etc... All of which we will be doing here, at home now,  for a while. 


Good spirits, thankful thoughts and a bright future.  We'll keep you updated and many, many thanks for your caring good wishes for Dean's wellness and speedy recovery. 


Love,  Janice & Barry and (mostly) Dean!

Purification

Hello Everyone:


Dean is looking forward to total healing and a full recovery and he is getting there, all in due time.  He is so aware and thankful for everyone's thoughts, prayer's and support. 


The Lord he thanks upmost.  


Dean will be home soon and I will alert this site the day that occurs. 

Many sincere thanks to Dean's fine team of Doctors, Nurses, Physical Therapists and overall Caregivers at Mission Hospital, you are the facilitators to Dean's wellness and we thank you with heartfelt gratitude.

In the interim - all - please be aware that Lemierre's exists.  

We must all fight this 'forgotten' killer.


In His Light -  Janice, Barry & Dean

Feeling Stronger Every Day!

I hope that everyone had a healthy and happy weekend!  Dean is better and better although he still needs a bit more time to learn how to maneuver his feet and we also still have the drainage of the liver continuing so I estimate another 3-4 days before we set up the home sweet home situation. 

Dean was finally moved from Critical Care today into a regular room which is wonderful.  In his new room Dean has room to move about whereas previously this was not an option. 

All good, more news tomorrow! 

Love,  Janice 

Thanks for your ongoing Prayers, Our Lord is All Powerful and with us every step of the way.

Saturday - January 16 - A Fine Day

Hello Friends, Loved Ones, and Caregivers:

Just a quick, joyous update that Dean is continuing to improve rapidly - thanks be to God - now mobile a few times a day on a regular footed cane and learning the stairs which he will need to maneuver once back home. Appetite re-emergening and food coming at him from all angles! I know that everyone will be praying for him in their churches or thoughts tomorrow, the Sabbath, and thank you so very much for returning to this site for updates. May you and yours be safe, healthy and happy this weekend. Love, Janice

God is Great, God is Good, God is Powerful

Cat scan this morning show all sites clear of the 'demon Lemierres' except for a two centimeter area on Dean's liver (an original site) which shows new drainage.  Dean is eating more and moved around the ward on a (four legged) cane today twice!  He is enduring at his max and in combat mode!  Let us rest peacefully tonight and know that each day Dean is coming back to normal despite the harrowing struggle.  His strength is unbeatable.  Keep cheering him on, it's working.  Keep visiting, Dean's friends, it really helps him more than you can possibly imagine!  Many thanks, much joy,  Love - Janice

Coming Back to Life

Wow! Such a miracle is our son!

He is coming back to life against all odds!

Barry and I are so proud of his progress and of his courage. Dean has truly shown his true character and stamina and it is admirable at best.

Due to the small blood clot located on his neck Dean was put on "Coumadin" today. At 18 he should not have to stay on this for too long. I have not had time to do the research on it yet but I know that people have negative thoughts about it. I, however, have positive thoughts about anything that will facilitate his recovery.



Dean is also optimistic although he is very hyper-sensitive to pain, he is adjusting to the fact that it (the pain) will exist for a while.

Cat scan tomorrow to check on how much of the 'demon Lemierres' still exists, hopefully none.

Barry finally got Dean outside for a breath of fresh air on the lower floor balcony (with the help of a wheelchair and rolling IV), quite a feat, but really enjoyed!  He has not breathed outside air for 15 days.


This is quite an ordeal and thank you for checking in to the site for updates and continuing to pray for our brave young man!

Email me anytime at Janicehome@msn.com.

Love and Grace, Janice

Dean's Heart Looks Good

The test shows Dean's heart as clear of any infection.  However, a new complication has arisen, a small blood clot has arisen possibly as a result of all of the IV's for such an extended period of time.  Blood thinners will control this hopefully.  Otherwise Dean holding his own.  No temp and white count normal.  Dr's want to look at his colon just in case.  That will be the next test.  'Ensure' is a good thing and Dean also eating although not real hungry today following the echocardiogram.  Hopefully he will start eating normally tomorrow or someday soon....Right now most things are too dry for him...Dean thanks everyone for their prayers and good wishes for his wellness.  Love,  Janice

Tuesday-So far So Good

Every day is a new day and each and every day Dean is astonishing!

He is on the mend!!   Hallelujah!!   He is eating and moving and coming back to life!!

Still many steps in front of him, but his perseverance is amazing and willful. Thanks again for all of your prayers and support, we appreciate it more than you can possibly imagine!

Tomorrow another somewhat pervasive test called a ''transesophageal echocardiogram" in which Dean will be heavily sedated and a camera inserted through his esophagus to take pictures of the back side of his heart to check for infection. Cat scan only checks the front of the heart which looks good.

I'll update with the results. Thanks again for caring and praying! Love Janice

Good News - No Surgery Today!

Dean's Cat scan revealed that surgery to remove his spleen is not necessary as the infection is reducing.  He is still in much pain and very weak but eating and resting. 
This has truly been a test for him and for Barry and I but the Lord has been seeing us through. 
The antiobiotic IV is doing it's job and no new infections.   I will update this site with any developments regarding his recuperation.  Thanks again for everyone's prayers and visits.  
Love,  Janice 

Email Response from the Center for Disease Control

From: CDC-INFO (CDCINFO@cdc.gov)
Sent: Mon 1/11/10 8:07 AM
To: janicehome@msn.com
Thank you for your inquiry to CDC-INFO. We are sorry to learn about your son's infection and hospitalization. While we were unable to locate information about Lemierre's syndrome on the CDC website, you may be interested in the following resources:
Patient Safety/Quality
A pain in the neck could mean Lemierre's syndrome
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
http://www.ahrq.gov/RESEARCH/jul04/0704RA17.htm
Lemierre syndrome
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)
National Institutes of Health
http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/Condition/6882/QnA/22711/Lemierre_syndrome.aspx#1287
We also recommend that you review abstracts of reports and other publications by using the resources of the National Library of Medicine's PubMed service. PubMed is a searchable database that provides abstracts of biomedical articles and reports. You may also be able to obtain full text articles (some services may require subscriptions to view full text articles). If you are seeking less technical information, please use the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus, which offers a wide range of information on diseases, disorders, treatments, drugs and preventive services
PubMed
A service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/
Additional information may be found by searching the following website:
Medline Plus
A service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health
http://medlineplus.gov/
You may also wish to contact your state health department for additional information.
A link to finding state health departments is at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/international/relres.html
We hope that you find this information helpful and wish your son a speedy and full recovery.
Thank you for contacting CDC-INFO Contact Center. Please do not hesitate to call 1-800-CDC-INFO, e-mail cdcinfo@cdc.gov or visit http://www.cdc.gov if you have any additional questions.
CDC-INFO is a service of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). This service is provided by Vangent, Inc. under contract to CDC and ATSDR.
-----Original Message-----
From: janicehome@msn.com
Sent: 1/10/2010 03:49:09 AM
To: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Subject: Lemierres Syndrom - Rare yet undefeated
Government:
Please look into this.     It is deadly and apparently on the rise.
I believe my son will live but so many will and have perished!
My Son - Dean Tadlock a previously 18 year old healthy athlete. Still in hospital. Mission Hospital, Mission Viejo, CA.  Dr. Badie (but every Dr. and RN in this very fine and reputable hospital knows who Dean is.....) everyone is baffled and happy that he is such a fighter and still alive and now on the slow road to an excruciatingly painful recovery (which indeed is better than death).
This all could have been avoided had he been given the correct antibiotics at the right time. Christmas Eve, perhaps?
Finally admitted since Dec. 30th 2009 and fighting like he needs to with much spiritual assistance.
Thank you for checking it out.     Janice Tadlock  -  949-831-5848  -  Janicehome@msn.com

Initial Chronology Dec. 24th - Jan. 10th

1-8-10
Thank you for your prayers. Dean is amazing! He is fighting and winning although it will be a long and painful road ahead.
Last night was the first night in two weeks that he did not 'spike' a fever. This is encouraging. His surgical areas are healing and infection free. He has begun Physical Therapy and yesterday made it all the way down the hall with his PT (Dean calls him his Personal Trainer - ha ha) and the help of a walker. The antibiotic is doing its job and no new infection sites have been located. Cat scan of yesterday showed that there is still an area of bacteria on his Spleen. If this is not gone by Monday the plan is to remove the Spleen. Cat scan on Monday will determine.
Dean lost 30 pounds but he is young and will recover stronger than ever in due time. Thank God he was mostly muscle!
He will remain here in Critical Care for at least another week.
Faith, Love and Hope carrying us through.
Please share this email with those who may be asking.
- Janice & Barry

1-5-10
It is a harrowing hell but Dean is putting up a champions fight. Thank you for your prayers. I'll keep you updated. He was moved out of ICU today into a private room but we are still trying to conquer the demon. Your prayers are essential.
Much Love and Gratitude, Janice & Barry

1-3-10
Dean is still in ICU but slowly improving. Although Barry and I attempted to get him admitted into the hospital both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day via the Emergency Room we were sent home (after 8 hours each morning) and told he would be fine......At that point he was running a very high fever (104.5) which was reduced via IV fluids.
Obviously things were not and are not fine and escalated. We were finally admitted at 7:30 am on Wednesday, Dec. 30th following another 7 hour ER visit on Tuesday night at midnight.
We almost lost him in the days that followed.
He is now stable and the illness has been identified as Lemierres Syndrome which emerged following a sore throat.
Unfortunately the Center for Disease Control in the USA does not recognize and research this rare condition labeled Lemierres Syndrome which is known worldwide and studied and treated in many other first world countries; our Gov't, however, does not have it listed on the checklist for Dr.s and hospitals to automatically test for (i.e. Swine Flu, AID's, Hepatitis, etc...)
Hence the correct antibiotic was challenging for Dean's team of specialists. Unfortunately due to the delayed time of admittance and the rarity of the condition Dean was forced to have several emergency surgeries in the interim to release the toxins. The most evasive of which were on his right foot and left shoulder. Three cuts to release toxins which most likely would have killed him or most certainly would have left Dean maimed.  Horrible possibility it was.
As you are aware the demon is now being combatted with the proper ammunition but it is still not completely conquered; I am told by the Dr.'s that this may take several days. In other words it is still alive in his body.
Dean is completely immobilized and just starting to eat after 10 days. His temp and heart rate are starting to return to normal but they change to abnormal at any given second.
The disease has not reached his heart or brain and please pray that it doesn't.
He is strong and not self pitying. He is a fighter. He will conquer this with the Lord's ongoing assistance.
Barry and I refuse to leave this hospital until our baby is out of danger.
Please let others know so that they too may pray.
Thank You. -  Janice & Barry