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