Problems, Ports and PICC's

Here is the medical update on Alex...

For this one I have to actually go back all the way to May! The last week of may we went to the hospital with a fever. Our initial blood culture from the ER was positive for Staph Epidermis, but was ruled a contaminant. The decision was made for us to treat for 10 days with antibiotics anyway due to his history, but no one was worried. Fast forward to June...A few days after returning from our trip to Washington, Alex spiked a fever and we headed to the hospital. All blood cultures were negative and we returned home a few days later. July...Yet again another fever and another positive culture from the ER. Again ruled a contaminant. Once again we treated for 10 days. As we geared up for tech week of Annie, Alex was feeling horrible. He powered through as he didn't want to miss his show and his temp never went above our threshold for admission. We survived our trip to Mimi and PopPop's, but several days after returning we once again had a fever. Same story. This time the decision was made to remove his port. WE have 4 admissions for fever within 3 months. We have no other explanation. So last Friday (August 24th) his port was removed and a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) was placed. This is a line that still allows him to receive all his nutrition and meds while we complete yet another round of antibiotics. Next Friday, September 7th, Alex will go back to the OR to have a new port placed.  We are hopeful that this will finally allow him to feel better and get closer to his baseline of a few years ago. He is tired of feeling bad and not having the energy to participate in activities.

As many of you have seen on Facebook, Alex is gearing up for his favorite Fundraiser, Extra Life. It is a 24 gaming marathon that he has participated in the past several years. All of the money he raises goes to our hospital, Cook Children's Medical Center. Each year he sets his goal higher as he yearns to make a difference and find purpose in his struggles. If you feel called to give please click on the link below to reach Alex's fundraising page.

https://www.extra-life.org/participant/AL3X684

Thank you for all of your prayers as we try and get Alex back to a more stable place!
Ali