Here is what I have learned about VRE.
- Enterococcus are bacteria that live in the digestive and genital tracts. They are normally benign and don't cause any problems in healthy people.
- Vancomycin is a powerful antibiotic that is often the antibiotic of last resort. It is generally limited to use against bacteria that are already resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics.
- Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus is a mutant strain of Enterococcus that originally developed in individuals who were exposed to the antibiotic. It was first identified in Europe in 1986, and in the U.S. in 1988.
Here's why it is a scary situation: Pat has NO immune system. In a healthy person, this would really be no big deal. To Pat, on the other hand, it can be deadly. He has no white blood cells to fight this infection off. Antibiotics work best when they have a healthy immune system to work along side them. Pat's white blood cell counts have been extremely low the past several weeks, and the doctors don't know that they will ever recover. So they really don't know if they can cure this with antibiotics only. They have started him on another antibiotic, but if doesn't respond well to that treatment, he could end up going into septic shock, and basically all of his organs would shut down.
From what the doctor told me a couple of weeks ago, in Leukemic patients, it's not the Leukemia they end up passing away from, it's a secondary infection.
So please, I beg of you, pray for my husband. Pray that he will kick this infection like it's nothin'. Pray that he gets healthy enough to let these alternative therapies work.
Lord-
I pray that You would give strength to my husband, Pat. I pray that You would wrap your loving arms around him, and give him peace in knowing You are with him. I lift him up to you, Lord, and I pray that You would heal him. I pray that You will take his pain away. I pray that You will pull him close, and make his relationship with You stronger. Lord, I pray that these antibiotics will work. I pray that You will keep Pat here, on earth, for a little longer, as we are not ready for him to leave us yet! I pray that You would comfort him, in times of sadness. I pray You would keep Your hand on him, and keep him safe.
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen
I have not lost hope, but I still cannot believe this is my life. I keep hoping that I will just wake up, and realize that it's all been a horrible nightmare. Well, it is a nightmare, but it's my life, not a dream...
