1:24 p.m. Caleb did have a respiratory emergency at work just a few minutes ago. It scared him and everyone else, but he is stable atm. Joshua went to pick him up. Clint is hoping to intercept them. I am without a car and am trying to get home to pack what they need and to be with our younger children. We are hoping his lung does not collapse any more until he is at the hospital, but I told Joshua to be ready for it if it does happen. Caleb knows he will need surgery this time, so he's not happy. We are trying to get him to Williamsburg Sentara. There is a lot going on trying to get everyone where they need to be.
1:34 p.m. Clint has Caleb and is enroute to the hospital. Joshua is on his way to me so I can go home and pack what they need. I have not asked for any more details because I know how important it is to get Caleb to the hospital asap before his lung fully collapses. I will update with details asap. Please pray for my boy.
2:01 p.m. Caleb has arrived at the Williamsburg Sentara hospital safely and is being cared for.
Just a little side note on God's goodness and CFA's assistance: Caleb's employer had a paramedic on staff who was able to help Caleb through the worst of it. The employees worked as a team to take care of Caleb and keep his spirits up. (This is a very scary thing to happen to anyone, much more so for an 18 year old.) My family is very grateful!
3:13 p.m. The ER doc just got back from looking at the x-ray and EKG. Caleb (18 years old) does have a collapsed lung again, as we expected from his symptoms. He was breading chicken at work when it collapsed partially again. The ER doc will confer with the pulmonologist. We expect to hear surgery is needed because this is what they said would be needed if it happened again. They put him on the higher flowing O2 sooner since that is what helped him last time. That means he's getting relief faster. Thank you for all of the prayers and encouraging texts and comments. We are in the middle of one of those very stormy times of life where everything is hitting us from all sides. God is answering prayers in the middle of these storms for us. We are looking to Him for direction
For those asking, I do not have the room number as he has not been admitted yet.
3:44 p.m. Clint just called me. The doctor did not like the measurement on Caleb's lung collapse. It was worse than expected. Everything is getting speeded up. They want to transport him to Sentara Norfolk asap for surgery. Transport tonight and surgery tomorrow morning IF they can line it all up. They want to prevent a full collapse. I had planned a trip to Williamsburg this evening to take a meal to Clint and supplies for both of them, but now it's on hold. The hospital will transport him as soon as they can arrange it. I will most likely not be able to see him before surgery which pains my heart. There are so many people I need to thank for being there for my family today. I'd list names, but I am afraid I will forget someone. I am truly grateful to all of you whether it was for helping him through the breathing issues and pain, the many offers of transportation and other help, texting/calling/messaging me to keep me company, prayers lifted on our behalf, etc, etc. Thank you so much!
This was in my devotional this morning: I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24 We are seeing this. It did not happen until after Caleb had arrived at work. He could have been on a ladder or driving!! A paramedic was there to help him through it, and his work friends were phenomenal in keeping him calm. Joshua was home and able to pick him up and meet Clint who left work to be with Caleb. I was able to get home to our younger children, tell them in person, and pack everything Clint and Caleb needs. We have friends who are offering to help get us to the different places. Brandon is away on business, but we were able to keep him informed all day. Everything we've needed was provided before we asked for it.
6:11 p.m. Dear friends of ours are on the way to the ER with their son, Luke, who is vomiting blood or bowel contents. (He has a G tube.) Please pray for them as well.
6:22 p.m. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support. The encouraging texts with verses and words of support are nearly constant. Thank you all! I will be turning my phone off in a little while so I can rest and get up early tomorrow.
10:20 p.m. It's been a long evening. They had planned to transfer Caleb to Sentara Norfolk, but they could not get a room for him. They are just now giving him a room in Sentara Williamsburg. They will try again to get him transferred tomorrow morning. There are no signs of further collapse, and he is not in any pain at all. Love to all!
THANK YOU TO ARK CHURCH in Nags Head, NC for praying for Caleb and our family tonight.
Our friend's son is going to have labs done, but they are having to get a vascular team to start the IV. Two nurses could not get it started. They believe it is blood he is throwing up.
10/23/2019 11:38 a.m. Waiting game... Norfolk never had a room for Caleb last night, so they held him in Williamsburg. They are trying to get him a room and have him transported today. We are not sure what will happen after that. He is breathing fine and not in any pain, but when the nurses checked his fingers and toes for color.... They found two toes that were crushed from where a piece of oak plywood fell last week! He never told us, but this is the child who walked around with a burst appendix years ago. I'm irritated he didn't tell us, but that's a discussion I'll have with him later. They soaked his toes, put antibiotic on them, and wrapped them up. They look so bad the doctor is going to xray them at the same time they do his lungs. I just saw them via picture text after almost a month's healing time!!!! His big toes are still swollen and red/purple. Both are still bloody. The nails are not sitting right. It disturbs me he walked on them in that condition for as many hours as he has. Caleb is very independent, very tough, and likes to keep going.
5:12 p.m. I just got home from a nice visit with Caleb and Clint. I am trying to answer everyone now. Joshua, Bethany, Emily, Hannah, and I had him laughing to the point he started hurting. He had a fun ride over with a speedy driver and a comedic paramedic I met before I left.
Caleb's x-ray showed his lung has inflated slightly which is good and is why his breathing and pain have improved. His terrible looking toes are not broken. He was transported and JUST now arrived at Sentara Heart. Once he is in the care of his new doctor, a thoracic surgeon, we should learn the plan and surgery time. We have an idea of the procedure(s) they will be doing, but I will wait until we know for certain.
Sentara Norfolk General, Room 433, Caleb Asbell. You can send him a card for free here. He will be here a while this time.
7 p.m. Clint just met with the new doctor (Kuppireddy). The surgeon will meet Caleb in the morning. Caleb can't eat after midnight because they are hoping to do the surgery tomorrow afternoon. If they can't do it tomorrow afternoon, Friday morning is the goal. The delays have been due to patients with more serious and immediate needs. We are content to wait. The nurses are keeping a close eye on Caleb. He only hurts when he laughs at the present.
Thank you ALL for EVERYTHING! It has REALLY HELPED keep Caleb's spirits high and his mind off of what's ahead.10/24/2019 8:30 p.m.: Shew! What a day! So much has changed! Caleb's lung reinflated in less than 24 hours, and he is stable. Because of that, doctors are OK with him waiting until Monday afternoon (first open surgery slot) or possibly Tuesday (if something comes up) for surgery now. Caleb wants to come home until Monday. The doctors aren't keen on it due to him having had second collapse so soon after the first (making a 50% chance it will happen again soon and worse than last time), but they are willing to work with him so he can be around his best medicine (family) and be well rested before surgery. God actually prepared the way for him to be able to come home ahead of time. Because we already have access to the specialized and hard to obtain equipment needed, it looks like Caleb will come home tomorrow afternoon. We are trying to work that out in a way that is safest for Caleb. We also heard the surgery details. My heart is hurting over what he is facing. Caleb has a hard and very painful road ahead with a lengthy recovery time. They are going to wound his lung and wound his chest cavity so they will heal and fuse back together to prevent another collapse. This works in 75% of people who have had multiple lung collapses. The doctor was very honest and told him when he wakes up... it will hurt, and it will hurt bad. If it does not work, they will do the same surgery again but with medical grade talc. It looks like he will miss 6-7 weeks of work, but his employer is very understanding. Please keep praying for Caleb and all of us. Lots going on..multiple fronts. Crazy stuff out of nowhere. Very stressful time for all of us. Thank you all for your prayers.
9:53 p.m. Clint and Caleb are making a stand. A nurse tried to give Caleb three unknown drugs without previous mention from his doctor. She seriously thought she could just put it in his IV bag and leave. Clint and Caleb stopped her. "Whoa, whoa, whoa, what is that?" Until she can answer what they are, what they are for, if there is something else they can do to prevent the use of the drugs, why they are all of a sudden needed, and why they were not informed Clint and Caleb are saying no. Near death experiences by different friends recently have made us cautious.
9:58 p.m. We were able to learn the drugs were not essential. They are considered optional, but we don't feel the benefits outweigh the risks of side effects. The nurse agreed that unless drugs are necessary, they should be avoided. Caleb was then informed he was admitted to the wrong room. He is in outpatient room when he is inpatient....until he can go home tomorrow. They moved him to a new room tonight. The experience at Williamsburg Sentara was much smoother than the visit to Sentara Heart has been.
Our friend's son was bleeding from his stomach, but it is stopped now. He has some bowel issues from this G tube, but he has improved some. He is home. Thank you to all who have included this sweet boy in your prayers.
10/25/2019 10:50 a.m. The doctor is going to have Caleb do a fast 6-7 minute walk, then check his blood O2, and will fast track his morning chest x-ray. If all is well, he gets to come home until Monday's surgery. Due to our distance from the hospital, they will expedite his leaving to help Clint avoid rush hour traffic. Caleb insists on coming home. There's not a lot we can do to make this situation better, so the doctors, nurses, Clint and I are working together to make this happen.
8:54 p.m. Caleb and Clint got home right before 7. Caleb passed all of the tests with flying colors. There was a long delay from when they told him he could go home until he actually was able to go home. They had many patients needing x-rays today. He is very happy to be home! Surgery is early next week. He will not be able to lift more than 10 lbs, drive, work, or exert himself in any way for at least a month. There are some serious risks, and he may have some scary moments post op. We are focusing on and praying for a positive outcome. Please also pray this surgery resolves the issue so he does not have to do another procedure with talc which carries a cancer risk.
Caleb is tall and thin. His chest cavity is long and narrow. His lungs also sit a little lower than you would expect. People with his body type are prone to spontaneous pneumothorax. He's asked for Asbell tacos (I wish our Polish "son," Chris, could be here!), brownies with ice cream, cheese cake with strawberries, and turtle pie for out family day on Sunday.
Thank you all so much for the prayers and encouragement and company and offers of help, the cards, the messages, etc from our family (old and new, near and far), friends, and strangers! May God bless you for your kindness to us.
