Son Joe: YET ANOTHER UPDATE

[wgoforth]

If anyone wants to follow my son's condition, there is a facebook page someone created called Praying for Joe Goforth.
I'm at Baylor, downtown Dallas if anyone wants to visit.
Thanks

[carlson1]

We will be praying for you son and your family.

[The Annoyed Man]

Prayers said, and I joined the facebook page.

[shortysboy09]

Prayers for your family and son. He looks like a great kid. Me and my family will pray for him.

[longtooth]

I will pray for you too. This morning as soon as I click submit. I dont know how to do face book.

[silverbear]

Prayers for Joe and your family. God bless.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I will pray for Joe and your family.

Chas.

[A-R]

My sympathy and prayers are extended to you.

[SQLGeek]

Joined the group...prayers continue to go up for him.

[KC5AV]

We'll be praying. I hope he continues to improve.

[joe817]

Prayers sent by this household. May the Lord be with him and your family.

[Crossfire]

Joined the group, and praying for your family.

[wgoforth]

Thanks to all. It was GREAT to meet Tregs from the forum today at the hospital.

Here is a summary written by our daughter, as we haven't had time:

joe had had swine flu back in october. apparently it settled in his heart and began attacking the rest of his body from there. Thursday night he was taken to the ER in stephenville with liver failure. They found a doc in ft worth that will take him, and under care his liver swelling started to come down on sunday morning and although a ultrasound showed there was some fluids in his abdomen, he seemed to be responding well. Around 5pm on sunday, he began having trouble breathing. Then, once in icu, he went into cardiac distress. at first they thought it was a heart attack, but in truth, 2 of 4 heart sections were clogged with blood clots, and a third section was just dead. His heart was trying to do rely on just one pump to do all the normal work. his heart filled his whole chest cavity amd was surrounded by fluids. they began trying to drain the fluids- he had gained 6 pounds by that overnight. he had to be kept sedated as he started struggling and gagging every time he came to, due to uncomfortability from all the tubes down his throat. once he was well stabilized, they moved him to a hospial more specialized in cardiovascular problems. once there, he was able to come off of some of the tubes, and his condition was stabilized more. originally they were looking at a heart transplant, but you cn only hve one heart transplant, and that lasts an average of 12 years, along with the higher chance of his body rejecting it because his younger ammune system would fight it sohard. so right now, they are looking at a heart pump that can be replaced every 5 years.they are waiting a few days to see how his liver begins recovering on its own, because there is still a possibility that he may need a liver transplant. and if he does need one, they want to do the chest pump and transplant at the same time. if he needs a liver transplant, our brother rob has volunteered to donate a portion of his own, as they have the same blood type and would probably be lower chance of rejection if its from a sibling. while they are doing the open heart surgery for the chest pump, they are planning on removing the blood clots in hope that his heart main eventually regain use of itself and possibly no longer need a chest pump later down the road. for now, they are taking him off the breathing tubes, allowing him to breathe on his own, keeping his system stronger, and they are allowing him to come off the sedation. So far he will open his eyes, one of the girls who came to see him held his hand and he rubbed er hand back, and he will aknowlege you by nodding at the appropriate times, though it seems very difficult for him.

[A-R]

Wow. I am numb after reading of what your son has endured, and what you all must surely be enduring. I can't even imagine. Just closed my eyes and prayed again for you all.

[CompVest]

I have added your son and you and your family to my prayers.