This is our first update since Sunday, October 13. On Sunday Rhonda was moved out of ICU and into a Surgical Stepdown room. They had removed the wound vacuum and closed the incision from her surgery. They put in two drains to keep the fluid (old blood) draining from the cavity so that it will close up from the inside out. She has had several days of slow progress. The drains are working and they removed one of the drains today, Friday, October 18. She had been able to sit up in bed on Tuesday, but by Thursday she had gotten weaker and was not able to sit up or get out of bed. Things had looked like they were really improving and she was progressing well enough to be considered for a transfer to a rehab facility, but that changed.

Today on Friday, October 18, she continued to decline. She was much weaker and lethargic. By the afternoon she was somewhat confused. We noticed the redness had returned to her legs where she had had the open wounds. We pressed the medical team to do some tests. The Infectious Disease team came in and examined her, they started doing tests and determined she did have another infection. I also pressed them to check the CO2 levels in her blood.

This hat was given to me on Wednesday night after I preached at Faith Baptist Church.

They brought in the Rapid Response Team and they began to run many other tests. Then the MICU team came in. Her blood gases revealed that her CO2 levels were REALLY high. She has been moved to a Progressive Care Unit, which is one step below Medical ICU. She has been placed on a Bi-Pap machine to help her breath and to get lower the CO2 levels. They did an x-ray on her lungs and have found that her left lung is all whited out. That could indicate pneumonia. We are waiting for the pulmonary team to come in.

She is very weak and very sick and could end up back in ICU. Please pray for the CO2 numbers to drop drastically and for the infection to go away. The next hours are very critical. We REALLY do not want to see her back in ICU. She is in such a compromised state that is would be a huge set back.

We know that the Lord has a plan. Rhonda is His child and He will always do right. We are so thankful for the prayers and encouragement from each of you.

God is always good. He is only good.

-The Brandenburg Family

The Embers

URGENT Update on Rhonda Brandenburg 2019-10-19