July 2010 Update

On Sunday July 11th we went to Piedmont around 4pm. Ray was running a temp. of 103.7 & shaking uncontrollable with shivers & high blood pressure of 170/86. They admitted him around 1 am. They did a ctscan and saw his colon was inflamed, as well as his spleen and liver( which those 2 have been since all this started!)
Ray stayed until the 15th, until his fever broke and stayed down. What they found out was he had colitis, which was cause from Strep that they found in his bowls. He apparently had the Strep, and with his low immune system, his body just didn't detect it, and it stayed and got into his blood stream and worked it's way down.

He went home with a pic iv line and has been on antibiotics since he was admitted and released. The antibiotics have made him feel much better. He has had to go to Piedmont 2-3 times a week since he was dis charged to get new meds for his pic line and get his blood tested. Last Friday they called and told him his white blood cell count was dangerously low..so he went in the following Monday and was given an infusion shot. He went that Wednesday and had his blood drawn again and was given more pic line meds. On this Friday, he went in again for more blood work and they said his white blood count was back up and looking good, and it probably had been lowered due to the antibiotics he was on for those 3 weeks.

Then, they also found from Wednesday's blood tests what caused his Strep to begin with...Mononucleosis. Which he most likely got due to his low immune system again. While waiting for his liver transplant, getting infections and sick can be very dangerous for Ray with his low immune system, his body has a much harder time fighting things. The good news is that it isn't the infectious mono, and he is not contagious. He may have been at one time, but there is no way of knowing but he isn't now. Once someone has mono, it usually remains dormant for the rest of their life. There is no medical treatment for mono, just plenty of rest and lost of fluids, so he is trying to take it as easy as possible. He is still working, but trying not to over due it!

Some family members have already had tests done to make sure they do not have mono either, and Ansley and I are going this week to be checked! No one that sees Ray or us on a regular baisis should drink after anyone in our family( especially parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins) or eat after anyone in our family to keep from the viral infection from possibly being spread, this is especially important for Ansley, she not eat or drink after no one.

Thank you for your continued support and please keep Ray in your prayers and on your church list prayers too! As most of you know by now, we are strong belivers in the power of prayer and are so thankful for each and everyone of you so much! Please remember, and feel free to pass along, that Rasising For Ray is now Incorporated and we are a 501 c 3 Non profit organization now. Any donaiotns, large or small are a tax write off and every penny adds up! I have our 501 c 3 info that I can send in an email or mail if you or someone or business you know would like to make a donation. All donations can be made at any BB&T Location. Anonymous donations can be made as well. Please make checks payable to Raising For Ray, Inc and the address on the account is 1360 Stag Run Dr Mansfield Ga 30055. We also have autographed Jason Aldean Blue jeans up for Raffle. $10 a ticket. You can view the jeans on our website at www.raisingforray.blogspot.com and purchase tickets through there on paypal or mail check to address above. The drawing will be this fall, at our next big fund raiser, details TBA. Fund Raising is essential for us, we are not sure how much longer Ray will be able to work! We have done well the 1st year, but with insurance coverage being reduced in January , we still have about $90,000 to go!

Thank you all so much!
Love and God Bless,
Krystle, Ray, and Ansley