Candy and I just high fived with glee as we are seeing great improvements and stable signs that he has in our opinion turned the corner. Plus they ruled out HLH as a diagnosis!! They had been undecided about it for weeks. So we are extremely thankful today that there is light at the end of this tunnel. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.[...]

The best news is that he is starting slowly to be more aware and responsive. We have made baby steps in the right direction, still very, very sick. His lung X-ray looked much better today than yesterday!! Please continue your prayers as they are keeping him afloat while his body heals. Our shared body of Christ is very strong and we are beyond thankful for all the support Walker and his family has received during this most difficult of days. The amazing thing is that this too shall pass and we will again be enjoying life together as family. Thanks be to God for what he is doing in our lives today, tomorrow, and always.[...]

The main thing we ask today from all who are praying for Walker is that the sprit of the peace of Christ to hover over him today. So that the doctors can safely wake him up from almost 2 weeks of deep sedation. The problem today is that when they try to wake him he gets so scared and agitated that his blood pressures and vitals get dangerously high and he begins physically thrashing and moving so that they have to sedate him again.[...]

I think it’s time to stop counting the days as it will be many more to come. As we have been told many times by Walkers doctors, it will take a long time to recover from this. And so it goes....[...]

Today’s post....by Auntie Gail

Well, the saying goes, one step forward and two steps back when dealing with ECMO. That should be translated to "days". We had a good day Monday, but today and yesterday have been difficult. As soon as we lower sedation to try to wake him, he gets anxious and fights his respirator and lines, raising his blood pressure and heart rate as he hyperventilates.
Doctors say it could be 3-5 days of this. We thought he was making a turn Monday, but not yet. This is a difficult process to watch! Please pray for protection for his liver and kidneys. Pray that they can find the right combination of sedation, pain meds and anti anxiety drugs to allow him to wake safely from his induced sleep. Pray for
the McKnights to keep faith and hope in the days to come.
Auntie Gail[...]

Day 19 Ecmo day 10
Well today is rough Walker is very anxious and unsettled. I know all of the lines and trach are very annoying and confusing to him but I am unable to calm him down. Pray for rest and peace for Walker. His labs are holding and X-ray is looking better.[...]

Day 19 icu, day 9 ECMO

the fight continues.... a small step back today after a great! Day yesterday but the docs say his vitals are very good and that is most important. He just seems more agitated today which hard on everyone.[...]

Day 18, Ecmo day 9
Today is a good day. I think the team has found the perfect combination of medications that will best support Walker as he continues to improve. His chest X-ray is looking better. The team even moved him into a chair today! This is another milestone. Yes we are cautioned two steps forward and one step back but overall today is a win for us![...]

Dave wrote:

Day 17 ICU/day 8 ECMO
The doc said his lungs are looking much better!! Slow and steady wins the race. All his vitals are good. They are keeping him sedated with a little bit of consciousness. Changing his meds to slowly bring him up to consciousness. No fevers which is great. And today when they moved him, he tolerated it much better than yesterday when his heart raced and pulse quickened. Today he handled it like the Champion that he is.[...]

Today we have learned that they are fairly confident that he is suffering from an attack by the Adenovirus. That the other viruses they have found - Ebstein Barr, Strep A, and Walking pneumonia are secondary at this point to the Adenovirus. In fact, several doctors have said it seems he has a rare text book version of this nasty virus. An older man probably would not have survived as long as Walker has to date. He is a fighter. An athlete that was headed to the side lines of FAU football this fall. His dream to cheer in college is side-lined for now with a long recovery ahead. The doctors have all said “this is going to take a long time”, probably many months to regain strength and certain abilities. At this point only time will tell the whole story.[...]