Just got back from visiting with Zach. He is now out of his roto-prone bed and into a "normal" bed. Yesterday he passed the test, by lying flat and tolerating it....O2 sats in the high 90's. Zach looks great again. His face and body were very swollen (due to 3rd spacing) on the roto-prone bed. Now the swelling is down and he looks like Zach, handsome and serene. His sats continue to be in the high 90's. Yeah! He is being weaned off the oscillator...was on 100% oxygen, now on 55% oxygen....His ABG's...arterial blood gases are fantastic....Way to go Zach!!!!
Today was the last day of antibiotics, yet he spiked a temp and his WBC, went up again. More blood cultures....he is now back on the cooling blanket....watch, wait, pray and fight. Hope-Prayer is the sun of hope. The darker the night the nearer the dawn...
I read the blog comments from you all to Zach tonight....Yes he is still on the paralytic, an induced coma...yet hearing and kind words penetrate the soul.
love & thanks to all....
jo and ange
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To Zachs family: I met Zach at carolina when he was recruiting people to go on the Bike and Build trip for the summer of 2008. There are few people that I can remember being so excited and passionate about something they truly believed in as Zach. Zach convinced me that Bike and Build would be an experience of a lifetime, and if it wasn't for him taking the time to hold meetings and tell people about the trip I never would have experienced what was probably the best summer of my life, a summer of great experiences, awesome friendship, and immense personal growth. It is because of Zachs character and passion for Bike and Build and affordable housing that I decided to participate.
Just wanted to let you know how much Zach means to me, and I barely know him! I am involved with Campus Crusade on campus at Carolina, and Zach has been on our hearts and in our minds since I heard the news. There are over a dozen people praying for him here on campus that have never even met him! He has constantly been on my mind and in my prayers, and my prayers are with you as well!
Scott Wilkins
scottw721@yahoo.com
Thanks for the update, Jo and Ange. You're doing a great job of keeping everyone who knows and loves Zach informed. Love y'all! Rita
Oh Joanne that is great. I am so happy for your family. We will keep chanting for you all every day. Love and miss you dearly
Laura
Zach, you're so close!!! stay strong, buddy.
I'll see you soon.
Joanne & Angela: This blog is such a good idea. Thank you! My thoughts are with you.
-Anna
alstokke@unca.edu
Joanne and Angela, thank you so much for creating this to keep us all up to date, and for (of course!) being such a wonderful, strong family for Zach. His progress is impressive and his strength familiar.
Please know that you can call on me for anything at all as 'Zach's journey' continues.
And when you get a chance, please read this to him:
Zach, New York today is a lot like the early fall in Tilton - chilly, a bit windy, and beautiful...it's a good day for Nico's "these days", if you know what I mean. That song always has and always will remind me of you and me at Tilton my sophomore year. Remember that day we both skipped whatever we were supposed to be doing and went snowskating instead? It got dark and we just stayed outside, climbing huge snow drifts and falling over. It's been nearly five years and I still count that day as one of my best. One of our best. Of everything I am nostalgic for in my life, you represent so much of it. When you wake up, let's be kids again, okay?
I love you.
Miranda
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