Kate asked me to update her blog so everyone can be praying for Noah.

I spoke with Kate tonight.  She is in Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC.    The morning started okay for Noah.  Two of his siblings were sick with headache and mild fever, nothing a little ibuprofen didn't relieve.  Noah was feeling fine when he met his temporary hospice nurse.  An hour and a half later, he had a fever and wasn't acting like himself.    He began to vomit bile.  From Abbeville,  Dr. Bonetti recommended Noah be seen at a hospital.  The hospice nurse arranged for transport.  Once EMS arrived, the medics were not comfortable going directly to Winston-Salem and followed their protocol to stop at the nearest hospital for stabilization.  Then going with lights and sirens, they took Noah to the hospital in Winston-Salem. 

Kate reports she was pleased that the doctors in Winston-Salem were waiting for Noah when he arrived.  Noah has been admitted to a step-down pediatric unit - just next door to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.  He has a fever and is still vomiting.  He is minimally responsive, pretty much only responding to things that hurt him.  He has been started on two high powered antibiotics.  The doctors in W-S even called Noah's docs in Greenville and found out what dose of vancomycin Noah had required last time to reach therapeutic levels!  The hospital is allowing Noah to receive the IV ibuprofen Kate brought with her.  (She is thankful she took more than she thought they would need for the trip.)  The hospital has IV methadone for Noah's pain relief.  Kate is concerned and appreciative that so many W-S doctors have stopped by to tell her how concerned they are because Noah is so sick. 

Kate hasn't settled in well in the hospital yet.  She has her phone, but not her laptop.  She cannot send email updates to this post.  She can facebook, however.  We have agreed to talk again tomorrow night and then I'll update the blog further.

Please pray for Noah's recovery.  Pray for Kate.  Pray for Jeff as he is back at the camp cabin taking care the two sick children and the other children.  Pray for the doctors and nurses in W-S, Greenville, and Abbeville as they coordinate Noah's care.  Thank God for His control of all the arrangements today. 

(I was driving when I talked to Kate tonight.  I have tried to be very literal in the post, but if there are any errors, I apologize.)

Michelle Floyd for Kate Estes