Ethan Update

Here is an email Spencer sent out last night....thanks again for all your prayers; we need them (especially little Ethan)!

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update.

Ethan is doing well but has had a couple of minor setbacks lately. Please don’t be overly concerned. It may seem overly alarming but likely is not.

- Late Monday night he started having spots of red blood in his stool.
o Blood in stool could be…
§ C diff (a bacteria in most kids born causing an irritation to the colon).
§ Allergic reaction to mothers milk.
§ Hole in intestines or digestive track.
o Red blood means it’s typically lower in the track.
- Tuesday he had more significant blood in his stool.
- They also stopped giving him mother’s milk and providing him his a special formula that is easier to digest.
- They took cultures and he tested positive for C diff
o This does not mean it was causing the irritation but is a possibility.
o They started him on an antibiotic late yesterday.
- They took an X-ray of his intestinal track and did not see any gas.
o This would mean no hole. They believe.
- I gave him a priesthood blessing Tuesday night.
- Wednesday he had less blood and it was darker (meaning it was either healing or higher up in the intestinal track).

Debbie Update
- Because Debbie was running around everywhere yesterday and super stressed out she missed about half her pumping sessions (not good).
- It’s believed she has Mastitis (an infection in her breasts, not the milk but the breast).
- It has been helpful for her to get on her pumping schedule and to take Advil but the doctor will likely prescribe an antibiotic.
- Although she will continue to pump we will likely throw away the milk she pumps until after the antibiotic is out of her system.
- We bought a small freezer last night to keep up with her amazing milk production.
o She fooled her breasts into thinking she had twins.
o The bad side is they were on track to produce lots of milk and if it doesn’t come out can block the ducts and hurt very bad.

We’ll keep you posted the best we can as things progress. Thank you for your prayers.

Thanks,
Spencer J. Couts