Update on Manuel

Manuel was able to take his chemo for 7 days straight  and by the end of that treatment, he felt sick from blisters in his mouth again but more severe.  He has felt a hole on the gum at the upper front tooth.  He has been trying to get in to see a dentist but they are so booked up he has not been able to.  His primary care doc was good enough to give him some antibiotics and a prescribed mouth rinse to help the hurt until he can be seen by a dentist.

I had been trying to convince him to go to the hospital here on base as an emergency case.  He is hard headed and has to really be hurting to go.  He made up his mind on Tuesday night that we would go on Wednesday morning.  We went to the emergency room at SAMMC (San Antonio Military Medical Center), and within an hour, he was seen.  The ER Dr checked him out good and decided he needed immediate attention after x-rays were done and all the picking and probing.  He made one call to the Oral and Maxillofacial Dept and was able to get him an 8 am appointment with a specialist for Thursday.  This was great.  We were both elated that at last they would be doing something for him quick.

We went for his early morning appointment and the specialist is very concerned that he may have a deep tissue/bone infection. He suspects damage from the chemo but will make sure.  They will have to remove one tooth and maybe two.   They scheduled him for oral surgery this Tuesday morning.  At that time, they will remove one tooth, take a biopsy of tissue and see what may be needed next.  We were very concerned about how long he would have to wait before he would be able to get a bridge or implant, which is what the doctor had suggested.  The Doctor said “no wait, we will do the impressions right now and by the time we remove the tooth, he will have his bridge”.  That was very impressive.  He feels he should have come a long time ago but at least now he will be taken care of and hopefully his pain will not be as bad.  We are so thankful.  God is always watching over our needs. 

Thanks to everyone for their prayers.  That is what gets us through all this.

Here are some pictures of the SAMMC… The FamCamp is right behind the hospital, so it is really convenient to go here.

This is a state-of-the-art facility.  We learned today that this facility is the largest military medical center now, topping Walter Reed Hospital. Having it right in our backyard is great.  God placed us here at this time for a reason! 

Right next to the hospital is the Fisher House, which helps wounded Warriors. 

Things are looking positive and Manuel’s attitude stays very positive.  We just cope with the down times.