UPDATE
I have thought long and hard about this update.
Someone commented above that these updates must be difficult
..that is putting it mildly, I have known the family for years,
watched Rick, Jo and their family grow and prosper
and in a lot of ways Rick is like a brother to me.
Not withstanding Chris's comments above Rick is not in too good a place at the moment.
I spent 12 hours with the family at the hospital on Saturday night / Sunday morning.
At that time Rick was at his lowest - hence all the family being called in at one time.
Rick got through the night and when I left on Sunday AM about 6 he was more responsive.
I would like to think he heard me when I told him of all the good wishes
and healing thoughts coming his way from all the good people on here .
Since then it has been a case of almost hour by hour,
with major treatment decisions being taken at 24 hour intervals or when essential.
Monday saw a text from Jo saying that Rick was still under treatment
and no move had been made to palliative care.
I took this to mean that the antibiotics were beginning to get a hold
of the Strep infection (the most serious problem facing Rick).
Ironically (if that is the right word) the leukemia is now in remission.
Today's text says that the doctors are pleased with his progress
and they are going to try him on some nutrition, if they can.
(Rick has not had any solid food for a while now).
Rick is still critical (there I said it) and it could go either way at this point.
However there IS improvement and a glimmer of hope.
Time to ramp up those healing thoughts
and if you are that way inclined
say a small prayer for him and his family.
Pete Knowles