Week 8-9

Abby's gained another kilo this week but her stomach is still causing her problems. She is scheduled for a GI scope, three different teams will be involved: gastroenterology for her stomach; ENT (ear, nose, throat) for her trach; and pulmonary for her lungs. This procedure will take two hours during which she will be be given general anesthesia.
Abby's out of the surgery room and in a lot of pain in her throat due to the scopes. Her blood pressure is very high and they are trying a nitro paste to bring it down. There are no cysts or obstructions, just some inflammation in her stomach and esophagus, which was probably caused by the tubes.
Please play that she will recover easily from its effects and that all her systems now functioning the way God designed them. Thank you all so much for your support in so many ways, from prayers, visits, food, cards, to helping with the various fundraising events.

Marsh Madness Event

SUPPORT ABBY MARSH BY ATTENDING HER BIGGEST EVENT TO DATE!

MARSH MADNESS

Friends of the Marsh family are sponsoring a fund raising event for the Marsh family. All proceeds will be donated to the Abby Marsh Trust Fund to help with medical costs as well as remodeling costs needed to accommodate Abby's needs.
There will be: 

• Two bands performing; CODE 9, The Ben and Joe Duo
• Food, draft beer, wine, soft drinks
• Raffles and silent auctions
• Cost:
• 25.00/person
• 45.00/couple
• 15.00 for 21 and under

This is a ticketed event so be sure to buy your tickets at the Florence Government Center (Open: M-F: 10am - 2pm).  You can also contact Tim Aubrey to purchase tickets outside of these hours at 859-468-9548.

Thank you for all the love & support! Visit the Facebook event page for more details and to confirm your invitation!

Abby's seventh week in the hospital

It's been another week of ups and downs for Abby. On the down side, she is still experiencing stomach upsets and the doctors are still having to liquid from it. On the up side, she managed to gain a few pounds this week! The doctors would like her to gain about ten more pounds at a minimum. Please pray that she can continue to tolerate her feeds and that her SMA valve begins to work in response to the weight gain (once this happens they can take the tube in her left nostril, which drains her stomach, out).
Through the week, the nurses were able to get her in a wheelchair for approximately two hours at a time, on a regular basis. 
Dan, Abby's Dad, did her trach change this week for the first time and he did an amazing job! It was the best trach change she's had yet! She was traumatized by one really bad change and now it has created a figurative hurdle for her. Abby is still really nervous and hesitant to allow no one else but trained professionals to care for her. She is coming around to her parents caring for her as the hospital staff continues to educate Reta and Dan on how to care for Abby however.
She's been able to receive more visitors now, and she loves entertaining, so please keep coming! You can sign up using the "Book Appointment" button at the top of the page.

Car Wash

Come to the US 42 Culver's to get all dirt and grime washed off your car. (something rain alone cannot do)

11:00am - 3:00pm 

The cost is free!!! Donations will be accepted, t-shirts and wrist bands will also be available.

Elephant not included.

Abby wants YOU to come visit her! How to schedule a visit.

You can now sign up to come visit Abby! 

http://www.snapappointments.com/listing/1p2

Lately Abby has been wondering where everyone has been and why she hasn't had more visitors. The Marsh family has been limiting visitors due to her condition, but now feel that it is safe enough for Abby to be visited. So feel free to come by and say Hello and catch up with Abby!!!

The process is really quite simple, but let me lay it out for you just in case you're not tech savvy. :)

1. Go to: http://www.snapappointments.com/listing/1p2  From here you can see the days and hours that Abby is available to visit. You can also; post Facebook comments, recommend it on Facebook, and Tweet it.

2. Scroll down to the bottom to book a visit.

Then click on "Visit Abby", then click "Continue".

3. Click on "Abby Marsh". Then click "Continue".

4. Select a date, in the calendar, and time you would like to visit Abby. Then click "Continue". (note: if you would like to visit for an hour or more you must sign up for an additional visit.)

5. Here you must; enter your name, phone, and email. This is so the Marsh family can send you a text/email if Abby decides that she is not feeling well enough to see visitors that day.

Also note that if multiple people are coming with you please list those people in the "Notes" box.

Once complete click "Book Appointment".

6. When you are finished, you should get a screen that looks like this. If you would like to visit Abby for longer than 30 minutes, feel free to schedule a consecutive appointment.  

Abby enjoying her new gown

Last Friday Abby received a new hospital gown from her cousin, Erin. Erin got it from one of her friends' Etsy pages. Abby was excited to switch it up and get rid of the old boring gowns the hospital provides. It seems like such a small thing, but aren't those the ones that count. Her spirits were lifted and continue to be from your comments and visits.
An online visiting schedule is in the works of being created. You will be able to sign up for a time and date, which will be tentative, for when you would like to come visit Abby.

Abby and her new gown.

Abby before her stomach condition.

When she first learn how to speak past her trach.

Sunday - 7/8

Abby's digestive issues have stabilized a bit today and she's feeling a bit better. We were told the other day that fixing the SMA valve might take a few weeks, mainly because she hasn't tolerating a large volume food in her tube since she got sick. We are hopeful Abby can successfully practice going off her ventilator this week for short periods of time and breathe 100% on her own. Thank you for praying! Love you all and are so appreciative of all your support.

July 6th

Abby had another bad night last night. She woke up at 3 am complaining of chest pains and stomach discomfort. Her medical team discontinued her feeds and gave her pain medicine at 6:00 am. The doctors think the chest pain is related to her stomach issues and have scheduled a complete two view ultrasound at 2:30 today. Please pray!!

Bruster's

We had another amazing turnout at the latest fundraiser at Bruster's on Tuesday night. Thank you so much for your support for Abby.  Please continue to send cards to her and to post encouraging messages on Facebook. She is so buoyed by all the love! 

People showing support. Thanks again for coming!

T-shirts are now available for $10 each, they will continue to be sold at events.

Diagnosis

Today, Abby was diagnosed with Superior Meseteric Artery (SMA) syndrome. SMA causes gastrointestinal obstruction and it is often associated sudden weight loss. It's the reason that her stomach hasn't been emptying fully and why she has been feeling nauseous and vomiting so much. The good news is that it is treatable, we were told, by weight gain. We have been trying to fatten Abby up her whole life, but now it's critical. Since she can't eat anything, they inserted an "NJ" (feeding) tube in her nose that bypasses her stomach and through which she can be fed high protein and high calorie formula. Unfortunately, this latest bump in the road has also affected the weaning off the ventilator since she has been feeling so poorly.

Please pray that Abby gains weight quickly and that her stomach and digestive system work efficiently.  Also, please pray that her spirits stay strong and that God continues to minister to her heart and comfort her. 

July 2nd

Abby had a bad night. She was up the entire night puking every five minutes while her mom suctioned it out of her mouth. The nurse pulled two liters of stomach acid out of her feeding tube!!! There's no doubt she felt a little better after that. Abby is getting hooked back up to an IV since she can't keep any fluids down. The little firecracker hasn't been able to smile all day, for those who know Abby, that means she is feeling really under the weather. She just had another X-ray this morning and her second set of blood tests were normal. Doctors are still trying to figure out what's causing this. Keep praying as we keep you updated.

July 1st

Please pray for Abby today. She's very sick, has an upset stomach, and secretions from her lungs. The doctor's have taken some blood sample earlier today and those came back negative, which is good. We are not sure what's going on, possibly another infection but they are not sure where.Love you all!

If you're not out of town on vacation, please come to Bruster's on Tuesday evening for Abby. Thank you!