We Got This!

"I tell him I tried. I tried to keep memory alive; I tried to fight those who would forget. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. There is so much injustice & suffering crying out for our attention. We must take sides. We must interfere. -E.W.

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Ryan has Potentially Life-Threatening Infection

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I had big plans for last weekend. I was looking forward to getting away for a couple of days by myself. It was meant to give me some downtime… to help my mental health. So, I packed-up my hunting gear and headed to the mountains of West Virginia.

Turns out, I didn’t step foot in the woods. I never entirely unpacked, for that matter.

If you haven’t heard about it yet through social media, Ryan has full-blown MRSA. He almost certainly picked it up years ago while hospitalized. Likely colonized — yet dormant — for years.

Now it has become active.

MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) is caused by a staph bacteria strain that’s resistant to most antibiotics. The infection can embed itself deep in the body, causing life-threatening infections by becoming systemic (i.e., attacking bones, joints, wounds, bloodstream, heart valves, and lungs).

MRSA is considered a “Super Bug” and can be difficult to defeat in a healthy person, but usually is. Ryan’s condition, coupled with his inability to tell us his symptoms, makes it exponentially more challenging. Only time will tell the outcome.

As of now, three days into treatment, I’m not seeing the improvement I was hoping. The best I can tell you is that the infections appears no worse. That isn’t necessarily a good thing either. It could indicate that treatment is only suppressing the infection and, hence, making it even more resistant as it mutates and adapts.

I’m really scared.

I’m probably more scared than typical because I haven’t slept since Sunday morning. Ryan was without overnight nursing coverage the past two nights (which has become the weekly norm since October). Sure, the physical effects of sleep deprivation are tough enough, but it wreaks havoc on mental well-being too.

I’m fairly certain this lifestyle is killing me. How can it not?

 

Comments

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  4. I know you are so very busy and worried about your boy but, if possible, when you have a moment, would you post an update on how Ryan is doing? Much love and many prayers are coming your way.

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  5. I learned of your family just a week ago through Frank (Gramma and Ginga – G&G). I spent the remainder of the day reading every post, many of the comments and google. I tell you I went through just a whirlwind of emotions for Ryan and all of you. I have shed many tears of sorrow, ANGER ANGER, happiness and compassion for you all. I have been so worried after learning of Ryan’s most recent infection. You all forever have a piece of my heart. Your strength is incredible. Love to you all.

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  21. Praying and holding your precious Ryan and family in my heart and in my prayers.
    Still. Always. Forever. Until. May the outpouring of love and prayers being said on Ryan and your family’s behalf buoy your strength and your spirits.

    A long, hard, beyond words, ridiculously difficult challenge that you, your family and Ryan have risen to the over and over again. May this time be no different.

    With love and in prayer,
    Keri, MY FRANKIE and Family

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  22. Not a day goes by without thoughts of Ryan and his family. So many prayers need to be answered. My prayers will continue, my love for your family continues as well.

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  25. Our prayers continue, Ken. Hope Ryan is responding well to treatment. I want you to know the I have a community of Franciscan Priests and Brothers praying for Ryan and also two communities of Franciscan Sisters praying for Ryan. We can do this.

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  29. I will continue to pray for Ryan and all of you. You are never far from my heart. Storming heaven today with prayers for Ryan.

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  36. Thoughts and prayers Ken, my brother in law had mrsa after spinal surgery and is doing well now. I wish Ryan and you well always.
    Dave Pakulniewicz “spud” from seacrets

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  37. So sorry you did not get your mental health weekend. We all need them, especially 24/7 caregivers like yourself. Prayers your way for Ryan to shake the MRSA and not have to deal with c-diff or any other side effects of the treatments. Stay warm! Always on my mind.

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  38. Hello, Ken & family. I wondered how you were doing, meant to contact you after getting your Christmas card. I’ve been battling an eye infection since just after Christmas. I am so sorry that this communication brings such distressing news. From what I know of MRSA, anything/anyone could have been the vector of transmission. even that “Texas catheter” could’ve been the culprit. (A friend of ours, a quadriplegic who has an indwelling foley catheter, tells us those are even worse vectors of infection.)
    I will contact my friend Cathryne who is coordinating our Cathedral Intercession List & ask her to add Ryan to the list. It’s too late to get him into our Sunday Mass program–Ruth puts the program “to bed” by noon, Tuesday. It’s why she gently “bugs” whoever is preaching Sunday to email her the transcript by 11 Tuesday AM. I will also email Father Bob Haskell, our Cathedral Administrator & ask him to include Ryan in daily Morning Prayer. (Our Dean resigned the end of November & Fr. Hunter, our Canon for Missions & Mo. Christina, his wife, have “run away from home” for 10 days!)
    God be with all of you. Get some rest, Ken. You cant help Ryan if you fall ill. Perhaps a local nursing agency can provide nurses for Ryan esp. overnight.
    PK Miller & Tim Montgomery
    Albany NY

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  40. Though I don’t personally know you, I have followed for quite some time, and although I was devastated to read this news I continue to pray for Ryan and your family. Mr. Diviney, you are a special father. I know that you must be beyond exhaustion and still must continue on. Your love for your son is a precious gift that you are sharing with us and I thank you for allowing me to witness such pure emotion. May God sustain you through it all.

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  45. Ken, you all are in our prayers. Hang in there and try to get some rest. Let modern medicine do it’s thing. Much Love!

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  46. Ken, Ryan , Sue, Kari, I Like the rest before me thought same thing No News.. Good News. So seeing this just now, Breaks my Heart, I’m So Sorry for all o you, as You Of All people so Deserving in this world Need a Long Break to yourself, But Things Just were Not meant to be this trip. I Beat MRSA myself and know how Bad it is, But with the New Meds above it can be overcome, as it also saved me who has very Poor Health Myself. I wish I was a RN cause If I were Id be there to give you my Time, and care so you can go sleep in your own Bed and do whatever to relax. But I will Pray that Many RN,s Read this that Live close by and can Relieve you and take some stress off of you and Help out till its under control. I always pray everyday for your Family. Ryan Is Relevant ! We Got This! and as Frank sais…” Its gonna get ugly but its gonna getDone!!
    Much Love, and Prayers always to you all. <3 Nancy

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  52. Ken – my son had MRSA and was in the ICU for 2 weeks. His one and only hockey injury. Antibiotics did not work. They eventually were able to remove the infection – it looked like a jello pudding cup. As soon as it was out he began to recover. Ryan and all of you are in our prayers.

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  57. Prayers for healing for Ryan- kick that darn MRSA . Prayers for Ken so you can get some rest. God Bless you and your family.

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  59. Ken I am so sorry to hear this news about Ryan, my son just got out of the hospital the week before Christmas because of this stupid kind of infection. The doctors thought it had went into the bone and was going to have to amputate his toe and possibly his foot but thank God we got to it in time and he is doing so much better now also thanks to Vancomycin.
    I will keep Ryan and your family in my prayers until you get the good news saying he beat this dreadful infection, also please when he gets better take the much needed time for yourself. Again I will be praying for you all much Love from Clayton, Georgia.

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  61. Praying for Ryan to get better. Very sorry to hear this, I don’t comment very often, but felt that I needed too, today. Stay strong! You are the epitome of the most devoted, loving, dedicated parent I have ever seen. Continued prayers for you and your entire family. Please keep
    All of us informed. We are all with you in this.

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  63. Ken and family, I am John and Joe’s (the bikers) mom, I am continuing to pray for Ryan’s recovery and the healing he needs at this time. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers often. You are not alone in this battle, we are all with you in spirit and prayer and especially remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE because GOD IS WITH YOU. RYAN AND YOU ARE IMPORTANT TO HIM, HE HEARS EVERY CRY, EVERY MOAN, AND EVERY WHISPERED PRAYER. God loves you!!

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  66. This unbelievably stinks! You all work so very hard to keep Ryan at his healthiest! I am so sorry and Ryan I sure hope you get better quickly! Hugs to all!!

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  73. This is not the news any of us had hoped to hear, but rest assured, we are not going anywhere. As always, praying for strength for you, Sue and Kari and of course, prayers of healing for Ryan. #DivineyStrong #TeamDiviney

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  74. Oh God, I’m sooo sorry to hear all of this. I can only imagine the frustration, exhaustion (physical & mental!), disappointment & worry your dealing with right now?! You & your family do not deserve this! I’ll be thinking of you all each day & hoping for a positive outcome, good health for Ryan & rest & time for yourself! Praying hard for this whole situation <3

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  80. This lifestyle, while you do it willingly for love, has taken such a toll on you. Sorry to hear you try to take a short break and this is thrown at you. You have many who care for you and your family and keep you in our prayers. Sending prayers of strength to you and healing for Ryan.

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  81. Oh Ken, so sorry this is happening. You all need a break from everything. I can’t imagine how scary this is. Please accept my prayers for Ryan’s healing.

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  85. I was so hoping, when I saw there was an update, that it would be good news. As someone else said, we had hoped that no news was good news. Please know that even in England, Ryan and your family are always in my thoughts. I will make sure to send lots of healing vibes to him over the next few weeks.

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  87. I’m a stranger who has prayed and cried for you, Ryan and your family for years. I am so sorry this has happened to you and your family. You have been so strong in the face of so much. You are not alone.
    Still here, still praying.

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  88. Ken, I’m so, so very scared for you and Ryan.

    Having been a therapist in a hospital and worked with people with significant life threatening illnesses and injuries, I’m well aware of staph infections. Due to the potential of airborne transmission, I was tested every time I worked with a patient diagnosed with this.

    Please have yourself tested (and treated), too. I don’t know if all staph infection strains are the same though. You know best, but please don’t forget about taking care of you.

    I’m here. I’m thinking about you and Ryan. Please, get well, Ryan. Fight this with all you are! You, too, Ken!

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  97. Hi Ken, this is so painful to read. Seems like you find a moment of relative peace and it’s snatched from you. Though you’ve demonstrated superhuman strength throughout the past six years, all of us know the terrible toll the stress and worry has taken on you and your family. We know Ryan is a fighter because of the horrendous obstacles he has overcome. We continue to hold Ryan and your family close in our hearts and minds. Prayers continue to be lifted to God for help. Team Diviney continues to stand by you and your family. The power of love is strong and we will always have it for you and your family and this will never change. We are still here, still praying and not going anywhere. Ryan will always be relevant to us!! I will await more updates.
    Love, hugs, prayers and renewed hope for healing and peace.

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  104. We’re here for you. Please lean on us. If you need anything, all you have to do is ask. Sending prayers your way.

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  107. This wasn’t the post I was hoping for – I do miss hearing from you but I didn’t want it to be with something like this. I’m so sorry – I was thinking of you both on Sunday watching the Washington Redskins. I was always hoping that no news was good news. I’m so sorry to hear this – please do keep us posted and try and get some rest – we all know Ryan wouldn’t be in the best shape possible without you.

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  108. I can’t imagine what your going threw. Even the strongest are weak. You need to be refueled to remain strong for Ryan. Your doing all you can and your going above and beyond what most people would do. If there was anything I could do for you and your family (even though I am in Massachusetts ) please don’t hesitate to ask. After Ryans recovery from the infection (which I know he will) please take time for yourself and allow others to take over without feeling guilty. You are such and angel. I will keep praying for you and your family. Xo

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  118. I don’t know you, but i stumbled across this blog and just wanted to send you a note of encouragement.
    Im so sorry to hear all that has happened to you these past few years and you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I sincerely hope that a huge improvement is seen in your son and that you get the rest that you need!

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  122. praying for you.. my father was in a near fatal car crash this summer and spent 8 weeks in the ICU and also developed MRSA in his lungs, heart and blood.. they started the IV antibiotics very quickly (vanco as someone else mentioned) and with 4 weeks if IV antibiotics, it was under control… wondering why he isn’t hospitalized so they can draw his blood each day and do the cultures to see if the meds are working??? just a thought… hoping for the best.. and some respite for you soon too….

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    • I can’t imagine Ryan going to a hospital with the setup he has at home. He would most likely end up with a bed sore because nurses would be “waiting for him to wake up” or some other stupid thing. He is getting great care at home and I am sure the nurses that come nightly are taking blood.

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      • I’m sure nurses familiar with TBI would be familiar, & able to deliver the required care, & not ”stupid ” enough to not provide such care until he wakes up.
        I do agree though that he had first class care at home; unfortunately in a health care facility, staffing does not usually facilitate this level if care.

      • I am not.

        I was in a hospital to have a skin flap sewed over a bed sore on a C-4 quad and the nurses said all they were waiting for was him to call to get up and pee. To which I said loudly, “wow a plastic surgeon who sews a flap of skin over a hole in his back makes his spinal cord work again? Must be a pretty amazing plastic surgeon. Get me the administrator.” Which they did and we didn’t have problems again, well until the next week when they gave him another bed sore.

        Not convinced nursing staff really care and are attentive to everything, they can’t be, too pulled from one thing to another.

    • This just sucks! It just seems that even with healthy people when you get it that you fight if off, get it again, fight it off, get it again.

      I am presuming that with all the goodness you feed him he is probably much healthier and strong than any of us know. I know he works out more than most people so that has to count for something right???

      Such a fineline working with antibiotics. Too strong and he could end up with C-diff or something else. 🙁 Please keep us posted on any and all changes. We are all pulling for Ryan and you.

      Rhonda

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  126. I’m so sorry to hear this. You and the family do so much to try to avoid these situations yet they seem inevitable. I am sending positive vibes and I hope it clears up soon, Ryan is a pretty resilient person (obviously) so I’m sure he will pull through. Please let me know if I can do anything at all. <3

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  135. Ken: My heart is heavy for Ryan and your family. You all continue to model what love is, selfless love. Please know that I am praying for all of you. I am grateful that you share Ryan’s progress with all of us. Thank you.

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  136. Ken – I’m so sorry to hear all this! What can we do to help? What kind of overnight nurse do you need? Can we help you find one?

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Ryan's Rally, ℅ Ken Diviney
21092 Carthagena Ct.
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