On November 24, Steven Barker was admitted into the hospital for COVID-19.
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12/13/20 Update:
Sorry for the late update everyone. It's hard to put everything into words right now. The hospital called and we will be meeting with them on Wednesday to make decisions regarding Steven's care. He is very critical at this time.
Daily prayer requests:
1.) Steven's body is fully healed
2.) The family feels peace and comfort with whatever choices we make regarding his care
You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban
When I am down, and, oh, my soul, so weary
When troubles come, and my heart burdened be
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence
Until you come and sit awhile with me
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up to more than I can be
12/12/20 Update:
Amy was able to go visit Steven from around 4 p.m. last night until 8 a.m this morning!! It had been 17 days since they had seen each other in person. They are still working on getting him transferred out of the COVID-unit. He tolerated repositioning all night but unfortunately is not doing very well with it today. They had to turn the vent FiO2 (oxygen) up to 90% from 80% yesterday. His hemoglobin and platelets dropped so he is getting a blood transfusion (this is common with the cancer.) He has tolerated the CRRT (dialysis) pretty well. They started pulling fluids off last night instead of just cleaning his blood.
Daily prayer chain requests:
1.) He will start tolerating position changes so if a bed becomes available, he will be stable enough to move.
2.) Vent settings will be able to be decreased down again
3.) Organs continue to be strong and functioning
4.) He will continue to tolerate dialysis
Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith. Mark 11:24
12-11-20 Update:
FiO2 (oxgyen) through vent was able to be decreased to 80% from 100% and he tolerated it well. CRRT (dialysis) is going well. His kidney function has improved some and so has potassium level. ABGs (shows how well he's able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide) are still showing acidosis. He was able to tolerate position changes well!! Hopefully they will be able to move him once a room becomes available as long as vitals are stable and he is tolerating being moved. WBC (show infection) are also decreasing! He was able to tolerate position changes well!! Hopefully they will be able to move him once a room becomes available as long as vitals are stable and he is tolerating being moved. WBC (shows infection) are also decreasing!
Daily prayer chain requests:
1.) Kidneys continue to improve
2.) Organs will stay strong and functioning
3.) Vent settings will be able to be decreased and he will tolerate it
4.) He will get a bed in a different ICU soon so family can be with him
12/10/20 Update:
ABG's (checks the lung function and how well they are able to move oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide) were pretty bad last night so vent settings were increased. Potassium was very high but they have been able to get it to down to the (high) normal range. White blood cells counts have increased a lot. If he starts running a fever they will take blood/urine cultures. Tropin has increased a lot but there is question as to if its heart or kidney related, as his kidney function has decreased some. They still haven't found him a bed, so he remains in COVID-icu. The family has faith that God will fully heal Steven and ask you all to continue to pray for him.
7 P.M. prayer chain requests:
1.) ABGs will improve
2.) Vent settings will be able to be decreased and he will tolerate it
3.) Kidney function will improve
4.) All organs will stay strong and functioning
5.) White blood cells will decrease
6.) Once they do transfer him out of COVID-unit, he will be able to tolerate the move as any position changes are very hard on his body right now
***EDIT 10 P.M update: They have started CRRT (slow running continous kidney dialysis) in hopes that this will help kidney function, improve electrolytes, improve blood gases, and troponin levels. ***
12/9/20 Update:
It was another tough night but he is a fighter and in true Navy Seal fashion, he didn't quit!! He has had COVID diagnosis for 20 days so they do not re-test them but automatically after that time-frame they become eligible to be transferred out of the COVID-ICU. They put in for a request to move him out to a regular ICU floor today but it could be several days before a room is available. This is huge news, family will be allowed to see him finally. Today has been FIFTEEN days since he has been in the same room as a family member. We are praying his condition will improve greatly just by having a family member allowed at his side.
Daily prayer chain requests:
1.) Oxygen saturation's will stay above 92, heart rate and blood pressure will remain stable.
1.) Oxygen saturations will stay above 92, heart rate and blood pressure will remain stable.
2.) They are able to get him transferred soon so family can see him.
3.) His d-dimer (heart lab) white blood cell count (shows infection) and his troponin (cardiac lab) all come down.
4.) Organs will continue to function well.
5.) He will start tolerating position changes.
6.) For everyone who is involved in his care, guide their hands and their hearts.
~I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength ~
12/8/20 Update:
He had a hard night guys. He had a issues keeping his oxygen saturation's up last night. They had to go back to 100% FiO2 (oxygen) through the vent. He was down to 90% FiO2 yesterday. His cardiac labs did increase slightly but have sense dropped a little. Kidney and liver function is still good. If you know Steven's cancer history, you know normal kidney function is a huge deal!! They are no longer going to wake him daily, it'll now be every 2-3 days so his body can rest. We as the family understand that as critical as he is there will be good and bad days. We just want to thank y'all again for all the love and support.
Daily prayer chain requests:
1.) Oxygen saturation's will hold above 92%, heart rate will not drop, blood pressure will stay within normal limits.
2.) Troponin (heart lab) will keep decreasing
3.) Organs will continue to stay strong
4.) White blood count will go down
5.) That he gets good rest so his body can heal
"For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds" Jeremiah 30:17
12/7/20 update:
He had a pretty good night. He did have some issues with low heart rates during the night again. His troponin (cardiac lab) and ddimer ( lab that indicates blood clots) are both lower than last night!
Daily prayer requests:
1.) His organs will stay strong and functioning
2.) His heart rate will remain normal tonight and not drop
3.) His oxygen needs and pressure support on vent will start getting less and less
4.) He is able to rest and not fight the vent
♡The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still♡
12/6/20 Update:
He had a very hard night. He had issues with his cardiac labs, heart rate, and cardiac rhythms. As of this afternoon (1 p.m. on 12/6) his cardiac labs have improved slightly and his heart rate has been better than last night. They just don't know that he has the heart of a Navy Seal!! He is fighting so hard and is giving it his all.
Daily prayer requests:
1). His organs stay strong and functioning.
2.) His vitals remain within normal limits.
3.) His body can get the rest it needs while on the vent to recover.
4.) He remains calm and doesn't fight the vent.
5.) We are hoping the hospital will re covid test him this week sometime and he will be negative so he can have family at his side.
12/5/20 Update:
Steven has been battling for his life in the hospital since 11/24/20 fighting covid pneumonia and blood clots in his lungs. He has also had Multiple Myeloma cancer since 9/11/2010. Today around lunchtime he was placed on a ventilator in order to help improve his respiratory status.
Daily prayer requests:
1.) His body will get the rest it needs to fight
2.) For stable vital signs
3.) He is able to remain calm and not fight the vent