Good Morning. Sorry, I have not posted for a few days. J continues to do well. Our family training went well too. We did have some anxious moments regarding the bedside commode, but it worked out OK in the end. Without going into too much explanation, the problem with the commode is that the seat is hard and it really hurts J's left leg to sit there. We are going to try to get a cushioned seat for home.
My biggest challenge is going to be to remain calm when J's pain level is high, because there are definitely going to be times when the pain seems unbearable. I hope that these will decrease as his legs heal, but the healing process may be a long one.
We look for today to be quiet, but there will be no Labor Day break. He gets right back to therapy tomorrow.
Love,
Cara
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Friday August 29, in the Morning Again
Hello all. J's independence grows. Yesterday he surprised and scared me just a little bit when he wanted to transfer to the wheelchair without the help of a nurse or therapist. Those of you who know me well, know that I would have preferred there be permission and a room full of people available to assist if needed. But you know how determined J is when he wants to do something. The physical therapist came in before he could transfer, but let him do it all himself. They are all great about pushing J as far as he wants to go. He is gaining range of motion each day and is tolerating letting his knees bend on their own more and more.
As J gets better each day and I realize just how serious the accident was, I am more and more grateful to have him here with us. I am so blessed!
Love you all,
Cara
As J gets better each day and I realize just how serious the accident was, I am more and more grateful to have him here with us. I am so blessed!
Love you all,
Cara
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Thursday, August 28, in the Morning
In a strange way, things must be feeling more normal. I went to bed last night and did not even think about updating the blog. That may be because there is little to report. J continued to work hard yesterday. His range of motion increased even more. His transfers to the wheelchair are becoming smoother as well.
The treatment team anticipates that his stay at HealthSouth will be about 2 weeks. That means that he could be home as early as next Sunday. There will be a family training tomorrow to teach us how we can help J without hurting him. We will learn how to help him get into the car, into bed, etc. Thankfully there will be few accommodations we will have to make to the house. Halcyon Homes has graciously offered to build a wheelchair ramp in the garage so that J can get into the house. The only other accommodation will be to rent a trapeze so that J can pull himself up to a sitting position in bed. There may be more I have not thought of, but I am sure we will learn very quickly what we need.
Thanks and love to you all,
Cara
The treatment team anticipates that his stay at HealthSouth will be about 2 weeks. That means that he could be home as early as next Sunday. There will be a family training tomorrow to teach us how we can help J without hurting him. We will learn how to help him get into the car, into bed, etc. Thankfully there will be few accommodations we will have to make to the house. Halcyon Homes has graciously offered to build a wheelchair ramp in the garage so that J can get into the house. The only other accommodation will be to rent a trapeze so that J can pull himself up to a sitting position in bed. There may be more I have not thought of, but I am sure we will learn very quickly what we need.
Thanks and love to you all,
Cara
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Tuesday, August 26
Hello All. J spent the day working hard. I have decided that rehab hospital is like camp. J gets a daily schedule that keeps him moving from activity to activity every 45 minutes or so. He spent the morning in occupational therapy and using the electric stimulation on his quadriceps muscles. After lunch was physical therapy and the CPM machines. After dinner and visiting hours, he was back on the CPM machines to end his day. I was amazed to see that he has gained range of motion in both knees, particularly his right knee. Today he also got his wheelchair. This chair can be moved using just his right hand. This will allow him to be much more independent.
The days ahead will be very challenging, but the progress is coming very fast. I am so proud of what J has already accomplished!
Love,
Cara
The days ahead will be very challenging, but the progress is coming very fast. I am so proud of what J has already accomplished!
Love,
Cara
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday in Fayetteville
Yes, we have made it home. J is now at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital. He is in a semi private room and will be doing three hours of therapy a day. They wasted no time and did some physical therapy this afternoon. J has already done more transfers from the bed to chair and chair to bed than he did in Tulsa. He should be comfortable in his wheelchair before we know it!
J is looking forward to visitors, but this hospital is a little more strict about visiting hours. You can come see J in room 103 Monday through Friday 4:30 to 8:30 and on Saturday and Sunday 12:30 to 8:30.
Thanks again for all of you support and prayers.
Love,
Cara
J is looking forward to visitors, but this hospital is a little more strict about visiting hours. You can come see J in room 103 Monday through Friday 4:30 to 8:30 and on Saturday and Sunday 12:30 to 8:30.
Thanks again for all of you support and prayers.
Love,
Cara
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Sunday, August 24
As I was preparing this post, J suggested that I just copy yesterday's and call it good. Today was a quiet day. J did CPM twice and sat in the recliner with the help of the sling. Physical and occupational therapy did not come today, so there was no practice on transferring from the bed to the wheelchair.
It is so wonderful to mantain the steady improvement that J has accomplished this week. We look forward to what next week will bring!
Love,
Cara
It is so wonderful to mantain the steady improvement that J has accomplished this week. We look forward to what next week will bring!
Love,
Cara
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Saturday, August 23
Well it is Saturday evening and things are beginning to feel closer to normal. J and I have spent the evening watching preseason NFL and the Bristol race. Today was pretty quiet. There are probably two reasons for this. Things really slow down here on the weekend and J is in need of less and less medical attention.
From here the focus will shift to physical and occupational therapy. J continued to work on transferring from the bed to the wheelchair today. Each time he does this, it goes more smoothly. It is painful, hard work for him to first sit up, and then move himself with one hand across the transfer board and over to the wheelchair. J is however, determined to be more independent and is working hard to get there.
We are still looking forward to Monday being the day we return to Fayetteville. It will feel good to finally be home!
Love to you all,
Cara
From here the focus will shift to physical and occupational therapy. J continued to work on transferring from the bed to the wheelchair today. Each time he does this, it goes more smoothly. It is painful, hard work for him to first sit up, and then move himself with one hand across the transfer board and over to the wheelchair. J is however, determined to be more independent and is working hard to get there.
We are still looking forward to Monday being the day we return to Fayetteville. It will feel good to finally be home!
Love to you all,
Cara
Friday, August 22, 2008
Friday, August 22
Hello. J's day was not as busy. He continued working with physical therapy on transferring from the bed to the wheelchair. Several of his stitches and staples were removed. And respiratory therapy came by to remove the trach. J is all ready to go. It looks like we will be going to HealthSouth on Monday at the earliest.
J would probably say that the highlight of his day was taking the wheelchair down to the lobby of the hospital and going outside for a short time. We have had beautiful weather here, but today it was quite warm by the time J was able to go outside. His doctor has written an order allowing the family to take him outside . That might be a nice way to pass the time this weekend.
Again, we thank you all for your love and support.
Love,
Cara
J would probably say that the highlight of his day was taking the wheelchair down to the lobby of the hospital and going outside for a short time. We have had beautiful weather here, but today it was quite warm by the time J was able to go outside. His doctor has written an order allowing the family to take him outside . That might be a nice way to pass the time this weekend.
Again, we thank you all for your love and support.
Love,
Cara
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Thursday, August 21
Hello. We had another busy day. They came to get J for a CT scan at 7:30, but as it turned out, he did not have the scan. The cardiovascular surgeons looked at the X-rays and CT scans and decided to watch to see if the fluid problem will resolve itself.
It has been a day of losing tubes. J is no longer on the IV nutrition and he is taking all medications orally. They also placed a stopper valve in his trach. He is now breathing around it. Tomorrow the trach should be history. The last tube to come out today was the catheter. J is now a free man. They have contacted Healthsouth and are beginning the transfer process. We may not go anywhere until Monday, however. Weekends are not necessarily good days to be admitted to a rehab hospital. Hopefully we will have a more definite plan tomorrow. I'll talk to you then.
Love,
Cara
It has been a day of losing tubes. J is no longer on the IV nutrition and he is taking all medications orally. They also placed a stopper valve in his trach. He is now breathing around it. Tomorrow the trach should be history. The last tube to come out today was the catheter. J is now a free man. They have contacted Healthsouth and are beginning the transfer process. We may not go anywhere until Monday, however. Weekends are not necessarily good days to be admitted to a rehab hospital. Hopefully we will have a more definite plan tomorrow. I'll talk to you then.
Love,
Cara
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Wednesday, August 20
Good Evening. J is sleeping peacefully after another long day. The highlight of the day was J's transfer from the bed to a wheel chair. He did this with the help of an occupational therapist, a physical therapist and a transfer board. I was amazed that these two young women (who are tiny) were able to securely support J across the thin, but strong, plastic transfer board. After the transfer, he took a tour around the 8th floor. He said he enjoyed the change of scenery.
We were a little disappointed to learn that the attempt to clear his chest wall of fluid was not as successful as we hoped it would be. A CT scan reveled that there are other lockulated pockets of fluid and air. I believe that "lockulated" refers to the way the body walls off fluid or air that is where it should not be. We spoke to the general surgeon tonight and he would like to have a cardiovascular surgeon come in for a consult. J and I see this as a way to cover all the bases and we are pleased that he is approaching this carefully. We should know more about the plan for getting rid of the fluid and air after we see the CV doc.
The other big event of the day was a barium swallow test. The speech pathologist wanted to see if J was swallowing all of his food, or if some was leaking into his wind pipe. J went down to X-ray where he was filmed swallowing various foods that were spiked with barium. They let me stay in the room to watch the test. It was very interesting to see the epiglottis cover the windpipe and direct the food down to J's stomach. He passed the test and is cleared to eat pretty much anything he would like to eat. I thought this would be a big steak, turns out he is craving fresh fruit.
The social worker who plans discharge came into talk to us today. She teased us with the possibility of moving to a rehab hospital in Fayetteville. A few things are holding this up. One is, as I predicted yesterday, the fluid pockets, the other is the IV. They can't transfer J when he is on IV pain meds. He switched today to oral medications, but needed some morphine to ease the pain that occurs when he is transferred from his bed. So, still no definite day we are leaving Tulsa.
Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Love you all,
Cara
We were a little disappointed to learn that the attempt to clear his chest wall of fluid was not as successful as we hoped it would be. A CT scan reveled that there are other lockulated pockets of fluid and air. I believe that "lockulated" refers to the way the body walls off fluid or air that is where it should not be. We spoke to the general surgeon tonight and he would like to have a cardiovascular surgeon come in for a consult. J and I see this as a way to cover all the bases and we are pleased that he is approaching this carefully. We should know more about the plan for getting rid of the fluid and air after we see the CV doc.
The other big event of the day was a barium swallow test. The speech pathologist wanted to see if J was swallowing all of his food, or if some was leaking into his wind pipe. J went down to X-ray where he was filmed swallowing various foods that were spiked with barium. They let me stay in the room to watch the test. It was very interesting to see the epiglottis cover the windpipe and direct the food down to J's stomach. He passed the test and is cleared to eat pretty much anything he would like to eat. I thought this would be a big steak, turns out he is craving fresh fruit.
The social worker who plans discharge came into talk to us today. She teased us with the possibility of moving to a rehab hospital in Fayetteville. A few things are holding this up. One is, as I predicted yesterday, the fluid pockets, the other is the IV. They can't transfer J when he is on IV pain meds. He switched today to oral medications, but needed some morphine to ease the pain that occurs when he is transferred from his bed. So, still no definite day we are leaving Tulsa.
Thanks for your continued thoughts and prayers.
Love you all,
Cara
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Tuesday Evening
Well, today was as busy as yesterday. They injected the Retavase first thing this morning. They let it work for 8 hours and began suction this afternoon. There was not as much fluid as we thought we would see. The PA who administered this medication will be in tomorrow. We are curious to see what the plan is from here.
J was up sitting up in a chair for most of the day. He had his lunch and dinner sitting up. His meals are now regular food. His appetite is much less than normal, but we are thrilled that he is tolerating solid food. J is also doing well speaking. Today his trach was down-sized to one with a smaller tube. This is one step closer to getting rid of the trach.
There has not been much talk of discharge to Fayetteville. We think that the fluid pockets on his lung are very likely the thing that is keeping us in Tulsa. We will let you know more tomorrow after we talk to the PA.
Love,
Cara
J was up sitting up in a chair for most of the day. He had his lunch and dinner sitting up. His meals are now regular food. His appetite is much less than normal, but we are thrilled that he is tolerating solid food. J is also doing well speaking. Today his trach was down-sized to one with a smaller tube. This is one step closer to getting rid of the trach.
There has not been much talk of discharge to Fayetteville. We think that the fluid pockets on his lung are very likely the thing that is keeping us in Tulsa. We will let you know more tomorrow after we talk to the PA.
Love,
Cara
Monday, August 18, 2008
Monday Evening
Whew! What a full day. J's room was very busy. He had already seen two doctors and had a chest X-ray before I got here at 9:20. His trach was then changed to one without a cuff. The cuff is like a little balloon that can be inflated around the tube that goes into the patient's wind pipe. A trach without a cuff is much easier to breath and talk around. It is the first step to getting rid of the trach all together. With this new one, J is able to talk some, but he has more strength and volume to his voice with the speaking valve. He received this after lunch today. How wonderful to hear him talk again!
After the trach was changed, we had a visit from the occupational and physical therapists. They helped J sit up on the edge of the bed. They were very impressed by his progress and the strength he has gained in the past few days. The PT provided us with some exercises he could do on his own. J has started these already. He is determined to get out of the hospital as soon as possible. Is anyone surprised?
J also got to actually eat today. He had a liquid lunch and dinner. There were no problems with nausea. We are hopeful that this is a step towards getting rid of the NG tube. Things are moving along in all sorts of ways!
J went down to get a CT scan to check his lungs for remaining fluid. The CT scan revealed several other pockets of fluid on his left lung. As I understand it, the fluid pockets are self contained. The radiologist and the pulmonologist would like to break down the "walls" of the fluid pockets with a medication that works like an anticoagulant (sp?) There is a risk of bleeding that is increased because J is already on an anticoagulant. So, the plan is to hold his current blood clot medication for 3 doses and give him the new medication tomorrow. They will turn off the pump for his chest tube for 24 hours and then try to drain the fluid once the walls have been broken down. This will very likely postpone coming home to Fayetteville for a few more days.
On another note, one of our friends from the waiting room received some very sad news today. After being in the NTSICU for 29 days, they have decided to turn off the vent of Mr. M's wife. Please include this family in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks and Love,
Cara
After the trach was changed, we had a visit from the occupational and physical therapists. They helped J sit up on the edge of the bed. They were very impressed by his progress and the strength he has gained in the past few days. The PT provided us with some exercises he could do on his own. J has started these already. He is determined to get out of the hospital as soon as possible. Is anyone surprised?
J also got to actually eat today. He had a liquid lunch and dinner. There were no problems with nausea. We are hopeful that this is a step towards getting rid of the NG tube. Things are moving along in all sorts of ways!
J went down to get a CT scan to check his lungs for remaining fluid. The CT scan revealed several other pockets of fluid on his left lung. As I understand it, the fluid pockets are self contained. The radiologist and the pulmonologist would like to break down the "walls" of the fluid pockets with a medication that works like an anticoagulant (sp?) There is a risk of bleeding that is increased because J is already on an anticoagulant. So, the plan is to hold his current blood clot medication for 3 doses and give him the new medication tomorrow. They will turn off the pump for his chest tube for 24 hours and then try to drain the fluid once the walls have been broken down. This will very likely postpone coming home to Fayetteville for a few more days.
On another note, one of our friends from the waiting room received some very sad news today. After being in the NTSICU for 29 days, they have decided to turn off the vent of Mr. M's wife. Please include this family in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks and Love,
Cara
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sunday Evening
Hello All. Two exciting things happened today. The first thing is that J sat up in a recliner. They moved him to the chair using a really neat lift. While J was in the bed the put a sling beneath him. Then they pulled the corners together and attached them to the lift. The lift raised him up and placed him in the chair. J sat up for about an hour. He looked very at home there (in part because he was watching a NASCAR race on TV!)
The second exciting thing was a visit from the boys. Allen saw his dad last Sunday, but J was very sedated. This was Sam's first time to see J since we came to Tulsa. The boys really seem to be doing well. They are all ready to start school tomorrow. It was wonderful to see them, and for them to see J looking so good.
Today was an uneventful day medically. Sundays in a regular room are pretty slow. J is still taking IV nutrition, but we hope to start clear liquids soon. No word about when we will be coming to home to Fayetteville. I will let you all know as soon as I hear something.
Goodnight and love to you all!
Cara
The second exciting thing was a visit from the boys. Allen saw his dad last Sunday, but J was very sedated. This was Sam's first time to see J since we came to Tulsa. The boys really seem to be doing well. They are all ready to start school tomorrow. It was wonderful to see them, and for them to see J looking so good.
Today was an uneventful day medically. Sundays in a regular room are pretty slow. J is still taking IV nutrition, but we hope to start clear liquids soon. No word about when we will be coming to home to Fayetteville. I will let you all know as soon as I hear something.
Goodnight and love to you all!
Cara
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Saturday NIght in 844
There is more progress to report. J is now in a regular room. He moved in today after lunch. We are thrilled that he is now healthy enough to be out of ICU. Jane and I do have some jitters about not having the intensity of nursing care. In ICU there was always a nurse within arms reach. Now we are staying with him 24/7 in case he needs something quickly. I have taken the first overnight shift. He is in a private room, so it's almost like home. It just doesn't smell as good and my bed isn't quite as comfortable.
J's pain has been very manageable today. He had to be taken off the the fentanyl (sp?) drip before he was moved. He has not had any PRN pain meds since we got here (about 8 hours ago.) I try to encourage him to use the pain meds when he needs them, but he says he is OK. We are still using sign language, but we are getting better at non-verbal communication all the time.
We ask you to continue to pray for healing. Thank you all!
Love,
Cara
J's pain has been very manageable today. He had to be taken off the the fentanyl (sp?) drip before he was moved. He has not had any PRN pain meds since we got here (about 8 hours ago.) I try to encourage him to use the pain meds when he needs them, but he says he is OK. We are still using sign language, but we are getting better at non-verbal communication all the time.
We ask you to continue to pray for healing. Thank you all!
Love,
Cara
Friday, August 15, 2008
Friday Night
Hi everyone. J's day was a good one. He was more relaxed today and although he still thinks the CPM machines are evil, he was able to tolerate them better. The fluid was successfully drained from his left lung. I'm not sure if he notices any difference in his breathing, but it was a good thing to get rid of that fluid.
The speech therapist came by again today. J is swallowing very well and today he got to have ice chips and water. He is still having problems with swelling in his throat, so no speaking valve yet. He is learning that he can make some sounds with less air. He can make a hard K sound and a CH sound too. I think he feels kind of silly doing this, but it helps me to understand what he is asking for.
Thanks to you all for your continued prayers for patience and perseverance.
Love,
Cara
The speech therapist came by again today. J is swallowing very well and today he got to have ice chips and water. He is still having problems with swelling in his throat, so no speaking valve yet. He is learning that he can make some sounds with less air. He can make a hard K sound and a CH sound too. I think he feels kind of silly doing this, but it helps me to understand what he is asking for.
Thanks to you all for your continued prayers for patience and perseverance.
Love,
Cara
Thursday, August 14, 2008
From J's Room on Thursday
Hello from room 716. We are watching some Olympic swimming after a long day. J has had an up and down day. He is doing well, but the frustration with communication and the pain have been high. He had a CT scan today that revealed some fluid in his left lung. He will have that drained tomorrow. The doctor said that it may just be absorbed by his body, but J will be able to breathe with all of his lung if it is drained.
J absolutely hates the CPM machine. He now has to be on them 6 hours a day. The machines bend his knees and raise his legs 45 degrees. He did see the physical and occupational therapists today. They helped him to sit on the side of the bed. He also saw the speech therapist. She gave him a swallow test which he passed with flying colors. He may be able to start on liquid foods tomorrow. She assessed his readiness for a speaking valve, but his throat is still too swollen. We will probably get one early next week.
We have not heard anything today about when we will be moving. I am prepared to be here through the weekend.
Love you all,
Cara
J absolutely hates the CPM machine. He now has to be on them 6 hours a day. The machines bend his knees and raise his legs 45 degrees. He did see the physical and occupational therapists today. They helped him to sit on the side of the bed. He also saw the speech therapist. She gave him a swallow test which he passed with flying colors. He may be able to start on liquid foods tomorrow. She assessed his readiness for a speaking valve, but his throat is still too swollen. We will probably get one early next week.
We have not heard anything today about when we will be moving. I am prepared to be here through the weekend.
Love you all,
Cara
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wednesday Night
Hello All. Another positive day. J continues to be himself. When we walked in this morning the vent was on "Standby" and J was hooked up to "Air flow off the wall." The way I understand this is that it is moisturized air that has adjustable O2. Rather than breathing like the vent, it is just a steady flow of air. J is doing the breathing. When we came in it was 60% O2 and when we left tonight it was down to 30%. Normal room air is 23%, I think. The respiratory therapist seemed to think that he might get a speaking valve as early as tomorrow. I will of course keep you posted!
We have other big news...J will soon be discharged to a rehab hospital in Fayetteville. We do not know the exact day yet, but the discharge nurse came in today to talk about the plan. It looks like he will go from the NTSICU straight to the rehab place. His nurse today said that positive steps would begin to snow ball. Sounds like he was right!
I was amazed at the number of comments from yesterday's post! Thanks so much for comforting us in our sorrow and sharing in our joy!
Love you all,
Cara
We have other big news...J will soon be discharged to a rehab hospital in Fayetteville. We do not know the exact day yet, but the discharge nurse came in today to talk about the plan. It looks like he will go from the NTSICU straight to the rehab place. His nurse today said that positive steps would begin to snow ball. Sounds like he was right!
I was amazed at the number of comments from yesterday's post! Thanks so much for comforting us in our sorrow and sharing in our joy!
Love you all,
Cara
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Tuesday Night
What a difference a day makes! J is back! He slept through most of the morning and afternoon. When his Aunt Mary and I returned from dinner, he was very alert and doing his best to communicate with us, mostly through nods, shakes, and pointing. He even gave me a kiss! When we left tonight, he was sitting up in bed.
The general surgeon came in tonight to check on him. He said that it looked like J had turned the corner (for the better.) From here we will begin to ween off the vent and get him moving around more. They would like to get him in a chair tomorrow! He won't be able to talk until he gets a talking valve. That probably won't happen in the next few days. Until then, we will perfect our sign language skills!
Thanks so much for all of your prayers and words of encouragement! They help so much!
Love,
Cara
The general surgeon came in tonight to check on him. He said that it looked like J had turned the corner (for the better.) From here we will begin to ween off the vent and get him moving around more. They would like to get him in a chair tomorrow! He won't be able to talk until he gets a talking valve. That probably won't happen in the next few days. Until then, we will perfect our sign language skills!
Thanks so much for all of your prayers and words of encouragement! They help so much!
Love,
Cara
The Trach Is In
Well, we now have a trachiostomy. J went down to surgery around 8:30 tonight. It did not take long and he was back in his room in a little over an hour. The surgery went well, but he has what the nurse described as something similar to a post nasal drip. This is making him cough and preventing some of the area around the trach from clotting. They have sedated him and given him a paralytic to keep him from coughing through the night. The area should clot and we will soon be back on track. It is however frustrating to have yet another complication.
Jane and I went in to see him, he is resting and he is in good hands. I'll let you know more through the day tomorrow. Goodnight for now.
Love,
Cara
Jane and I went in to see him, he is resting and he is in good hands. I'll let you know more through the day tomorrow. Goodnight for now.
Love,
Cara
Monday, August 11, 2008
Monday In J's Room
Hello All. Yesterday was an emotionally rough day. As you know, J was off the vent and then back on again. Things just seem to be taking a lot longer than we want them to take. Our patience is definitely being tested.
Some time this afternoon, he will be going to the OR to get a trachiostomy. This will insure an airway and will let the swelling in his vocal cords go down. This is a temporary thing. Weening from the vent should be easier and he will soon be able to talk and eat with it in. He will be able to sit up and get on with his rehab. If there is ever a problem with breathing, they can just hook the trach tube to the O2. We, of course, were disturbed when we first heard that this would be our best option, but we have adjusted to the idea and we hope that J will be much more comfortable without the vent tube down his throat.
Thank you for the prayers for strength and perseverance, they are definitely needed!
Love you all,
Cara
Some time this afternoon, he will be going to the OR to get a trachiostomy. This will insure an airway and will let the swelling in his vocal cords go down. This is a temporary thing. Weening from the vent should be easier and he will soon be able to talk and eat with it in. He will be able to sit up and get on with his rehab. If there is ever a problem with breathing, they can just hook the trach tube to the O2. We, of course, were disturbed when we first heard that this would be our best option, but we have adjusted to the idea and we hope that J will be much more comfortable without the vent tube down his throat.
Thank you for the prayers for strength and perseverance, they are definitely needed!
Love you all,
Cara
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Sunday, August 10
J is still on the ventilator. He is nodding yes or no to questions and looking around the room.
The pulmonologist told mom and Cara that he's convinced that J's lungs are okay. The issue is swelling in the upper respiratory/throat area which is due to irritation probably from the tube.
It has been an up-and-down day. It was nice to have him speak, obviously know people and ask questions. It was scary to see him fight for a breath and frustrating to have the tube put back in place.
Mom mentioned how little pain medication he needed this morning. She was amazed, and the nurses were asking and offering to be sure that he was comfortable.
I guess at this point it's baby steps to recover from the major surgeries so that he can start rehabbing the legs.
Eleanor
The pulmonologist told mom and Cara that he's convinced that J's lungs are okay. The issue is swelling in the upper respiratory/throat area which is due to irritation probably from the tube.
It has been an up-and-down day. It was nice to have him speak, obviously know people and ask questions. It was scary to see him fight for a breath and frustrating to have the tube put back in place.
Mom mentioned how little pain medication he needed this morning. She was amazed, and the nurses were asking and offering to be sure that he was comfortable.
I guess at this point it's baby steps to recover from the major surgeries so that he can start rehabbing the legs.
Eleanor
Sunday morning
Okay, J spoke to his mom and to Cara, but he started having trouble breathing, so he's back on the ventilator. Keep praying and sending strength.
Eleanor
_________________
Just a quick note to share that J is off the ventilator this morning! It hasn't been very long, but we knew everyone would want to know. I'm sure Cara will post more details later.
Eleanor
Eleanor
_________________
Just a quick note to share that J is off the ventilator this morning! It hasn't been very long, but we knew everyone would want to know. I'm sure Cara will post more details later.
Eleanor
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Saturday in J's Room
Well, we are still on the vent. We thought everything was going very smoothly this morning, but when the doctor came in, he thought J was too sedated to come off the vent today. We are, of course, disappointed. But we also want to do the thing that is best for J. So we will wait for tomorrow.
J is otherwise doing very well. We will update again tomorrow. Hopefully by then the vent will be history.
Love,
Cara
J is otherwise doing very well. We will update again tomorrow. Hopefully by then the vent will be history.
Love,
Cara
Friday, August 8, 2008
Friday Afternoon in J's Room
While we are happy to report that J is doing well, we are a little disappointed because the vent is not coming out today. There are a few reasons for this. One is that his breathing rate was not what the respiratory therapist wanted to see. The other is that it is too late in the day to take out the tube. They want a full staff ready should they have to reinsert the vent. He is a particularly difficult one to intubate. We will let him rest tonight and try again in the morning. We, of course, want this to be the last time we take out the vent, so I appreciate the caution and care the treatment team is taking.
The nurse will try nutrition through the NG tube tonight. The "NG tube" is a tube that is threaded through J's nose down to his stomach. So far, all nutrition has been intravenously. This is a big step because it could really help to get his digestive system moving more regularly.
I want to make sure to tell everyone how much we appreciate your support. There are so many ways to show support and we have received them all I think. We have a place to rest our heads, visits, baskets of food, phone calls, magazines, books, cards, e mails, balloons, photographs, full meals, kind words, over 2000 visits to this blog , and not to say the least, your prayers! The pager is still going off every few seconds! Jerry, Jane and I will never be able to fully express the gratitude we feel. We are overwhelmed by the love you have given to us! Thank You!
Love,
Cara
The nurse will try nutrition through the NG tube tonight. The "NG tube" is a tube that is threaded through J's nose down to his stomach. So far, all nutrition has been intravenously. This is a big step because it could really help to get his digestive system moving more regularly.
I want to make sure to tell everyone how much we appreciate your support. There are so many ways to show support and we have received them all I think. We have a place to rest our heads, visits, baskets of food, phone calls, magazines, books, cards, e mails, balloons, photographs, full meals, kind words, over 2000 visits to this blog , and not to say the least, your prayers! The pager is still going off every few seconds! Jerry, Jane and I will never be able to fully express the gratitude we feel. We are overwhelmed by the love you have given to us! Thank You!
Love,
Cara
Friday in the Waiting Room
Good Morning. J had a good night. We have already talked to the general surgery resident and the pulmonologist. J's lungs are looking better and they have him on the protocol to remove the vent. Part of the protocol is to reduce his sedation. This is a double edged sword. J will be more alert and "with us", but he will be in more pain. His chest tubes were also taken out this morning. We love that we are taking away tubes rather than adding them!
Today will be a full day. We are trying not to get our hopes up, but J may be off the vent by this evening.
We will post more as we get it.
Love and thanks to you all,
Cara
Today will be a full day. We are trying not to get our hopes up, but J may be off the vent by this evening.
We will post more as we get it.
Love and thanks to you all,
Cara
Thursday, August 7, 2008
The End of a Good, Long Day
Hello All. We are happy to report that we just left J sleeping peacefully. The surgeries went well. The bones in his hip were set and are now in place. The surgeon said that they may heal and they may not. We just won't know for 2-3 months. His hand is set and is now in a cast.
The plan for tomorrow is to begin working on getting his lungs clear. They are going to do percussion therapy to break things up and get them out of his chest. This is actually done with the bed. I'm not quite sure how it works, so I am looking forward to seeing it. I would love to think that he is going to be off the vent by this time tomorrow, but if I have learned anything from this experience, it is to be patient. Things will happen when they need to. So on that note, I will say "Good night" and rest up for whatever tomorrow brings.
Love,
Cara
The plan for tomorrow is to begin working on getting his lungs clear. They are going to do percussion therapy to break things up and get them out of his chest. This is actually done with the bed. I'm not quite sure how it works, so I am looking forward to seeing it. I would love to think that he is going to be off the vent by this time tomorrow, but if I have learned anything from this experience, it is to be patient. Things will happen when they need to. So on that note, I will say "Good night" and rest up for whatever tomorrow brings.
Love,
Cara
From the Surgery Waiting Room
The orthopedic surgeon just called. He was able to repair the femur without replacing the hip. He said it looks good, but we will have to wait to see if it will heal. With this type of break, there is a chance that the bone will not heal or the femoral neck will die. We will not know about this for a few months. The hand surgeon is working on his hand and then he should be out of surgery. We will let you know more when we get it.
The surgery nurse just called. They are closing up on the leg. He is doing well. They have decided to repair his hand today too. This is great news. This may mean no more surgeries for a while! I'll update again as soon as we know more!
We just got a report. He is still in surgery and is doing well. They said it would time more time. Maybe 2 more hours????
We just got a call from the surgery nurse. They have started surgery. J is doing fine. They don't know how long surgery will last, but will call every hour with updates. We will pass on news as we get it.
Love,
Cara
The surgery nurse just called. They are closing up on the leg. He is doing well. They have decided to repair his hand today too. This is great news. This may mean no more surgeries for a while! I'll update again as soon as we know more!
We just got a report. He is still in surgery and is doing well. They said it would time more time. Maybe 2 more hours????
We just got a call from the surgery nurse. They have started surgery. J is doing fine. They don't know how long surgery will last, but will call every hour with updates. We will pass on news as we get it.
Love,
Cara
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Good News!
I know you have all been waiting for news today. We finally have it. J's digestive system is on the move (with a little help from several meds) and surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning. We expect him to go down to surgery at 7:30. The orthopedic surgeon told J's nurse that the surgery would start around 8:00.
We are so excited and encouraged! We will keep you posted as we get reports tomorrow.
Thanks for the positive thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Cara
We are so excited and encouraged! We will keep you posted as we get reports tomorrow.
Thanks for the positive thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Cara
Wednesday in the Waiting Room
Good Morning. We don't know much more today than we did yesterday. J's digestive system is still being stubborn. They are going to try the same things they did yesterday to see if things will start moving a little better. I'm sure there is a plan in case this does not work, but the doctor has not been by yet this morning and the nurse does not have any new orders. On a good note, his fever seems to be down. There is no news on the cause for the fever yet.
Keep us in your prayers.
Love,
Cara
Keep us in your prayers.
Love,
Cara
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Tuesday Afternoon in the Waiting Room
Hello All. I wish we had more to post... The important thing is that J remains stable. We are waiting for the meds to work so that his belly is less distended. They have tried several things, but there has been little response. As I understand it, sometimes you just have to wait for things to start moving. The doctors are on top of it and have several things to try.
Over the night , J developed a fever. The most likely diagnosis is pneumonia, but we will have to wait 3-5 days to find out for sure. They have taken blood, sputum, naso- gastric fluid and urine. They are running cultures on all of these. In the mean time, they have started an antibiotic and Tylenol to bring the fever down. This should not be a reason to postpone surgery, according to our nurse.
We are hanging in there. The support we feel is amazing. We are so grateful!
Love,
Cara
Over the night , J developed a fever. The most likely diagnosis is pneumonia, but we will have to wait 3-5 days to find out for sure. They have taken blood, sputum, naso- gastric fluid and urine. They are running cultures on all of these. In the mean time, they have started an antibiotic and Tylenol to bring the fever down. This should not be a reason to postpone surgery, according to our nurse.
We are hanging in there. The support we feel is amazing. We are so grateful!
Love,
Cara
Tuesday, August 5
Not much news to report so far today. No results from this morning's tests just yet. They have started a new IV site with the capacity for IV nutrition. We still hope to be cleared for surgery tomorrow, but do not know when we will hear anything on that.
In the meantime, we do appreciate Tyson's chaplain program. One of their chaplains has traveled to Tulsa to visit and support Cara in this stressful time.
In the meantime, we do appreciate Tyson's chaplain program. One of their chaplains has traveled to Tulsa to visit and support Cara in this stressful time.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Monday evening in Tulsa
It's been a long, frustrating day. We still have more questions than answers . . . . . lots more questions than answers. Tomorrow we start again, looking and working towards the next surgery date.
Surgery postponed!
We don’t have the full details, but as of 1:30 the surgery has been postponed, possibly for two days. J has some tenderness and swelling in the abdomen area. An x-ray was taken this morning to evaluate the abdomen. While they went ahead and took him to surgery at noon, they cancelled the surgery when they got down there. Cara and everyone else are very disappointed. Two more days of traction. Two more days of waiting. Maybe two more days of the ventilation tube. Tons of more questions. We don’t even know what the complication with the abdomen is. When the doctors come out and provide some answers, we’ll update the blog.
Surgery Update
It is 12:00 and they just came to take J down for surgery. The delay was in surgery, not with J. He is doing fine and ready for surgery. We will post updates as we get them.
Love,
Cara
Love,
Cara
Monday Morning in the Waiting Room
Hello All. J had a good night. When I saw him this morning he was resting peacefully. He had a bath and a shave (the nurse said he didn't like the shave much) and he looked good. Today is surgery at 11:00. This is a pretty complicated break and we expect it to take around 4 hours total. They will likely call and give us updates through the surgery. We will pass them on as we get them.
So many people want to know how the boys are doing. They, of course are worried about their dad, but they are doing well. Mom and Dad are keeping them in Fayetteville. We are doing our best to maintain a normal schedule. Allen starts football practice today and Sam goes to camp on Wednesday. This will be a busy week as Allen also has High School orientation on Wednesday. J's sister Eleanor will be going to Allen's high school transition meeting with him on Wednesday as well.
I won't ever be able to express how thankful we are that we have such wonderful friends and family. What a blessing!
Love,
Cara
So many people want to know how the boys are doing. They, of course are worried about their dad, but they are doing well. Mom and Dad are keeping them in Fayetteville. We are doing our best to maintain a normal schedule. Allen starts football practice today and Sam goes to camp on Wednesday. This will be a busy week as Allen also has High School orientation on Wednesday. J's sister Eleanor will be going to Allen's high school transition meeting with him on Wednesday as well.
I won't ever be able to express how thankful we are that we have such wonderful friends and family. What a blessing!
Love,
Cara
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Sunday evening in Tulsa
It was another long day of waiting and healing and preparing for surgery as expected. Everything is still scheduled for Monday. We don’t know the actual time for surgery. Hopefully Cara will be able to make posts to the blog from the waiting area as she hears from the circulating nurse.
One of the developments for Sunday was the introduction of the Continuous Passive Movement (CPM) therapy for J’s right leg. It flexes his knee and hip and for two hours at a time. They applied this therapy twice on Sunday. While this therapy helps with circulation and general movement of the joints following Friday’s surgery, it was obvious that J didn’t like this therapy.
After Monday’s surgery, J’s next goal should be to come off the ventilation tube again. Maybe the ability to speak, eat and drink will make it easier to bear all the other treatments he has to face.
Surgery for the hand still hasn’t been discussed as far as schedule. J’s mom did talk to the anesthesiologist about the possibility of an anesthetic block for the hand. The block seemed to be a viable option.
Cara and J’s mom stressed J’s ability to communicate, even with the ventilation tube, by nodding yes or no. He is able to indicate when he needs to rest and when he wants them to remain in the room. Even this limited communication is very reassuring after those moments of confusion on Friday.
Even in Tulsa, the doctors are commenting on how lucky J is to be alive. They have stated that most people with the aorta injury don’t make it to the hospital.
Continued thanks for your prayers and support. After Friday’s surgery lasting four hours, Cara and J’s mom were expecting that again on Monday. They’ve been told it might only be two hours on Monday. We’ll all be waiting and praying together.
One of the developments for Sunday was the introduction of the Continuous Passive Movement (CPM) therapy for J’s right leg. It flexes his knee and hip and for two hours at a time. They applied this therapy twice on Sunday. While this therapy helps with circulation and general movement of the joints following Friday’s surgery, it was obvious that J didn’t like this therapy.
After Monday’s surgery, J’s next goal should be to come off the ventilation tube again. Maybe the ability to speak, eat and drink will make it easier to bear all the other treatments he has to face.
Surgery for the hand still hasn’t been discussed as far as schedule. J’s mom did talk to the anesthesiologist about the possibility of an anesthetic block for the hand. The block seemed to be a viable option.
Cara and J’s mom stressed J’s ability to communicate, even with the ventilation tube, by nodding yes or no. He is able to indicate when he needs to rest and when he wants them to remain in the room. Even this limited communication is very reassuring after those moments of confusion on Friday.
Even in Tulsa, the doctors are commenting on how lucky J is to be alive. They have stated that most people with the aorta injury don’t make it to the hospital.
Continued thanks for your prayers and support. After Friday’s surgery lasting four hours, Cara and J’s mom were expecting that again on Monday. They’ve been told it might only be two hours on Monday. We’ll all be waiting and praying together.
Sunday Morning in the Waiting Room
Good Morning. We are happy and thankful to report that J had a good night. We were able to spend 2 hours with him last night. He slept well and only needed additional pain medication twice. He had a bath and he looks pretty good, considering what he has been through. As we sit here, the prayer pager is beginning to vibrate across the table. It keeps us centered and focused on what is important. For those of you who don't know about our prayer pager, Jane and Jerry's church, First Methodist in Ft. Smith, has given us a pager. The pager goes off each time someone says a prayer for us. The person calls a number and enters their zip code when they want us to know they are praying for us. It is amazing and encouraging to think that the pager represents only a fraction of the prayers that are offered up. Thank you all!
We expect today to be another day of rest and healing before surgery tomorrow.
Love,
Cara
We expect today to be another day of rest and healing before surgery tomorrow.
Love,
Cara
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Day 3 at St. John's
A late afternoon call from the hospital reports that it has been a peaceful day of waiting and all positive reports for J. The ICU staff repositioned him for a while, but they were going to return him to his back.
_________________________
First report of the day is that J had a good night. Cara and J’s parents visited with the doctors this morning. His lungs are okay, his labs are okay and his stats are okay. He is still on-go for the next surgery on Monday as long as things continue to go this well.
While Cara and his parents were in the ICU room, J woke up and looked around. He can't talk because he still has the ventilator, but he does seem calmer and less panicked. He was able to nod to answer yes or no questions. He is moving his feet a little. He moves the foot on the leg that had surgery yesterday even more since it doesn't have traction now.
One of the doctors stated that he looks good for what he's been through.
It will be another day of waiting.
Cara said that today and Sunday we pray for no changes and for his lungs to remain clear so that we can look forward to Monday and the next surgery.
_________________________
First report of the day is that J had a good night. Cara and J’s parents visited with the doctors this morning. His lungs are okay, his labs are okay and his stats are okay. He is still on-go for the next surgery on Monday as long as things continue to go this well.
While Cara and his parents were in the ICU room, J woke up and looked around. He can't talk because he still has the ventilator, but he does seem calmer and less panicked. He was able to nod to answer yes or no questions. He is moving his feet a little. He moves the foot on the leg that had surgery yesterday even more since it doesn't have traction now.
One of the doctors stated that he looks good for what he's been through.
It will be another day of waiting.
Cara said that today and Sunday we pray for no changes and for his lungs to remain clear so that we can look forward to Monday and the next surgery.
Friday, August 1, 2008
9 PM in the Waiting Room
Hello all. We are feeling better tonight. The chaos seems to be gone, although we know that there is very likely more ahead. We just left J and he is very peaceful. He 's sleeping quietly and every once in a while he will move his feet around. Sheila, his nurse, said that he shook his head "no" when she asked if he was in pain. We hope a couple of days rest on the vent will help him to be stronger and help the next surgery to go smoothly.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Cara, Jane and Jerry
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!
Love,
Cara, Jane and Jerry
Day 2 at St. John’s
Mom, Dad and Cara were able to go back and see him around 5 p.m. He no longer has traction on the leg that just had surgery.
_____________________
A little after 3 p.m., the doctor came out and visited with Cara and J’s parents about the surgeries. The injury report has been updated to match his report.
For the knee, they removed approximately 60% that was crushed or too small to be repaired. He attached the tendon to the base of the kneecap and attached the muscle to the top of the knee. He explained that while it won’t be as strong, it will be a working knee.
Now for the femur, this was NOT the femur with the broken ball. The doctor shared x-rays and drew pictures to illustrate what had been done. A long plate was placed along the femur. Many screws were placed into the femur and some went up into the ball.
The surgeon seemed pleased overall with the two surgeries. He said that J is now scheduled for the next surgery on Monday for the second, much more complicated femur. However, the orthopedic also compared scheduling J for surgery is a lot like scheduling the shuttle for a launch. You may place the shuttle on the launch pad but there are many variables that may cause a delay.
At this time, they plan to leave J on the ventilator until after the next surgery.
The biggest concern for the next 24-48 hours will for his heart and lungs. Even with the filters in place, there is still the threat of clots breaking loose. This concern about the strength and stability of his heart and lungs is tied to the trauma of the crash and aorta repair and not related to the orthopedic surgery.
_____________________________
At 1:30 p.m., there is a call from the operating room. They have completed the repair to the right femur and are moving to the left knee. Surgery actually started at 10:55 a.m. Everything has gone well. While several approaches to repair the femur were discussed before the surgery, we won’t know how they actually made the repair until later when both surgeries are complete.
On another note, it probably be Monday before they schedule another surgery.
_____________________
Already good news again! After that scary moment yesterday, J’s stats remain strong and his surgery has been moved up to earlier than originally scheduled at 11. He may be in surgery as early as 9:30.
_____________________
A little after 3 p.m., the doctor came out and visited with Cara and J’s parents about the surgeries. The injury report has been updated to match his report.
For the knee, they removed approximately 60% that was crushed or too small to be repaired. He attached the tendon to the base of the kneecap and attached the muscle to the top of the knee. He explained that while it won’t be as strong, it will be a working knee.
Now for the femur, this was NOT the femur with the broken ball. The doctor shared x-rays and drew pictures to illustrate what had been done. A long plate was placed along the femur. Many screws were placed into the femur and some went up into the ball.
The surgeon seemed pleased overall with the two surgeries. He said that J is now scheduled for the next surgery on Monday for the second, much more complicated femur. However, the orthopedic also compared scheduling J for surgery is a lot like scheduling the shuttle for a launch. You may place the shuttle on the launch pad but there are many variables that may cause a delay.
At this time, they plan to leave J on the ventilator until after the next surgery.
The biggest concern for the next 24-48 hours will for his heart and lungs. Even with the filters in place, there is still the threat of clots breaking loose. This concern about the strength and stability of his heart and lungs is tied to the trauma of the crash and aorta repair and not related to the orthopedic surgery.
_____________________________
At 1:30 p.m., there is a call from the operating room. They have completed the repair to the right femur and are moving to the left knee. Surgery actually started at 10:55 a.m. Everything has gone well. While several approaches to repair the femur were discussed before the surgery, we won’t know how they actually made the repair until later when both surgeries are complete.
On another note, it probably be Monday before they schedule another surgery.
_____________________
Already good news again! After that scary moment yesterday, J’s stats remain strong and his surgery has been moved up to earlier than originally scheduled at 11. He may be in surgery as early as 9:30.
From the NTSICU Waiting Room
Good Morning everyone. First, I want to say how much it means to us that you are keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. It helps so much to know how many people love J.
He had a good night in that his stats look good and they are planning on surgery this morning at around 11. He is, however, anxious and continues to fight the restraints. They are keeping him very sedated. This is a good thing at this point, although I'm beginning to miss him and can't wait to be able to talk to him again. Hopefully this will be soon.
Today's surgeries are the first in a series to repair the fractures to his femurs and patella. I believe that they will work on the patella and the right leg today. I have not spoken to the surgeon, so I'm not sure about what they will do specifically. We will update again after the surgery.
Keep those positive thoughts and those prayers coming. We can feel the love.
Love,
Cara
He had a good night in that his stats look good and they are planning on surgery this morning at around 11. He is, however, anxious and continues to fight the restraints. They are keeping him very sedated. This is a good thing at this point, although I'm beginning to miss him and can't wait to be able to talk to him again. Hopefully this will be soon.
Today's surgeries are the first in a series to repair the fractures to his femurs and patella. I believe that they will work on the patella and the right leg today. I have not spoken to the surgeon, so I'm not sure about what they will do specifically. We will update again after the surgery.
Keep those positive thoughts and those prayers coming. We can feel the love.
Love,
Cara
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