Linda and Beth are on the "night shift" and Danielle and I thought we would add an update because we are realizing more and more just how many supportive people follow this blog.
Steve had a rough early morning vomiting 3x. Since the feeding tube was installed, Steve has a dark brown fluid building up in his stomach and incessant hiccups. Suctioning out this fluid has cured the hiccups but there is concern as to what the fluid is and where it is coming from. Doctors say it could be left over from the feeding tube surgery. Samples were sent to the lab and we should know more soon. That said, alleviating the hiccups has resulted in Steve resting comfortably throughout the rest of the day.
Linda received the results of this morning's CT scan and it shows that there is no more swelling after 24 hours off of the Mannitol. We were advised that although you obviously want a good CT scan, what truly matters are the improvements that we can and will be seeing at Steve's bedside. We are cautiously optimistic that we are past the 'brain swelling' stage and are moving in the right direction.
After some much needed rest, Steve appeared more awake today than ever. He seems to be tracking us better with his eyes. The right eyelid is still not opening unaided, but is obviously attempting to blink with the left. We believe that Steve is beginning to respond to yes/no commands by blinking 2x for yes and 1x for no. This is by no means consistent, but is definitely becoming more pronounced.
Steve is progressing at his own slow but sure pace and is giving us more hope each day. Please know that we are seeing the results of your positive energy and prayers and we ask that you continue to send them our way.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Update 9 from Linda and Rob
Hello everyone. Steve was pretty sleepy today. They've done so many things (feeding tube, picc line, trach, taking him off the vent for long periods of time, etc) to him during the past few days that he seems worn out. Does a lot of coughing/choking which they say is a good sign, but tiring for him and un-nerving for us! He has his left eye open part of the way and tries to follow voices...his right eye is still closed for the most part. Can do a little more squeezing with his right hand - we're hoping to some day soon use that as a means of communicating with him.
Life in the ICU is a rollercoaster of emotions. Today the trauma surgeon stopped by to check on him and stated that he looked good and they wouldn't do another CT scan unless something was wrong. About 20 minutes later the neurology PA stopped by to tell us that they had scheduled a CT scan. You can imagine the thoughts that ran through our minds. Thankfully, the scan showed no more swelling and a correctly positioned brain midline. Because of these results, the doctors were able to stop giving him Mannitol, which pulls fluids out of damaged tissue. They'll do another scan in the morning to make sure no more problems develop.
The physical therapist brought us a boot that he wears to keep his feet in the proper position, and showed us some range of motion exercises to do with him. It's nice to have something positive and helpful like that to focus on. We actually have become active participants in his care, which is a good feeling for all of us.
We are still waiting to hear about moving to Michigan. We know doctors here have spoken with doctors there...just haven't received details yet.
Yesterday we moved into a house in Reston, Virginia, and are living with Agnes, who is a cousin of Linda's Aunt Dianna. We have space, washer and dryer, the use of a computer, and a kitchen. Two of us spend every night at the hospital, but the others will be staying here. Such a blessing!
I know we keep saying this, but we are so thankful to every one of you for the love, support, thoughts, and prayers. Please keep them coming.
Love,
Linda and Rob
Life in the ICU is a rollercoaster of emotions. Today the trauma surgeon stopped by to check on him and stated that he looked good and they wouldn't do another CT scan unless something was wrong. About 20 minutes later the neurology PA stopped by to tell us that they had scheduled a CT scan. You can imagine the thoughts that ran through our minds. Thankfully, the scan showed no more swelling and a correctly positioned brain midline. Because of these results, the doctors were able to stop giving him Mannitol, which pulls fluids out of damaged tissue. They'll do another scan in the morning to make sure no more problems develop.
The physical therapist brought us a boot that he wears to keep his feet in the proper position, and showed us some range of motion exercises to do with him. It's nice to have something positive and helpful like that to focus on. We actually have become active participants in his care, which is a good feeling for all of us.
We are still waiting to hear about moving to Michigan. We know doctors here have spoken with doctors there...just haven't received details yet.
Yesterday we moved into a house in Reston, Virginia, and are living with Agnes, who is a cousin of Linda's Aunt Dianna. We have space, washer and dryer, the use of a computer, and a kitchen. Two of us spend every night at the hospital, but the others will be staying here. Such a blessing!
I know we keep saying this, but we are so thankful to every one of you for the love, support, thoughts, and prayers. Please keep them coming.
Love,
Linda and Rob
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Update #8 from Linda and Beth
More good news today; Steve was taken off the ventilator for five hours and was breathing just fine on his own. (Originally, they only thought he would be able to handle about 20 minutes of that, but he surprised us.) A Picc line was also inserted today, so they took a bunch of IVs out of his arms. This morning, he was also able to respond [albeit weakly] to requests to squeeze our hands and wiggle his right-hand fingers. The doctors were so pleased with his progress that they are considering taking him off the ventilator permanently. In addition, he may be able to be transported back to Michigan by air ambulance as early as the beginning of next week. As we mentioned before, we were originally told that it would be 4-8 weeks before this could happen.
Hopefully Steve will soon be able to do more tracking with his eyes and keep them open longer. We also hope that he will start showing some more movement on his left side. We tell him everyday that his friends and family at home (and across the country) are thinking of him, and we're certain that gives him motivation to keep fighting to get well.
As always, thanks for everything.
Linda and Beth
Hopefully Steve will soon be able to do more tracking with his eyes and keep them open longer. We also hope that he will start showing some more movement on his left side. We tell him everyday that his friends and family at home (and across the country) are thinking of him, and we're certain that gives him motivation to keep fighting to get well.
As always, thanks for everything.
Linda and Beth
Update #7 from Beth
Morning everyone,
This is our last day at Red Roof Inn in Rockville; we're moving to a relative's house today and are pretty excited about that. I'll post the address soon.
Yesterday was a big day for Steve. Dr. Daza (the original trauma surgeon who saw Steve when he was brought in) put in a trach and a feeding tube. After Saturday's nightmarish events, we were told that those two things would have to wait; however, since the swelling was brought down so well by the Mannitol, the original plans ended up only being delayed by a day. Now Steve is breathing through a hole in his neck and is being fed through a tube connected directly to his stomach and small intestine. His mouth is now free of tubing, which is great because (a) it's a lot more comfortable for him, (b) it eliminates another possible source of infection, and (c) it means that as he wakes up, he won't choke on the tubing, so they can keep his sedation lower.
As my mom said, Steve is beginning to blink. At first it was just as though he was squishing his eyelids together; he didn't really open his eyes. However, Danielle told me yesterday morning that he had opened his eyes a bit, and so I got really close to his face so I could watch for it to happen. All of a sudden he opened his left eye about halfway and blinked both of them together. I was so startled by this that I actually yelled "Holy crap!" He did this many more times throughout the day and has been opening his left eye wider and wider. Kira and my dad report that last night he actually opened his left eye all the way. We were told to expect progress in his right eye to be delayed some because Saturday's stroke (and the original injury) occurred on the right side of his brain, and that's what we're seeing; however, he is still trying to blink that eye.
The other thing that Steve did a lot yesterday was to yawn a lot and stretch his limbs, just as you or I might do in the morning. He has had a lot of Propofol (a sedative), but they have really turned that down; at one point the dosage was 70 mcg/kg/min and now it is 5 mcg/kg/min. This should make it much easier for him to wake up. He is still not tracking our movements with his eyes and cannot respond to commands, but he is definitely making strides in the right direction.
We'll let you know if there's more progress today.
Thanks so much again,
Beth
This is our last day at Red Roof Inn in Rockville; we're moving to a relative's house today and are pretty excited about that. I'll post the address soon.
Yesterday was a big day for Steve. Dr. Daza (the original trauma surgeon who saw Steve when he was brought in) put in a trach and a feeding tube. After Saturday's nightmarish events, we were told that those two things would have to wait; however, since the swelling was brought down so well by the Mannitol, the original plans ended up only being delayed by a day. Now Steve is breathing through a hole in his neck and is being fed through a tube connected directly to his stomach and small intestine. His mouth is now free of tubing, which is great because (a) it's a lot more comfortable for him, (b) it eliminates another possible source of infection, and (c) it means that as he wakes up, he won't choke on the tubing, so they can keep his sedation lower.
As my mom said, Steve is beginning to blink. At first it was just as though he was squishing his eyelids together; he didn't really open his eyes. However, Danielle told me yesterday morning that he had opened his eyes a bit, and so I got really close to his face so I could watch for it to happen. All of a sudden he opened his left eye about halfway and blinked both of them together. I was so startled by this that I actually yelled "Holy crap!" He did this many more times throughout the day and has been opening his left eye wider and wider. Kira and my dad report that last night he actually opened his left eye all the way. We were told to expect progress in his right eye to be delayed some because Saturday's stroke (and the original injury) occurred on the right side of his brain, and that's what we're seeing; however, he is still trying to blink that eye.
The other thing that Steve did a lot yesterday was to yawn a lot and stretch his limbs, just as you or I might do in the morning. He has had a lot of Propofol (a sedative), but they have really turned that down; at one point the dosage was 70 mcg/kg/min and now it is 5 mcg/kg/min. This should make it much easier for him to wake up. He is still not tracking our movements with his eyes and cannot respond to commands, but he is definitely making strides in the right direction.
We'll let you know if there's more progress today.
Thanks so much again,
Beth
Monday, February 25, 2008
Update #6 from Linda
This has been a good day! It started with Jacob, a PA who is very honest with us, visiting with a student PA to show her how to examine someone like Steve. My mom and I were there and listened as he commented about this and that being good. He got really excited about some responses and told us he thought Steve was trying to wake up, although of course there weren't any guarantees. Then he blinked...not where his eyes were open really, but just sort of a squishing of his eyelids together. Has done that many times throughout the day. His breathing and lung pressure are also doing well and they hope to do the trach tomorrow, as well as the feeding tube. Still have to check with one more doctor, but that's the plan. The respiratory therapist thinks he may be taken off the vent sooner than expected, too.
Danielle and I were just talking about priorities...what we were worried or thinking about a week ago, versus being excited about a blink!
Thanks for all your notes...I hope you know how much they mean to all of us.
Love, Linda
Danielle and I were just talking about priorities...what we were worried or thinking about a week ago, versus being excited about a blink!
Thanks for all your notes...I hope you know how much they mean to all of us.
Love, Linda
Address
Just wanted to post Steve's address at the hospital in case anyone wants to send cards, etc. Please do not send flowers, as he cannot have them in his room and they will just end up at the nurses' station!
Third floor ICU Room 3420
Suburban Hospital
8600 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
Thanks again for everything, guys. I will write a longer post later when dad and I are back from the hospital.
Beth
Third floor ICU Room 3420
Suburban Hospital
8600 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
Thanks again for everything, guys. I will write a longer post later when dad and I are back from the hospital.
Beth
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Update #5 from Linda
Steve has no damage to his arteries, which is great news since surgery in his condition would be dangerous. The plan now is to continue with the same treatment and stay optimistic that his brain will heal.
Yesterday we were watching him display symptoms that indicated he might die. We put it in Steve's hands...stay with us if you can, but we'll understand if you can't. Then, around 7pm, there was a positive sign that repeated itself every hour through the night when they checked his responses. We could hardly convince ourselves to be optimistic, but, as we mentioned earlier, the CT scan showed no further damage.
We want you to know how thankful we are for all of you and the prayers and positive thoughts that you are sending his way. I am convinced that he felt them and they helped give him strength to continue on. Please keep them coming! He needs you.
With thanks and love,
Linda
Yesterday we were watching him display symptoms that indicated he might die. We put it in Steve's hands...stay with us if you can, but we'll understand if you can't. Then, around 7pm, there was a positive sign that repeated itself every hour through the night when they checked his responses. We could hardly convince ourselves to be optimistic, but, as we mentioned earlier, the CT scan showed no further damage.
We want you to know how thankful we are for all of you and the prayers and positive thoughts that you are sending his way. I am convinced that he felt them and they helped give him strength to continue on. Please keep them coming! He needs you.
With thanks and love,
Linda
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)