Sunday and Monday were pretty uneventful. Jon slept alot. Today they put Jon into a bed that folds into a chair and I was able to take him out of the room. We even went outside! The first time he has been outside, other than to be transported somewhere, since the accident. We (Jon and Barb)were only out for 15 minutes but the sun was shining and felt warm. Jon's response was "It could have been warmer and less wind". I was hoping for something alittle more excited than that but at least it got him outside the room and the building. Something alittle freeing about going out and sitting in the sun. He sat there and just soaked in the sun with his eyes closed. We'll see if it helps his spirits any. I hope so.
I left for work at 1:00 pm and Mom and Carol got there around 1:30-2:00ish. I don't know how his day has been with them so far. Will write more later.
Please continue to pray for Jon's healing, attitude/outlook and the family's health and outlook. I told him he is starting to get a little short with people again. The positive attitude was apparently left at OSU.
Thanks for checking.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Visitors
A couple of Jon's friends, Art and Gary, came down for a quick day trip on Friday. Brother Greg and Little Jimmy, a friend came down Friday night and spent most of Saturday with Jon. Another friend, Paul, came over from Newark on Saturday afternoon.
Jon is at least trying a bite of everything before saying he doesn't want it. He apparently liked a chicken dish tonight. He had cantaloupe for breakfast and peaches for lunch. He likes his fruit! We can pretty much guarantee that he will at least eat his fruit. I brought him a child size Frosty earlier today but he only ate 2 bites of it.
Jon seems to be holding his own in the breathing department. He has been off the vent but is still receiving oxygen through a tube in his nose. Milk is producing more phlegm and was giving Jon a hard time after eating supper tonight. At least when he was on the vent, when he had sleep apnea, the vent would go off, startle Jon and he would start breathing again. With out the vent, there is no alarm to startle him. So Dad is staying with him tonight just to make sure that his breathing doesn't go too low. The alarm on the oxygen sensor is set to go off when he goes lower than 85.
That's all for now. Thanks for checking in.
Jon is at least trying a bite of everything before saying he doesn't want it. He apparently liked a chicken dish tonight. He had cantaloupe for breakfast and peaches for lunch. He likes his fruit! We can pretty much guarantee that he will at least eat his fruit. I brought him a child size Frosty earlier today but he only ate 2 bites of it.
Jon seems to be holding his own in the breathing department. He has been off the vent but is still receiving oxygen through a tube in his nose. Milk is producing more phlegm and was giving Jon a hard time after eating supper tonight. At least when he was on the vent, when he had sleep apnea, the vent would go off, startle Jon and he would start breathing again. With out the vent, there is no alarm to startle him. So Dad is staying with him tonight just to make sure that his breathing doesn't go too low. The alarm on the oxygen sensor is set to go off when he goes lower than 85.
That's all for now. Thanks for checking in.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
A Big Day
Jon's day started with a date with the speech therapist for breakfast. He had pancakes and syrup, juice and milk...the only hitch? the pancakes and syrup were pureed into a mushed up heap! Still he ate most of it. The respiratory tech came in and put a cap on the trach and removed the ventilator from the room. Jon said "Bon voyage" as it went out the door. If all goes well he could have the trach removed completely but we have decided to take our good old sweet time. He's been almost to this point too many times and then disaster has struck.
I had to dash back to Barb's at 11:30 so I don't know what he had for lunch but he ate a good deal of it I heard. For supper it was chicken and dumplings, brussel sprouts and a soft sugar cookie--all pureed of course. Doesn't like brussel sprouts in any shape or form. Pureed sugar cookies taste almost like cookie dough but he ate several bites of it and all of the chicken.
Tonight the tech gave him a good soapy bath and a shave, we left him in the good hands of the tech and he's all ready for company tomorrow. Several friends from Defiance are supposed to come. Greg is coming on Saturday and mom is heading back home for the weekend.
I had to dash back to Barb's at 11:30 so I don't know what he had for lunch but he ate a good deal of it I heard. For supper it was chicken and dumplings, brussel sprouts and a soft sugar cookie--all pureed of course. Doesn't like brussel sprouts in any shape or form. Pureed sugar cookies taste almost like cookie dough but he ate several bites of it and all of the chicken.
Tonight the tech gave him a good soapy bath and a shave, we left him in the good hands of the tech and he's all ready for company tomorrow. Several friends from Defiance are supposed to come. Greg is coming on Saturday and mom is heading back home for the weekend.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Approaching Normalcy… or Bored as All Get Out?
Tuesday March 17, 2007
I had a chance to discuss Jon’s medication with one of the specialists today and it was decided to take Jon off a medication that I was certain was responsible for the heavy state of sleep Jon has been in for the last few days. As it is wearing off he has continued some of the behavior which suggests hallucination and confusion. Further on in the day he started complaining of being bored. I’m racking my brain trying to think of 2 handed card games that don’t require picking up a lot of cards, as in rummy. I thought of composing some silly poems and started with “There once was a man from Defiance” and wondered aloud what might rhyme with Defiance and he came back with “Who wanted to sell all his appliances” …but that’s as far as he wanted to go. We might try that again sometime.
One of the side-affects of the medication I wanted removed was extreme hunger. He asked for a Milky Way yesterday and knowing that he couldn’t have candy I checked on the whereabouts of the nearest Wendy’s. I brought back 2 Frosties since the nurse suggested I could put one in the freezer. He ate some yesterday and I finished it off. Today he asked for the other one. I was afraid the frozen texture might affect the taste but he didn’t mind; the flavor was the same. In the middle of one of his morning snoozes he blurted out “I’ll have some lasagna” followed shortly by “How about some garlic bread with that.” Yesterday it was a toasted cheese sandwich. What a sad thing to be craving food and even dreaming about it when you can’t eat yet. Perhaps that day is coming soon. I only hope the food the patients get is half way decent. The cafeteria has some interesting food and some of it I have really enjoyed but I know Jon has a limited list of foods he likes and even those have to be like Mom or someone else fixes it.
We tried reading some more of The Kite Runner but I barely finished a page when he’d ask me to stop. Then he asked a little later and I managed another page and a half. We did watch American Idol and he’d either sing along with the performers or sing during commercials. What was once an exasperating raspberry kind of sound to get our attention when he couldn’t talk aloud has now become a drum roll and the start of a song. After weeks of jumping to attention when hearing that sound it is hard to decide whether to stay seated and wait for an oncoming song or get up to see what he wants.
I know that the antsy feeling he’s experiencing is a sign he is getting better. That is about the only positive thing I could think about when he was sleeping so much--at least his body was spending all its energy on healing. Which reminds me; we’ve been asking repeatedly to see the report that said Jon has MRSA, the antibiotic resistant strain of staph, and have had no luck. Yesterday the nurse came and reported that Jon was being removed from quarantine since he didn’t have the staph infection..but still no paper work indicating that has turned up. They claim it was a preliminary report and must have been from a test that OSU sent over as their cultures have not shown any sign of such an infection. They will, however, continue with the medication for a week or so to be on the safe side.
Am tending to ramble so must go. Jon has started to work his arms again and can get his elbow about 5 inches off the bed by himself so if you’re so inclined you can add to your prayers a quick recovery of strength and return to Dodd Hall. He can barely tolerate the idea of extending his hospitalization another 6-7 weeks which he could very well be.
I had a chance to discuss Jon’s medication with one of the specialists today and it was decided to take Jon off a medication that I was certain was responsible for the heavy state of sleep Jon has been in for the last few days. As it is wearing off he has continued some of the behavior which suggests hallucination and confusion. Further on in the day he started complaining of being bored. I’m racking my brain trying to think of 2 handed card games that don’t require picking up a lot of cards, as in rummy. I thought of composing some silly poems and started with “There once was a man from Defiance” and wondered aloud what might rhyme with Defiance and he came back with “Who wanted to sell all his appliances” …but that’s as far as he wanted to go. We might try that again sometime.
One of the side-affects of the medication I wanted removed was extreme hunger. He asked for a Milky Way yesterday and knowing that he couldn’t have candy I checked on the whereabouts of the nearest Wendy’s. I brought back 2 Frosties since the nurse suggested I could put one in the freezer. He ate some yesterday and I finished it off. Today he asked for the other one. I was afraid the frozen texture might affect the taste but he didn’t mind; the flavor was the same. In the middle of one of his morning snoozes he blurted out “I’ll have some lasagna” followed shortly by “How about some garlic bread with that.” Yesterday it was a toasted cheese sandwich. What a sad thing to be craving food and even dreaming about it when you can’t eat yet. Perhaps that day is coming soon. I only hope the food the patients get is half way decent. The cafeteria has some interesting food and some of it I have really enjoyed but I know Jon has a limited list of foods he likes and even those have to be like Mom or someone else fixes it.
We tried reading some more of The Kite Runner but I barely finished a page when he’d ask me to stop. Then he asked a little later and I managed another page and a half. We did watch American Idol and he’d either sing along with the performers or sing during commercials. What was once an exasperating raspberry kind of sound to get our attention when he couldn’t talk aloud has now become a drum roll and the start of a song. After weeks of jumping to attention when hearing that sound it is hard to decide whether to stay seated and wait for an oncoming song or get up to see what he wants.
I know that the antsy feeling he’s experiencing is a sign he is getting better. That is about the only positive thing I could think about when he was sleeping so much--at least his body was spending all its energy on healing. Which reminds me; we’ve been asking repeatedly to see the report that said Jon has MRSA, the antibiotic resistant strain of staph, and have had no luck. Yesterday the nurse came and reported that Jon was being removed from quarantine since he didn’t have the staph infection..but still no paper work indicating that has turned up. They claim it was a preliminary report and must have been from a test that OSU sent over as their cultures have not shown any sign of such an infection. They will, however, continue with the medication for a week or so to be on the safe side.
Am tending to ramble so must go. Jon has started to work his arms again and can get his elbow about 5 inches off the bed by himself so if you’re so inclined you can add to your prayers a quick recovery of strength and return to Dodd Hall. He can barely tolerate the idea of extending his hospitalization another 6-7 weeks which he could very well be.
No colostomy!
Friday, March 13th, Mom spoke with the Wound Care Nurse and he does not have a problem getting a good seal on the wound vac. He is primarily responsible for changing the dressing (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). He said he does not see a reason for doing the colostomy right now so it has been put on the back burner for the time being. Big sigh for us as Jon was very adamant about not having it done.
Jon continued to sleep Saturday and Sunday during the day. It was boring for us but needed sleep for him. Monday he was up to 16 hours off the respirator and able to have the passe muir (speaking valve) back on. Mom surprised me and put Jon on the phone when I spoke with her at noon. She is not the only one to have problems hearing on her phone. Jon said he couldn't hear well either so our conversation was cut short. By the time I got there that (Monday) evening, he was sleeping again.
Well, Monday Mom informed me she was willing to pay for 2 months of internet if I could get it hooked up. That night I went home to take of my dog Charlie and low and behold who should appear on my doorstep but an AT&T representative with internet service!!! Therefore as of this Thursday I will have internet at the house so we can post more often again. Thanks for your patience.
Thank you for checking in and continue your prayers for Jon and the family.
Barb
Jon continued to sleep Saturday and Sunday during the day. It was boring for us but needed sleep for him. Monday he was up to 16 hours off the respirator and able to have the passe muir (speaking valve) back on. Mom surprised me and put Jon on the phone when I spoke with her at noon. She is not the only one to have problems hearing on her phone. Jon said he couldn't hear well either so our conversation was cut short. By the time I got there that (Monday) evening, he was sleeping again.
Well, Monday Mom informed me she was willing to pay for 2 months of internet if I could get it hooked up. That night I went home to take of my dog Charlie and low and behold who should appear on my doorstep but an AT&T representative with internet service!!! Therefore as of this Thursday I will have internet at the house so we can post more often again. Thanks for your patience.
Thank you for checking in and continue your prayers for Jon and the family.
Barb
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Complications
Jon's trip back to Select was uneventful and he seems to continue to be more alert than he was the few days before going to the emergency room. He was just getting settled in when the nurse informed us that a test result had come back positive for a staph infection commonly referred to as MRSA. It is one of those staphs that is resistant to antibiotics. After checking in on the internet we saw that he already was on a common medication to treat MRSA, vancomycin.
We were quite concerned and Barb found articles and printed them out. We should have known better but Jon seemed engrossed in a TV show and we read and passed around the articles in his room. That led to a restless night on Jon's part since we hadn't gone into a whole lot of detail when we told him he had a staph infection. Forgive us, we didn't want to worry him before we were fully armed with information but worry him we did. Select Specialty's doctors don't think he got it while there but the report came to them the day after he went back to OSU's Emergency Department. Not sure it matters to Jon where he got it we just have to see that it is treated correctly.
I got a call tonight from one of Select's surgeons who had again been talking about Jon needing a colostomy. We had talked this over with the staff while at OSU and they didn't think it necessary at this time. However, Select 's staff has been having difficulty getting a good seal on the wound so that it can be cleaned out with the VAC and they think this would solve the problem...I'm not sure how it would affect the seal--the cleanliness of the area, yes....
We need to discuss how much further a surgery would weaken Jon and his resistance to the staph before making any decisions. When last discussing it with Jon a few weeks back he was not in favor of the procedure but when I get back to Columbus tomorrow I'll see if he's changed his mind at all. I need to go to Indiana in the morning to get my hearing aids checked. My ability to hear phone conversations without putting it on speakerphone is getting annoying. Besides, everyone else within 10 feet can hear it better than I can even at that!
We were quite concerned and Barb found articles and printed them out. We should have known better but Jon seemed engrossed in a TV show and we read and passed around the articles in his room. That led to a restless night on Jon's part since we hadn't gone into a whole lot of detail when we told him he had a staph infection. Forgive us, we didn't want to worry him before we were fully armed with information but worry him we did. Select Specialty's doctors don't think he got it while there but the report came to them the day after he went back to OSU's Emergency Department. Not sure it matters to Jon where he got it we just have to see that it is treated correctly.
I got a call tonight from one of Select's surgeons who had again been talking about Jon needing a colostomy. We had talked this over with the staff while at OSU and they didn't think it necessary at this time. However, Select 's staff has been having difficulty getting a good seal on the wound so that it can be cleaned out with the VAC and they think this would solve the problem...I'm not sure how it would affect the seal--the cleanliness of the area, yes....
We need to discuss how much further a surgery would weaken Jon and his resistance to the staph before making any decisions. When last discussing it with Jon a few weeks back he was not in favor of the procedure but when I get back to Columbus tomorrow I'll see if he's changed his mind at all. I need to go to Indiana in the morning to get my hearing aids checked. My ability to hear phone conversations without putting it on speakerphone is getting annoying. Besides, everyone else within 10 feet can hear it better than I can even at that!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
And the Travel Continues
Just got the word that Jon is to be transferred back to Select Specialties Hospital this afternoon. He will go back with orders to be put on the VAC for his bedsore which they cannot do until tomorrow morning. However, the doctors here at OSU looked at it and debrided it yesterday so hopefully the delay will not be harmful. Select is locating a different kind of air bed and we devoutly hope that it will improve things also. The speech therapist here was going to work at trying to find out what causes Jon to aspirate when he eats but I hadn't a chance to talk with her in depth this morning and counted on speaking with her this afternoon. She was going to have Jon do exercises 3 times a day which I would think, in and of itself, would have been an immense help. Unfortunately I got the call notifying me of the transfer just 15 minutes after talking with her! Hopefully Jon's pain can be managed more effectively without putting him to sleep all the time and we can do the exercises with him ourselves.
Monday, March 9, 2009
And once again....my bad, Barb beat me to this
Jon was taken back to OSU emergency department early Sunday morning with respiratory problems and low blood pressure. With all the antibiotics he's on I have no idea how he could have gotten a light case of pneumonia in his left lung but that is the diagnosis. (For all of you who are wondering "why didn't he get a pneumonia shot?" the answer is "he did." We just didn't know how many different kinds of pneumonia there are floating around!) We've also discovered that the painkiller, dilaudin, lowers Jon's blood pressure considerably so they've refrained from giving it until a nurse "with lots of experience ..I've been doing this for 'umpteen years'" decided to request a change in his pain medication and since it was over the week-end and that staff is not as well acquainted with Jon said okay to dilaudin, he also had a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Meanwhile, Select Specialties has discharged him and he will need to be readmitted when he's well enough to be moved. One of the doctors checking in on him today is again suggesting a muscle transplant and skin graft to solve the bedsore problem and others are still wanting him to reconsider a colostomy. I said I would gladly donate some tummy fat but you know where that got me!
Thanks to Bill and Barb someone was with him for the better part of the day while I finish recovering from a 24 hour case of stomach flu. Barb called and said they were ordering a special bed for him that helps do some of the turning. We have joked that at the rate he's going we should just ask that instead of having a wheelchair or scooter provided for him that we should just get a good bed and take it with him wherever he goes!
It's late--forgot to write this earlier--hope all is well with all of you.
Thanks to Bill and Barb someone was with him for the better part of the day while I finish recovering from a 24 hour case of stomach flu. Barb called and said they were ordering a special bed for him that helps do some of the turning. We have joked that at the rate he's going we should just ask that instead of having a wheelchair or scooter provided for him that we should just get a good bed and take it with him wherever he goes!
It's late--forgot to write this earlier--hope all is well with all of you.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
What a night!!
Jon is back at Rhodes Hall in the Medical ICU. His blood pressure dropped again down to 62/?? (Dad did not record the lower number) early in the morning. He also has a small pneumonia in his left lung (previous pneumonias were in the right lung). The wound vac had only been on for 3 days before he was transferred. Each new place wants to evaluate it with their own team and he has been transferred on weekends. The wound care teams do not work on the weeekends. Therefore the wound care team with Rhodes will not be able to assess it until tomorrow. The floor nurse has looked at it and says it looks healthy and she doesn't think they will put it back on but that it is up to the wound care team. It looks healthy because it's been on the vac!!!! With out the vac it gets gunked up quickly. Hopefully tomorrow will not be too late. After 24 hours off the last time, it was too gunked to put back on but not gunked enough to debride (surgically clean it out) and put back on the vac. What a catch 22.
He was given a pain med that makes him sleep alot and so he was out of it for a little while. The MICU has strict visitation so we are not able to be with him like we have been able up to now. Vistitation is from 5-6 am, 9 - 10 am, 1 - 2 pm, 5 - 6 pm, 9 - 10 pm. For the 1-2 pm visit I got there at 1:30. The nurse was really nice and since he just got checked in around 10:45 am, she let me stay until 3:00. She did remind me however of the visitation so it will be enforced from now on. He seemed to be in good spirits while I was there.
Please pray for healing of the vertebraes, lungs, brain damage, the bed sore; that his pain would decrease and we could lower his pain meds; and for him to remain in good spirits. I miss his laughter. I did make him laugh a couple of times today and he even stuck his tongue out at me. Please pray for the family and our health. Mom came down with the flu. It is stressful on all.
Thanks for checking in. Please feel free to leave a comment. We love to hear from you and we read them to Jon.
He was given a pain med that makes him sleep alot and so he was out of it for a little while. The MICU has strict visitation so we are not able to be with him like we have been able up to now. Vistitation is from 5-6 am, 9 - 10 am, 1 - 2 pm, 5 - 6 pm, 9 - 10 pm. For the 1-2 pm visit I got there at 1:30. The nurse was really nice and since he just got checked in around 10:45 am, she let me stay until 3:00. She did remind me however of the visitation so it will be enforced from now on. He seemed to be in good spirits while I was there.
Please pray for healing of the vertebraes, lungs, brain damage, the bed sore; that his pain would decrease and we could lower his pain meds; and for him to remain in good spirits. I miss his laughter. I did make him laugh a couple of times today and he even stuck his tongue out at me. Please pray for the family and our health. Mom came down with the flu. It is stressful on all.
Thanks for checking in. Please feel free to leave a comment. We love to hear from you and we read them to Jon.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Update
Wednesday March 4, 2009 (written and posted March 5th)
Jon finally made it to the second step in the healing process of his bedsore. The wound nurse deemed the cleaning procedure a success and placed a wound VAC on it yesterday. His Dad just called and said that the swallowing test has been done already and the results are back--he can have a small Frosty. Boy does that man like Wendy ‘s Frosties!
Yesterday was a rather quiet day. The physical therapists had Jon sitting on the side of the bed for 5 minutes, strengthening his balance. He then was situated in a wheel chair and sat up for an hour. He really kind of wanted to take a ride and see what the rest of the place looks like but although he’s not using the ventilator for breathing he is getting pressure support from it so as long as he’s attached he can’t go anywhere…another thing to look forward to?
A retired doctor from Dodd stopped by. He was filling in for one of Select Specialties doctors so I asked about the pillow situation. We have gotten the okay for a very thin pillow. He looks so much more comfortable and actually I think more in alignment with the rest of his back. Now the battle is on in readjusting it every 15 minutes or so!!!! Can’t win for losing, eh?
We finished the book Three Cups of Tea and now I’m reading The Kite Runner to him. We’re stuck on a middle east theme I guess. I gave him a choice of 3 books I had handy and that one won.
I need to thank Jon’s Dad for all the nights he’s spent at the hospital. It would not be possible for me to be there 24/7 and until we’re sure they are regular in the 2 hour turnings it is helpful to have someone there. Barb fills in for me on the week-ends so I can go back to Defiance for a much needed break from the routine…if I keep reading 90 some pages aloud a day my throat may need it too. Jon enjoys the stories and says he likes the sound of my voice. I just have to keep an eye on him since he listens with his eyes closed and sometimes I’m not sure he’s still awake. However, if I stop in the middle of a sentence…..
Must close and take the computer to Barb’s school so she can post this and then it’s off to the hospital. Thanks for all your prayers and inquiries. We tell Jon you called or posted a note and he appreciates it. Thanks again from all of us.
Jon finally made it to the second step in the healing process of his bedsore. The wound nurse deemed the cleaning procedure a success and placed a wound VAC on it yesterday. His Dad just called and said that the swallowing test has been done already and the results are back--he can have a small Frosty. Boy does that man like Wendy ‘s Frosties!
Yesterday was a rather quiet day. The physical therapists had Jon sitting on the side of the bed for 5 minutes, strengthening his balance. He then was situated in a wheel chair and sat up for an hour. He really kind of wanted to take a ride and see what the rest of the place looks like but although he’s not using the ventilator for breathing he is getting pressure support from it so as long as he’s attached he can’t go anywhere…another thing to look forward to?
A retired doctor from Dodd stopped by. He was filling in for one of Select Specialties doctors so I asked about the pillow situation. We have gotten the okay for a very thin pillow. He looks so much more comfortable and actually I think more in alignment with the rest of his back. Now the battle is on in readjusting it every 15 minutes or so!!!! Can’t win for losing, eh?
We finished the book Three Cups of Tea and now I’m reading The Kite Runner to him. We’re stuck on a middle east theme I guess. I gave him a choice of 3 books I had handy and that one won.
I need to thank Jon’s Dad for all the nights he’s spent at the hospital. It would not be possible for me to be there 24/7 and until we’re sure they are regular in the 2 hour turnings it is helpful to have someone there. Barb fills in for me on the week-ends so I can go back to Defiance for a much needed break from the routine…if I keep reading 90 some pages aloud a day my throat may need it too. Jon enjoys the stories and says he likes the sound of my voice. I just have to keep an eye on him since he listens with his eyes closed and sometimes I’m not sure he’s still awake. However, if I stop in the middle of a sentence…..
Must close and take the computer to Barb’s school so she can post this and then it’s off to the hospital. Thanks for all your prayers and inquiries. We tell Jon you called or posted a note and he appreciates it. Thanks again from all of us.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
What a Day!!
The speech therapist saved the day. She came in bright and early to tell us that Jon was going to have his hands full just going through the debridement procedure for his bedsore so they moved his swallowing test to Thursday. Jon had some trouble getting a thought across to me so the respiratory tech fixed it so he could talk for just long enough to get that message through to us. ..and that took care of checking his voice. He thought it was nice and strong so maybe we’ll get to the passy muir valve tomorrow and we can have real conversations.
From the doctor’s point of view the debrident went well. From Jon’s point of view it was something he doesn’t want to go through ever again. He asked, “why did you do this to me” and also remarked he was sure he was dying. I tried to get him calmed down by finishing reading “Three Cups of Tea” to him. It’s the story of Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber who didn’t quite succeed in climbing K2 in Pakistan. He got lost coming down the mountain--twice actually--and was nursed back to health by the villagers of Korphe. When he discovered the children had no school building, practiced their time tables in the dirt and even on days without a teacher and only had that teacher 3 days a week because the village couldn’t afford a full time teacher he promised to come back and build them a school. Greg struggled to get enough money for the project and the book tells of how he expanded and built quite a few more schools not only in Pakistan but in Afghanistan. Jon found it quite interesting. I’m not sure what book we will start on next. Tomorrow they will decide about putting a VAC on his bedsore. Cross your fingers that it is in pristine condition!!
Got the written report on Jon’s MRI and there seems to be a problem with semantics when reading the report. The doctor here said the report indicated osteomyelitis and started him on the antibiotic Premaxin
delivered intravenously. The report uses the phrase “suggests osteomyelitis.” So we asked that while they were performing the procedure today they take a sample for a culture to determine what was causing the infection with the two possibilities that we fear the most: staph and e-coli. (Not that the other causes wouldn’t be scary, we just aren’t familiar with them.)
Jon seems in a better mood this evening so I’ll close for now. Be sure to read the post below as it was supposed to be put on this morning. Without internet at the hospital or home I’m typing these reports one place and Barb is supposed to get on line at school and do the posting. This will work as long as she isn’t swamped the minute she walks through the school door. (I, Barb, did not get it posted today - my apologies).
Thanks for “dropping in.”
From the doctor’s point of view the debrident went well. From Jon’s point of view it was something he doesn’t want to go through ever again. He asked, “why did you do this to me” and also remarked he was sure he was dying. I tried to get him calmed down by finishing reading “Three Cups of Tea” to him. It’s the story of Greg Mortenson, a mountain climber who didn’t quite succeed in climbing K2 in Pakistan. He got lost coming down the mountain--twice actually--and was nursed back to health by the villagers of Korphe. When he discovered the children had no school building, practiced their time tables in the dirt and even on days without a teacher and only had that teacher 3 days a week because the village couldn’t afford a full time teacher he promised to come back and build them a school. Greg struggled to get enough money for the project and the book tells of how he expanded and built quite a few more schools not only in Pakistan but in Afghanistan. Jon found it quite interesting. I’m not sure what book we will start on next. Tomorrow they will decide about putting a VAC on his bedsore. Cross your fingers that it is in pristine condition!!
Got the written report on Jon’s MRI and there seems to be a problem with semantics when reading the report. The doctor here said the report indicated osteomyelitis and started him on the antibiotic Premaxin
delivered intravenously. The report uses the phrase “suggests osteomyelitis.” So we asked that while they were performing the procedure today they take a sample for a culture to determine what was causing the infection with the two possibilities that we fear the most: staph and e-coli. (Not that the other causes wouldn’t be scary, we just aren’t familiar with them.)
Jon seems in a better mood this evening so I’ll close for now. Be sure to read the post below as it was supposed to be put on this morning. Without internet at the hospital or home I’m typing these reports one place and Barb is supposed to get on line at school and do the posting. This will work as long as she isn’t swamped the minute she walks through the school door. (I, Barb, did not get it posted today - my apologies).
Thanks for “dropping in.”
A Soapy Ending to a Good Day
March 2, 2009
When the night patient care worker entered we knew she “owned” the room and this time in a good way. She asked Jon if he had had a bath today and when it took a few seconds for him to gather his thoughts she proceeded to make big circular motions across the top of her chest. I didn’t see him answer but she announced he was about to get one anyway. I hear that it was the soapiest bed bath Barb has ever seen. When finished she slathered him with lotion which Jon usually hates because he says it makes him feel like he’s still “wet” but he didn’t complain. When Barb reported to me that he had even had his hair washed and was shaved I set out to give the gal a big hug and was promptly “enveloped” and crushed …she’s a keeper!
The respiratory therapist was quite pleased with the stats the respirator had on Jon for the day. He was off the ventilator for around 17 hours and did very well. I was a little concerned when his heart rate dipped into the high 40s when napping but that’s a hole different system--I can’t seem to separate breathing and heart beating. To me you can’t do one without the other! At any rate, the therapist wanted to try using the ventilator mask today and possibly “hear some voice” which I am assuming means he’ll get to try using the passy muir valve. I also tried to get Jon to move his arm when he hears the beeping sound the alarm makes when his heart rate goes below 50 since that immediately sends his score on an upward trend.
He also is scheduled for a swallow test this afternoon which I hope doesn’t get postponed. A gentle reminder by the Director brought a surgeon to check the bedsore. He agreed it did need to be surgically debreed and scheduled him for 10 this morning. (The spelling isn’t correct but phonetically the term is correct…) He will also have the VAC on the bedsore which is what we’ve been wanting for over a week now!
So Jon is in for a big day today. Keep him in your prayers and hope all goes well.
Thanks loads,
When the night patient care worker entered we knew she “owned” the room and this time in a good way. She asked Jon if he had had a bath today and when it took a few seconds for him to gather his thoughts she proceeded to make big circular motions across the top of her chest. I didn’t see him answer but she announced he was about to get one anyway. I hear that it was the soapiest bed bath Barb has ever seen. When finished she slathered him with lotion which Jon usually hates because he says it makes him feel like he’s still “wet” but he didn’t complain. When Barb reported to me that he had even had his hair washed and was shaved I set out to give the gal a big hug and was promptly “enveloped” and crushed …she’s a keeper!
The respiratory therapist was quite pleased with the stats the respirator had on Jon for the day. He was off the ventilator for around 17 hours and did very well. I was a little concerned when his heart rate dipped into the high 40s when napping but that’s a hole different system--I can’t seem to separate breathing and heart beating. To me you can’t do one without the other! At any rate, the therapist wanted to try using the ventilator mask today and possibly “hear some voice” which I am assuming means he’ll get to try using the passy muir valve. I also tried to get Jon to move his arm when he hears the beeping sound the alarm makes when his heart rate goes below 50 since that immediately sends his score on an upward trend.
He also is scheduled for a swallow test this afternoon which I hope doesn’t get postponed. A gentle reminder by the Director brought a surgeon to check the bedsore. He agreed it did need to be surgically debreed and scheduled him for 10 this morning. (The spelling isn’t correct but phonetically the term is correct…) He will also have the VAC on the bedsore which is what we’ve been wanting for over a week now!
So Jon is in for a big day today. Keep him in your prayers and hope all goes well.
Thanks loads,
Sunday, March 1, 2009
More drats and darns!
It’s been quite a week. We finished it Saturday with a birthday party for Barb who turns 46 on Tuesday. Carol worked with Jon on holding a pen last week and he wrote his name on a birthday card for Barb- a nice surprise for her. Angelique brought the game Apples to Apples and was Jon’s partner. Even when he’s not on the vent he’s not talking aloud so they would quietly converse in whispers and motions to make their decisions. He seemed to enjoy the game a lot. Before leaving we all did swallowing exercises with him. He needs to practice them more so he can again pass a swallow test on Tuesday. It was good for a hearty laugh.
We made a list of things we were unhappy with--including a nurse who didn’t “like clock watchers” when told it was time to change Jon’s position. We ended up with some changes in his care but none of that made up for the news on Saturday that the 1 and 1/2 hour MRI he had on Friday showed that yes, indeed, the bedsore had gone into the bone and yes, he has osteomyelitis. This calls for at least 6 - 8 weeks of antibiotics delivered intravenously. He was already on two antibiotics but probably not the strength, or the specific kind?, needed to combat the eating through the bone. We had his continuous feeding changed so he’s getting more protein and it also has added fiber...also eliminated stool softeners, for Pete’s sake! He is supposed to have the wound surgically debrided Monday and then have a wound vac placed on it. That will help tremendously. We’ll have to wait and see what else the plastic surgeon has in mind. He could have a muscle implant and then a skin graft placed over it. That had been suggested back at OSU before they put the vac on it. (The vac is a special kind of dressing sealed off with a hose type attachment that pulls out infection as well as pulls the skin over the sore to close it. The sore fills up with some kind of granular tissue as it heals.)
They have been gradually weaning him off the ventilator. He had been off for 12 hours one day last week. It would be nice if they could put the passe muir valve back on during that time but so far they haven’t and we haven’t really thought of requesting it--will, soon!
Well, that was supposed to be the end of the post but a phone call or two from Barb has brought further complications. Jon’s blood pressure seems to be very low. At one point his breathing actually stopped but they got it going again. That means more time on ventilator and a change in pain medication. She also reminded me that he has a modified barium swallow test on Tuesday. He's passed little preliminary tests on applesauce and something else that escapes me at the moment. He is looking forward to a chocolate Frosty from Wendy's!
If it’s not one thing, it’s another.....Keep up with the prayers, for all of us.
Thanks,
We made a list of things we were unhappy with--including a nurse who didn’t “like clock watchers” when told it was time to change Jon’s position. We ended up with some changes in his care but none of that made up for the news on Saturday that the 1 and 1/2 hour MRI he had on Friday showed that yes, indeed, the bedsore had gone into the bone and yes, he has osteomyelitis. This calls for at least 6 - 8 weeks of antibiotics delivered intravenously. He was already on two antibiotics but probably not the strength, or the specific kind?, needed to combat the eating through the bone. We had his continuous feeding changed so he’s getting more protein and it also has added fiber...also eliminated stool softeners, for Pete’s sake! He is supposed to have the wound surgically debrided Monday and then have a wound vac placed on it. That will help tremendously. We’ll have to wait and see what else the plastic surgeon has in mind. He could have a muscle implant and then a skin graft placed over it. That had been suggested back at OSU before they put the vac on it. (The vac is a special kind of dressing sealed off with a hose type attachment that pulls out infection as well as pulls the skin over the sore to close it. The sore fills up with some kind of granular tissue as it heals.)
They have been gradually weaning him off the ventilator. He had been off for 12 hours one day last week. It would be nice if they could put the passe muir valve back on during that time but so far they haven’t and we haven’t really thought of requesting it--will, soon!
Well, that was supposed to be the end of the post but a phone call or two from Barb has brought further complications. Jon’s blood pressure seems to be very low. At one point his breathing actually stopped but they got it going again. That means more time on ventilator and a change in pain medication. She also reminded me that he has a modified barium swallow test on Tuesday. He's passed little preliminary tests on applesauce and something else that escapes me at the moment. He is looking forward to a chocolate Frosty from Wendy's!
If it’s not one thing, it’s another.....Keep up with the prayers, for all of us.
Thanks,
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