The view out Chris's window he can't see
Planning so far has just been planning, some of it will happen today, Chris will have a Tracheotomy, this will allow removal of the tube from his mouth down his throat, and is next step in getting him more aware and awake. He is opening his eyes intermittently now, and trying to wake in small bits, but until this trach is in they keep him sedated.
I didn't know how I was feeling about this, but just had a good conversation with Alex, his nurse in the morning, she explained the procedure. This helps as I imagine a big hole in his throat, she reassured me it was a small slit, then the trach tube is installed. This means he will as time goes on be able to breath on his own sometimes and talk in the future, and best part, after they reduce the sedation, he'll be more aware and awake, so we can communicate. This is when they can determine his brain damages, if any.
That's planning #1
On another front, I'm flying back to Montreal, get our truck and drive to Eastman and pack up the trailer ready to travel. Catherine our friend there offerd dinner, so that'll be nice, and be able to say goodbye to her River, and her parents.
I'll sleep in the trailer, and early get up, and travel for 2 day's to Chesapeake, Virginia to store our trailer south till we are able to travel again. We had a friend reach out to us after my last post about wanting to head south, offered to help with a place to stay, and parking our pickup, and sent me a link to a storage place close for our trailer. What a great offer, we are very fortunate. Thanks Christy & Duane.
This will happen starting Monday with the flight. I booked another flight back for November 4th, allowing another day just in case. So that's a big plan for me. Polly will hold down the fort here, and Ciara will come be with her after Halloween 🎃 till I return. Always want Chris to have someone here.
Next we have to work on is something better for a longer term stay, not knowing right now how long, we want to be a little more comfortable, with cooking 🍳 ability. Would like it close, but not likely getting as close as we are now. That's a job I'm working on, who knows what might come? Options open, and optimistic is my motto.
If we are farther then will get a vehicle, that be good, but I'd rather be close, is nice like today, when I wake early, I can just walk over to the hospital. I'm going to talk with the manager of the hotel we are in see what might come?
The fact that we just don't know how Chris will be when fully aware and awake, this is an unknown until the trach is in and they work on having less sedation in him. Then we will have a better idea.
In the mean time we still have the waiting.
Hopeful, optimistic, positive 🤗❤️
Dear Brent and Polly,
ReplyDeleteAs an old ICU nurse and having been on the other side as well, maybe I can offer you some insights that might come in handy. Knowing that you are a fella, having things to do and figure out may be one way of keeping your wits together, tho it sounds like you are doing a fine job. This is a trauma that right now, is felt much more by you than Chris. Propofol is lovely that way.
On Nurses: You are 100% right. Day Queens are a breed unto their own, even if they rotate shifts. The crazy times are best avoided or coming before the predictable mayhem periods...at least an hours on either side of the shift changes, and every four hours in between. There is a lot to do in a little amount of space and less time. It's great that you're beating the rush at 5:30! Perfect. Another tip is consolidating your questions and asking for a few minutes when they have time. They want to take as good care of you as they do of Chris, so that's a move that can settle everyone (and you are so good at that)....I have to do this in installments cuz I'm long winded.
...con't.
ReplyDeleteOn Head Injuries...You seemed surprised that he 'now has a head injury', if I am remembering it right. OK... it is not a new development, but comes hand in hand with a skull fracture. In the impact his brain got whacked against his skull, and then bounced back and forth a number of times. That his skull broke may be a blessing because it absorbed a lot of the impact. It's a physics thing. Guys love physics. That he only has a tiny bleed is a miracle - I don't know the speed of impact but it sounds like highway speed.
So, a brain injury would be implied, but sometimes it is not readily apparent to a traumatized family who has had the good fortune not to know these things automatically. (Another blessing).
So- a bleed is problematic bc it stops feeding what it is meant to, but most importantly it creates increased pressure in his head. This is called "ICP" - increased intracranial pressure. I don't know how they are monitoring it, but it is a good idea to ask. Sometimes just watching the scans is all.
-swelling is another thing that increases the pressure. If his skull has a mobile fracture it may give it more wiggle room. Otherwise we manage it with medications (that may make you prone to infections). There are more aggressive approaches as required, and it doesn't sound like he's had those ....good news!
-you can ask what his pupils are doing. If they are equal and they respond to light...another good thing.
-they will be looking at if he can follow a basic instruction as he wakes ...organized responses are awesome!
I have been asking about his pupils, and they are responding, I haven't asked if equal, I will. As for the fracture, I'm sure it did take most of the shock, and the bleeding was not alot the Dr said, so they seem to be think that's going to be ok. Time is the cure now I'm hearing.
Delete...Things you can do...reading and getting familiar with traumatic brain injuries, especially biographical accounts....Reading stories to him, particularly if you read to him as a child. He can follow your voice and a familiar story. (You have a great voice that could be pimped out for audiobooks).; vibrations and sounds - like chakra stuff or binaural beats that you can play for him using earbuds; Family recordings telling him where he is, he's been hurt in an accident, everyone is here taking care of you, no on else was hurt; you have a breathing tube etc. that sort of thing - on a loop recording might be helpful.
ReplyDeleteRange of motion exercises - if the pressure in his head is more stable these can be started and you can help him with these. Just ask the nurse or physio to show you how. That will help him with a speedier recovery.
You said other things are broken, but you haven't mentioned a spine injury and he's moving hands and feet....super duper!!!
That's it for now. Lemme know if you want more (or less).
you are all floating on a cloud of good vibes. Keep believing in them! They work.
wow Pfeffer wonderful and helpful information Thank you !!
ReplyDeleteYes we are getting so much good vibes from everyone, this helps 🤗❤️ he's going to be ok, just needs healing time.
ReplyDelete