Two steps forward and one step back.
I went back to the hospital and spent another spell with Dad. The surgeon happened to be there, and he showed me two CAT scans, one from when Dad first arrived, and one this morning. He showed me in detail the exact nature of the injury -- dislocation and two breaks ("bilateral") in the C2 vertebra. One the second scan he showed where the screws were placed, and how the vertebrae line up perfectly now. The surgery, in other words, did absolutely everything it needed to do. Dad is now secure, safe from potential further injury. That puts us on a path of recovery: with the bones securely in place the pain is reduced, with reduced pain comes less sedation, with less sedation comes more alertness, with more alertness comes general healing and an ability to participate in his own healing. Both of his eyes tracked to my face, so his recognition of me was more than just a matter of noticing me if I put my face in his line of sight. He squeezed my hand both both his left *and* his right hand. I've seen noticeable improvement from morning to noon to night today. His blood pressure was back down (122/55).
The one step back: his fever is up to 38.4 degrees C and he's producing a lot of greenish secretions, and that implies pneuomonia. Pneumonia is a relatively common consequence of intubation, especially when the intubation lasts as long as Dad's -- it creates an open passage way from the outside directly into the patient's lungs, and the bugs jump in. He's on antibiotics, and since this is such a common, looked-for side effect, I have to assume that the ICU crew knows how to manage the situation. The surgeon called this "pulmonary issues". If we can knock down this latest challenge, then there will be a clear (though slow) path to his recovery.
Uncle Bob tells me that the plane will leave the impound yard tomorrow, thanks to efforts by him and by the Flabobians (Flabobbers? FlaBobs?). I've scheduled a crew of cleaners to come by Dad's house a week from Saturday.
Everything looks good. I'm tired, and it's very, very hard to leave Dad to come home, now that he's awake.
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6 comments:
Dick, Sorry to hear about your bad luck, but after reading your blog it sounds like you're on the road to recovery. you never did take a ride with me in the ERCOUPE, we'll have to correct that when you're feeling up to it. sounds like you're daughter is right on top of the situation. Hang in there DICK, We miss you at flabob. Larry Conley, ERCOUPE driver.
Deb,
Sorry to hear about the temp and probable pnuemonia. Almost a given from the vent. It's really important he gets really good oral care. It turns out that the bacteria from our mouth is what causes most hospital aquired pneumonia.
The sooner they can start sitting him up and get him moving the better his lungs will be.
For now I'm sure they have a good repiratory team to help him through this.
You can help by encouraging him to take several deep breaths when he is awake. It will help him to open his lungs and move the crap out.
Take care, and I look forward to hearing the next update.
Marynne
Hi Maryanne,
Thanks so much for this -- I'll tell him tomorrow to breathe deeply.
Deborah
Sorry to hear about the pneumonia. As Maryanne said, it's almost a given when someone has been on a ventilator. The temperature isn't that high, and he's on antibiotics, so hopefully they caught it early and he'll respond quickly. Is he still using the vent via the trach, or is he totally off that? (I may have to reread these messages!)
Hope that he had a peaceful night, and the morning news is another step forward.
Cousin Carole
thet had already inclined his bed before i went home, so it looks like they're working on that.
rick
Hi Carole,
He's breathing via the new trach. They said that he's breathing on his own -- the machines are supplementing and supporting his breaths, but those are all initiated completely by him. I asked them if he was on antibiotics and they said yes, since January 5th (Saturday). I'll have more details when I get back from my morning visit.
That's so much, everyone!
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