I just left Don's ICU room and I'm told it was for the last time! He is getting moved into a regular room tonight - hopefully by 7:00 PM (shift change). The NG tube was taken out during our 3:00 visit. They brought him a tray of clear foods and he eat almost everything. Donnie Lee brought him a gallon of tea this afternoon when he came over. Don had us to call him this morning as soon as he found out that he could drink. His temp is down to 98.8 and has been as low as 98.2 this afternoon. What a blessing!!! We are so blessed to be bringing him out of ICU! His new room # is supposed to be 11103. He will still be in the trauma tower. I have never looked so forward to spending the night in the hospital! Thanks for all your prayers and keep praying!!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Day Fourteen
12:38
Praise the Lord!! I will start out with the good news first and then update things I have set on the back burner or forgot. Don is ready to go back to the Trauma floor and to get out of ICU!! He may be moved tonight - we are just waiting on a bed. He may also get real food today. His kidney counts are better & the urine color is better today. They said the kidney thing would be a day by day situation. When his kidneys function the way they are supposed to it will clear the medicine out of his system faster. Now for the smaller details. As of 10:30 last night, Don had not slept in about 36 hours or more. That is just another side affect of the NMS. He actually did sleep about 5 hours last night and caught a little cat nap before visiting hours this morning. His head is much more clear but not totally clear. He has moments when we are not real sure what he is talking about at all. He is still on the Morphine but only when he needs something in between the hydrocodone. He was able to sit up on the side of the bed and hold his self up without any type of support. (He is unable to hold himself with his own arms/hands because of the injuries there.) He was ready for PT today and was really excited to sit up again. Now for update on the surgery. Don is cut from the right side of his abdomen across to the left side continuing around to the back of his left hip. He also has an incision in his left buttock that is about 4-6 inches long. This incisions were for the hip and femur surgery. He was given a hard cast on the right arm and it now has a slight bend at the elbow instead of being completely straight. They wanted to do surgery on his left hand tomorrow but they have decided to wait without even consenting us - which my answer would have been no. I am thankful I didn't have to make that decision but my mind was made up. Don was talking clearer today and expressed to me how worried he is that he will not be able to walk again on his own. I assured him that the outlook is better than good and the doctors feel he will be able to walk without assistance after the leg heals. They can't guarantee he will be pain free but the leg should work fairly well. His right arm could be another story. He may have lost some movement in it so that may change the way he does things. I am afraid that Don remembers a little more than we were hoping he would regarding his ordeal since Saturday morning. He also related to me what mental issues he has had. Don's breathing and heart rate is much better today. His temperature is staying around 101. It did rise just a little after PT. PT was very short today. They only had him to sit up on the side of the bed and try to balance himself without any type of support. When he was able to do that, they allowed him to lay back down and he was finished with PT for today. When Don is moved to the Trauma floor he will need 24 hour care. I will begin staying with him again as much as possible. I know several others have volunteered to do so too - you just may have to remind me. They tell me Don will need 24 hour care when we get home too simply until his arms and legs are fully healed he will be unable to do much for himself. Please keep praying!! We have a lot to be thankful for at this point!!! I thank each and everyone of you that have prayed, followed this blog, left comments, called, came by, e-mailed, sent cards & snacks, brought meals and other gifts. What a blessing! You will never know how much it has meant to me and the rest of the family.
Praise the Lord!! I will start out with the good news first and then update things I have set on the back burner or forgot. Don is ready to go back to the Trauma floor and to get out of ICU!! He may be moved tonight - we are just waiting on a bed. He may also get real food today. His kidney counts are better & the urine color is better today. They said the kidney thing would be a day by day situation. When his kidneys function the way they are supposed to it will clear the medicine out of his system faster. Now for the smaller details. As of 10:30 last night, Don had not slept in about 36 hours or more. That is just another side affect of the NMS. He actually did sleep about 5 hours last night and caught a little cat nap before visiting hours this morning. His head is much more clear but not totally clear. He has moments when we are not real sure what he is talking about at all. He is still on the Morphine but only when he needs something in between the hydrocodone. He was able to sit up on the side of the bed and hold his self up without any type of support. (He is unable to hold himself with his own arms/hands because of the injuries there.) He was ready for PT today and was really excited to sit up again. Now for update on the surgery. Don is cut from the right side of his abdomen across to the left side continuing around to the back of his left hip. He also has an incision in his left buttock that is about 4-6 inches long. This incisions were for the hip and femur surgery. He was given a hard cast on the right arm and it now has a slight bend at the elbow instead of being completely straight. They wanted to do surgery on his left hand tomorrow but they have decided to wait without even consenting us - which my answer would have been no. I am thankful I didn't have to make that decision but my mind was made up. Don was talking clearer today and expressed to me how worried he is that he will not be able to walk again on his own. I assured him that the outlook is better than good and the doctors feel he will be able to walk without assistance after the leg heals. They can't guarantee he will be pain free but the leg should work fairly well. His right arm could be another story. He may have lost some movement in it so that may change the way he does things. I am afraid that Don remembers a little more than we were hoping he would regarding his ordeal since Saturday morning. He also related to me what mental issues he has had. Don's breathing and heart rate is much better today. His temperature is staying around 101. It did rise just a little after PT. PT was very short today. They only had him to sit up on the side of the bed and try to balance himself without any type of support. When he was able to do that, they allowed him to lay back down and he was finished with PT for today. When Don is moved to the Trauma floor he will need 24 hour care. I will begin staying with him again as much as possible. I know several others have volunteered to do so too - you just may have to remind me. They tell me Don will need 24 hour care when we get home too simply until his arms and legs are fully healed he will be unable to do much for himself. Please keep praying!! We have a lot to be thankful for at this point!!! I thank each and everyone of you that have prayed, followed this blog, left comments, called, came by, e-mailed, sent cards & snacks, brought meals and other gifts. What a blessing! You will never know how much it has meant to me and the rest of the family.
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