DADS TRAPEZE

A NEW ARM IN PROCESS

NO ROAD RASH

LOOKING BETTER

DAD'D PROGRESS

Mom says dads has gone from a blow fish toTeflon man to a trapeze artist.

Blow fish because he was all bloated  and puffy.

Teflon man because nothing will stick to him, not even the droids (little round stickies that they connect to wires for monitoring.)  

and Trapeze artist because he now has a jungle jim in his room. for lifting and supporting.

Dads doing great. 

TUESDAY 30TH SURGERY 2

Dad went into surgery at about 8:30 am NY time to get his hand worked on. Dad Was alert before hand while mom read all the emails to him. He has been doing a really good job and breathing a lot on his own. Doctors said dad did great in surgery,  he has plates and a lot of screws in his hand. Now if dad doesn't do  anything crazy and spike a temp or get an infection then all he has to do now is get well. They haven't done the tracheotomy yet and I hope they wont have to. Dad does have a lot of road rash on his arm and they cleaned a lot of it up in surgery. Still its at a point were it could get infected, but they clean and dress it regularly. I have had many people ask about his lungs and ribs and well there is not much you can do to ribs you can't set or cast them they just magically fix themselves. They still have the drain in his lung but when his lung re inflated it popped the rib out and put the rest in place. The doctor says bones grow back beautifully so dad should do OK. Mom says hes doing great right now and he better keep it up. She wants to make sure you guys all know how much she loves you and how much she appreciates all the love and support emails and cards sent their way.

MORE INFO ON FAST

From Colista 

Just for clarification...

The family fast will be for dinner on Tuesday and breakfast on Wednesday with breaking the fast at lunch.  Of course, you may do whatever you prefer.  Just don't forget to send emails to Uncle Donald and Aunt Sara.  Aunt Sara really enjoyed the number of emails they received today.

Thank Colista for the clarification, and for letting us all know about it.

AFTER SURGERY UPDATE

Dad came out of surgery OK. They had to gently open him up to fix his upper arm because it was already starting to heal. The hand guys will be working on his hand in the morning. He has a little drainage from the wound, but it looks good. Before surgery dad was breathing on his own down in pre-op and mom said he's had a great day. After surgery they needed something to prop his hand up and nothing was working so mom let them use his teddybear  that they call the bear of hope. It sings butterfly kisses while a butterfly flutters on its nose. Mom also received a lot of emails, and was able to read them all to him after surgery. They helped a lot, and wants all of you to know how much she appreciates all of the love and support being sent their way.

FAST

I just received an email from Colista  who had just got a call from Dads sister Bertha who would like to hold a fast for dad. If you would like to join the family fast it will be tomorrow, Tuesday night through Wednesday at noon. 

Don't forget to keep sending emails to dad at the hospital, they are helping a lot, and  it will give him something positive for when he comes out of surgery.

Here is the address to email dad again, or click the link right under his puppy dad picture.

http://www.upstate.edu/uh/patients/contactpatient.php

Thanks for all the love and support. 

SURGERY 1PM NY TIME

Dad went into surgery today at about 1pm NY time. They are going to only work on his upper arm today and will have to put plates in for support. They gave them a little more blood and juiced him up before going in for surgery. If all goes well he will be back in tomorrow for his hand. They have not done the tracheotomy yet, but soon. 

Mom says as of right now all is good and she'll let me know how it all goes.  

SUNDAY DREAMS

dad is sleeping right now, but wakes up every now and then. Last time he woke up mom said oh your with us huh, and he squeezed her hand 4 times. He is doing ok, mom is tired. The nurses said mom should go home and sleep because dad could be going into surgery tomorrow at any time.

SUNDAY EYES

Dad has had his eyes open most of the day today his eyes show a lot of pain and he's a little scared. Mom says he's been moving his arm and when she went to move hers he grabbed on and didn't want her to leave. He has had tears coming out of his eyes but for the last 3 days his  heart beat has been normal and his breathing is a lot better. his blood pressure went up a little to day. Mom asks that the emails keep coming, she's running out of stuff to read and or tell him. So anything you can tell him will help and has been helping. Any notes/ comments left to him on his blog i forword on to the hospital for him. Thanks for all those who have sent notes to the blog or to his email they are much appreciated as is for everyone who is keeping dad in there prayers. We are going to prove the hospital staff wrong, and keep them busy with emails. heheh  :) 

Dad may also go in for surgery tomorrow. So he better behave himself in surgery.

SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE

Moms Phone is back on. There has been no significant change with dad he is resting and doing OK. this morning before mom got there the sedatives they had dad on started to wear off and he opened his eyes. Mom was told that the nurses asked him questions and dad would squeeze their hands and nod his head. We don't know what they asked him because the nurses that had asked him were not there when mom got there.  Dad is down to one central line and holding his own.  When mom left he was getting another bath and doing alright. 

DAD'S FAMILY

Dad's  sister JoAnn lost her grandmother in-law thursday, and will be going back to Kansas  for the services. I know dad would want use to keep them in are prays as this is a hard time for them. 

Last I heard on dad he was doing OK. I have not heard anything today Because mom's cell phone is down.  So I believe I wont be hearing anything till tonight when she gets home. So as of right now no up dates till late, in less I can reach mom some how before then. 

Thanks

ANOTHER FRIDAY UPDATE

Dads back to stable, he's holding his own. his temperature is gone his blood pressure is back, and his heart has stopped fluttering.  He is back to healing, and they have cut down on some of his medications. They got him a new wedgie and he's doing OK right now. They still say his lung is more critical then his heart right now.  Mom says dad is behaving at the moment, and has a ray of sunshine nurse taking care of him right now.

MORE UPDATE FRIDAY

After changing tubes the doctors ran a camera down his throat again to check on his heart. they found that the blood clots have shrunk, and they have his fever under control. Dad no longer has a wedgie someone stole it from him last night so they have to get him a new one.

Mom got a semi permanent ID card to get through the doors a lot faster in the morning and is working on getting the parking situation taken care of.  She also went into administration and raised a ruckus about  them not being up front and telling her stuff, or thinking someone else would do it.

they say dad is still the sickest person on the floor so we need to tell him to knock it off and get better because we all love him.

more information to come  as soon as I hear more.

DADS A WET BLANKET

Dad spiked a very high temperature last night. they had to drape him in wet cool blankets to bring it down, and his blood pressure dropped.  They didn't call mom till some time this morning and shes not to happy about that. At the moment they have his temperature under control.  The doctors are going to move a central line and put it in his neck. they have put a new catheter in and will be possibly changing several other lines to try and see if they can find were the infection is. They are also going to put in another Aline which I believe is for his sugar levels.

Mom got a waver for parking but when she went to parking they said they can't do that. So now mom has to run all over the place  trying to get that taken care of because they want to charge $14.00 for parking, which is just insane.  She is also getting a picture ID so that she doesn't have to stop and sign in every morning to get a sticker. Right now however she doesn't want to leave the wing or dad alone at the moment.

Mom will keep me updated.

DADS GOT A WEDGIE

Sorry this post is coming a little later then normal, but I spent the day at the hospital myself giving blood to the vampires. 

SO HERE IS TODAYS UP DATE FROM MOM.

Mom says dad has a wedgie. The nurses have been coming in and moving him around to help him from getting bed sores  or to change something and its not easy and of cores hurts dad, so mom suggested they get a wedge to help hold him up and make things a little more comfortable for all.  They thought it was a great idea and called the distribution central supply and got him one so now dad has a green wedgie.

Dad was running a 101 temp today and they have been drawing blood thinking he might have an infection some were but have not pin pointed if it is or not yet. It could be several things from a tube to his compound fractured arm or just nature running the yuck out of him.

Dad is breathing more on his own taking deep breaths, and coughing. His heart is the one on watch right now because he is having irregular heart beats and is fluttering around like a butterfly. Cardio came in and took him of laxis, because dad is peeing just fine on his own now.

Mom said dads color is good and his cuts are healing. dads been good to day other then the temp and is coasting. Dads boss is doing everything and filling out the paper work for workman's comp.

When mom left dad was doing OK and they had given him some Tylenol for the fever.

Mom was very tired a little sore from sitting in the waiting room off and on today.

Please keep your letters coming moms enjoying them as much as dad and the nurses.

thanks again for all the love and support.

WED NIGHT UPTADE 11:00 PM NY TIME

The doctors want to give his lung more time to recuperate a little before taking him in for surgery. They are now telling mom that he wont go in till maybe Monday. 

They have construction going on out side and he has workers walking on the balcony every once in a while. But to night he had a very special guest checking in on him on the 6Th floor. Mom said he has a magical black squirrel out side his window looking in on him. Like one that would be found on the farm, not in the city on the 6Th floor hospital balcony.

Dad is doing OK right now, mom is really tired.

She will keep me updated daily so that i can keep posting here and keeping everyone else updated so check back often.

Wed Update

Dads not going in for surgery today. they want him a little more stable breathing wise before they go into work on his arm. Right now dads lung and breathing is the most important. Dad had a Bowl movement mom said a really good one, so thats a good sign. His eyes are open and she can see he's in a lot of pain and is scarred. The letters are helping a lot so thank you to all who have sent them and who will be sending them. 

MORE INFO

Dads been coughing since they changed ventilators which seams to hurt a lot due to the damage of his lung. They have taken him of the sedative and he has been a little active with his eyes. He has opened both eyes, and opens them a lot when they start doing mean things to him. Mom says he has a terrified or confused look in his eyes. She just tries to calm him and reassure him that he's OK. She reads the letters we send when ever he has these moments, and they seam to help him and calm him down a lot. They removed a tube in his chest that released air, and changed his vent to be more compatible with the ER. His lung is very vulnerable at the moment and they are keeping a close eye on it. 

Mom is very frustrated that they haven't been telling her anything or if they do its several days After. The day of the crash no one would tell her the stage or grade he was at, and then were shocked when she went home. Today someone finally told mom that the night he came in he kept trying to die on them. What I guess the nurses and doctors didn't understand was mom was in shock after having state troopers show up on her door and tell her  that dad had been in a car crash. Mom needed to be told things up strait not babied.  

But hey dad showed them, he's still kicking and fighting.

so please keep sending cards and letters his way they are helping out a lot.

Thank you to all for the love and blessing you are sending his way.

SURGERY

I just found out that the surgery will be on his arm. that is when they decide its safe to go in and fix it up. 

tuesday update 2

They came in and took out the stitches in his ear and stopped giving him a sedative. 

Mom said he opened his eyes a little bit and she read him a few more emails. 

DAD Tuesday Update

Dads not having sugary today the doctors think maybe tomorrow. They want to get him more onto the type of ventilator that they use in the ER. They took a tub out of his chest and changed the dressing on his arm. Mom says his heart and lung are neck to neck in about the rate of damage, but they are keeping a closer eye on his lung due to his breathing. Mom says that when he sneaks a breath on his own he takes a deeper breath. Mom believe if we can get him breathing on his own it will do him a lot better. The edema in his had has gone down and doesn’t look like a baseball mitt anymore.

He is peeing on his own but has not yet had a bowl movement.  He is holding up all right today.

 

Henry is taking care of his puppy and wearing her out so much that she just comes home and sleeps.  They will be ordering pet therapy for dad even if he is not coherent. Pet therapy helps a lot and the dogs are so cute. They were able to bring me in pets from time to time when I was in the hospital, and it just gives you a sense of well being.  The touch of an animal or a person can make a big difference.

 

Mom said when she came in this morning his eyes were twitching like he was dreaming.

PHOTOs

I have posted some photos of family and things down at the bottom of the page for all who would like to see.

EMAIL DAD

Here is the link to email dad directly to the hospital ...

http://www.upstate.edu/uh/patients/contactpatient.php

Thanks Carolyn savage for sharing this information with us. 

MONDAY 10:30PM NY TIME UPDATE

Dad has had tachycardia irregular heart rate and rapid heart rate.

he will be going in for surgery tomorrow, and could possibly back track  after it.

His thighs had pumps  for draining fluid and have now been removed so he can drain on his own.

He is now down to 5 IV pumps coming out of him.

He has occupation therapy people going to be taking care of his feet, hills and legs to help keep blood circulating. they are going to use lenard braces  to help support his foot angle as well as preventing pressure sores.

Mom was in shock the first night and a little aggravated because no one would tell her anything let alone the truth. they just told her he was lucky. the nurses couldn't believe that mom went home alone the first night. They did not expect him to last this long.

 

Dads color was a little off today, mom thinks it is because his breathing a little more on his own and has moments where he struggles a little. However she chewed him out a lot when ever his bells and whistles went off telling him to stop that, and  he would go back to normal. Mom thinks he knows she is there and doesn't like it when she leaves, how ever when she left to night the light on his monitors  said he was breathing on his own and everything was good.

Though dad can not speak  Mom said he responds well to music and likes the channel they have on for him. She also says she has been reading letters and cards from people to him, and when she is his breathing gets better. Mom thinks he knows

so please keep sending letters and cards it not only is helping dad but is also helping mom, and gives her something to do.

I have also heard that there is a way to send an email directly to the hospital and they print it up and bring it to mom. So as soon as I find out how that is done I will post the info here so that we can all send a letter to him. It will be the first thing I do in the morning.

Thanks for all the blessing and prayers. we love you all

Nurse update for monday morning

Dads heart rate was a little fast this morning so they are giving him medication for that. His sodium was also up so they have him on fluids, but because of that they also have to give him lasix to help him pee.  He is doing OK, and if he doesn't play any tricks on them today, he will be heading in for surgery tomorrow. Mom will be keeping me updated, and hopefully she has been able to get some rest.

sunday 21

not much news today.  they took a tub out of his hand that was helping with sugar levels. He has 27 stitches from his earlobe up. 

He is doing ok, how ever mom is not. she is Very Tired and has been trying to be tough which is wearing on her.  Please send all questions here to my email or my phone. everything mom knows and finds out will be posted here, It will help her out a lot. thanks

SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE

UPDATE ON DAD AS OF SATURDAY AT 9:24PM NY TIME

 Dad is stable and doing well, he has gone from critical to serious but the doctors say it can still go either way. They will find out tomorrow night if he will be stable enough to go into surgery on monday. Mom says his color is good and looking a little better, how ever the road rash on his face looks kinda funny. Dad also is not running a fever which is really good.

It is very hard and very tiring for mom to answer the phone and takes a lot out of her. So mom has asked that if you have questions or anything to PLEASE check in HERE, CALL, or EMAIL ME. It would be very much appreciated.

Thanks for all the love and support,  well love you all. 

I will be updating this page daily so keep checking in.

ANOTHER UPDATE

UPDATE ON DAD AS OF FRIDAY AT 9:00PM NY TIME

Mom just  called and said dad Has gone from having 10 pumps in him down to 6.

the nurse said he could get better today but then worse tomorrow, we just have to watch and see. Mom will be keeping me updated so keep checking back.

fortune cookie said: your charms have not gone unnoticed by all the angels.

UPDATE ON DAD

UPDATE ON DAD AS OF FRIDAY AT 7:30PM NY TIME

Mom called and said dad is maintaining his blood pressure on his own and has 10 pumps pumping things into him including food, and stuff to help move his bowels. They are giving him insulin through an IV to help regulate his sugar. Dad is wearing Ted hose stockings to support his legs and has fancy pants on that pulsates to help keep blood flowing. The doctors have checked to make sure there are no blood clots in his legs and have come back with a positive as of none. Dad has stitches from his earlobe all the way up but mom says his swelling has gone down, his color is good, and he looks relaxed. Nurses put on light rock for him to listen to other then the beeping and noise of the hospital. Dads supervisors at work went to the van and the crash sight to get his tools and are taking care of all the insurance stuff. 

So as of right now dad is doing ok. 

We are also trying to get stuff together to have a yard sale to raise some money to help mom and dad out, so if you have anything you would like to donate to the pot it would be much appreciated. Thank for all your love and support   I will keep you all up dated as I hear more

THE BIG BANG

Wed the 17th of September 2008

 

Dad was in a very bad car crash, and state troupers showed up at moms door to tell her and take her to the hospital. From what mom has told me he was coming up to 2 stop signs and flashing red lights when he didn't Break, according to an off duty officer who was behind him. He collided with another work van that had tried to avoid him. Do to the impact both vans were thrown into the air and rolled several time into a field. Dads van came down on his arm breaking it in several places. Do to the fact that the window was also completely gone his head as it rolled also hit the ground several times cutting up his face, nicking his ear and giving him a shiner. Dad also broke several ribs, which punctured his left lung on top of smashing it and his heart. The first officer on the seen called it in as a fatality he didn't think dad would make it. They had to open the van up like a tin can to get dad out the van was so smashed up. When they got him out they has the med chopper to take him to the hospital but dad could not fit, and was taken by ambulance to the closet hospital to stabilize him to be transported further to Syracuse hospital. The people of the other Vehicle are fine just a little bumped and bruised they talked with my mom and told her that they will be praying for dad was well. At the hospital they did a scope picture of dads heart and he has 3 blood clots that they say came after the crash. They also have had to give him blood and fluids to try and stabilize him. According to his labs that they took at the hospital dad is a diabetic, and they are having a hard time regulating his sugar. From what mom tells me dad looks like a Borg from star trek. He has tubes coming out in every direction and has been hooked up to the mother ship. He has 1 tube in his left lung to drain it and keep it from collapsing again. 1 in his other lung to keep all the fluid his body is making from putting pressure on it and causing it to claps as well as many other tubes for inputting and outputting. Thursday they removed his central line from his leg to his chest to have a more direct rout. They have dad heavily sedated so that he won’t wake and fight with the tube that he still has down his throat. Mom says right now it’s a waiting game and that dad can go either way. The docs are doing everything and he’s never alone due to the fact that he is in a teaching hospital and are in and out checking on him all the time. "He is looks like someone took a baseball bat and beat him with it" mom says. He is banged up inside and out and his heart and lungs to a hard beating. 

 

This isn't like dad we all know this, and so i can't help but wonder what went wrong.  I know in the past dad has had problems with his left arm in pain or going numb on him, which from what I know is a sign of a heart attack, How ever doctors always told him he was fine. So after hearing he had 3 blood clots in his heart I thought he might have had a heart attack, however once again doctors say the clots were after the fact. Well then that leaves the brakes that I believe were being worked on while he was here for Brandon's wedding, leaving me to think if they might have gone out, or if he had a diabetic attack. How ever last time dad was checked for diabetes the docs said he was not, but the labs now at the hospital say he is.   

 

AS I HEAR MORE I WILL BE UPDATING THIS PAGE TO KEEP ALL INFORMED.

 

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS.

 

MOM IS NOT ABLE TO ALWAYS ANSWER HER PHONE. WHEN SHE IS UP WITH DAD IN ICU SHE HAS TO HAVE IT TURNED OFF.

 

Its hard being so far from them and mom is playing the tough act. So please keep them in your prayers and or send cards for mom to read to dad it may just help.