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I'm sorry it has been a while since we have updated this. Important events are getting a little further apart and I have been quite busy. Shelly is doing well enough that she will soon be taking this over. An entry is in draft already.
Bruce is now OFF the ventilator! At first it was a couple of hours a day, then all day, now he is off day and night. His treac is still inplace in case he needs to go back on, but we hope to get rid of that soon too. Speach therapists have begun to work with him. He can speak occaisional words in very soft wispers (like your ear next to his mouth). But it is a beginning. Speaking of beginnings Bruce started to eat soft food on Friday for the first time since December 6. Everything (even liquids) are thick and pasty so they are less likely to get into his lungs, but he is learning how to chew and swallow again. So please pray for his success.
Shelly is visiting Bruce again as we speak. Pray for her as well. The first visit was very emotional for her.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Shelly Visits Bruce
Shelly and Bruce were able to be together today for the first time since she was wheeled into his room on her way out of Bronson Hospital shortly after the accident. The visit was nice for both of them. Bruce slept a lot, but at one point he was squeezing her hand and responding to her questions. Most importantly, they were able to be together. And when you are in love, that can be better than conversation. Celebrate. First thank God they were able to have this moment. Then, if you can, make some time to go be with someone you love. Sometimes we need a scene like this to remind ourselves of what really counts in life.
Another Good Day for Bruce
As of 5:15 Sunday Bruce had been off the ventilator for a personal-best of nearly 9 hours! He had passed all tests. They will put him back on to sleep tonight. But this is a huge step in getting off that thing permenantly. Keep the prayers coming!!!
We also learned that yesterday he was sitting up in a chair for about 40 minutes. That was a bit much for him, and he got pretty exhausted, but it is an important step. We don't always think about sitting in a chair as excercise, but they muscles needed to keep yourself upright haven't been getting a lot of use for Bruce, so it was a good work out for him. One step at a time.
We also learned that yesterday he was sitting up in a chair for about 40 minutes. That was a bit much for him, and he got pretty exhausted, but it is an important step. We don't always think about sitting in a chair as excercise, but they muscles needed to keep yourself upright haven't been getting a lot of use for Bruce, so it was a good work out for him. One step at a time.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Good News for Bruce
Well Bruce is all settled in the acute care facility and they are going to work on him.
Before we get to the good news, let me give you a little more info on this brain injury. On the day of the accident, Bruce went into cardiac arrest twice. Once in the ER when his lung collapsed, and then again in the operating room that night. We don't know at this point how long he was out during these episodes, but the recent CT scans confirmed that his injuries are the result of a lack of oxygen during those arrests. So he does not have a trauma injury from hitting his head in the accident, but instead his brain injury was caused as a secondary result of the arrests which were caused by his other injuries he received in that accident. The reason this didn't show up initially is because of the way the body works. It was explained to me that this type of injury happens all at once during the arrest, but it doesn't show up for some time later. It's kind of like getting punched in the arm. The damage happens at the moment you are hit. It starts to hurt the moment you are hit. But you might not get a bruise the rest of us can see for another couple days.
Because of where the damage occurred, we believe the brain problems are why he has not been as responsive as we would like and can't seem to get off the ventilator. The reason why we can't say what this is going to mean for Bruce going forward is that the brain is a very unpredictable organ. Even if certain areas are damaged to the point they won't heal, the brain can figure out new ways to do old things. That's why you can see someone with a brain injury that can't do something today, but then learns to do it later. It may not be that the brain healed, it's probably because it figured out a new way to do that task without the damaged parts.
SO HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS: For the first time since the accident, Bruce was off the ventilator yesterday - breathing on his own - for several hours. This is a huge step in the right direction!!! It appears he's figuring out new ways to make those lungs work or his injury is getting better. Thank you God! He also answered some simple questions for the doctor by nodding his head. Thank you God again!! They also have removed his PIC line because they no longer need to give medicines in that way anymore. Thank you God once more!!! So keep those prayers coming.
The acute care facility has two goals for Bruce: Get off the ventilator completely and start taking nutrition by mouth. Once he can do those two things he is off to a rehab facility where he can focus more on getting his body and brain working better again. When that happens, he and Shelly might be able to move to the same facility.
Before we get to the good news, let me give you a little more info on this brain injury. On the day of the accident, Bruce went into cardiac arrest twice. Once in the ER when his lung collapsed, and then again in the operating room that night. We don't know at this point how long he was out during these episodes, but the recent CT scans confirmed that his injuries are the result of a lack of oxygen during those arrests. So he does not have a trauma injury from hitting his head in the accident, but instead his brain injury was caused as a secondary result of the arrests which were caused by his other injuries he received in that accident. The reason this didn't show up initially is because of the way the body works. It was explained to me that this type of injury happens all at once during the arrest, but it doesn't show up for some time later. It's kind of like getting punched in the arm. The damage happens at the moment you are hit. It starts to hurt the moment you are hit. But you might not get a bruise the rest of us can see for another couple days.
Because of where the damage occurred, we believe the brain problems are why he has not been as responsive as we would like and can't seem to get off the ventilator. The reason why we can't say what this is going to mean for Bruce going forward is that the brain is a very unpredictable organ. Even if certain areas are damaged to the point they won't heal, the brain can figure out new ways to do old things. That's why you can see someone with a brain injury that can't do something today, but then learns to do it later. It may not be that the brain healed, it's probably because it figured out a new way to do that task without the damaged parts.
SO HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS: For the first time since the accident, Bruce was off the ventilator yesterday - breathing on his own - for several hours. This is a huge step in the right direction!!! It appears he's figuring out new ways to make those lungs work or his injury is getting better. Thank you God! He also answered some simple questions for the doctor by nodding his head. Thank you God again!! They also have removed his PIC line because they no longer need to give medicines in that way anymore. Thank you God once more!!! So keep those prayers coming.
The acute care facility has two goals for Bruce: Get off the ventilator completely and start taking nutrition by mouth. Once he can do those two things he is off to a rehab facility where he can focus more on getting his body and brain working better again. When that happens, he and Shelly might be able to move to the same facility.
Please Pray for Shelly
Shelly had a big adventure out of the nursing home to go see her bone doctor. For the good news, she handled the transportation well and the visit. That is encouraging toward her goal to travel over to see Bruce. However, she had a rough time getting on and off the x-ray table with some aids having to lift her manually. To everyone's amazement, the orthopedic surgeons have their own x-ray equipment, but do not own a lift to help get people out of wheelchairs. Go figure.
But the worst part was probably the news she got. As you may remember from my earlier discriptions of Shelly's injuries the possibility of her needing her right foot amputated because of the ankle injuries was very remote. The doctor now believes it has moved up the list of possibilities. Without getting graphic, Shelly's foot bent and split in ways that really required lots of things in the ankle area to stretch and tear horribly. The problem with injuries like that is getting the blood flow restored after all that damage. The veins and arteries in your foot are pretty vulnerable and don't always repair well. Shelly does not have any infection, which is great, but the blood flow needs to get better or the whole foot is in trouble. So we need to focus our Shelly prayers on getting that blood pumping through her foot - which means her veins and arteries down there need to heal. No one is saying loosing the foot is certain, or even likely. It's just a lot more possible than we thought and that is enough reason to start praying. Blood to the foot, blood to the talus bone, full recovery. That's the goal.
But the worst part was probably the news she got. As you may remember from my earlier discriptions of Shelly's injuries the possibility of her needing her right foot amputated because of the ankle injuries was very remote. The doctor now believes it has moved up the list of possibilities. Without getting graphic, Shelly's foot bent and split in ways that really required lots of things in the ankle area to stretch and tear horribly. The problem with injuries like that is getting the blood flow restored after all that damage. The veins and arteries in your foot are pretty vulnerable and don't always repair well. Shelly does not have any infection, which is great, but the blood flow needs to get better or the whole foot is in trouble. So we need to focus our Shelly prayers on getting that blood pumping through her foot - which means her veins and arteries down there need to heal. No one is saying loosing the foot is certain, or even likely. It's just a lot more possible than we thought and that is enough reason to start praying. Blood to the foot, blood to the talus bone, full recovery. That's the goal.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Visiting Hours
Shelly appreciates all the prayers, well wishes and visits from everyone touched by this story. At the same time, she needs to heal. So to reduce the number of days where she has therapists or visitors in her room constantly from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm (yes that has happened) she is asking everyone to limit the "pop-in" visits from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm each day. If you would like to visit but can't do so during those hours please call her or the family to arrange a time. Thanks!
Bruce has a Brain Injury
While we will not know his prognosis for a few more weeks, CT scans have confirmed that Bruce has some significant injuries in his brain. We do not know the prognosis because these injuries may improve over the next few weeks, but they are not something that we can go in and fix with surgery or medicine. So all my new friends, now is the time to pray. We will give more details when we have a better handle on what is permenant, if anything, and after Shelly has had time to get her questions answered. But the bottom line is that medicine isn't the solution - his brain fixing itself is - and that sounds like the perfect place to focus our prayers. In fact, let's pray together:
- Lord, look upon your servant Bruce with eyes of mercy. May your healing hand rest upon him. May your lifegiving powers flow into every cell of his body and into the depths of his soul. If it is your will Lord, cleanse him, purify him, restore him to wholeness and strength for service in your Kingdom. Amen
Bruce is Moving
Bruce will be moved to an acute care facility today at 3:30. We hope to update you on his condition later today.
Shelly Broke Her Arm
X-rays have confirmed that Shelly broke her left arm above the wrist in her fall out of the wheelchair. Of course, she broke her left wrist in the accident. So that's two breaks in one arm. And that also means that 3 of her 4 limbs are now not very useful. Keep her in your prayers.
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