Luke Update Thread - Page 3

ms_tapestry · #31 11-13-2012, 09:24 AM

This just in:

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They turned off Dad's sedation at 4 am this morning. The pressure in his head has been really good, so we'll see what happens. Hoepfully they'll be able to do his surgery this week.

ms_tapestry · #32 11-13-2012, 10:28 AM

From DeAnna:

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I was just told that the trauma PA just checked out Dad. He is doing well off all his pressors. Stimulus to his arms produced a delayed reaction; very light stimulus to his legs produced an immediate reaction. He did not respond to verbal commands, but the trauma PA said that would happen over time. They're going to cut back his vent and make him breathe on his own to strengthen him and see how he does with that. Surgery is looking really good for tomorrow, but it is not yet scheduled.

BillyB · #33 11-13-2012, 06:25 PM

From DeAnna's facebook page-

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Dad had a CT today to see if they could take the ICP monitoring bolt out of his head. They could, and they did. We hoped for more answers from the CT, but it is fantastic that they feel his intracranial pressure has stabilized to the point where they don't feel it needs constant monitoring. Way to go, Dad! We just have to keep taking it one day at a time. Continuing positive and healing energy for him is greatly appreciated during this long and slow healing process.

stoney · #34 11-14-2012, 05:15 AM

More on Richard from DeAnna....

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Just called and talked to the nurse who is taking care of Dad tonight. Although he's still not following commands they way they would like, the nurse said he was moving around a bit more. He's still on the vent, and they're getting a lot out when they suction his lungs, so that's excellent. His vitals are stable, and the one pupil that's been fixed and dilated has started to move just a little bit when they check it. So he's hanging tough. Hoping for a restful night for him.

BillyB · #35 11-14-2012, 03:19 PM

Latest from DeAnna's facebook page-

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I just talked to Dad's nurse. Orthopaedics has cancelled the surgery for now because broken bones in the pelvis that needed the screw are lined up really well, and as he slowly recovers from the head injury, will be healing themselves. If he wakes up sooner rather than later, and they start trying to get him up and around a little, they might do the surgery then, if it's still necessary. Also, he has some blood clots in one one of his arms (to be expected with all the plastic and different fluids in him), so he is on blood thinners, and surgery is a bad idea for someone on blood thinners. Now we can focus on the head injury, and not worry so much about the pelvis.

ms_tapestry · #36 11-14-2012, 04:21 PM

DeAnna reports Luke just squeezed hands upon voice command...

ms_tapestry · #37 11-16-2012, 04:58 AM

11-15-12 6:00pm from DeAnna:

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At the hospital. Dad's doing pretty good. They took out his arterial line yesterday, so that's good. He's been coughing a lot more since he's not sedated anymore, but his coughs are productive. He doesn't particularly care for the suctioning though, and makes a face when they do it. The scrapes on his head are healing really nicely (some are completely healed). The stapled laceration on the back of his head looks a lot better too. Small, but great, improvements.

polarbear · #38 11-16-2012, 11:05 AM

Saw Richard yesterday, he is looking better. I got a good squeeze from his hand. Prayers still for my good friend.

ms_tapestry · #39 11-17-2012, 05:29 AM

11-16-12 10:00 pm approximately from DeAnna:

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Dad had another good day today. He's doing some hand squeezing and not coughing as much, so let's hope for a good night, too.

SafetyMan · #40 11-17-2012, 11:02 AM

From DeAnna's FB

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Dad had a good night. They got a lot of junk out of his lungs, and the respiratory therapists said his lungs sound much better than they have. Orthopaedics came in to see how he was moving his legs and said they felt his pelvic break would heal before he needed to be up around again, so that's all good news. Great job, Dad

polarbear · #41 11-17-2012, 06:21 PM

Just back from the hospital, Richard is doing better. They still have breathing tubes in to get rid of his smoking habit. Both eyes are open but not quite focused, he looks better. The pelvis is going to heal on it's own per the doctor. Still my prayers are with him.

polarbear · #42 11-18-2012, 06:53 PM

Sorry I didn't get back to you, Richard is improving little by little. Both eyes are open but not focusing and his cough is getting better. He will take quite awhile to heal. Keep your prayers going.

BillyB · #43 11-18-2012, 10:58 PM

From DeAnna's facebook page-

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Just talked to Dad's girlfriend. He's doing pretty good right now. They removed the staples from the laceration in his head today, so that's good news. Apparently, he didn't care for that procedure too much though, because he needed some pain meds. I can't imagine that it was too comfortable, but I bet it feels good to have those staples out. Keep up the good work, Dad, you're doing great!

BillyB · #44 11-19-2012, 12:54 PM

This morning's update from DeAnna's facebook page. Sounds like slow but steady progress-

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The trauma doc was just in here and looked at Dad. Dad raised his eyebrows when they said his name, and was able to blink once after a verbal command, but wouldn't do it twice. He still has a clot in his arm from the PICC line. Dad's doing pretty well, but they don't want to remove the vent or change him to a trach while they're still watching that clot and while he's still on blood thinners. Dr. Vasquez also said that Dad's probably still trying to come out of the medication fog from all of the heavy medications he's had. Dr. Vasquez said Dad looks a lot better than he did a week ago, and that we just need to give him more time to wake up a little more and hopefully get some more responses out of him before it's safe to extubate him or anything else. They did change him to a sitting up-type position, and he seems to be handling that pretty well. I've also seen him move his arms, legs, and lift his head off the bed today. So good job Dad, just a small improvement each day! Also, as I finished typing the this, his nurse came back in and said that they're going to take out his PICC line and replace it with a regular IV, so hopefully this will reduce the clot and aid in its healing.

BillyB · #45 11-21-2012, 11:21 AM

This mornings update from DeAnna's facebook page-

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Dad had a good day yesterday and a calm night last night. He's got a bit of an infection in his lungs, but it's not pneumonia, and they've started him on an antibiotic for it. I was told that he seems more alert, and might be more aware of his surroundings, but just isn't fully processing it yet. So time will tell with that aspect. He's been moving his arms and legs more, so that's a good sign of more awareness, too. This morning, the neurologist tested him to see if there was air or swelling around the tube in his throat, and there was air around the tube, so that it is great news; as it means he's one small step closer to being off the vent. We still don't know when he'll be able to come off the ventilator, but he's doing really well, so hopefully it won't be too long. They've also been changing his bed from a laying down position to something that looks more like a giant recliner, and he's been handling that pretty well too. He's made small steps of progress everyday, so that's very encouraging.