Back to the spinal cord unit

Dustin was moved back to the spinal cord unit on Wednesday afternoon after another bronchoscopy in the critical care unit.

He was a little upset when getting back to his room as his fan and TV with the sip/puff thing on it that allows him to change channels as well as call the nurse was gone. With the residuals of the traumatic brain injury, it is somewhat traumatic when a lot of changes are made, so the move back, no TV, and especially no fan, had him a bit aggitated. Apparently their were new patients admitted to the newly renovated area and they needed a TV and fan. We immediately called the paralyzed vet advocate, as she was the one that got it the last time. The physical assistant came to check on him and he was so upset about the fan and so hot! I had tried to find him one but one was not to be found anywhwere. She came back a few minutes later with fan in tow. First of all, she is a very hot natured person as well and so the sympathy for Dustin was great and she took it on as a personal mission.

I left early to go to church as he was tired and crabby. I have been attending the Vineyard church where a 7000 project associate goes to church. I also went to a home bible study. It is great to have fellowship, good music and meet some really nice people.

On Thursday, I came after working my second day and found a very unhappy camper. As you know if you read the last blog, Fed EX did not deliver the longer trach tube in time for his surgery. This again, puts the airway at risk if the scar tissue and granularization grew back and thus block the airway as it had the last week. They thought they could monitor it but apparently they decided to put it in at bedside with no anesthesia or any meds. Like here, let me cram this trach tube down your throat. Talk about trauma.

They also debrided his bedsore which had gone down to the bone. They may have to do surgery on that but hopefully, the bedside debridement will get it healing. They had not done the best job of turning him before he went to critical care as it really aggrevated his throat (trach would get turned and hit the scar tissue causing great pain)and he would give them some a few choice words. It is also uncomfortable for his dislocated shoulder on one side and on the other side to turn is his fluid filled lung that makes it hard to breath. While in the CCU, he was not able to be moved at all due to the precairous nature of the temporary trach. It was a life threatening issue if the trach had moved 1/4 inch.

Good news however is they are finally hearing air moving in his left lung even though his x-ray shows it all whited out. There was however, one x-ray that actually had a black spot on the upper part indicating an area with no fluid!!! Yahoo!!! Even though the next x-ray looked its usual whited out, air was still moving so we are believing that the progress will continue.

At this time when I came in,(after the the trach was "gently inserted bedside" - no not "seaside or anything pleasant" he could have spit nails.

The new speech therapist then came in and wanted to do cognitive training! Oh boy. She asked him if he wanted to do it and of course he was telling her not now. I decided to leave the room, knowing that if he got engaged in the activity it would calm him down and certainly be good for him. He really likes this new student who had worked a lot with the traumatic brain injury active duty guys. Thus she has some real good experience. Moreover, she is a female version of Dustin. Zany, quirky, likes to mess with people etc so they get along great.

While there, Dustin's 83 year old doctor came in to check on him. He agreed to let her start back on the feeding trials and also work on getting the pesamere thing that allows him to begin to speak again. He will have to tolerate the inflated cuff in his trach to be diminished which apparently, the air flow etc is a very weird thing after such a long time on the trach. Pray for Dustin to have his voice back!

The OT and PT came in next and had to reassess him and these are all people that he knows. The familiarity was good for him. I decided at this point that he was stable and OK and knew they would all be back working with him tomorrow and then his dad was coming this weekend, so I headed home for the first time in 2 weeks.

It has been very good for me to be home and get some space from the last 2 weeks. I am sure Dustin feels the same way. I am glad I was there to keep him in reality while being in the CCU with all of the drugs, trauma, and not knowing day from night for 4 months. They call it CCU psychosis. Anyway fresh air, space, garden kale and bike ride for me have been like heaven. I will be going back on Monday-Wed (don't forget I have to work!) to check on him and then hopefully get back on my Fri-Sun visiting schedule. I so miss teaching and being at work and home. As usual, me learning to balance all that I need and want to do it always interesting. By the way, I found out my boss is a Jewish pschyic. Life continues to be interesting.

Rick and I are excited to help with a Be in Health conference at Augusta. Gosh - an almost normal weekend expected.

Thanks for all of your prayers. It has been a wearing week. I will stand on the scripture in Galatians that reminds me not to get weary for in due season, IF WE SHALL NOT FAINT, that we will reap. That is certainly something to look forward to!

love to all
mary pat