They had his feeding tube turned off all morning waiting for the new feeding tube. Well , they were too busy in radiology or the OR (I don't know where they do this procedure) they had some emergencies come in so they postponed it until tomorrow morning. So they hooked up his old feeding tube. Then they will have to turn it off again at midnight for the procedure. I hope it doesn't get postponed again or he may starve.
So I was looking at his feet today. By the time he gets out of the hospital his feet will be as soft as a newborn babies. When you don't walk on them for a month and get the normal wear and tear they build up a lot of extra skin that doesn't sluff off. So today he got a foot treatment. Wow. I bet that felt good... or horrible, I couldn't tell. He did try to open his eyes while I was working on them.
Family
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Dad likes Joshies mission letters
Dad is still very much the same, he rests most of the day, but mom says when us kids come and see him, he really seems to try hard to open his eyes and do little movements. Today when Trisha and I saw him he was opening his eyes a lot more than normal, but wasn't able to controll the movement of those cute little eyeballs, when he opens them just slighlty it looks like he can keep them straight and centered more but if he opens them wider, they tend to wander around.
We usually just ramble on about our boring lives, but every now and then we'll say something that seems to perk his interest more and he'll make a stronger attempt to move, I believe to let us know he's there. Today I read Josh's last mission letter to him, he moved his right leg twice and tried to keep his eyes open almost the whole time I read his letter.
We suggested Mom read him the scriptures, or ensign talks to him. I have wondered if he may be on a spiritual low. I know if I haven't been to church in a while or not had the sacrament for a while I seem to just need a boost, I'm sure Dad probably feels the same. Today when we went in the nurses had the TV on for him and it was some dumb soap opera, I laughed and told Dad I would turn it off, that would be enough to keep him in that coma, haha. It will be nice to be able to watch conference next week with him, this way he can hear conference with us, like going to church, I'm sure he misses it.
They are not feeding him for awhile to drain his stomach, then they'll replace the feeding tube he has in his nose and put a port in his tummy. They said he needed to have an empty stomach to place that, we are worried after they put him "under" while they place that tube, that it may be another week before he starts to "wake up" again. Thanks so much for all the prayers!
We usually just ramble on about our boring lives, but every now and then we'll say something that seems to perk his interest more and he'll make a stronger attempt to move, I believe to let us know he's there. Today I read Josh's last mission letter to him, he moved his right leg twice and tried to keep his eyes open almost the whole time I read his letter.
We suggested Mom read him the scriptures, or ensign talks to him. I have wondered if he may be on a spiritual low. I know if I haven't been to church in a while or not had the sacrament for a while I seem to just need a boost, I'm sure Dad probably feels the same. Today when we went in the nurses had the TV on for him and it was some dumb soap opera, I laughed and told Dad I would turn it off, that would be enough to keep him in that coma, haha. It will be nice to be able to watch conference next week with him, this way he can hear conference with us, like going to church, I'm sure he misses it.
They are not feeding him for awhile to drain his stomach, then they'll replace the feeding tube he has in his nose and put a port in his tummy. They said he needed to have an empty stomach to place that, we are worried after they put him "under" while they place that tube, that it may be another week before he starts to "wake up" again. Thanks so much for all the prayers!
Same as Sunday
I know a lot of people are reading this and it was suggested to me by my Brother in Law that if there is no change that I should post it because people are looking and wondering every day. So I will say that he is the same and the antibiotics are working good on his blood infection. They did do a heart sonagram of him and his heart looks good, (sometimes with strep septis it can effect the heart)
Thank goodness for small miracles. They also had to replace his feeding tube as his was blocked.
They are eventually going to have to put a feeding tube in that goes into his abdominal wall directly to his stomach or small intestine, I don't know which, but they won't do that untill his septus is cleared up. Love to all, keep the faith.
Thank goodness for small miracles. They also had to replace his feeding tube as his was blocked.
They are eventually going to have to put a feeding tube in that goes into his abdominal wall directly to his stomach or small intestine, I don't know which, but they won't do that untill his septus is cleared up. Love to all, keep the faith.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
modern medicine!! Useful isn't it!?
Just to let you know Randy had a way better day today than yesterday. They got the results back on the blood work and Randy has septus again. It is a strep infection that you can pick up from being in hospitals. They said his lungs still look clear. They started him on antibiotics last night and they are working well. He is so much better today than yesterday. He actually looks calm instead of struggling. They even had to put him on the ventalator again. He was still on it today when I went in. His color is better. He opened his eyes just a little, maybe 10 seconds. He wasn't running a fever. They took out his Dialisis port where they did the Plasma Phresis and his IV pick line and started a new one.
It is good to know he is still in there and responds ever so slightly occasionally during the day.
Some of the kids went and visited him and they took this crazy picture. This is how they have fun with their Dad now.
It is good to know he is still in there and responds ever so slightly occasionally during the day.
Some of the kids went and visited him and they took this crazy picture. This is how they have fun with their Dad now.
Bump in the road to recovery
Yes, it is early. I woke up at 3:30 a.m. thinking about Randy. Finially decided to blog a post about him. Yesterday he had what I shall call a bump in the road to recovery. He spiked a fever. His heart rate and blood pressure went up. They called the Dr and he ordered a chest x ray, blood work, urine sample, etc to see where the infection is coming from. He has so many tubes coming out of him to help him, but that also makes pathways for infection to enter. Bless our skins defense in our everyday lives. They also started him on IV antibiotics. He is totally unresponsive 99.9% of the day.
I am with him every day but I sure miss him. All I can say is he is a really good listener at this point in his life. So you may be wondering what I do all day long while I sit up at the hospital. I will talk to him and tell him the family news every day. I watch his vital signs and tubes and let the nurses or respiratory therapists know if there is a problem. I help the PT do his exercises, I help turn, clean and position him. I listen to all the beeps and alarms and if they make an unusual sound I let them know about it. I crochet baby nursery hats, visit with Randy's mom, and play ocean sounds and music Randy likes to listen to. I like to visit with all the people that take care of Randy. There are some amazing nurses, therapists, support people up there. They have interesting stories and lives and I can say I will miss them when they move him. He has been there so long that I see the ICU fill up and empty out and Randy has been there the longest. It's too bad they don't get to know him, because he is an awesome guy and I know that they would love him as we all do.
Keep him in your prayers. They really help me to hang on. Maybe this next fast Sunday when you pray could you ask specifically that he would be able to respond enough to us so we would know how to help him better. It's hard to help someone when you have no idea what they are feeling. Kinda like a baby can't tell you, but worse because at least they can cry. Thanks, we love you all.
I am with him every day but I sure miss him. All I can say is he is a really good listener at this point in his life. So you may be wondering what I do all day long while I sit up at the hospital. I will talk to him and tell him the family news every day. I watch his vital signs and tubes and let the nurses or respiratory therapists know if there is a problem. I help the PT do his exercises, I help turn, clean and position him. I listen to all the beeps and alarms and if they make an unusual sound I let them know about it. I crochet baby nursery hats, visit with Randy's mom, and play ocean sounds and music Randy likes to listen to. I like to visit with all the people that take care of Randy. There are some amazing nurses, therapists, support people up there. They have interesting stories and lives and I can say I will miss them when they move him. He has been there so long that I see the ICU fill up and empty out and Randy has been there the longest. It's too bad they don't get to know him, because he is an awesome guy and I know that they would love him as we all do.
Keep him in your prayers. They really help me to hang on. Maybe this next fast Sunday when you pray could you ask specifically that he would be able to respond enough to us so we would know how to help him better. It's hard to help someone when you have no idea what they are feeling. Kinda like a baby can't tell you, but worse because at least they can cry. Thanks, we love you all.
Saturday, September 27, 2014
One small movement at a time!
As you all heard yesterday, my dad has been lately getting the hiccups. They all said that it was a good thing because that meant that he was getting his breathing muscles back! They say when you have GBS you lose sensation from your feet to your head, and then regain sensation from your head to you feet!
As of right now pretty much everything is attrophied. So he is really weak, nearly paralyzed. That being said, on thursday he moved his arm. it was on a pillow at his side and he was able to flop it over onto his stomach. Also good news is that normally you will see little nerve twitches throughout his whole body. What has changed is that he slightly moved his foot.. It almost seems as though he is testing his body seeing what moves and what doesn't. They arent big movements but they are movements all the same.
His vision still is not working right. Most of the time when I go in there he has one eye halfway open. Once it seemed like he was looking at me.... but I really think I was just standing where his eye happened to be floating that day.. :) I will take what I can get though!
I can't wait for him to be moved down here so that he will be closer to home. I know you all wish to see him. Right now is still not the best time. When he is conscious and stuck in a bed, I'm sure he will be bored out of his gored and would probably enjoy seeing visitors. But for now he is still resting as much as he can.
Thank you all again for the prayers. :) We are continually feeling very blessed everyday.
As of right now pretty much everything is attrophied. So he is really weak, nearly paralyzed. That being said, on thursday he moved his arm. it was on a pillow at his side and he was able to flop it over onto his stomach. Also good news is that normally you will see little nerve twitches throughout his whole body. What has changed is that he slightly moved his foot.. It almost seems as though he is testing his body seeing what moves and what doesn't. They arent big movements but they are movements all the same.
His vision still is not working right. Most of the time when I go in there he has one eye halfway open. Once it seemed like he was looking at me.... but I really think I was just standing where his eye happened to be floating that day.. :) I will take what I can get though!
I can't wait for him to be moved down here so that he will be closer to home. I know you all wish to see him. Right now is still not the best time. When he is conscious and stuck in a bed, I'm sure he will be bored out of his gored and would probably enjoy seeing visitors. But for now he is still resting as much as he can.
Thank you all again for the prayers. :) We are continually feeling very blessed everyday.
Friday, September 26, 2014
No news is good news
People are asking me why I don't post every day. Well, when things are the same and I have nothing new to say then I don't put anything up. So I guess you should think, no news is good news. At least he isn't getting worse. This is going to be a long and slow process.
He is still unresponsive, but there has been one huge improvement that started last night and went into today. They are trying to take him off the ventalator. He was only on about 6 hours yesterday and last night he didn't have to go back on it all night long. This morning when I got there about 10 a.m. he was still off it. That is excellent! He still has his trek tube so they can suction his lungs out if he needs help with that. He is also getting more "hickups" they said that is good because his diaphram is starting to wake up. (Breathing muscles).
He didn't open his eyes or look at us at all today. My daughter, Lisa, serches the internet a lot and there is a type of GBS that effects your eyes more. It is called Miller Fisher. One lady said she had that type and she didn't open her eyes for 7 weeks. If this is the case he only has 4 more weeks left.
Keep praying and fasting for him. I really feel your support and get comfort and peace from it.
Thanks for all your help. You are the best ward ! Love to all.
He is still unresponsive, but there has been one huge improvement that started last night and went into today. They are trying to take him off the ventalator. He was only on about 6 hours yesterday and last night he didn't have to go back on it all night long. This morning when I got there about 10 a.m. he was still off it. That is excellent! He still has his trek tube so they can suction his lungs out if he needs help with that. He is also getting more "hickups" they said that is good because his diaphram is starting to wake up. (Breathing muscles).
He didn't open his eyes or look at us at all today. My daughter, Lisa, serches the internet a lot and there is a type of GBS that effects your eyes more. It is called Miller Fisher. One lady said she had that type and she didn't open her eyes for 7 weeks. If this is the case he only has 4 more weeks left.
Keep praying and fasting for him. I really feel your support and get comfort and peace from it.
Thanks for all your help. You are the best ward ! Love to all.
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