Reduced Visitation

The family is endlessly grateful for the love that has been lavished on us. However, we respectfully request that friends refrain from visiting over the next week until Dad has a chance to renew his strength. This lull will also allow his caregivers to conserve their strength. It is surprising how exhausting it can be to just sit in a hospital room - so much information,  so many emotions, and so little sleep! We look forward to visiting with you as soon as we are able to mentally track with normal conversation. Love to all!

Bradycardia

Becky's friend Lila asked her how Steve was doing... This was Becky's reply...

"Shaky, Lila. Really shaky. He just had another episode where his bp and heart rate dropped very low (pulse was about 30). It's called bradycardia. This is the 4th time it's happened in a one week timespan. The ENT that placed his tracheotomy will check on him. The night doctor thinks the trac might be aggravating a nerve connected somehow to his heart. Each time there is significant movement of his trac area, this has happened. (transferring hospitals, cleaning trac tube, trying to wean off ventilator...)"

Please pray for answers and solutions

Turning the corner? March 30

Dad seems to be responding well to the antibiotics. His WBC count went from 36 a few days ago in the ER to 19 this morning.

They resumed his peg tube feeding last night and plan to resume the rest of his medications today.

Tim was bedside last night and sent these texts:
"Just talked with Dad. His chin movements were greatly improved. Almost as strong as before. Clear yes and clear no. Said he didn't need to talk, not in pain and was able to rest. Also said he was aware and remembered what happened the last couple of days."

"Gave lots of yes movements when I told him that Mom and Becky were home playing grandma and aunt tonight but that their hearts were here with him. "

Becky has started doing cartwheels (unfortunate ones she called them) whenever we text good news. So...if I post later that we are in the ER getting a cast or stitches or a back brace for Becky, you will know that Dad is greatly improved! ;)

Saturday night- March 29th

I don't know why I did this but I checked the blog earlier for an update. Duh. I'm the one who updates.

I had the pleasure of receiving a phone call from Nancy's brother, Dick, from Iowa. He was very appreciative of the blog. We are so pleased that this form of communication has made it easier for loved ones near and far to stay updated. Your love for Dad and the family means the world to us.

Dad has been sleeping most of the day. He doesn't have much to say. I can imagine that if we had bilateral pneumonia and a urinary tract infection that we would just want to be left alone too.

When we got here this afternoon his BP was switching frequently between very high and very low. It seems to have leveled out on the high side now. (Without any intervention) Tim had a chance to speak with the neurologist via phone and he said that high was better than low.

Tim and I are back on deck tonight. He just dropped our kids (including our 2-year-old Evelyn) at Nana's house to give Nana and Becky a dose of "Vitamin E" as we like to call her.

Blessings Overflowing

Mom only left the hospital yesterday from about 3-7pm. When she returned, I asked her if she got any rest at all. She said "Oh, about an hour" The amazing thing was, she was flying high. She said, "Steve, I have so many good things to tell you." While she stood bedside and told him all of the good news of the last few hours, he repeatedly mouthed "yes" by moving his jaw. She said "Steve, such wonderful people love us!" and he heartily agreed.

Mom wrote the following:

Some blessings of today, March 28. 2014:
~Steve had a restful and uneventful day, recovering from yesterday's surgery. He received excellent care from the staff at Christ ICU.
~We found out his room at Drake At Christ in the LTAC is being held for him while he is in ICU.
~New neighbor Mike let Charlie out because we spent the night at the hospital.
~Dinner arrived from Dan and Karen Rusche
~Dave Meyerrose called and offered help. Right then we were trying to figure out what to do with Charlie next. Decided to put him at New Beginnings boarding where he loves to go. However he didn't have the vaccination needed according to the kennel. Dave M picked him up and took him to the vet. Turned out Charlie had what he needed after all, Dave played with him and brought him home.
~We took him to the kennel tonight. Owner Karen Abell, who has a long friendship and business relationship with Steve offered to come pick up Charlie at a moment's notice if we get in a tight spot again.
~Sandy Banta offered to grocery shop.
~Meanwhile, Dan Larison, Dave Giegler and Fred Banta finished off transferring storage left from our move from one unit, closing it down. This project was begun last night by Rick and Connie Thomas, Vicki and Gary Mertz, Dick Becker and Dave.
~Lee and Karen Mason came to the hospital again, as did Sandy Banta and Mike Tolle.
~Becky, Tim and Flora were at the hospital again today, keeping watch over Steve.
~So thankful to God for delivering Steve from last night's crisis.

Saturday Morning-March 29

Dad had his ear cleaned out by Dr Karakis yesterday and at that time he decided that he should also have bilateral tubes placed due to the presence of fluid (but no infection). He returned this morning to place the tubes. He performed this at the bedside to reduce the risk of transport to the OR.

Text from mom:
"Dr Lanka said he needs recert to go back to LTAC.  He should be in ICU over weekend.  Neuro consult will stop by today.  Dad slept most of night and since tube insertion sleeping again with pain meds."

Tour of ICUs March 28

Sitting bedside with Dad at his 3rd ICU (St E, UC, Christ) Thinking about offering our services to JCAHO.

Mom and Becky stayed the night last night and had a restless night. We had a changing of the guards  this afternoon and they are now getting some much needed rest.

Walking into the hospital today, Tim said "I wonder what today will hold? At this point anything is possible. I wouldn't be surprised if a herd of wild deer went tearing through the waiting room...or we disturbed a nest of baby raccoons!"

Dad  is resting and seems less interested in communicating. His BP was low last night, high this morning, but is just right now. Goldilocks would approve.  He has been placed on triple antibiotics (they added the third this morning)

The ENT will be back this afternoon to clean out dad's good ear.

Wee hours of the morning- March 28th

Dad is out of surgery and settled into SICU. The surgeon said it went well. There were a few small blood vessels inside the trach that were bleeding. (Which is why the bleeding wouldn't stop by applying pressure) He stitched them up and cleaned him up. He said that none of the blood went into his lungs. We were able to visit with him and he answered "yes and no" questions for Tim with his jaw.

His blood pressure is low so they are inserting an A-line to monitor his pressures and oxygen levels.

Mom and Becky are staying the night.

Oh, and remember how one of our goals yesterday was to have Dad's good ear looked at because he was complaining that it felt clogged? This ENT was the Dr he told us to call. We were even able to show Dr Manders his name in the book where we write down letters as Dad motions with his jaw. Mom had left a message with his office. He said he will look at his ear tomorrow when he visits.

A big thank you to our friend, Susan Miller RN, for the comfort in the ER and for checking on us while we were in the waiting room. We appreciate your kindness.

Surgery

Dad is in surgery to stop his trach from bleeding. Due to his episodes of bradycardia the ENT decided that the OR was the most controlled way to handle this situation. Surprisingly, the ENT on call Dr is the same Dr that performed Dad's plasmacytoma surgery in 2010 and has treated him ever since, as recently as this past January. He will go to SICU following surgery.

Becky is here now and we are all together in the waiting room. Thank you 8 South for providing boxed lunches and ice cream for us. We were in desperate need of food.

In ER

We are in Christ's ER and heading to Christ ICU soon. The ENT dr is here and attempting to stop the bleeding from Dad's trach. His WBC count is very very high . They have started double broad spectrum antibiotics.