Saturday, June 26, 2010
The day has come
Well I'm headed to my grandmother's auction soon, but thought I would give a quick update about the exciting news. I was originally scheduled to have the halo removed on Tuesday (6/29). The other day though I got a phone call saying the doctor was taking that day off and my appointment was moved back another day. However, I started having some complications with the 4 screws in my skull. I could feel them shifting in and out of the skull (quite painful). Yesterday, it started getting pretty bad and was happening most of the day. I called the surgeon and they told me that the chances of the pins actually moving in and out were very small and that I should just wait it out and see Dr. Osgood on Wednesday. Unfortunately, this morning I woke up in excruciating pain. Every time I moved at all the pins would shift and I was in terrible pain. My friend, Jeremiah, had stayed the night and thankfully took me into the ER. The doctors there confirmed that the holes where my screws were had gotten bigger, causing bleeding and all sorts of fun stuff. After several phone calls to Dr. Osgood and Hershey Medical Center, the ER doctor decided to take the halo off right there (despite having no experience doing so). After a dose of morphine, the doctor and two nurses disassembled the halo, cleaned me up, put on the new collar and sent me home. I'm a free man!!! No more halo. I'll still meet with Dr. Osgood to find out how long I'll wear this collar and see what restrictions I still have. But I just wanted to let everyone know the great news. The halo is finally gone. Anybody interested in a Frankenstein costume? Thank you once again to everybody for the thoughts, prayers and everything you've all done. It's been a crazy journey and it's been such a blessing to have so much support from everyone.
Friday, June 18, 2010
June 16th Update from Jesse
Update from Jesse via Jere:
I'm still making progress and getting better. My hand continues to be the only place I still need noticeable recovery. However, every now and then I'll have a revelation about how my hand has improved. Those moments are definitely exciting, because day to day it's hard to tell. Thankfully I've completely gotten over pain (even after sleeping)...and only 13 days until I get this contraption off! In the meantime, I've started catching up on my schoolwork. Let me tell you what, nothing screams "exciting summer" like reading textbooks and writing 3 papers every week. Oh well. I must admit that as annoying as work is, it's better than sitting in front of the tv.
I'm still making progress and getting better. My hand continues to be the only place I still need noticeable recovery. However, every now and then I'll have a revelation about how my hand has improved. Those moments are definitely exciting, because day to day it's hard to tell. Thankfully I've completely gotten over pain (even after sleeping)...and only 13 days until I get this contraption off! In the meantime, I've started catching up on my schoolwork. Let me tell you what, nothing screams "exciting summer" like reading textbooks and writing 3 papers every week. Oh well. I must admit that as annoying as work is, it's better than sitting in front of the tv.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Well the day is approaching. I have another 22 days until the 29th. Then I can finally get rid of the head gear. Not much has happened in the last few weeks. I'm now starting to finish up my classes. I'm looking for a job to try and make some money over the summer. Beyond that, I'm down to having physical therapy once a week. The leg and arm are basically back to normal and the hand is at about 65%. The pain is gone and I'm basically used to the halo, so the heat is really the only thing that bothers me anymore. There's nothing quite like wearing a fur vest when it's 80+ degrees outside. However, I really can't complain. Many of the other people I've talked to who have worn halos end up wearing them for 4-6 months at least. A few people have said they wore one for 8-10. So being scheduled to lose this at the end of 3 months doesn't seem too bad. Plus, the recovery I've been making with my leg and arm have been quick which is very nice.
Anyway, here's how things look for the weeks ahead. I'll continue to have physical therapy once a week up until I get the halo removed. My nephew will turn a year old and my grandma's having an auction at her house. I'm sure I'll also be going to graduation parties and random other events. After the halo comes off, I'll wear a Miami-J Collar for a little bit. I'm not sure what the rules are for when or how long I have to wear it, but the physical therapist says they're actually fairly comfortable. My physical therapy after the halo's removed will be mostly for mobility of the neck. I had some concern over the loss of muscle from not using my neck, but the PT doesn't think there'll be much muscle loss. The biggest problem will be a stiff neck and getting full movement again.
OK, I think that's it for now. I need to read a chapter and write a paper so I can't procrastinate too long. I hope everyone's doing well and hope to hear from you soon!
-Jesse
Anyway, here's how things look for the weeks ahead. I'll continue to have physical therapy once a week up until I get the halo removed. My nephew will turn a year old and my grandma's having an auction at her house. I'm sure I'll also be going to graduation parties and random other events. After the halo comes off, I'll wear a Miami-J Collar for a little bit. I'm not sure what the rules are for when or how long I have to wear it, but the physical therapist says they're actually fairly comfortable. My physical therapy after the halo's removed will be mostly for mobility of the neck. I had some concern over the loss of muscle from not using my neck, but the PT doesn't think there'll be much muscle loss. The biggest problem will be a stiff neck and getting full movement again.
OK, I think that's it for now. I need to read a chapter and write a paper so I can't procrastinate too long. I hope everyone's doing well and hope to hear from you soon!
-Jesse
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
This is Jesse and I thought I'd write an update to let everyone know how I'm doing now that I've been home for almost a month. Beware, it's a long update.
Things here at home are going pretty well. I'm no longer using the cane to walk, and have actually made a few long walks without much issue. I still have some slight weakness in the hamstring, but other than that my leg is almost back to normal! As for my arm, I'm gaining a lot of strength and mobility back. I may have torn my rotator cuff from overworking it in the rehab hospital, but it continues to get stronger and gain a greater range of motion. My biggest challenge there is telling myself to stop when it gets sore so that I don't end up damaging it more. Finally, my hand is making slow but steady improvements. I have basically the full motion in my hands and fingers, though there's still a little weakness. When I started physical therapy a month ago, my hand was at about 20% strength and I'm up to about 50%. So I'm still not where I want to be, but everything is definitely coming along.
Some of the fun I've had lately involves visiting my friends back at Juniata the other week. I was disappointed with the amount of time I had, but was extremely grateful to see people before the summer. Then this past weekend I went to my cousin Jenny's graduation party in New Jersey. She's graduating from med school (Congrats again!) and so I got to see a lot of my family which was very nice. Overall, I'm getting around fairly well and definitely like to get out of the house. I've never been one to stay still and so this whole process has forced me to develop a great deal of patience.
Two of the most popular questions people continue to ask are if I have pain and how I sleep at night. Ironically, the two go together. The only time I have any pain is usually when I wake up in the morning or sometimes if I wake up at night. However, it's usually gone in about 10 minutes, so I'm not complaining. Sleeping has been much better here at home than in the hospital. It's sometimes difficult to position myself because I like to sleep on my stomache/side, but once I find a comfortable spot I'm usually out.
Finally, the big question has been answered. The halo comes off June 29th! I'll admit I was a little disappointed to hear it wouldn't ome off until the end of June, but knowing how long other people have had to wear one, I have nothing to complain about. I met with the surgeon today and he said my x-rays and everything all look good, he just wants to be safe. After the halo comes off I will wear a soft neck collar and will do a few sessions of physical therapy to regain mobility in my neck. Even though I had the fusion and haven't moved my neck in so long, the therapist expects that I'll have full mobility and strength rather quickly.
Okay, I do believe that's enough for now. Thanks for reading my novel :-P Maybe I'll work on doing updates more often so they don't end up so long. Anyway, thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers and all of the continued support. I really do appreciate it. I look forward to seeing everyone soon (and in 49 days without the hardware!)
Things here at home are going pretty well. I'm no longer using the cane to walk, and have actually made a few long walks without much issue. I still have some slight weakness in the hamstring, but other than that my leg is almost back to normal! As for my arm, I'm gaining a lot of strength and mobility back. I may have torn my rotator cuff from overworking it in the rehab hospital, but it continues to get stronger and gain a greater range of motion. My biggest challenge there is telling myself to stop when it gets sore so that I don't end up damaging it more. Finally, my hand is making slow but steady improvements. I have basically the full motion in my hands and fingers, though there's still a little weakness. When I started physical therapy a month ago, my hand was at about 20% strength and I'm up to about 50%. So I'm still not where I want to be, but everything is definitely coming along.
Some of the fun I've had lately involves visiting my friends back at Juniata the other week. I was disappointed with the amount of time I had, but was extremely grateful to see people before the summer. Then this past weekend I went to my cousin Jenny's graduation party in New Jersey. She's graduating from med school (Congrats again!) and so I got to see a lot of my family which was very nice. Overall, I'm getting around fairly well and definitely like to get out of the house. I've never been one to stay still and so this whole process has forced me to develop a great deal of patience.
Two of the most popular questions people continue to ask are if I have pain and how I sleep at night. Ironically, the two go together. The only time I have any pain is usually when I wake up in the morning or sometimes if I wake up at night. However, it's usually gone in about 10 minutes, so I'm not complaining. Sleeping has been much better here at home than in the hospital. It's sometimes difficult to position myself because I like to sleep on my stomache/side, but once I find a comfortable spot I'm usually out.
Finally, the big question has been answered. The halo comes off June 29th! I'll admit I was a little disappointed to hear it wouldn't ome off until the end of June, but knowing how long other people have had to wear one, I have nothing to complain about. I met with the surgeon today and he said my x-rays and everything all look good, he just wants to be safe. After the halo comes off I will wear a soft neck collar and will do a few sessions of physical therapy to regain mobility in my neck. Even though I had the fusion and haven't moved my neck in so long, the therapist expects that I'll have full mobility and strength rather quickly.
Okay, I do believe that's enough for now. Thanks for reading my novel :-P Maybe I'll work on doing updates more often so they don't end up so long. Anyway, thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers and all of the continued support. I really do appreciate it. I look forward to seeing everyone soon (and in 49 days without the hardware!)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Monday, April 19th
Jesse has been home for a few days, and today's recap is brought to you by Uncle Mike [Edits by Jere]:
I drove to Lebanon and surprised Jesse halfway through his initial session at the First Choice Rehabilitation facility there (http://www.firstchoicerehab.com/). Unfortunately, I missed seeing Erin [Jesse's sister], who had driven him there and was already en route home to Boston. Sharon [Jesse's Mom] arrived a few minutes after me, having left work early. We met Jesse’s main therapist, Dale Hilbolt, and his other (occupational) therapist, Renee Long. (Jesse is entitled to thirty sessions with Dale, and twelve (albeit with co-pay) with Renee. He’s currently slated for 4 pm every Mon, Wed, Fri.) The therapists said that the biggest concern currently is re-gaining the strength in his right arm/hand, where his pinky & adjacent finger are still exhibiting some numbness and tingling (which are completely expected, given his injuries). He squeezed one of those hand-measure gizmos, registering 10 with his right hand and 60 with his left. Jesse admitted that his penmanship was never that great to begin with (don’t they teach cursive in Jonestown schools?!? I blame the elementary school teacher’s aides, ha ha), and he estimated that he’s currently at roughly 60% in that area. The therapists also want to improve the mobility/strength in his right shoulder (Jesse could outstretch his right arm and a bit more, but not for very long). Renee gave him a stretch band, with instructions to do various exercises at home. The therapists seemed less concerned with his right ankle, which remains quite sore --- their main concern there is that his ankle injury, coupled with the awkward bulk of the halo neck brace (due to be removed approx. mid-June), might cause him to lose his balance and fall (“the last thing he needs right now”). Dale asked Jesse to get off the couch at least once an hour and (with his cane) walk around, and always wear a solid pair of shoes (not barefoot) and please don't trip. The therapists were pleasantly surprised that he wasn’t exhibiting any significant lingering effects from his brain injury (e.g., no slurred speech, no memory lapses, etc.), that he’s tolerating the pain okay, and that he is entirely self-sufficient and able to handle everything on his own (getting dressed, putting on socks and shoes, etc… --- although, Jordan, FYI, he’s not flossing, LOL). They indicated that bodes well for a continued speedy recovery. Afterwards, Jesse gingerly got into Sharon's car --- difficult ‘cuz he can’t really tell if his brace is gonna bump. Back in Jonestown, we went to Pizzatown for a late lunch. (Tangent: with Jesse tilted back in my passenger seat, I asked Joe to navigate from the backseat. Alas, Joe’s sense of direction was off and he repeatedly had me taking wrong turns down bumpy alleys, no doubt to his brother’s dismay.) Jesse reported that his chicken parmagiana sandwich was better than the Altoona hospital food. Not sure, however, that that constitutes a rave review. Back home, he relaxed (e.g., fiddled on his laptop) while Joe, Sharon and I mowed the lawn and did other yard work. Harrison & I subsequently took a walk with Jesse around the block, while Sharon did some grocery-shopping and Joe helped out with the English-as-a-second-language session at church. After dinner, Joe & I played with the flarp (don’t ask), and Jesse played his guitar a bit --- it was encouraging to see him pick out a tune.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 14th
Jesse has made it safely back home! Visitors, please call ahead to verify Jesse is not traveling to PT, OT or other appointments when you arrive. Driving help would always be welcome; Jesse is coordinating his own schedule.
Please do not send get well cards to Health South; cards and warm wishes may be directed to our home in Jonestown.
Please do not send get well cards to Health South; cards and warm wishes may be directed to our home in Jonestown.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7th
News broke today that Jesse has conquered stairs, walks with a single-point cane, and has mastered walking through grass, mulch and other terrain.... So the conclusion was reached: On Wednesday, April 14th, Jesse is headed home to Jonestown!
April 8th - 12th: Continued physical and occupational therapy to work on fine motor skills of the right hand.
April 13th: Mom visits Altoona to shadow nurses, PT & OT and learn her role in Jesse's continuing care.
April 14th: Jesse is discharged from Altoona, arrives in Jonestown.
April 15th: Jesse begins a program of OT and PT three times per week in Lebanon for the next few weeks....
Physical therapy will continue at some level through the summer. Halo brace comes off 12 weeks after the accident (mid-June) likely followed by more physical therapy to re-develop neck muscles....
All the while, Jesse will be completing 9 credits from this Spring over the summer months, hopefully beginning that process in about two weeks.
Juniata friends: get out to Altoona to see Jesse this weekend before he returns to Jonestown.
NL friends: prepare for a weekend (April 17th?) Welcome Home" party complete with tea cooler fountains and ring bologna toss.
April 8th - 12th: Continued physical and occupational therapy to work on fine motor skills of the right hand.
April 13th: Mom visits Altoona to shadow nurses, PT & OT and learn her role in Jesse's continuing care.
April 14th: Jesse is discharged from Altoona, arrives in Jonestown.
April 15th: Jesse begins a program of OT and PT three times per week in Lebanon for the next few weeks....
Physical therapy will continue at some level through the summer. Halo brace comes off 12 weeks after the accident (mid-June) likely followed by more physical therapy to re-develop neck muscles....
All the while, Jesse will be completing 9 credits from this Spring over the summer months, hopefully beginning that process in about two weeks.
Juniata friends: get out to Altoona to see Jesse this weekend before he returns to Jonestown.
NL friends: prepare for a weekend (April 17th?) Welcome Home" party complete with tea cooler fountains and ring bologna toss.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Tuesday, April 6th
Another busy day with remarkable progress.... Jesse had the remainder of his stitches removed last night and is looking good... This morning he walked without the walker, instead using a four-pronged, single-hand cane. Having difficulty with the cane-right foot-left foot-repeat rhythm, Jesse simply skipped ahead to the single-prong cane. His right hand also continues to improve!
Jesse was gracious enough to lend me a pair of socks, though I'm not sure how he obtained these socks with the pink stripe on them!
Jesse continues to give me grief for the liberties I take with his stuff.... Right now I'm sprawled across his air-filled bed; I've relocated the pillows to be more comfortable while I lay here watching tv -- Jesse has the chair next to the window while I risk falling asleep!
Jesse was gracious enough to lend me a pair of socks, though I'm not sure how he obtained these socks with the pink stripe on them!
Jesse continues to give me grief for the liberties I take with his stuff.... Right now I'm sprawled across his air-filled bed; I've relocated the pillows to be more comfortable while I lay here watching tv -- Jesse has the chair next to the window while I risk falling asleep!
Monday, April 5, 2010
Easter Weekend
Easter Weekend was busy for Jesse, with Friday visits from Mom, Jonathan, Chaplain Dave and his wife Kim.... Jesse spent a fair amount of time outside enjoying the weather and after snubbing off a rather dry piece of fried chicken, we smuggled another chicken sandwich in from Sheetz to keep him eating! Mom & Jonathan brought Jesse an Easter basket of goodies from Joey (thanks, Joe!) and a healthy stack of cards had also arrived for Jesse.
On Saturday Jonathan and Mom returned for a second visit where they were able to observe Jesse walking while I received "a walking lesson." Basically, I'm Jesse's spotter in case he gets tired and his right (weaker) leg starts to give out on him.... Their advice? "He can go 2500 feet at once, but we'd prefer that you go 500 feet five separate times rather than going all at once." So I learned how to "walk" Jesse so that he can get exercise during my afternoon visits.
Dr. Osgood had advised Mom & I in the Altoona ICU to tighten Jesse's screws every week, and Jesse noted that they hadn't been tightened in the 10 days since leaving the ICU for rehab, so I took it upon myself to tighten them and it seems his headaches have subsided. I don't know if the two were related, but he's set for now.
Mom & Jonathan took off Saturday afternoon, and JJ, Jordan & Connor arrived about an hour afterward to deliver Easter goodies to Jesse. Mac-n-cheese and chocolate chip cookies were added to Jesse's growing pile of goodies and JJ & Jordan scored additional bonus points by delivering cookies to the Nurses' station.
Easter Sunday was a bit quieter; Stacy and I dropped in with some Easter ham and pierogies and Jesse probably had one of his better days eating (Sheetz red smoothie, chicken sandwich, pierogies, potatoes, Gatorade, milk shake, etc.) before we popped outside to enjoy some more sunshine. Jesse looked good; Saturday night he was able to wash his hair for the first time in two weeks and was able to trim up his overgrowing facial hair.
We'll keep you posted on Jesse's continuing progress; this week we expect to have more stitches removed and practice more walking; this week also features the opening day of Major League Baseball, the NCAA Basketball Championship game, and Tiger's return to Augusta at the Master's -- visitors are welcome all week, of course!
On Saturday Jonathan and Mom returned for a second visit where they were able to observe Jesse walking while I received "a walking lesson." Basically, I'm Jesse's spotter in case he gets tired and his right (weaker) leg starts to give out on him.... Their advice? "He can go 2500 feet at once, but we'd prefer that you go 500 feet five separate times rather than going all at once." So I learned how to "walk" Jesse so that he can get exercise during my afternoon visits.
Dr. Osgood had advised Mom & I in the Altoona ICU to tighten Jesse's screws every week, and Jesse noted that they hadn't been tightened in the 10 days since leaving the ICU for rehab, so I took it upon myself to tighten them and it seems his headaches have subsided. I don't know if the two were related, but he's set for now.
Mom & Jonathan took off Saturday afternoon, and JJ, Jordan & Connor arrived about an hour afterward to deliver Easter goodies to Jesse. Mac-n-cheese and chocolate chip cookies were added to Jesse's growing pile of goodies and JJ & Jordan scored additional bonus points by delivering cookies to the Nurses' station.
Easter Sunday was a bit quieter; Stacy and I dropped in with some Easter ham and pierogies and Jesse probably had one of his better days eating (Sheetz red smoothie, chicken sandwich, pierogies, potatoes, Gatorade, milk shake, etc.) before we popped outside to enjoy some more sunshine. Jesse looked good; Saturday night he was able to wash his hair for the first time in two weeks and was able to trim up his overgrowing facial hair.
We'll keep you posted on Jesse's continuing progress; this week we expect to have more stitches removed and practice more walking; this week also features the opening day of Major League Baseball, the NCAA Basketball Championship game, and Tiger's return to Augusta at the Master's -- visitors are welcome all week, of course!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 31st
Quick update on Jesse.... There are no screws loose, but one screw too tight! Dr. Osgood stopped in to check on it tonight, and said that toughing out the pain is the best bet for now.... Jesse shows considerable improvement in his ankle, hand, and walking -- his walking "stats":
Saturday, 3/27: 3 steps
Sunday, 3/28-Monday, 3/29: 15 total steps
Tuesday, 3/30: 170' total feet
Wednesday, 3/31: 1,000+ feet!
Thursday, 4/1: 2,500+ feet (updated 4/1, 4:30pm)
Statisticians, quick -- how long until Jesse walks a marathon?
Saturday, 3/27: 3 steps
Sunday, 3/28-Monday, 3/29: 15 total steps
Tuesday, 3/30: 170' total feet
Wednesday, 3/31: 1,000+ feet!
Thursday, 4/1: 2,500+ feet (updated 4/1, 4:30pm)
Statisticians, quick -- how long until Jesse walks a marathon?
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 30th
Not a lot to report today; Jesse walked using a walker with a forearm extension, and he also had an unusual incident with an exploding growth on his face. If you think you're having a bad day, be glad you don't have an exploding growth.... Jesse graciously distributed muffins and cookies to all those who helped with the cleanup. (Matt, bring more muffins and cookies).
Saturday - Monday, March 27-29th
Jesse had a visit from his niece Molly on Friday and again on Saturday. On Saturday, Josh & Eileen (Jesse's brother and sister-in-law, Molly's parents) thought Jesse could share in Molly's first egg-coloring experience....
In Josh & Eileen's defense, bringing the nurses chocolate chip cookies and bringing ziti for Jesse were two very good ideas.
Let's return to the Easter eggs. First, there was a mishap pre-visit with the boiling -- namely, some eggs cracked a wee tiny bit. Then we arrive at the rehab hospital with dye, water cups, vinegar and cracked eggs. Obtaining supplies took some effort, but the process began with Eileen leading the way. All was going well until the camera came out and the decision was made to line-up the eggs and dyes in front of Jesse and Molly for a photo. As you can guess, Molly was able to reach the red dye, pull.... and splat. Eileen suffered the worst damage (red vinegar dye on her jeans) and housekeeping Dave was good-humored about assisting with the clean-up, but Jesse certainly had a Saturday to remember!
On Sunday Jesse had a few more visitors and continued progress (Jesse continues rehab work through the weekends). Sunday evening Chaplain Dave returned from his midwest trip and was able to sit with Jesse for a while; Dave has been very helpful through Jesse's recovery and it was good to see him back in PA!
Monday night Jesse got moved to the window bed and can now control his own heat and air conditioning -- still in the same room for visiting purposes. His Pastor visited earlier in the day and then seven Juniata students piled onto his bed for a visit -- Jesse's half of the room was certainly a bit crowded! Rich, from Jesse's CMA church in Huntingdon also dropped in later in the evening keeping Jesse very busy for the night.
A few updates:
1. Jesse has progressed well through the walking-through-the-parallel-bars. Jesse's next task will be to use crutch-style walkers (neither Jesse nor I have seen this apparatus, so it is difficult to explain) to extend his pacing beyond the length of the parallel bars.
2. Jesse's nurses are encouraging him to get outside when he has friends at the facility. If the weather is cooperative, coordinate with the nurses to help Jesse outside to a patio. There are blankets if the temperature drops, but there are no provisions for wet weather.
3. Jesse has his cell phone, but please limit your calls and texts -- the staff does not want copious calls and texts to interfere with Jesse's recovery or distract him from sleep, so perhaps call or text during visiting hours. If Jesse has a room full of people he will attempt to respond when visiting hours conclude at 8pm, but be aware that Jesse cannot return 20-40 phone calls per night. Be patient!
4. Not every stitch was removed from Jesse's head. Stitches were only removed from his face. If you see Jesse start to scratch his head, near his hairline, yell at him. Bad things happen when you scratch at the stitches in your head.
5. Visitors - as I said before, Jesse is in the same room but has moved to the window bed. Please be patient if Jesse is in OT or PT when you arrive and be respectful of the nurses and Jesse's roommate.
Enjoy Holy Week, get yourself to church, and check back often for further updates!
In Josh & Eileen's defense, bringing the nurses chocolate chip cookies and bringing ziti for Jesse were two very good ideas.
Let's return to the Easter eggs. First, there was a mishap pre-visit with the boiling -- namely, some eggs cracked a wee tiny bit. Then we arrive at the rehab hospital with dye, water cups, vinegar and cracked eggs. Obtaining supplies took some effort, but the process began with Eileen leading the way. All was going well until the camera came out and the decision was made to line-up the eggs and dyes in front of Jesse and Molly for a photo. As you can guess, Molly was able to reach the red dye, pull.... and splat. Eileen suffered the worst damage (red vinegar dye on her jeans) and housekeeping Dave was good-humored about assisting with the clean-up, but Jesse certainly had a Saturday to remember!
On Sunday Jesse had a few more visitors and continued progress (Jesse continues rehab work through the weekends). Sunday evening Chaplain Dave returned from his midwest trip and was able to sit with Jesse for a while; Dave has been very helpful through Jesse's recovery and it was good to see him back in PA!
Monday night Jesse got moved to the window bed and can now control his own heat and air conditioning -- still in the same room for visiting purposes. His Pastor visited earlier in the day and then seven Juniata students piled onto his bed for a visit -- Jesse's half of the room was certainly a bit crowded! Rich, from Jesse's CMA church in Huntingdon also dropped in later in the evening keeping Jesse very busy for the night.
A few updates:
1. Jesse has progressed well through the walking-through-the-parallel-bars. Jesse's next task will be to use crutch-style walkers (neither Jesse nor I have seen this apparatus, so it is difficult to explain) to extend his pacing beyond the length of the parallel bars.
2. Jesse's nurses are encouraging him to get outside when he has friends at the facility. If the weather is cooperative, coordinate with the nurses to help Jesse outside to a patio. There are blankets if the temperature drops, but there are no provisions for wet weather.
3. Jesse has his cell phone, but please limit your calls and texts -- the staff does not want copious calls and texts to interfere with Jesse's recovery or distract him from sleep, so perhaps call or text during visiting hours. If Jesse has a room full of people he will attempt to respond when visiting hours conclude at 8pm, but be aware that Jesse cannot return 20-40 phone calls per night. Be patient!
4. Not every stitch was removed from Jesse's head. Stitches were only removed from his face. If you see Jesse start to scratch his head, near his hairline, yell at him. Bad things happen when you scratch at the stitches in your head.
5. Visitors - as I said before, Jesse is in the same room but has moved to the window bed. Please be patient if Jesse is in OT or PT when you arrive and be respectful of the nurses and Jesse's roommate.
Enjoy Holy Week, get yourself to church, and check back often for further updates!
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Friday, March 27th
Jesse had a busy Friday - three (3) occupational therapy (OT) sessions followed a solid night's sleep Thursday night. Josh & Eileen & Molly and two Juniata friends filled the evening's night, starting off Jesse's latest project -- Sea Monkeys! -- courtesy of Jesse's friend Gill with a G. Taco night wasn't a big hit, but Eileen's cookies were.
Jesse had the stitches removed from his face and nose on Friday; he also was able to focus and fully bend his right index finger, so he's still making noticeable improvements! OT involved gripping and riding an exercise bike. He's able to roll over freely in bed (to reach his Swedish Fish).
We're visiting now on Saturday, and Jesse's walking the length of the parallel bars (twice) -- unthrilled with the beef stew for lunch, but Eileen brought ziti to tide him over.
Jesse had the stitches removed from his face and nose on Friday; he also was able to focus and fully bend his right index finger, so he's still making noticeable improvements! OT involved gripping and riding an exercise bike. He's able to roll over freely in bed (to reach his Swedish Fish).
We're visiting now on Saturday, and Jesse's walking the length of the parallel bars (twice) -- unthrilled with the beef stew for lunch, but Eileen brought ziti to tide him over.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday Afternoon
It's been a busy day here in Altoona.... Jesse was up-and-at-'em this morning and had breakfast and read the paper from his ortho chair out in a community room.... Had a busy day of "OT and PT" (occupational therapy and physical therapy) and "transferred" (stood up from the bed, turned, sat in the chair) very well and later even took two steps!
Visitors have rolled through, dropping off some more clothes for Jesse -- shorts, boxers and socks were greatly appreciated and the Hawaiian shirt has moved to a predominant location; I think he'll look best rocking the Hawaiian shirt in the hallways here! Thanks to the early crew, and Matt & Gill with a G have been here since my arrival -- Matt bringing some muffins to further confuse the nursing staff re: Jesse's food intake....
(Jesse hadn't touched his dinner when I arrived, and then INHALED a chicken parmesan sandwich from Sheetz, a strawberry protein shake from Sheetz, dabbled a bit at this salad, then called it quits on dinner with only his salad slightly touched.... And fyi, it wasn't enough salad for Jesse to receive a NFFC point).
Tomorrow is Friday, March 26th, and Jesse needs to have his stitches removed and survive a visit from his 13-month-old niece -- she's so darn cute!
Thanks to the crew that brought Jesse's clothes and photos, etc. -- and thanks to those who have mailed cards!
I will get another update posted tomorrow after Jesse's stitches are out and we'll get a further update from his collective "team" after their weekly team meeting -- for the interim, the warm wishes, prayers, humor, clean socks, photos, cards, strawberry protein smoothies, chicken parmesan and muffins are greatly appreciated!
Visitors have rolled through, dropping off some more clothes for Jesse -- shorts, boxers and socks were greatly appreciated and the Hawaiian shirt has moved to a predominant location; I think he'll look best rocking the Hawaiian shirt in the hallways here! Thanks to the early crew, and Matt & Gill with a G have been here since my arrival -- Matt bringing some muffins to further confuse the nursing staff re: Jesse's food intake....
(Jesse hadn't touched his dinner when I arrived, and then INHALED a chicken parmesan sandwich from Sheetz, a strawberry protein shake from Sheetz, dabbled a bit at this salad, then called it quits on dinner with only his salad slightly touched.... And fyi, it wasn't enough salad for Jesse to receive a NFFC point).
Tomorrow is Friday, March 26th, and Jesse needs to have his stitches removed and survive a visit from his 13-month-old niece -- she's so darn cute!
Thanks to the crew that brought Jesse's clothes and photos, etc. -- and thanks to those who have mailed cards!
I will get another update posted tomorrow after Jesse's stitches are out and we'll get a further update from his collective "team" after their weekly team meeting -- for the interim, the warm wishes, prayers, humor, clean socks, photos, cards, strawberry protein smoothies, chicken parmesan and muffins are greatly appreciated!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday Afternoon
Jesse was able to stand up today; he used parallel bars to help support himself and also stood and "transferred" -- spun himself 90 degrees into a chair -- and is doing well. The rest of the Northridge family (Mom, Nanna, Aunt Cindy) couldn't go 24 hours without breaking the visitation rules and fast-talked their way in around 2:30.... Jesse has some clothes for his recovery courtesy of a Mom-Nanna-Cindy shopping trip....
Jesse's roommate checked out this evening, but another is on his way -- so please continue to be respectful.
Visitors - there are four bunnies on the wall and a t-shirt for visitors to sign. Check the bulletin board for markers. And feel free to bring a snack for Jesse with you (red smoothies from Sheetz are welcome!)
Jesse's roommate checked out this evening, but another is on his way -- so please continue to be respectful.
Visitors - there are four bunnies on the wall and a t-shirt for visitors to sign. Check the bulletin board for markers. And feel free to bring a snack for Jesse with you (red smoothies from Sheetz are welcome!)
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday Night Recap
Jesse has been transferred out of the Altoona Regional Hospital ICU and into the HealthSouth Rehabilitative Unit in Altoona. Prior to the transfer, Jesse had a very positive day; he was able to sit up in a regular chair, an improvement over requiring the assistance of the Orthopedic chair. At one point Jesse was able to lift his entire right leg off of the bed and was twice able to wiggle his right toes -- signs of very successful progress!
Jesse was moved to HealthSouth via ambulance and now resides in room 101D. He does have a roommate.
Get Well Cards may be sent to Jesse Northridge c/o HealthSouth, 2005 Valley View Blvd, Altoona, PA 16601. You do not need to include a room number.
Visitors to HealthSouth are welcome weekdays 4-8pm and weekends noon-8pm. Please be very respectful of Jesse's roommate. Juniata college students: please consider coordinating your visitation schedules through Chaplain Dave Witkovsky so that Jesse can have a continuous flow of visitors and not single, large slugs.
Jesse was moved to HealthSouth via ambulance and now resides in room 101D. He does have a roommate.
Get Well Cards may be sent to Jesse Northridge c/o HealthSouth, 2005 Valley View Blvd, Altoona, PA 16601. You do not need to include a room number.
Visitors to HealthSouth are welcome weekdays 4-8pm and weekends noon-8pm. Please be very respectful of Jesse's roommate. Juniata college students: please consider coordinating your visitation schedules through Chaplain Dave Witkovsky so that Jesse can have a continuous flow of visitors and not single, large slugs.
Moving Day!
Jesse is moving out of Altoona Regional Hospital's ICU (at this moment!) and headed down the street to Altoona's Healthsouth rehabilitative hospital. More details to follow.....
Tuesday Morning
Jesse did very well yesterday, sitting up more often, working to balance himself while sitting up, feeding himself (left handed), and generally tolerating me with an occaisional smile! We read through a few more emails and he was happy to hear from a professor who granted him extensions through the summer to finish a class. His right hand strength is improving slightly; he can start to push a bit with his fingers but still cannot curl, extend or grip with them. His toe flinched once again, also a good sign.
We spoke with case worker Vicki and the rehab specialist, Dr. Newman, and at lunchtime yesterday the plans to move Jesse to rehab were accelerated.... to the point that I heard this morning that Jesse will be moved today!
The options are primarily Altoona or Mechanicsburg, and there are pros and cons to both - we'll keep you posted! For those of you offering advice to my mom on rehab hospitals, please be sure that any suggested facility have NEUROLOGICAL-based rehab, not simply orthopedic-based rehab. All information and support is appreciated, but please be judicious in your efforts. (Bonus points awarded to anyone who has actually completed neurological rehab!)
Visitors today should be aware that Jesse may be on the move.... Call ahead to the hospital to find out what's going on, where he is, when he's moving.... I will update here as soon as I know as well! If you would like a text, shoot me an email (jeremiahnorthridge@gmail.com) with the number and I will text you once I know. Do NOT flood my mother with phone calls, please. You'll know when we know.
I left the hospital around 5 last evening and Jesse had a few college friends stopping in to see him after that.... His spirits were generally good through the day though the process is certainly a draining one.
Kudos to Rachel Guldin for drawing Jesse's biggest laugh of the day:
It was show-and-tell in class, and the theme was "My Religion." Three students stood up at the front of the class. The first said, "I'm Jewish, and this is my prayer hat." The second student said, "I'm Catholic, and this is my rosary." The third student said, "I'm Lutheran, and this is my casserole."
Keep the prayers, warm wishes and humor coming -- Jesse's progress has continued; "Slow and steady wins the race" remains the mantra for moving forward. Special thanks to all of the doctors, pa's, nurses and staff at the Altoona Regional Hospital, too, for their help and support!
(And special thanks to you, Subway, for being an alternative to the cafeteria....)
We spoke with case worker Vicki and the rehab specialist, Dr. Newman, and at lunchtime yesterday the plans to move Jesse to rehab were accelerated.... to the point that I heard this morning that Jesse will be moved today!
The options are primarily Altoona or Mechanicsburg, and there are pros and cons to both - we'll keep you posted! For those of you offering advice to my mom on rehab hospitals, please be sure that any suggested facility have NEUROLOGICAL-based rehab, not simply orthopedic-based rehab. All information and support is appreciated, but please be judicious in your efforts. (Bonus points awarded to anyone who has actually completed neurological rehab!)
Visitors today should be aware that Jesse may be on the move.... Call ahead to the hospital to find out what's going on, where he is, when he's moving.... I will update here as soon as I know as well! If you would like a text, shoot me an email (jeremiahnorthridge@gmail.com) with the number and I will text you once I know. Do NOT flood my mother with phone calls, please. You'll know when we know.
I left the hospital around 5 last evening and Jesse had a few college friends stopping in to see him after that.... His spirits were generally good through the day though the process is certainly a draining one.
Kudos to Rachel Guldin for drawing Jesse's biggest laugh of the day:
It was show-and-tell in class, and the theme was "My Religion." Three students stood up at the front of the class. The first said, "I'm Jewish, and this is my prayer hat." The second student said, "I'm Catholic, and this is my rosary." The third student said, "I'm Lutheran, and this is my casserole."
Keep the prayers, warm wishes and humor coming -- Jesse's progress has continued; "Slow and steady wins the race" remains the mantra for moving forward. Special thanks to all of the doctors, pa's, nurses and staff at the Altoona Regional Hospital, too, for their help and support!
(And special thanks to you, Subway, for being an alternative to the cafeteria....)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Monday, 12:36pm Update
Another day in Altoona, with a few updates -- first, Jesse was upright in the Ortho chair this morning for breakfast. Being upright in the Ortho chair is far more comfortable than elevating the bed upright. Mom helped him with some breakfast; soggy cereal and some oj went down well before exhaustion set in. Some physical therapy (PT) at 9a.m.
Jesse was able to push a bit with his right foot -- a positive sign of progress. At 10 a.m. the trauma doctors assessed that Jesse is nearly physical capable to be transfered out of ICU and to the rehab hospital.
10:20 was another visit from the surgeon who noted his right hand and leg are a little better, especially the leg, and we saw a flicker in the right toes.
11:20 was Dana with more PT, sitting up in bed and attempting to balance himself. Jesse did well with some support from his left hand, then repositioned back into bed and fed himself lunch.
Mom and I met with patient access and did some paperwork; we contacted the car insurance company (Dad's old company) who were both sad to receive the news but very helpful and encouraged by Jesse's progress.
Dr. Newman of Altoona's rehabilitative clinic met with us to discuss follow-up; rehab for Jesse will likely range from two (2) to eight (8) weeks. Staying in Altoona has advantages (proximity to his surgeons for follow-up) and disadvantages (travel for family) so no decision has been made.
The Altoona Trauma Center has a horrible cafeteria and only one other option: a Subway in the lobby. I'm about 65th in line!
Requests - more humor and jokes emailed; words of encouragement emailed to Jesse; your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
Jesse was able to push a bit with his right foot -- a positive sign of progress. At 10 a.m. the trauma doctors assessed that Jesse is nearly physical capable to be transfered out of ICU and to the rehab hospital.
10:20 was another visit from the surgeon who noted his right hand and leg are a little better, especially the leg, and we saw a flicker in the right toes.
11:20 was Dana with more PT, sitting up in bed and attempting to balance himself. Jesse did well with some support from his left hand, then repositioned back into bed and fed himself lunch.
Mom and I met with patient access and did some paperwork; we contacted the car insurance company (Dad's old company) who were both sad to receive the news but very helpful and encouraged by Jesse's progress.
Dr. Newman of Altoona's rehabilitative clinic met with us to discuss follow-up; rehab for Jesse will likely range from two (2) to eight (8) weeks. Staying in Altoona has advantages (proximity to his surgeons for follow-up) and disadvantages (travel for family) so no decision has been made.
The Altoona Trauma Center has a horrible cafeteria and only one other option: a Subway in the lobby. I'm about 65th in line!
Requests - more humor and jokes emailed; words of encouragement emailed to Jesse; your thoughts and prayers are appreciated.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Status & Recovery
This is Jere Northridge typing, hoping to extend updates on Jesse's status and recovery to all of those friends, family and community that love and care for Jesse through this difficult time. This blog will be an attempt to relay Jesse's status and accept well wishes for Jesse's recovery that we will share with him.
Thursday, March 18, 11:50pm - Jesse was involved in a single-car motor vehicle accident; he was the only one in the vehicle, and the vehicle sustained heavy damage, possibly flipping during the accident. First-responders secured Jesse and cut away the car to allow access, and Jesse was extricated and air-lifted to the Altoona Trauma Center's Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
Upon initial intake, Jesse was diagnosed with a broken first rib, broken sturnum, right lung pulmonary contusion, and a compression fracture of the c5-c7 vertebrae. Jesse was met at the hospital by David Witkovsky, Juniata's Chaplain; by Lauren Seganos and her roommate Sheena, and by his brother Jere. Jesse was placed in the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit following the intake MRI's, cat scans and xrays.
Friday, March 19, pre-surgery morning - Jesse was evaluated by Trauma P.A. Sheila Burke and further xrays were ordered for his knees, which were very painful and severly cut. Xrays were negative.... PA Burke put Jesse on breathing exercises to combat any potential complications of pneumonia from the Pulmonary Contusion. Jesse was also evaluated by Lori the Speech Patholigist for brain function evaluation following the head trauma and concussion; Jesse's brain was functioning "normally" though he is to be wary of difficulty with concentration and shorter attention spans until the concussion symptoms subside.
Dr. Osgood, the trauma surgeon, evaluated Jesse pre-surgery and advised that Jesse would be placed in a halo brace following surgery to his c5 and c6 vertebrae. The c7 damage was noted to be capable of healing on its own without surgical interference. The surgery also would involve incisions in the front of Jesse's neck, between his collarbones, and that his esophagus and trachea would need to be "moved" to provide access. This effort, combined with the intubation tube, will make Jesse's recovery to the choir and singing an extended effort.
Jesse went in to surgery around 1pm.
Friday, March 19, post-surgery - during surgery the doctors discovered severe bruising along the spinal column. This discovery complicated surgery, and Jesse lost the use of his right arm and leg. The doctors kept the intubation tube in his throat post-surgery and kept Jesse partially sedated to perform a post-op battery of Cat scans, xrays and MRIs. These tests showed the bone graft and titanium plates properly placed and attributed the paralysis to the bruising of the spinal column. Jesse did retain full sensation in his extremities and was placed on high dosages of steroids to combat the bruising/inflamation. Full sensation is an excellent sign for his long-term recovery.
Friday, March 19, 6:30pm - Trauma PA Ginny noted that Jesse was still intubated as the doctors feared a second surgery may be necessary. Jesse was heavily sedated and doctors wanted to remove the tube in order to further evaluate his loss of motor skills. They had to bring Jesse out from sedation enough that he would begin breathing on his own, without the ventilator, a process very frustrating and painful to Jesse. Several evaluations of Jesse's breathing capacity occurred in the following hours, a process difficult to watch as Jesse's pain levels increased with the loss of sedation but had not yet reached a point where his tube could be removed.
During this time, Father Brad (hospital chaplain) assisted our mom with getting a room at the hospitality house, a room at the hospital campus where she could stay while here in Altoona.
At 11:45pm the doctors finally cleared Jesse for his breathing tube removal, but a hang-up with the anesthesiologist on call required Jesse to wait two very painful hours for the offical ok from the anesthesiologist. Jesse's breathing tube was then removed around 1:00 a.m. and he was switched to a mask.
Saturday, March 19, 1:40 a.m. - Jesse was again evaluated by Trauma PA Burke. Burke advised that Jesse would be in Surgical ICU for a few days, likely through Tuesday, before discharge to a rehabilitative facility. Jesse remained very uncomfortable at this time as he could not self-administer pain medications and needed to rely on nursing staff support. Jesse was also advised that his throat was in an unfamiliar position and he should not eat or drink until evaluated by a doctor specializing in swallowing.
Saturday, March 19, start of daylight shift- Jesse was shifted off of a breathing mask and to a nasal canula, and later off of a nasal canula to his own breathing. Further xrays of his chest, knees and right hip to diagnose continued pain were negative. The nurse at the start of the morning shift noted Jesse had improved upper right arm motor skills, which was an excellent sign. Jesse was coherent and talking and beginning to realize his own post-op situation: the halo brace was screwed through his skin and into the skull itself, and causing a great deal of pain. The halo brace itself is made from lightweight carbon fiber materials and is actually not metallic, so it can be worn into an MRI.
Jesse received a swallowing evaluation from Amanda consisting of sipping water, eating applesauce and swallowing a cracker; having successfully passed these tests, Jesse was cleared to eat or drink anything he pleased. Amanda also continued with the cognitive assessment tests and determined that Jesse had the same cognitive abilities pre- and post-op.
Amanda stressed that adequate sleep and proper nutrition will be MANDATORY for Jesse's transition and that his ability to concentrate and a limited attention span may be byproducts of the concussion suffered in the accident.
Saturday, March 19th, 9 a.m. - Two thoughts: first, Jesse was able to flex and move his right quadricep muscles, and yes, this was a very good sign.
Second, there is no pain imaginable that can compare to having the screws in your skull tightened. Jesse's ability to tolerate his current pain levels are amazing.
Saturday, March 19th, mid-day through evening - Jesse continued to receive evluations throughout the day. He breathes 10 breaths into a small plastic machine each hour to reduce the possibility of pneumonia and to assist the recovery from his pulmonary contusion. Jesse also is required to sit up for short periods, a process that shifts the weight of his head onto the bone graft and titanium plates drilled into his surgically repaired vertebrae. Yes, this is also very painful for him. For pain Jesse has been switched to percocetts.
Saturday, March 19th, evening - Jesse was evaluated by Trauma PA Scott, and the primary concerns now include blood clot prevention.... Jesse's pain appeared a bit more tolerable, and we reviewed some emails and facebooks to occupy our time. Your warm wishes and prayers are greatfully appreciated.
Sunday, March 20th, early morning hours - PA Scott is mandating Jesse eat more; Jesse doesn't like dry, crappy hospital food. Nurses noticed better right elbow strength and range of motion, Jesse was able to slightly flex his calf, and Jesse was able to - once- wiggle his toes. Wiggling his toes was an awesome sign, but Jesse has struggled to replicate the feat since.
Sunday, March 20th, daylight hours - falling into a rhythm here with eating, trying to sit up, trying to manage the difficult pain while sitting up.... Jesse was sitting up in an Ortho chair today and noted how the chair had remarkably less pain than sitting up in bed. As the doctors continue to urge him to sit up, we will continue to urge him to use the Ortho chair to limit the pain vs. sitting up in bed.
Jesse continues to be concerned with his options related to school; what is his class status, what does he need to do school-wise over the next week or two; Chaplain Witkovsky, who is also Jesse's class advisor, will spear-head addressing these questions with the professors.
Jesse also needs to be moved this week to a rehabilitative hospital. At this time, we do not know (a) when he will be moved, (b) where he will be moved to, or (c) how long his recovery will be in the next place.
Visiting hours - Jesse is currently in ICU, so there is a 2-person per room visit limit. Visiting hours basically now coincide with Jesse's ability to tolerate the pain and be cognizant, but nursing staff will not allow visitors between 7-8:30 a.m., 3-4:30 p.m., and 7-8:30 p.m. Jesse is in room 837 now, but may soon be switched to the Orthopedic floor (11th floor), and visitation there will be different. Please call ahead to the hospital if you are traveling long distances.
Prayer requests - for Jesse and for his pain and recovery; for the doctors evaluating and treating him here; for a smooth transition to rehab and his continued recovery.... for my mom, torn between two children at home and one here, and for her transition as it requires Family Medical Leave with the school.... for Joey and Jonathan as they adjust - again - to a changing family dynamic.... for me (Jere) as I attempt to balance work with being here with Jesse.... And for the entire community of support that we have! Thank you, all, for your continued prayers.
What we need - Positive visitors.... Humor.... Anything funny to break up the monotony of poking, prodding, stretching and pain. The more gooberish your joke, the better!
I will attempt to further update the blog and encourage Jesse to post his progress over the coming days, weeks and months. Each small step is a good step, and slow-and-steady wins the race.
Thursday, March 18, 11:50pm - Jesse was involved in a single-car motor vehicle accident; he was the only one in the vehicle, and the vehicle sustained heavy damage, possibly flipping during the accident. First-responders secured Jesse and cut away the car to allow access, and Jesse was extricated and air-lifted to the Altoona Trauma Center's Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
Upon initial intake, Jesse was diagnosed with a broken first rib, broken sturnum, right lung pulmonary contusion, and a compression fracture of the c5-c7 vertebrae. Jesse was met at the hospital by David Witkovsky, Juniata's Chaplain; by Lauren Seganos and her roommate Sheena, and by his brother Jere. Jesse was placed in the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit following the intake MRI's, cat scans and xrays.
Friday, March 19, pre-surgery morning - Jesse was evaluated by Trauma P.A. Sheila Burke and further xrays were ordered for his knees, which were very painful and severly cut. Xrays were negative.... PA Burke put Jesse on breathing exercises to combat any potential complications of pneumonia from the Pulmonary Contusion. Jesse was also evaluated by Lori the Speech Patholigist for brain function evaluation following the head trauma and concussion; Jesse's brain was functioning "normally" though he is to be wary of difficulty with concentration and shorter attention spans until the concussion symptoms subside.
Dr. Osgood, the trauma surgeon, evaluated Jesse pre-surgery and advised that Jesse would be placed in a halo brace following surgery to his c5 and c6 vertebrae. The c7 damage was noted to be capable of healing on its own without surgical interference. The surgery also would involve incisions in the front of Jesse's neck, between his collarbones, and that his esophagus and trachea would need to be "moved" to provide access. This effort, combined with the intubation tube, will make Jesse's recovery to the choir and singing an extended effort.
Jesse went in to surgery around 1pm.
Friday, March 19, post-surgery - during surgery the doctors discovered severe bruising along the spinal column. This discovery complicated surgery, and Jesse lost the use of his right arm and leg. The doctors kept the intubation tube in his throat post-surgery and kept Jesse partially sedated to perform a post-op battery of Cat scans, xrays and MRIs. These tests showed the bone graft and titanium plates properly placed and attributed the paralysis to the bruising of the spinal column. Jesse did retain full sensation in his extremities and was placed on high dosages of steroids to combat the bruising/inflamation. Full sensation is an excellent sign for his long-term recovery.
Friday, March 19, 6:30pm - Trauma PA Ginny noted that Jesse was still intubated as the doctors feared a second surgery may be necessary. Jesse was heavily sedated and doctors wanted to remove the tube in order to further evaluate his loss of motor skills. They had to bring Jesse out from sedation enough that he would begin breathing on his own, without the ventilator, a process very frustrating and painful to Jesse. Several evaluations of Jesse's breathing capacity occurred in the following hours, a process difficult to watch as Jesse's pain levels increased with the loss of sedation but had not yet reached a point where his tube could be removed.
During this time, Father Brad (hospital chaplain) assisted our mom with getting a room at the hospitality house, a room at the hospital campus where she could stay while here in Altoona.
At 11:45pm the doctors finally cleared Jesse for his breathing tube removal, but a hang-up with the anesthesiologist on call required Jesse to wait two very painful hours for the offical ok from the anesthesiologist. Jesse's breathing tube was then removed around 1:00 a.m. and he was switched to a mask.
Saturday, March 19, 1:40 a.m. - Jesse was again evaluated by Trauma PA Burke. Burke advised that Jesse would be in Surgical ICU for a few days, likely through Tuesday, before discharge to a rehabilitative facility. Jesse remained very uncomfortable at this time as he could not self-administer pain medications and needed to rely on nursing staff support. Jesse was also advised that his throat was in an unfamiliar position and he should not eat or drink until evaluated by a doctor specializing in swallowing.
Saturday, March 19, start of daylight shift- Jesse was shifted off of a breathing mask and to a nasal canula, and later off of a nasal canula to his own breathing. Further xrays of his chest, knees and right hip to diagnose continued pain were negative. The nurse at the start of the morning shift noted Jesse had improved upper right arm motor skills, which was an excellent sign. Jesse was coherent and talking and beginning to realize his own post-op situation: the halo brace was screwed through his skin and into the skull itself, and causing a great deal of pain. The halo brace itself is made from lightweight carbon fiber materials and is actually not metallic, so it can be worn into an MRI.
Jesse received a swallowing evaluation from Amanda consisting of sipping water, eating applesauce and swallowing a cracker; having successfully passed these tests, Jesse was cleared to eat or drink anything he pleased. Amanda also continued with the cognitive assessment tests and determined that Jesse had the same cognitive abilities pre- and post-op.
Amanda stressed that adequate sleep and proper nutrition will be MANDATORY for Jesse's transition and that his ability to concentrate and a limited attention span may be byproducts of the concussion suffered in the accident.
Saturday, March 19th, 9 a.m. - Two thoughts: first, Jesse was able to flex and move his right quadricep muscles, and yes, this was a very good sign.
Second, there is no pain imaginable that can compare to having the screws in your skull tightened. Jesse's ability to tolerate his current pain levels are amazing.
Saturday, March 19th, mid-day through evening - Jesse continued to receive evluations throughout the day. He breathes 10 breaths into a small plastic machine each hour to reduce the possibility of pneumonia and to assist the recovery from his pulmonary contusion. Jesse also is required to sit up for short periods, a process that shifts the weight of his head onto the bone graft and titanium plates drilled into his surgically repaired vertebrae. Yes, this is also very painful for him. For pain Jesse has been switched to percocetts.
Saturday, March 19th, evening - Jesse was evaluated by Trauma PA Scott, and the primary concerns now include blood clot prevention.... Jesse's pain appeared a bit more tolerable, and we reviewed some emails and facebooks to occupy our time. Your warm wishes and prayers are greatfully appreciated.
Sunday, March 20th, early morning hours - PA Scott is mandating Jesse eat more; Jesse doesn't like dry, crappy hospital food. Nurses noticed better right elbow strength and range of motion, Jesse was able to slightly flex his calf, and Jesse was able to - once- wiggle his toes. Wiggling his toes was an awesome sign, but Jesse has struggled to replicate the feat since.
Sunday, March 20th, daylight hours - falling into a rhythm here with eating, trying to sit up, trying to manage the difficult pain while sitting up.... Jesse was sitting up in an Ortho chair today and noted how the chair had remarkably less pain than sitting up in bed. As the doctors continue to urge him to sit up, we will continue to urge him to use the Ortho chair to limit the pain vs. sitting up in bed.
Jesse continues to be concerned with his options related to school; what is his class status, what does he need to do school-wise over the next week or two; Chaplain Witkovsky, who is also Jesse's class advisor, will spear-head addressing these questions with the professors.
Jesse also needs to be moved this week to a rehabilitative hospital. At this time, we do not know (a) when he will be moved, (b) where he will be moved to, or (c) how long his recovery will be in the next place.
Visiting hours - Jesse is currently in ICU, so there is a 2-person per room visit limit. Visiting hours basically now coincide with Jesse's ability to tolerate the pain and be cognizant, but nursing staff will not allow visitors between 7-8:30 a.m., 3-4:30 p.m., and 7-8:30 p.m. Jesse is in room 837 now, but may soon be switched to the Orthopedic floor (11th floor), and visitation there will be different. Please call ahead to the hospital if you are traveling long distances.
Prayer requests - for Jesse and for his pain and recovery; for the doctors evaluating and treating him here; for a smooth transition to rehab and his continued recovery.... for my mom, torn between two children at home and one here, and for her transition as it requires Family Medical Leave with the school.... for Joey and Jonathan as they adjust - again - to a changing family dynamic.... for me (Jere) as I attempt to balance work with being here with Jesse.... And for the entire community of support that we have! Thank you, all, for your continued prayers.
What we need - Positive visitors.... Humor.... Anything funny to break up the monotony of poking, prodding, stretching and pain. The more gooberish your joke, the better!
I will attempt to further update the blog and encourage Jesse to post his progress over the coming days, weeks and months. Each small step is a good step, and slow-and-steady wins the race.
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