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4/4/03 - 8: 05 am - Krystal called me about 8:30 am on her cell phone and
told me that she and Debbie (mom) were in a car accident and mom was not
conscious. They were flying Debbie via Air Vac helicopter to the Intensive
Trauma unit at Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in Charlotte, NC. Krystal
was in unbelievable shock. I called Amber (Krystal’s sister) at home and
asked her to go pick up Krystal and both of them meet me at CMC.
I got to CMC first and about 10 minutes later I saw the helicopter land on the
roof with Debbie. The staff would not let us see Debbie for a few hours.
They were doing everything possible to save Debbie’s life. The staff took me
to a private waiting room and when I opened the door Krystal and Amber
were inside with family friends Gerald and Helen Callahan, Gene and Betty
Ward. I couldn’t believe all of the closest people in my life were in the waiting
room before I was. We were all in shock and didn’t know what was going to
happen next. While I waited on the doctor to brief me, Amber, Gerald and
Helen took Krystal down to the emergency room to be examined. Krystal was
in the front passenger seat at the time of the accident. The only physical
problems Krystal had were; bruising on her chest, arm, and shoulder were
the seatbelt was and where she hit the door. Psychologically though; the
sound, smell and taste will be with her for the rest of her life.
A few hours later, Krystal, Amber and I got to go see Debbie. It was a trauma
unit like you would see on the TV show MASH. Family members gather in a
14 x 40 hallway every 4 hours and when the double doors open everyone
rushes in, washes their hands, then has 15 minutes to visit their loved one. If
someone new comes in or someone dies we won’t get our 15 minute visit and
we’ll have to wait another 4 hours. It doesn’t get anymore real than this.
Waiting in the hallway I could feel 100 lbs of pressure on my shoulders
pushing down to the floor. It is all I can do to stay standing. A lot of the time I
would have to kneel down in the floor, waiting to see if we would get to go in
each visit.
The first time we got to go and visit Debbie we were told she had multiple
fractures to her pelvis bone, a lacerated kidney, crushed and broken ribs on
the left side, a collapsed left lung, and a 5’’ cut about an inch behind her left
eye that went over her ear and toward the back of her head. The doctors
said all this didn’t matter because Debbie had a closed head injury and we
can only wait to see how much pressure will build up inside her skull.
The first thing saw was a pressure bolt the doctors had installed through
Debbie’s skull along the hairline with a wire going to a monitor box at the
head of the bed. Debbie had a drain tube in her left lung. She had all kinds
of wires and monitors on her body. She had IV lines in her arm and a main IV
line in her chest. There was an air breathing tube in her mouth connected to
a ventilator.
Debbie unconscious and was not moving. I was in so much shock I didn’t
realize what was really happening. Today is 5/3/04 and it has taken me over
a year before I could even write about this.
Every 4 hours all day until 11 pm, we could see Debbie. Every time we saw
her she was swelling more and more, where it was hard to recognize her.
Later I found out the doctors control and do this to help the patient’s body
with shock and to ease the trauma the body is going through. For all of the
next two days the doctor said take each hour by hour, only god knows if
Debbie will live through this hour.
Debbie had her own private nurses that monitored and charted every 10
minutes of her life for the next two weeks. I learned fast when we came into
the trauma unit to take a reading on all the monitors. The ICP monitor was
the most important and when the pressure rose above 20 the nurse had to
inject Monatall into the IV to try to minimize the damage to the brain cells.
The pressure would be 12-16 then jump 18-30 and then back down. We
would panic when the pressure would get to high. But the nurses were the
most professional I have ever seen. From what I understand Monatall is a
drug that shrinks the brain like a prune in the sunshine. Because of this
every time the ICP goes over 20 Monatall can not be given Morphine is the
drug of choice and could be given in a consistent drip through the IV.
A year has past and all of this seems so long ago. While I would wait for the
4 hours between visits to pass I would go to the doctor’s research library to
find more information about close head injury. Then during our 15 min visit I
would ask one more question so I would know what to research on the next
trip to the library. This only way I know how to deal with this is knowing and
understanding what was happening. This is the most helpless feeling
knowing there is nothing I can do and not understanding what is happening.
Between the internet and the library, after three days I learned too much.
The main thing to know is that no two Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are the
same. So with all the knowledge available, no one can say how it applies to
Debbie. The books say all of the percentages are against Debbie. If she
lives through one thing and then an organ fails, blood clots happen, or she
has respiratory problem that can take her away at any time. This is in gods
hands, so I quit reading until Debbie comes out of the coma. I just tried to
enjoy the time we have together, where Debbie goes from here is better than
where she is now. I can say good bye instead of just going to a funeral and
never loving this time together.
I remember the Callahan’s going to almost every visit with the girls and me.
When the visit was over we could all reflect and evaluate the visit. Some
visits were very positive and some weren’t. Gerald and Helen; I don’t know
how we could have made it without your support during this time. On about
day 10 Debbie’s ICP seemed to be stabilizing. Still in a drug induced coma
every breath was from the ventilation machine. The nurses work 12 hour
shifts so for the next 24 days when I didn’t spend the night I call and talk to
Debbie’s nurse at 5 am to find out if Debbie lived through the night and how
high ICP, blood pressure ,ventilator, and temperature was through the night.
Debbie; hang in there every step of the way you’ve always been a fighter!
4/9/03- I was asked to sign a release form for the doctor to install a main
line in the return valve of the heart. A Vena Tech Cava Filter is to help
prevent blood clots from going to the heart if they develop. As of yet, no
clots have formed.
Debbie is still in a drug induced coma. The ICP has seemed to peak, but on
the high side. She is still only breathing on ventilator. Her body is so swollen
she looks like she is wearing a rain coat and rubber gloves and someone
filled them with air. She has feeding and drain tubes in her nose and air tube
in her mouth. When I’m alone the staff gives me more time with Debbie. Still
all I can do for now is just rub her hands and talk to her.
4/14/03- This is a long week. Debbie is still in Trauma units in critical
condition and end up being move to intensive care on Friday. The
doctors still have Debbie in a drug induced coma, but they’ve removed ICP
bolt monitor from her head. Debbie’s vital signs have stabilized. The staff
implies they want to get her ready for the nursing home and wait t see if she’ll
ever wake up. There is nothing more the hospital can do. It didn’t take me
long to let everyone know how Debbie was coming home with me. This week
I had to sign more releases to have trac installed in Debbie’s throat so she
could be hooked to a ventilator easier. I know when this was done I may
never hear her voice again. This was like being hit with a ton of bricks bit it
had to be done. The staff said people live with trac every day and that was a
way of life. Also a feeding tube was going to be installed in her stomach.
This would be Debbie’s new way of nutrition, since she is in a coma. I could
tell the staff was getting Debbie ready for long term care, but I still didn’t
know if I’d get to bring Debbie home.
At the first of this week the drugs to induce coma were taken away and the
nurse said it would be up to Debbie if she wakes up again. By the end of the
week we knew Debbie was in a real coma. This week Debbie began to shake
from time to time like her brain was trying to turn on then it would short out.
She still hasn’t opened her eyes.
4/18/03- The nurse said she saw Debbie open her eyes for a little while.
This was the first time since 4/4/03. At 5 am I called and Debbie’s nurse said
she made it through another night. She had a slight fever and some
shakes. When I got to trauma unit at 7 am and Debbie was gone. I
couldn’t believe the staff could move her and not even tell me. I had to find
out on my own. The staff told me where I could find Debbie. They’d moved
her to a new location. It was a large dark room 50x70 the hospital used as
an overflow intensive care unit. Debbie was in this very dark large room
in the far back corner still in a coma. There was a different nurse there that
had never seen Debbie before, watching her vital signs and monitors. She
said I could stay with Debbie till they got Debbie’s other room ready. Debbie
only had to stay in this setting for a couple hours. This made me realize how
I have no control of anything around me . The doctor and staff were
great, just overworked and I had no experience at this but I am learning fast.
About 1 pm Debbie was settled into her new room #5203. This was a step
down from the intensive care unit with 5 beds and 3 nurses monitoring and
charting every 10 minutes. At least the feeling of death was not as strong in
this unit. This is a place between trauma and a regular hospital room. All of
these patients were stable and getting better. The girls could stay for hours
and take turns reading to Debbie.
The staff knew by now I was going to take Debbie home and I could stay with
her more. I only had to leave the room when there was a problem with
another patient. This happened often. This is still intensive care. This is
hands on learning. The hospital Physical Therapists came and instructed
me on Range of Motion (ROM) everyday, 2 times a day. Debbie had to be
stretched on every joint; arms, legs, neck, fingers, feet, toes, ECT. While
Debbie is asleep it is my job not to let her have shortening or contractures of
muscles and tendons. So I will have to keep Debbie moving until she can
move on her own.
The Physical Therapists told me how important Debbie’s ankles and face
were not to get contractures. I asked for ever before I finally got boots for
Debbie to wear. I got the feeling a lot of things aren’t important if the
electricity in your brain is off. That didn’t stop me, ROM was the only thing I
could do to help Debbie. The staff says if Debbie can mentally walk again
then they can do tendon releases for contractures. I hope we don’t have to
go that far. This is the week I learned about tracts. Before when she had
the air tube in her mouth no suction was needed. But with s trac Debbie
needed her airway suctioned (cleaned out) often to keep from choking. One
nurse said a quart of saliva a day every 20-30 minutes. Debbie is
wearing an oxygen collar around her neck that provides oxygen to her trunk
but when the saliva gets to thick she chokes because air can not get to her
lungs. To suction you take a ¼’’ diameter plastic tube about 2’ long, remove
collar and insert this straw like tube in trac in neck, down airway of throat into
Y of lungs. Debbie coughs, chokes and gags all the while. When you reach
the bottom you turn on the suction and pull debris up and out of lungs
and trac. If you get all of the debris then Debbie is peaceful again, if not
then you have to go back in again. Maybe its better she sleeps during this
time of healing. Debbie’s breathing has been the most important minute by
minute issue to watch. The next thing the nurses teach us is about bed and
pressure sores. Debbie is lying on a special air mattress but still needs
to be turned every two hours from one side to back to the other side to
prevent bed sores. I couldn’t move Debbie in trauma unit but in this unit I
can work and touch Debbie everywhere. That is how I found a 3’’ bald circle
on the back of Debbie’s hair from laying 15 days in one spot, while in
trauma. Debbie’s skin looks great, no pressure sores at this time. Also we
are learning how to feed Debbie through the g-tube in her stomach.
4/21/03 - Debbie’s vital signs are still stable. Her temperature is below
100 and she is till in a coma. The doctors said since I am taking Debbie
home, maybe Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation could come and evaluate
her this week. One day this week a trauma nurse named Tina came to
Debbie’s room and told me that when she was moving Debbie on the
wheeled stretcher from trauma to the big empty dark room, she opened her
eyes for a little while. This was the first time since the accident.
4/22/03 – two doctors from Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation came to
Debbie’s room and did an evaluation. They said that Debbie would be a
good candidate for rehab and that they could teach us how to take care of
Debbie at home. The rehab doctor noticed swelling in Debbie’s right arm
shoulder and ordered an ultra sound. It turned out to be a blood clot and the
doctor started treating it that day through medications in an IV. The clot
never gave Debbie a problem and finally the swelling went down. I felt better
when we put the green filter in the artery to the heart to catch a clot if there
had been movement.
4/23/03 - Te doctors removed the nose feeding tube. Now they are using
the g-tube in her stomach. She breathed 24 hours through the trac without a
ventilator.
4/25/03 - Debbie got her boots.
4/26/03 - Debbie was stable enough and ready to be moved to a private
room on the 11th floor. Amber and I took turns staying with Debbie 24 hours
a day. When I got back from sleeping this evening, Amber was pale as a
ghost. Keeping Debbie’s air way open so she could breathe is a full time
job. This was Ambers first day to be responsible for suction by herself.
There was a nurse per several patients, but most patients have no family to
help and when Debbie starts choking she has to wait her turn. So Amber
learned that day how to perform suction so Debbie could breath. To this day
Krystal and Amber can not stand to hear a suction device. With time and
praying, this will only be a dream, not a continuing nightmare.
4/27/03 - 1st night in private room and I stayed with Debbie all night
long. Debbie’s still asleep in coma. She shakes and needs suction often.
She is still on respirator and has cafitures.
4/28/03 – staff came in this morning and said Debbie was being moved to
Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation today. She only got one full day in her
private hospital room. Debbie is still asleep. I went with Debbie and staff to
Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation. We went through a tunnel under ground
that connects Charlotte Institute of Rehabilitation to the hospital. Debbie is
laying on a wheeled stretcher a sleep (coma). As I walked through this
tunnel I could finally feel the weight or load come off my shoulders, that I’d
felt since day one. I didn’t feel or sense any death in the air. All I could
sense is hope and life. It was a feeling I can not
explain.
90 Days
4-24-03 -Thursday
Debbie’s rehab doctor did an evaluation while we were in the hospital and
noticed her right arm was swollen. He ordered an ultra sound and it came
back positive that Debbie had a blood clot in her arm. Her temperature was
101.2. We put socks on her feet. Rehab said she’s a good candidate they
just need an ok from admission. Her food peg is ok. She started to feed at
three pm. I saw Debbie choke two different times. Her boots were ordered.
4-28-03 - Monday
Debbie got settled into her room at CIR. It was a two bed room, but no one
was in the other bed. This room is next door to the nurse’s station and is
equipped with oxygen and suction devices. CIR is a bright healing
atmosphere. Debbie is so blessed to be here. A male nurse spent about two
hours interviewing Debbie. She was still asleep in coma so I always stay with
her to be able to answer any questions. This man said that tracheotomy
tube was going to have to be weaned off and eventually removed. The
catheter will be removed also. To work in gym or rehab there are no
tracheotomy tubes or catheters. Just last week at the hospital we were told
we would have the catheter and tracheotomy for the rest of Debbie’s life.
With a tracheotomy tube, that means constant suctions. CIR staff brought a
tilting wheel chair to Debbie’s room that day. The staff told me to go home
and get some sleep. Debbie would be ok for the night and I needed to go
home and catch up on some rest. Tomorrow will be a big day.
4-29-03- Tuesday
We will never forget the first day of rehab. When I came to Debbie’s room
#209 about 7am I could not believe my eyes. Debbie was sitting in a wheel
chair with her street clothes and her walking shoes on. She was still asleep
and her head was supported by a special head rest on the wheel chair. To
think back, I didn’t see the chair, just Debbie up and out of bed for the first
time in twenty-five days. Rehabs idea for TBI recovery is sensory input
through weight bearing to stimulate brain activity. That day we took Debbie
down to the gym and met her Physical therapist (PT). Her main job was to
teach us how to do transfers from the wheelchair to a mat or bed.
We saw the Dr. and ordered an air bed. She was off dialation for two days.
We saw three different therapists. We got a new number four tracheotomy
tube with no balloon. They removed the catheter and got a dripper. Debbie’s
breathing is getting better. There’s only a little mucus.
2:30 pm –Occupational therapist (OT) said that Debbie pushed back when
exercising. The first therapist said that a bell got her attention. Debbie has
really been asleep all day since I got here at 7 am. I learned that Debbie
doesn’t need more than fifteen minutes of stimulation at a time.
4:00 pm – Debbie’s laying right side down and she lifted her left hip and
pulled it toward her chest. They put on an air humidifier, no more oxygen.
5:45 pm – Debbie’s feet and arm started shaking five to ten seconds and
then stopped for two to three minutes then began shaking again, (was laying
left side up) this lasted until 5:50 pm. I told the nurse to make a note on the
chart. She started breathing through her mouth and it looked like she was
trying to talk. Then she started shaking.
5:50 pm - The nurse checked her diaper and it was wet. This is the first time
to use the diaper. The nurse also checked the catheter and her bladder had
120cc of urine.
6:00 - Debbie went back to sleep with her eyes closed.
6:15 – She is sleeping. We hear her snoring through her nose for the first
time. For now there are no more shakes in her arms and legs.
6:25 - Her left eye is opened with her right one closed. She’s looking around
and at some time moving both arms and hand out away from hips.
9-11 pm - Debbie’s awake she has a lot of secretions and a lot of tone.
4-30-03 Wednesday
8:00 am - Debbie was in her clothes for the first time, shoes too. The (PT)
showed Jerrall how to stretch Debbie’s leg up and hold to work her ankles.
Debbie opened eyes and looked at PT for five minutes. During exercises
she didn’t track with her eyes or follow any commands.
8:45 - Debbie was measured for a wheel chair. She is resting with her eyes
closed, sitting at forty-five degree angle in bed.
9-9:30 – The speech Therapist came and put ice on Debbie’s face and
lemon in her mouth. Debbie didn’t open her eyes or respond (she looks
asleep).
10-11 - We put Debbie in wheel chair for the first time. She looks great!!
11-12 –The OT came and did exercises. She is still asleep.
12-1 – She’s resting with her eyes closed.
1-1:30 - The ball and cone therapist with cold wash cloth. Debbie opened
one eye for ten min. She held a ball then let go. Who knows if it’s a reflex or
a controlled movement? Debbie’s congestion seemed almost all gone for
about thirty to forty-five minutes
2:30- Debbie woke up. Her eye is open but not tracking. She seemed to be
moving her pupil a little side to side. Pupil definitely had a controlled
movement.
3:30 - She went back to sleep. 96.3 under arm temp, 106/70 blood
pressure, 103 pulse.
3:30-4:15 – I went to the gym and learned how to do my first wheel chair
transfer. Debbie’s eye opened only when she was moved in and out of the
chair. We came back to room and for the first time she was bolus feed.
4:45 – Debbie is in bed and taking a nap
5:20 – We saw her first yawn. She got a cap for the tracheotomy tube.
5-1-03 Thursday
7:30 am – I finish giving Debbie her food and meds.
8:00 - We looked at evaluation and they said they will decide on Tuesday
how long they will keep her.
8:30- The PT came. Debbie is asleep so she only did leg stretch exercises.
8:30-9- OT Cathy. Debbie’s asleep. Combed her hair and wet wash cloth
(good person).
9:30-10 - Janet put ice on right and turned away just once. Deb still asleep
and would not wake up. Speech, Cathy, put lemon stick in mouth got her to
swallow and Debbie opened mouth and teeth and let Cathy have access to
her tongue. Best session yet!
10-10:30 - Andrea, PT gym show Jerrall how to load and unload chair. Had
Debbie sit on table and try to hold herself up and catch herself with her
hand. When she moved she would open up her eyes. She seemed to open
eye wide on command for Jerrall She moved eye side to side, but not to track.
10:30-11:30- rest
11:30 - food/eye/mouth gave two different amphetamines.
12:30 - Five minutes after we noticed that she was raising her left knee and
ankle several times within twenty minutes.
1:00- Went to the gym to meet Cathy. Debbie is still too asleep. She opened
her eyes two to three times.
2:45-3:20- Jerrall exercised all her joints. Right ankle is the only stiff joint.
4:30- Paul, gym. Did board transfer and trunk exercises. Debbie woke up, we
tried to let her keep her head and neck up. She did good some.
6:30-7 – went outside for the 1st time with grandma, Krystal, Gerald and
Jerrall.
5-2-03 Friday
8 am - Debbie yawning wide and often, eyes closed. Pulse135 (seems a little
high) oxygen 97%
8:45 - change #1 and Jerrall got dressed.
9:00 Janet came for speech and Debbie was awake. Debbie didn’t do
anything on command but Janet said she looked more alert and was at least
making an effort. Jerrall opened Debbie’s left eye and she opened her right
eye really, really wide and Janet said that was a great response.
10-10:30- Andrea and Cathy worked together on Ball. They said good
session. Debbie was awake and she was learning to support her head and
neck. She could for about 1 minute then she’d rest. No tracking but good
eye contact and movement. She didn’t open her left eye. JW noticed a lot of
cloning or shaking in the right foot.
10:30- went and got a cat scan.
11:30- went to bed and rested.
12:00- ate lunch and rested.
1:30- I went to the gym with Amber (her first time). Cathy and Andrea set
mom on the edge of the mat and practiced holding head and neck up.
Debbie did ok but she was still tired from this morning. Her eyes were open.
Cathy said it was a good session. Debbie was looking around at Jerrall and
Amber. She didn’t track. Didn’t some exercises by a lot of tone.
3:00- went outside mom, Amber, Jerrall had fried fish and salad. Amber’s first
outside trip with mom.
3:30- Andrea came to room and taught Amber how to do board transfers to
wheel chair until 4
4:20- Jerrall and Amber change mom #1 then mom rested.
5:00- Mom ate. It’s been a good day mom sure is tired but trying at every
time still no command response, but that’s ok.
5-4-03 Sunday
9 am- Debbie looks great she is a sleep and resting. I put a CD on for her.
There’s very little tone except in right ankle. Her pulse 97-102. Her arms look
good, not puffy.
9:30-10:20- Jerrall exercises mom, everything is good. No tone. We got her
dressed and put in her chair and go for a ride. Her right ankle and neck are
tight.
10:40- 99% and 117 pulse.
11:20- We came back to the room. Debbie never woke up. She’s resting fine
with no or little tone. Her left hand very little and her left foot is flat on the
chair and good. Right foot ¼- ½
off chair and heel shakes every ten min and just needs to be reset. No
pointing with toes. Walked to water fountain and front door, bad idea. It was
too cool and too noisy. Debbie is asleep and didn’t see it. Don’t need to go
back until she can do something on command consistently. We went to the
patio rehab cafeteria for ten to fifteen min. Didn’t wake up and too cool put
pillows on top of hands like a blanket. Thurs and Friday awake a lot and didn’
t know Saturday with Am. Saturday night with Jerrall slept a lot. Sunday 9-11:
30 am slept except when put in chair. Opened right eye for one minute.
11:30 – Still shaking right foot adjusts. She is in reclined position.
12:00 -Feed mom put towel under right foot three inch point but no more
shaking. She is still asleep.
12:30- Debbie woke up first time today.
1:00- When Debbie is awake her tone is a lot worse. Left hand pulled to
chest and hand cramped and she points both feet, but she does not shake.
5-6-03 Tuesday
Debbie’s trake is gone and today is Gerald’s birthday.
Right leg as tolerated TDWB RLE
Left leg on WBAT LLE
Debbie wore Gerald and Helens new caprees and t-shirt.
Jerrall stayed last night and dressed Debbie. Amber took her to the gym 9-9:
30 then Jerrall and Amber were with up 9:30-11:30. Amber finished day. She
said it was a great day. Debbie have trake removed and EKG that looked ok.
Found out today that right leg as tolerated, left leg ok.
Slept through speech class, did exercise first period, and practiced head and
neck rest of time.
Bed Monday night- 8 am
Chair -12:00
Bed - 12-1
Chair - 1-3:30 or 4
Bed - 4- 4:30 Jerrall got back and Debbie lying down and really alert. Eye
open good. Some pain on face maybe from tracheotomy removal and first
time mouth closed all the time at 6:00
5-7-03 Wednesday
10:45 Debbie started to go to sleep. Krystal and dad spent the night. Krystal
slept very little. Jerrall slept on floor on mattress great.
12:30 - Feed mom and go to bed by 1:00
6:45am- get up and start to wake up Debbie
8:30am- get in chair
8:40am – First morning ready early all because of Krystal. Krystal even
brushed her hair and wiped with a damp sponge. Debbie looks great!!!
Maybe she needs sleeping pills at 8pm, One hour early she is still asleep at
8:45am very little tone in arms, hands loose, and leg is good. This is the best
morning and nights sleep I can remember. She is relaxed and alert.
Note: Today a dog sat on a table by Debbie and wanted to be petted. With
her right hand Debbie moved two fingers and her thumb in effort to pet the
dog. First time Debbie seem that or any response then Krystal tried the
words open and close and she seems to understand. For the 1st time Krystal
told and showed Debbie how to do thumbs up. She can open and close her
right hand when it is in the air. She can not move her fingers. When there
on the table or pillow Mom did great job!! Best yet!
The rest of the day was good. Debbie went outside about 1:30 pm for ten
minutes, it was warm and muggy. I think Debbie got hot. We took her back
inside and she started breathing heavy.
5-8-03 Thursday
7:00am - Debbie got up but her eyes were closed and she was still asleep
7:30 - Jerrall put her clothes on and put her in the chair.
8:00 - Debbie had her breakfast and medications. Doctor saw her and said
everything was ok, except sleeping pills needed so she can wake up early.
Today is a bad day due to getting used to no tracheotomy tube.
Debbie did not do anything at school. She seemed to be in shock from
tracheotomy being taped off and having to swallow to keep from choking.
Krystal and grams watched Debbie they went to look at pictures in hall and
outside on patio. Krystal had a good visit.
When I got back to Debbie at 8:30 pm. Gene, Don, Betty, Grams, Amber and
Krystal were all in room and the temp was about 70. There were too many
people and it was too warm in the room. Debbie was packed in ice 99.9
temperature. She was sweating having a storm. Right hand was moving
everywhere, and her left hand was loose and looked like a mild storm.
Everyone left the room I came back at 10 pm and Terry said she was asleep
and doing ok, so I slept at home w/ Krystal. 1 ½ Ambian.
5-9-03 Friday
6:50 am- I got to Debbie’s room and found her in the middle of a bad storm.
Her bed and pillow were soaked. Her left side was stiff and not moveable.
Her right leg was moving up and down and pulling back. Her right hand was
exploring and moving everywhere. I held her hand and I had to take off
wedding ring. She was pulling and squeezing so hard. Her right eye was
looking everywhere up down right and left.
8:45- storm getting better, nurse helped me get Debbie changed and
dressed. Cathy came to room 9 am I told her we would see her at 1 pm.
Debbie was not ready.
9:30 am- Andrea came to the room and saw Debbie for ½ hour. She said
this storm is normal and is part of the heeling process. Right side coming
awake and left side is not recognized maybe by brain can be released with
time.
1:00 - Gram, Krystal, Amber, and Jerrall took Debbie to gym. They laid her
on stomach for first time in five weeks.
7:00 pm- I noticed excessive movement in her right hand. Her left hand
starting to cramp up.
7:30 pm- Debbie looks like she is storming.
8:00- storm starting to sweat, no fever, breathing harder, using wash cloth
room 65 degrees
8:30- Debbie ate. Her hands are still cramping and moving.
9:00- It looks like her storm is over and Debbie went to sleep. Jerrall and
Gerald went to Dinner.
10:30 - Jerrall came back to room number 211. Debbie is asleep. She had a
bath and looks great. Room 65 degrees a little cool.
12:00 pm- feed Debbie and go to bed. Today was a day full of learning.
5-10-03 Sunday – Mothers Day
8 am- Debbie is still sleeping. Her blood pressure is 176/84 and her pulse is
117.
8:30- We finished breakfast and she is still sleeping. Debbie has not had any
more storms.
10:30- Debbie is still sleeping, she looks so comfortable. She coughs a little
when she doesn’t swallow well.
12:30- Debbie had her bath time. Her blood pressure is 114/69 and her
pulse is 101.
Debbie was put in her chair for lunch. She’s sleeping in her chair and
listening to Riki’s CD play.
2:00 – Debbie is still asleep.
3:00 – Bed and #1. Sleeping well, no coughing.
5:00 – Debbie opened eyes for the first time, Awake.
5:30 – Back to sleep.
9:00 – Bed and sleep medication, resting well.
10:30- still resting well, no tone anywhere. Cough good and no storms.
Debbie slept all day except for ½ hour. She should be really rested. Overall a
good day!
5-11-03 Saturday
5:45 – Debbie is storming. She is soaking wet.
6:00 – Started wet cool wash clothes. By 7:15 she was cool and calmed
down. Debbie always breathes heavy and sweats during her storms. 147/96
BP, pulse 112
7:30 – Dressed for gym. Changed diaper, #1.
8:00 – Gym, PT exercised neck, trunk, and legs. Debbie opened her eyes.
8:45 – JW feed Debbie. She is asleep in her chair.
10:15 – Change #1 and put into bed. Debbie is still sleeping. She is starting
to get hot on her arms, we put her in bed and uncovered her and she cooled
off. No storm.
11:00 - 114.4 lbs. When we to rehab she was 116 lbs. She’s lost 1.6lbs in 12
days. Still sleeping in bed.
7:45 – Today Debbie slept all day. She was up with a storm 5:30-7:30 am.
Then she rested her eyes till 8:10 am when she opened them for the PT
during gym. 9:40 she was back to sleep and her eyes were closed until 3:00
OT. Then awake at 3:45. When I came back Debbie was soaking wet with
another storm. I picked up her right leg 6-8’’ off bed. Then wet wash clothes
and removed her shirt to cool her down. Around 8:30 pm everything was ok
and she went back to sleep. Still moving right hand thumbs and picking up
bell. Her right leg is cool and her left leg warmer and quivering. Left arm is
ok and around 8:45 the quiver in her left leg is gone.
8:50 – eat Bolus shake right hand and right leg really moving and exploring.
5-12-03 Monday
Debbie slept well all night
4:45 – Debbie started to storm. She sweats for about 45 minutes. We cooled
her with wet wash rags. Her right hand and leg kept moving. First Jerrall
knew of storms was Saturday week of 5/3/03, Sunday was high pulse 150
and CAT scan. Friday am for three hours, Saturday two hours in am and two
hours in pm, Sunday none, and then this morning.
8:50 - finally her right arm stopped moving and her eyes closed resting.
Questions:
Need Donut. Bald spot on head
Are her eyelids ok?
Does her tongue look ok? it’s red on top of the tip.
Jugular vein sticks out is that ok?
Left breast is sunk into her chest. What did the x-ray say about her ribs?
What did the x-ray say about the 3 chips in her tailbone?
What did the x-ray show about the cracked or fractured pelvises heal time?
There’s a knot in the right side of her stomach. Is that a cist?
5-13-03 Tuesday
8 am- Debbie had a great night. She slept well. She had a little cough but no
storm. JW spent the night. Debbie had first morphine about 11 pm last night.
She was starting to storm without sweats and that calmed her down. I was
changing her and air in her butt up lay on her right for almost a half hour.
Her first class is at 10 am.
5 pm- her blood pressure is 136/74, her pulse is 111, and her temperature is
100.4.
7:30 pm - Debbie started to storm. Her right leg and arm have excessive
movement. After a half an hour nurse Terry gave Debbie Morphine and it still
took another half hour for her to settle down.
8:30 – Debbie had her sleep medication.
9:00 – She is resting great.
Jerrall went home w/ Krystal for the first time in a long time.
5-14-03 Wednesday
8am- Jerrall arrived at hospital
8:30-9:30- Started to storm but no sweats
10-11:30 – Debbie did PT and OT but toned and sweat the whole time. She’s
more alert
first time Debbie wanted me to brush her teeth and clean tongue.
12:30 - Mr. Dean called Debbie’s phone to ask for forgiveness. First time to
talk with him. He cried at the end of the conversation and said he could not
believe how I see could change someone’s life and he was sorry. Money,
Insurance or words could never make up for this tragedy.
6:00-7:00-She started to storm again.
5-15-03 Thursday
2:00 - Debbie licked her first lolli pop. She tried but she could not push her
tongue past her teeth.
5-16-03 Friday
6 am- Krystal, Jerrall, and Grandma Visit. Debbie is in a storm, breathing
heavy, hot and med sweat. Medium foot and hand activity. Her blood
pressure is 64/109 BP and 119 is her pulse.
8:30- Food and meds. Asked for Morphine to calm Debbie down. Jerrall
noticed yesterday and more today right foot turned inward maybe from tone
yesterday. There is tone on right and left of her neck.
10:45- Back at room, Cathy said she was making cones for hands. Clean
#1. Noticed that storms and tone maybe caused by pain. Morphine relaxes
Debbie and makes tone go away. It doesn’t make her sleepy.
2:00- Andrea watched Krystal and Amber load and unload Debbie in her
chair then put her on her stomach and exercised her ankles.
3:30- Janet came and Debbie moved her thumb, closed mouth and sucked
on lemon. She was tracking the mirror better. Debbie had been storming
with sweats for about an hour before.
4:30 – ate and gave Morphine. She had been storming, it really helped her
tone and she went to sleep.
7:00- She is still resting. Her tone is starting to come back.
5-17-03 Saturday
7:40 am – Jerrall went to Debbie’s room. She wasn’t hot or sweating and not
really awake. Went ahead and ate and got dressed. I exercised her legs.
They were limber. Her arms were a little stiff. Her Ankles were very stiff.
9:00 – PT came for a half hour and gave a good neck stretch. Debbie was
completely relaxed. Came back to room and rested for a half hour.
10:30 – We were heading out the door and two nurses were coming in. They
said they needed blood for a clot test. They could not get any after two tries.
Janet came to room and worked with Debbie. Debbie raised one eyebrow
once. She was upset from the nurses. There was little tone. Janet was happy
with this week overall.
11:00 – OT at gym worked on elbow stretches. Debbie had a lot of tone but
no sweats or fast breathing.
11:30 - We came back to the room and rested. Debbie ate and then took
nap until 1:45 pm. Mrs. Davis’s preacher Bill from Living Waters Church in
River Hills came to visit. He stayed until 2:30 and gave Debbie a book to
read. Debbie’s eye opened for the last fifteen minutes. No storming but her
left leg is stiff.
2:45 – Krystal, Amber, and Grandma stayed with Debbie.
4:00 - Debbie started to storm. Arms and leg moving on right side. Left side
stiff. Gave her some Morphine at 5:30 and that helped for a little while. 6:30-
6:50 she was breathing hard and storming for five minutes off and on. All I
can do is place cool wet wash rags on her and hold her hand. I guess that’s
not much help. Right now 6:51 Debbie has eyes closed and eyebrows
raised. It looks like she feels a lot of pain. Starting to sweat again really bad.
Her Blood Pressure is 117/95, pulse 98, temp 98.9. Her weight is 112.5. She’
s lost two lbs since last week.
8:00 storm over, gave shower. Feed at 8:50 sleeping well.
5-18-03 Sunday
7:30 – As soon as Debbie woke up she started storming, all day except from
2-4pm. Today was the first time to move right leg sideways. Her eye was
more focused than ever before. Followed no commands. Maybe she needs
muscle relaxing. Last night around 12 pm the nurses said she could have
Tylenol every four hours if needed. So we started giving her Tylenol every
feeding, but it didn’t change any storming conditions. I thought it would help
with pain. Morphine didn’t help either. She had it at 8:30 am and 2:30 pm.
Tonight at 8:15 pm after she ate and had sleeping pills she went right to
sleep and quit all moving of her hand and leg all storming, sweating and
even her left leg loosened up. Her left arm and neck are still tight.
12:30 pm – Last night her blood pressure was 87/51 and her pulse is 77.
She slept all night even got cool and had to cover her with a blanket. No
storms even her blood pressure seemed low.
3:20 pm - This afternoon her blood pressure is 139/71 and her temperature
was 99.1 and a pulse of 101. Debbie stormed all day. Not to good a day.
Helen and Gerald came to visit for about 2 hours. Grandma came to spend
night with Jerrall at the hospital.
12 midnight – Debbie’s blood pressure is 105/67, her pulse is 86, and her
temperature is 99.2.
5-20-03 – Tuesday
7:30 – We got dressed.
8:00 – Debbie woke up in a good mood. I asked doctor if it is ok for Rekie.
10:00 – Went to the Gym. Cathy gave Debbie a glove for her left hand.
11-12:30 – Jerrall meeting PT.
2:00 – Did eye to begin eye test. She had too much tone for the ear to brain
test so we rescheduled for Thursday.
5:30 – Taylor and Gerald came to visit. Debbie moved her hand for Gerald
8-8:30 –Debbie was given a bowel stimulant and started storm. She looked
like the finger hurt a lot.
8:30 – Debbie ate, we gave her a sleeping pill and she went right to sleep.
9:10 – Debbie’s still sleeping but she’s coughing a lot. Her cough is strong
and she’s swallowing well.
5-21-03 Wednesday
6:45 am – Got to hospital and Debbie was storming since 5:30 am, Terry
said. I wonder if it could be from pain in ribs. Terry got Debbie some
Morphine and by 8:00 she had relaxed. She was storming on sleeping pills
with her eyes closed. Ate breakfast.
8:30-9 – Meredith did speech. Debbie did great. She did some tracking with
the mirror and tried to put her tongue to her lips to taste the lemon stick.
Good attention.
10-11:30 – Went to the gym with Andrea. Debbie put on the tilt table.
12:30 – April nurse and JW saw Debbie lick her lips for the first time ever. JW
put Vaseline on them to keep from being so dry and she licked it off 3 times.
2:40 – Debbie started to storm again. Put her in bed with cool wet wash
clothes, Morphine.
3:15 – seemed to have calmed down.
3:20 – 148/79 BP, 100 pulse, 98.5 temperature.
5-22-03 Thursday
Questions for Doctor Hammond
1. Hair highlights
2. Eye test
3. EEG test
4. Thyroid lab test
5. Do we know why left eye will not open?
6. Is Debbie on schedule for Ortho? This Thursday has been 7 weeks.
Tilley Morrison the discharge nurse said 6-25-03 is Debbie’s discharge date.
6:30-8:30am – Storming
8:30 – Morphine
10-11:30 –The PT and OT came. Debbie is relaxed but not alert. She has a
98.2 temp, her blood pressure is 97/81, and a pulse of 88.
2:30 –The nurse gave sleep medication for hearing test. Debbie slept all
night and until 8:30 Friday morning hearing test was good in both ears.
Debbie slept through speech class.
8 pm – Gave Debbie a shower. Amber, Krystal and Jerrall there. Debbie’s
asleep.
Dr. Hammond said ok for hair apt. Next Wednesday 4 pm. Gerald and Helen
came to visit.
5-23-03 Friday
6:30 – Debbie is still asleep from hearing test. No storms today.
9:00 – Janet did her fourth evaluation. Debbie is not real alert from hearing
test. Janet put a bell in Debbie’s hand and said ring it. I let her hold on to it
for the rest of the day.
10:30 – PT and OT did strength exercises. Debbie is not paying much
attention. Jerrall is really sleepy and tired from week. He’s feeling run down,
sad and sorry for himself.
1:00 – Amber came to be with Debbie while Jerrall slept in the floor.
1:30 – PT Andrea and Amber told Debbie to give a kiss and for the first time
she put her lips together and make noise with head 12’’ away from your
head. Point finger and raised arm at Amber and put her tongue out.
3-3:30 – Jerrall, Amber and Janet with Debbie. Janet here to practice
speech. Amber showed Janet Debbie’s kiss. Debbie tracked Ambers face
and tongue. Janet said she believed Debbie was following commands for the
fist time. After this mornings class she’s still groggy. Still not using left leg arm
or eye.
Today was a really good day for Debbie.
5-24-03 Saturday
8:00 am - Amber and Grandma go to rehab
11:15-12:00 – Debbie is storming.
11:35 – Morphine, worked well
12-3:00 – Slept
3:15-5:30 – Storm. Debbie opened her left eye during this storm ¼’’
4:30 – 172/82 Blood Pressure, 121 pulse, Temperature 101.2
6:30 - storm
6:50 – Tylenol and Morphine seemed to relax, except for her right leg. Jerrall
and Krystal go to rehab at 6:30
5-29-03 Thursday
am – Left home
6:45 – got to Debbie’s room. She’s asleep. She started storming last night at
8pm. She had a Valium at 10 pm and it took about an hour for her to go to
sleep. Went to house to sleep for a little while. This morning nurse said she
slept well all night. Got dressed first thing, finished by 7:30. We are setting
at window looking out at a lot of clouds and showers. Gina did Debbie’s hair
last night. She looks great! This morning Debbie is wearing yellow Adidas
shirt and maroon shorts. I love you so much. It feels so good to hold your
hand. This is the 3rd day for Ritalin.
7:45 - 99/57 blood pressure, Pulse 76
1:30 - 173/75 blood pressure, Pulse 97. Stormed and gave Morphine.
5:00 - 152/91 blood pressure, Pulse 95, temperature 97.7
Debbie tried to say “yes” to Amber. Amber said “Did you say yes?” and
Debbie gave a thumbs up. April saw this happen. Debbie was in the middle
of a storm.
6:30 – We were sitting outside and Debbie started to sweat. We decided to
come back to the room and lay down.
7:00 pm – She is starting to sweat. Right leg jumping
8 pm- Feed Debbie and gave Milk of Magnesia and a sleeping pill.
9:00 – Settled down
9:30 – Changed #1 and went to sleep.
10:30-11 – Debbie started storming. She was sweating and breathing fast
and her right leg.
12:30 am– We gave her half of a Valium.
1:00 – She settled down. She’s still a little stiff in her right leg. Feed and
change #1 again.
1:30 – Still not asleep, breathing deep and right leg, hands relaxed. Was a
half a Valium enough to put asleep?
2:20 – Nurse came in and gave Debbie some Morphine. Her eyes are closed
but she’s breathing fast and hard. Her right leg is still moving.
3:00am –Debbie’s passed out and asleep her right leg stopped.
5-30-03 Friday
2:30 am- Debbie is still awake and storming. She slept 9:30 pm to 10:30pm
then stormed all night. After Valium and Morphine she finally stopped and
went to sleep around 3 am, Jerrall too.
7 am – We saw Dr. Hammond and she said no more digital stems, but still
give her a suppository. She said .25 or .5 Valium is ok, just keep calm.
Debbie’s still asleep.
8 am – Debbie’s Blood pressure is 156/78 and her pulse is 100.
9:00 – Went to the gym. Andrea said let’s go back to the room because
Debbie was really sweating. Storming
9:30 – Andrea held Debbie’s left hand. She would not move her eyes.
Debbie held a wet wash cloth once and took it to her mouth. Debbie shook
hands. We put her back in bed and Kristy gave her Morphine. She’s
sweating and kicking.
10 am – Amber got here and Debbie’s still kicking.
10:45 – Gave Debbie a full dose of Valium. She’s still kicking but not
sweating.
11:10 – Debbie’s asleep, she stopped kicking.
5-31-03 Saturday
6:30 – Jerrall got to Debbie’s room and she was still snoring. Nurse said she
didn’t sleep last night because she was storming. They gave Debbie a big
dose of Morphine and there was no difference. Finally she went to sleep
around 4 am. I didn’t want to wake her up but at 9 am I had to. She was so
mad at me. Then at 9:30 Andrea said lets do Therapy on the room because
she was storming. Debbie didn’t respond and Andrea could tell Debbie was
mad. Andrea decide to work on her neck exercises.
10:30 – Debbie is still sweating and storming. We took her to the gym
anyway. The OT did neck and trunk stretches. Lisa Michaud heard the first
time Debbie said “bye” in a normal voice. We came back to the room, Debbie
still storming.
12:00 - Debbie ate. I told Betty to look at Debbie and she said Morphine
would help. A nurse said the test came back and Debbie has a bladder
infection. They put her on an Antibiotic.
2:00 – Debbie layed down and slept about 1-1 1/2 hours. Finally relaxed.
She woke up and started kicking but was relaxed by 4:00 without taking meds.
5:20 – 153/80 blood pressure, 105 Pulse, 98.2 temperature.
4-6:00 – Debbie seamed calm. She kicked two to three times a minute, taking
three minute cat naps in between. Today Amber bought four new shirts, like
the ones Debbie would wear, with a built in sport bras.
