Tragedy befalls my Family
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 06-06-2009
Posts: 123
From: Hillsdale, Mi.
Rich is home again....
I didn't go over to see him on Wednesday, so I planned to go last night. On my way home from work, I get a call from Linda asking if I would have room for one more person in the car. I said yeah..
Her response was "good, cause you're bringing your Son home then". I had to have her repeat that last a couple times...
Dr's decided to let him go home yesterday afternoon. Rich had been up walking around more late Wednesday and earlier yesterday morning. That is what the doc's were waiting on, him getting around on his own.
Rich said that once the staples were removed from the graft sites, it didn't hurt to actually walk, so he did. Donor sites are still sore, but not quite as bad as they had been.
The infection is responding well to the antibiotics they have him on. Not only does he have an infection in his leg, he developed a bladder infection too. Dr's say it was basically expected for him to get the bladder problem, and were ready to deal with it when it came about.
They were somewhat surprized though that it took this long for the bladder infection to show up. It really should have developed a month or so ago, according to them, as that is the "norm" for burn victims with his amount coverage.
Also, kidney or liver issues are the norm. But Rich has not shown any indications of either, and all tests have came back good. So here's hoping it stays that way. They plan to keep monoriting him for quite a bit longer to make sure that they can catch anything early.
for a speedy recovery.
More as I get it.
I didn't go over to see him on Wednesday, so I planned to go last night. On my way home from work, I get a call from Linda asking if I would have room for one more person in the car. I said yeah..
Her response was "good, cause you're bringing your Son home then". I had to have her repeat that last a couple times...
Dr's decided to let him go home yesterday afternoon. Rich had been up walking around more late Wednesday and earlier yesterday morning. That is what the doc's were waiting on, him getting around on his own.
Rich said that once the staples were removed from the graft sites, it didn't hurt to actually walk, so he did. Donor sites are still sore, but not quite as bad as they had been.
The infection is responding well to the antibiotics they have him on. Not only does he have an infection in his leg, he developed a bladder infection too. Dr's say it was basically expected for him to get the bladder problem, and were ready to deal with it when it came about.
They were somewhat surprized though that it took this long for the bladder infection to show up. It really should have developed a month or so ago, according to them, as that is the "norm" for burn victims with his amount coverage.
Also, kidney or liver issues are the norm. But Rich has not shown any indications of either, and all tests have came back good. So here's hoping it stays that way. They plan to keep monoriting him for quite a bit longer to make sure that they can catch anything early.
for a speedy recovery.More as I get it.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 06-06-2009
Posts: 123
From: Hillsdale, Mi.
Rich's visit back to the hospital this last Tuesday was a good one. Drs are happy with how the latest grafts have healed overall. They decided that his right leg is healed enough that it doesn't need to be wrapped any more.
Some concern with the left leg though. Mostly due to the small area where he developed the infection, and it not taking the graft at this time.
Nothing major to worry about though. The infection has responded to the medication, and is mostly cleared up.
If the area in question doesn't take the graft, it'll heal on it's own, but leave a scar. Rich isn't to concerned about it. He's not one for wearing shorts, so it'll be covered by the leg of his pants when he goes anywhere.
(Just pondered on when I last seen him in shorts out in public. Has to be 20 years or so...)
Rich has 2 hours of OT/PT sessions 3 times a week now, 1 hour of each during each visit. He calls them his torture chamber visits, as they do cause him some pain during the exercises. It's not major or bad pain, it just hurts to fully bend some of the joints yet.
The pain comes from the skin being to tight yet around the joints. It will pass as the skin gets stretched in those areas. Which is what the PT sessions are for. The OT sessions are to get the "use of" back in his hands and fingers, especially his left hand.
The therapist can fully flex all of Rich's joints thru the full range of motion. Rich on the other hand, can't do so yet. Most of that comes from muscle weakness right now, and should pass with time.
Rich told me yesterday that he is determined to get back as much use as he can out of his hands. He's confident that his right hand will be just fine, and he'll have near full use of it, if not total use like before.
The left hand is going to take a bit more work. But he is putting great effort into getting it working again. He can't make a fist yet, but the fingers will now start to curl, where 3 weeks ago they would only bend at the 1st joint if he tried to make a fist. So,,, the hand is improving...
The therapist can curl the hand into a fist, and Rich can hold it for a few seconds before it starts to relax. Rich is doing that exercise on his own at home also to help strengthen the muscles.
The fire did cause some muscle damage to his left arm and hand, so full use may be hard to get back. But Rich is very determined to get there.
All in all, he's doing extremely well in the recovery.
Some concern with the left leg though. Mostly due to the small area where he developed the infection, and it not taking the graft at this time.
Nothing major to worry about though. The infection has responded to the medication, and is mostly cleared up.
If the area in question doesn't take the graft, it'll heal on it's own, but leave a scar. Rich isn't to concerned about it. He's not one for wearing shorts, so it'll be covered by the leg of his pants when he goes anywhere.
(Just pondered on when I last seen him in shorts out in public. Has to be 20 years or so...)
Rich has 2 hours of OT/PT sessions 3 times a week now, 1 hour of each during each visit. He calls them his torture chamber visits, as they do cause him some pain during the exercises. It's not major or bad pain, it just hurts to fully bend some of the joints yet.
The pain comes from the skin being to tight yet around the joints. It will pass as the skin gets stretched in those areas. Which is what the PT sessions are for. The OT sessions are to get the "use of" back in his hands and fingers, especially his left hand.
The therapist can fully flex all of Rich's joints thru the full range of motion. Rich on the other hand, can't do so yet. Most of that comes from muscle weakness right now, and should pass with time.
Rich told me yesterday that he is determined to get back as much use as he can out of his hands. He's confident that his right hand will be just fine, and he'll have near full use of it, if not total use like before.
The left hand is going to take a bit more work. But he is putting great effort into getting it working again. He can't make a fist yet, but the fingers will now start to curl, where 3 weeks ago they would only bend at the 1st joint if he tried to make a fist. So,,, the hand is improving...
The therapist can curl the hand into a fist, and Rich can hold it for a few seconds before it starts to relax. Rich is doing that exercise on his own at home also to help strengthen the muscles.
The fire did cause some muscle damage to his left arm and hand, so full use may be hard to get back. But Rich is very determined to get there.
All in all, he's doing extremely well in the recovery.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 06-06-2009
Posts: 123
From: Hillsdale, Mi.
WOW!! Didn't realize just how long it has been since I posted anything on this site until I went looking for this thread. I've been working way to many hours and just haven't had time to do much on-line stuff. This is my 1st day off in 2 weeks.
Anyways,,, news on Rich.
Been a bit over 5 weeks now, but he had his last visit to Toledo until Jan/19. Drs gave him a 98% take on all of the grafts. All non-grafted areas are completely healed over now. He can finally wear socks and shoes again, which is a good thing now that there's snow on the ground. Slippers just don't work well on that stuff..
Rich has been doing the PT/OT therapy sessions 5 days a week now since mid November. They are doing a good job of working him over during the sessions now. Treadmills, stairclimbing, weights, resistance/streching. He's definetly ready for a nap when he gets back home.
Rightside is just about back to normal according to Rich. Says it's "good to go". Still has stiffness in the left knee, but not as much as it was. Shows more when he's walking than anything else.
Lefthand is very much improved. Finger tips will now curl into the palm when he tries to make a fist, but they don't curl as much as they really should. But, it does look like that will happen in time, going by what it was to what it is now.
Rich says that he's mentally ready to go back to work. Tired of sitting around the house, period.... He's not to sure if he could actually go back to work physically just yet though.
Pretty sure that the DRs will only allow him to return on an 8-40 work schedule for awhile. Hoping that the powers that be at work, allow him to do so. They can be real funny on that stuff, seen it with a couple other co-workers. Time will tell on that one. Rich does still have a job to come back to though, so that is good.
Just need to find him another vehicle now. He's wanting something 4WD, no FORD..... Prefers another truck, but would take something like a Blazer. So,,, I'm looking around now, just to see what is out there for sale.
To bad I can't afford to buy another BRAT right now, I'd definetly get him one..
Anyways,,, news on Rich.
Been a bit over 5 weeks now, but he had his last visit to Toledo until Jan/19. Drs gave him a 98% take on all of the grafts. All non-grafted areas are completely healed over now. He can finally wear socks and shoes again, which is a good thing now that there's snow on the ground. Slippers just don't work well on that stuff..
Rich has been doing the PT/OT therapy sessions 5 days a week now since mid November. They are doing a good job of working him over during the sessions now. Treadmills, stairclimbing, weights, resistance/streching. He's definetly ready for a nap when he gets back home.
Rightside is just about back to normal according to Rich. Says it's "good to go". Still has stiffness in the left knee, but not as much as it was. Shows more when he's walking than anything else.
Lefthand is very much improved. Finger tips will now curl into the palm when he tries to make a fist, but they don't curl as much as they really should. But, it does look like that will happen in time, going by what it was to what it is now.
Rich says that he's mentally ready to go back to work. Tired of sitting around the house, period.... He's not to sure if he could actually go back to work physically just yet though.
Pretty sure that the DRs will only allow him to return on an 8-40 work schedule for awhile. Hoping that the powers that be at work, allow him to do so. They can be real funny on that stuff, seen it with a couple other co-workers. Time will tell on that one. Rich does still have a job to come back to though, so that is good.
Just need to find him another vehicle now. He's wanting something 4WD, no FORD..... Prefers another truck, but would take something like a Blazer. So,,, I'm looking around now, just to see what is out there for sale.
To bad I can't afford to buy another BRAT right now, I'd definetly get him one..
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 06-06-2009
Posts: 123
From: Hillsdale, Mi.
Rich is still gaining on the recovery, improving daily. So much in-fact, that the therapist told him on this last Mondays visit that "she feels he's ready to return to work. The work he does will be even better therapy for him".
Family and co-workers are very happy to hear that bit of news. But,,,, we all have to wait until the 19th to see what the Dr has to say. Thinking it'll be an ok on the work thing.
Rich was so "Happy" with it, he went right out and bought another truck. Got himself an '06 GMC Canyon 4X4, 4-door, pickup. Put down enough money to get the payments below $200 for the next 4 years. Says he'll have it paid-off in 2 though. No doubt that he'll do that.
Link to pic of truck, http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...6GMCCanyon.jpg Pic taken at the Dealership he got it from.
I'm liking this truck!!!! Only thing I would do to it right now is install a brushguard, just looks like it needs one to me. Otherwise, it's nice.....
Week prior to this one, he had received a check for all of the back-pay that the disability carrier owed him. Nice check that was.....
Rich has set up a payment schedule with all of the care providers that were/are in on his ordeal. All of them were very willing to work with him on that. So that eases a couple of headaches..
Life is good again......
edit: Just put up a pic of the Family. Well, Rich and all of his siblings anyways. It's in my gallery.
Family and co-workers are very happy to hear that bit of news.
But,,,, we all have to wait until the 19th to see what the Dr has to say. Thinking it'll be an ok on the work thing.Rich was so "Happy" with it, he went right out and bought another truck. Got himself an '06 GMC Canyon 4X4, 4-door, pickup. Put down enough money to get the payments below $200 for the next 4 years. Says he'll have it paid-off in 2 though. No doubt that he'll do that.
Link to pic of truck, http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...6GMCCanyon.jpg Pic taken at the Dealership he got it from.
I'm liking this truck!!!! Only thing I would do to it right now is install a brushguard, just looks like it needs one to me. Otherwise, it's nice.....
Week prior to this one, he had received a check for all of the back-pay that the disability carrier owed him. Nice check that was.....
Rich has set up a payment schedule with all of the care providers that were/are in on his ordeal. All of them were very willing to work with him on that. So that eases a couple of headaches..
Life is good again......
edit: Just put up a pic of the Family. Well, Rich and all of his siblings anyways. It's in my gallery.
Senior Member
Joined: 10-21-2008
Posts: 1,831
From: hemet, calif.
your letters have brought tears to my eyes.
I so happy for the good news,my son was in an accident some years agoand totalled his VW bug many prayers are with your family, glad to hear about his getting better.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 06-06-2009
Posts: 123
From: Hillsdale, Mi.
Rich says that the therapist is going to release him from therapy this next week. Not sure right now if that means "after" the week of sessions, or what. Rich didn't go into details about it.
So.. Dr visit on Tuesday should bring word of returning to work.
Not needing to leave the shop to do any therapy sessions will be a plus for him. The powers that be at work are some "real arses" on people leaving during work hours. Regardless of reason....
So.. Dr visit on Tuesday should bring word of returning to work.
Not needing to leave the shop to do any therapy sessions will be a plus for him. The powers that be at work are some "real arses" on people leaving during work hours. Regardless of reason....