Just back from visit.

Instead of his hands, like I "thought" was to be done. They wrapped his arms in cadaver skin. That will have to be replaced later, but for now, it covers the burn areas.

They still had the vent tube in. And he ain't liking that one bit!!!!!!
They have to knock him out, or he fights the tube.
He's biting it.
Tries to "hack it up and out".
I could see the plead in his eyes to get it out when he came to, even with the meds affecting how his eyes looked.
Linda and I had to calm him down until the next dose of meds took effect. Rough to say the least.
But he would listen to "Dad", and settle down some.

They have a chest tube in now, draing fluid out of his chest cavity.
That,,, should help his breathing, and let him go back to a mask. Maybe,, nothing at all. Time will tell on that. But a Dr. was in while we were in the room, and said something about trying the mask again.

Fluid was slowly filling the chest area before, even though he had good lung sounds.
Enough fluid gathered to hinder his breathing, thus the vent tube still in his mouth.
I saw a lot of fluid in the catch jug.

Rich's body is still retaining fluids, but for the most part, the swelling has eased emensly.
He's looking "more normal" now. Could tell his feet were still puffy, and areas around his neck that I could see were puffy.
Chest looked good.
Could tell his legs weren't as swollen, even with the bandages on. Same with his arms.

What I could see of his face, it looked good. Color is back for the most part. Splotchiness is gone.
He has managed to "bark some skin" though by hitting it with the bandages on his hands.

Linda says he "barked" some on his forehead. And both eye lids look roughened-up. Skinline of the upper lip is a bit rough too, but that may just be from his lips getting dry at times. They try to keep his lips moistened. But they'll be moist one minute, dry the next.

They have him on another antibiotic med to fight the infection he has developed. Biopsies were taken of the various burn areas to locate it.
But,, they do know it's not in his blood, or showing in his urine.
This is a good thing.... Means it's localized, and not thru out his body. Way more easily treated.

Hoping to stay awake long enough to talk to Linda tonight, after last visit time. I want to get the latest news on here.

I have to go back to work in the morning. Not really looking forward to that.

 

Lastest thru email from Linda; (copy/paste of email, circa 3:00 PM today))

His bandages on his arms were changed, looks good so far.
Monday will be surgery for his hands (8am, I think)
His face is looking a lil better and he is not agitated like the weekend.
I spoke with a coordinator and she said that nurse will not be in with him again.
He may be getting off the vent tomorrow!
His stomach is working by the tube feedings.
He may be up moving around this weekend!!

.(end)

Oh,,,
Heard earlier that the biopsies came back negative. They took those because his white cell count had increased, suspected an infection as cause. White cell count has decreased back towards normal today.
Maybe his body was just prepping it's self????

Now that's news I like to hear..........

PM me for "other info" if interested.

 

You are your son will be in my family's prayers.

 

News;

Rich looked much better last night. Tired yes, his temp was still a bit high, and the breathing tube still in. But, he was breathinng on his own though. Nurse said if he had a good night with no issues, the tube was to come out this morning.

They are wanting to make sure his lungs are functioning properly before they pull the vent tube out. The more time one spends on a breathing machine, the harder it is for the lungs to work on their own.

His body is still gitting rid of all the fluids it retained earlier. Some of that fluid is showing up in his lungs, some in his chest cavity. Thus the main reason for the vent tube still in, and the chest tube. I could see a definet difference since last visit.

If all goes well, the chest tube may come out today also. They had turned off the vacuum assist on it yesterday, and it was doing good draining on it's own.

They had his face uncovered, bandages still around his head to cover his ears. It was good to see most of his face again. It's healing nicely!!!! If the tube wasn't there, he'd look "marvilous"..... Couple spots where he's managed to rub some skin off with the bandages on his hands. But,, those will heal good, or so we all believe.


Surgery on his hands is still on for Monday AM.

More as I get it....

 

Yesterdays news;

Got a text from Linda saying that "all tubes are out, he's sitting in the chair again"

Was real happy to get that text.....

Vital signs are still all good and at the upper end of "their normal" for a burn patient with his burn coverage. This is a good thing.........

Drs are under the impression that they may not have to do much graft surgery on the leg and chest burns after all. They appear to be healing well on their own.

Arms and hands will be the major areas to be done. He has enough good skin on his body to do direct grafts for those areas. Less chance of rejection of grafts doing it that way..

I'll be going to see him tomorrow. Can't wait to hear his voice again.....

 

Short vid from Rich to everyone pulling for him. He was tired, but doing fine and wanted to do this last night. I'll have more news from todays visit in a little while.

Gotta get this vid out to a lot of people 1st.


http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...chsayingHi.flv

 

Still keeping him in my prayers. Looking good all things considered!!!

 

Back home after todays visit. Was in his room with Mom and Ryan.

Rich was watching Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. Small talk was done while we all watched the program. Awesome stuff on there.

So good to hear him talk again...

He's doing real well today. Good breathing, pulse rate down under 110, temp is under 100*, resting comfortable, or so he says.

He did a good laugh at Ryan re-telling the story of how his Son looked when he was born. Hear tell that Rich laughs everytime that story is told...

Surgery is still on for the morning to do his hands. And according to the nurse, he should not have to go back on the vent tube. "If it ain't in there before surgery, it won't be there afterwards".

I'm liking that, right along with Mom and Rich.

He says he feels way weak when trying to move from bed to chair right now. Legs are weak feeling. That will pass and may be from his fighting the infection and related high temp earlier this week. Still no real sign of where or what was the cause for all of that. But as you can see from that video, he's doing great.

That video was shot late Saturday, and he was pretty tired from the days activities. BUT,,, he wanted to do it!!!! Mom took it with her digital camera.
We all watched it before going back to see him. Ryans wife Leah was there along with their little one. I had Chris and my Grandson Damian there. It was AWESOME!!! to watch.

 

Surgery for skin grafts were done on his hands yesterday morning. As far as I know, things went well with those. Told that his left hand is burnt worse than the right one, but don't know much more than that right now.

Heard that the vent tube was still in after surgery. Grrrr... Nurse had said that "if it ain't in before, it won't be afterwards".
But it was in afterwards. He did get it removed after about 4 hours though.

That made alot of people happy............

Last I heard, Rich was doing good last night. All vital signs looking good. I won't have any new info until I get back home tonight.

I had sent the video to a couple people at work. Quite a few shop rats got to watch it yesterday, and 99% of them were extremly touched by it. Everyone really did like how he looked though. They were amazed at how much he's recovered so far.

 

Good day today.

Resting confortable, all vital signs are good to great. O2 is finally where they want it to be. This is good!!! Was good before, they just wanted it higher. Picky, picky, picky....

Its been 96+, but not 99 or better. He's at 99 to 100% today. Real good.

Told Mom he wants to take a shower now.
Not thinking that would be a pleasant ordeal right now...