Last nights visit with Rich.

They had him in his chair again, 1st he'd been in it since surgery on Monday. He's not feeling real comfortable, as they took skin off his backside to do the back of his hands. I can understand the "I ain't feeling like I like this".

His temp was up again, and they had given him some more Tylenol for that. Other vital signs were all good.

Heather rode over with me. She actually got to come back to see him last night. 1st she'd seen him in a couple weeks. Totally amazed as to how well he looked compared to her last visit.

Rich ate some actual food yesterday!! Had some mashed potatoes w/gravy and chicken nuggets. Didn't eat alot, but he ate some food!!!

The feed tube is still in and they're pumping in nurishment, so for him to eat is a good thing. One usually doesn't "eat" when ones belly feels full.. Once he really does start eating, the tube will come out, so this is a start. He'll have to eat a 3,000 calory diet, daily when he does go off the feed tube.

According to Rich, upper arms are the next graft surgery, to be done on Monday. Says his hands "aren't pretty" right now, but look better than before.

Left hand and arm are burnt worse than the right side. He'll need a lot of therapy to get use back on those. May not get full use back, according to the Drs.
Not liking that part.

More news as I get it.
gotta get ready for the job thing.

 

Have they figured out what happened to him??

 

Not the least bit of a clue do far. Un-answered questions are/have lead to "other questions". But yeah, no info on that side yet

 

Talked with his Mom today. Linda is pretty excited about his "wanting" food now.

He told her Thursday night that he'd like it if she would come feed him breakfast Friday morning.

Didn't eat much, but it was a good sign. He's not one for breakfast...

When she asked what he thought he might like for lunch, his reply was, "How am I supposed to know what I want if I don't know what they have".... Menue was dlivered to the room, pronto.....

He did the same thing at the End Zone, the Bar we stop at after work. He has the menue there memorized, but still sticks his nose into it to see "what my eyes want" before ordering. He'll eat anything that don't try to eat him 1st, but if something was to try that, it'd be his lunch before he was it's lunch.

Definetly a good sign there. He's not a big person, maybe 5'-10" and 125/130 lbs. But damn that boy can eat. His high body metabolism burns off all the extra calories. Plus he ran 3-4 miles every night before bed, helped him sleep.
'Tis good to hear that "he wants to eat" now.

Otherwise, he's still trucking along good on the recovery. All systems good!!

 

Rich looked real good yesterday. His temp was normal 98.6, decent heart rate, O2 level 98-100.


When asked how he felt he said "I feel pretty good, considering. But they're going to knock me back on my butt tomorrow". The graft for his upper arms is still on for the morning.

No more bandages around his head to cover his ears, nor was his neck all wrapped. They do still have his left ear bandaged over, and a gauze band around his head to hold that. Right ear is doing well, still swollen some, but it should return to normal

Neck is healing up good. He did lose the Autobot emblem tat he had over his adams apple.

Says his legs are healing good also. May not need any grafting done on those, but if so, just small areas.

The sides of his chest are also healing good. Saw a pic of that area before going back to the room.

I'll be getting more pics on my next visit, I'll post them when I get them

Linda has new pics of him, but she left before I could get them off her camera. I'll do that come Wednesdays visit. Didn't know she was leaving the hospital to spend time with her Mom and younger Sister, otherwise, I would've got them before we went to Rich's room.

Spent some time alone with him. Couldn't get him to tell me anything though. Says the only thing he really remembers is leaving the EZ, and nothing after that.


He is eating more now, so they're talking of him going off the feed tube by Wednesday maybe.
There was a plate of vegitable lasagna for him, but he didn't want it. Is drinking some Strawberry flavored Ensure though, so that's good. That stuff is 350 calories a bottle, and they ain't big. Plus they have lots of other good stuff in them..

 

email from Linda, copy/paste; circa 8:45 PM




Just to let you know, his donor sites from this surgery was both upper thighs (front) and his belly. He has already tried to move his left arm (they wanted him to be still for the night.) He finally was comfortable enough to fall asleep about 4:45 and slept pretty deeply for a few hours. He even snored!! He was not agitated at all this time, no vent tube down his throat and a great nurse today! He had asked me if they told me what the verdict was on his surgery? I told him they said it went well and the right arm will be done next Friday, the 21st. He said "Yippee", unenthusiastically. Can't say I blame him on that!
time for bed, g-nite all!

(end)

Didn't really get a chance to talk with "Mom" today, so what you see is what I got.

Lawyer said I could post this, so,,,,,






Friday, the Drs. called the Sheriff.
Inexplicable proof that he was,, bound and gagged,, during the fire.
Pictures were taken to prove it so....


Nuff said on that............ I won't make further comment.

 

http://www.wnwn.com/stationfiles/hometownhero.asp

Go to that link and pay omage to Douglas Tew, the one that gave us our Son back....

Thank You,
from
The Redmond Family

 

I'm a bit late to this, but want to say how brave and strong your family is, and your son is amazing. I followed your link and nominated Douglas Tew. I will be following your son's progress. PS. too bad about the autobot LOL.

 

copy/paste of email from Linda. fridaynight 8-14



Ok, so this morning he brushed his teeth, on his own!! I got a video of it. LOL It may not seem like much to us, everyday kinda thing. But it's been one whole month and 4 days since he last did so. His heart rate went up (meaning he was in pain) but he didn't stop til he accomplished his task. I know he is working hard and doing his best, for himself and all of us who love him. I also know that your prayers are being heard and make a world of difference so thank you so very, very much!
Last night, he chose to stand and turn to get into his bed instead of letting the nurses lift him. It hurt so much that it made him cry (not just a lil bit) but he did that too! He has much more pain to go through but he is an awesome young man with incredible will and strength. Having the knowledge of everyone being there for him helps him (and me) be strong enough to get through each day.
Thank you!!!

end

I haven't talked to her since Wednesday's visit, as she spends lots of time in his room. That,, makes it difficult to call her, as cellphones aren't allowed in the ward area..

He is healing real good on the physical part. I do feel he is getting depressed though. To much time spent lying around, not doing much of anything. He's not one for doing that..

Hopefully, as he gets stronger, he can get up and move around more. They have all kinds of physical therapy and workout machines there in the ward. He will soon be using those, and that should improve his mental condition.

I know how I would feel if I was stuck in a bed as long as he has been. So I can sympathize with him.

Be strong Son... Rest and heal....

 

While he's healing, let him know there is a network of people reading and following his progress. So many pulling for him, most silently reading, but here anyway... In fact, why not tell us more about your son - his name, more about his history. We'll be here...