January 20, 2010

Just getting to the hospital good this morning at 11. I had to run to New Bern this morning, so we did this on our way. Nurse Debby Pomeroy called earlier and got a detailed summary of his condition, and hopefully she will translate that ...for me later, she is being my eyes and ears, and doing some good translating and reassurance. Jeffrey's nurses can tell me one thing one second, and it's gone the next. I know the things I need to know, but Debby knows when to question actions of personnel, and give a gentle suggestions, if she thinks something is better than something.

Anyway. This morning Jeffrey is resting. They had given him something that was helping him to rest a little better. Not sure if this was sleepy med's or pain med's. But he was a little restless. They have put a little mitt on his right hand, because that is now where he has an iv, and they don't want it to come out, plus, when Jeffrey is restless he has a tenancy to "pick" with that hand. They don't want it to come loose, and him go straight for his tubes in his throat. If Jeffrey needs to continue to have the tubes in his throat they will take it out, and put in a temporary trach tube, through his neck. He will benefit a whole lot better with this, he'll wean easier off of it, and have a whole lot less chance for infection. He no longer has an inserted catheter for his urine. They have a method for this that is done from the outside, and 0it's working and Jeffrey is responding to this way, on his own. (he's peeing...lol...

Sometime this morning they are going to go down one of the tubes, already in his throat, to his lungs, and pull out some "gunk" and send it off to be tested for pneumonia. Debby say's this is pretty normal, considering he was in the elements for the time he was. He's young, fit and doesn't smoke, so these are all plus'. I believe he is already getting something for infection, but once they find out he needs something else, they will be more aggressive and treat specifically for pneumonia. His breathing sounds ALOT better this morning. He's sleeping comfortably right now, and I'm not going to do alot of in and out today, but I'm here, and that makes me feel better.

Everything else is about normal. Leg is REAL bruised. REAL swollen. But that is normal. They did find out he had a broken arm in two places at his elbow and wrist on the left side, but he will not require surgery for that, and will have it put in a cast.

The swelling on his brain will begin to go down, and we can see how those motor skills and things are going to do. One day at a time. That's all we can do.
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January 20, 2010 at 11:49am ·