Post by Kristen Gamauf on Oct 21, 2005 21:55:17 GMT -5
DAY 18 AT EDWIN SHAW
Mike is luckily feeling better today than yesterday, but still under the weather. He was able to eat well today and drink plenty of fluids. In fact, as of today, Michael is now allowed to drink thin liquids, which include his personal favorites, water and pop (as long as it is caffeine free).
They also were able to get him up and around for therapy.
He had no fever today, but overall still felt cruddy.
They figured out from a culture that Mike has a staph infection in his trache hole wound.
He also has some particles in his left lung, possibly from one of his first meals when his swallowing was just starting to get strong. It showed up on the chest x-ray they did.
Also, the urine sample indicated that he has a touch of a urinary tract infection.
All said, he is on two antibiotics, and the infections are expected to resolve themselves in time. They will keep an eye on it.
For the first time, Mike is fully aware that he is missing a part of his skull on the left side. He saw the sign we had posted that says, "No Bone Flap on Left" above his bed. It is a new sign. We saved the red sign that was made in the SICU as a keepsake, because it went with him all the way down to the PICU, and it feels like good luck.
With this realization came some tears. It freaked Mike out a bit, plus the fact that he will have to go back in for another surgery later. This was before I was there. Mom said Mike did a handful of crying today. I guess he is very frustrated that he cannot walk like he used to. "I just don't feel like myself," he says. He saw a commercial of some people surfing and cried a bit. He told them he wished he never fell. Mom and Dad told him all about what happened when he was asleep. How we made two trips everyday down to AGMC. How so many people made us meals, sent us cards, sent money, sent gift certificates...it blew Mike away. About how Brian made posters at Drug Mart to collect money for his exhaust system for the 5.0 someday. He cried a bit at all that too--tears of amazement. By the time I got there, he was okay though. He even told me about the bone flap and what Mom had told him. He seemed freaked out but understood. He cautiously touches that side of his head. I told him it saved his life. He nodded.
Mike also gave me his fish he painted in recreational therapy. I was very flattered, and it will be a very cherished belonging, but just having Mike back to talk to is gift enough. He is now painting a horse. I put a picture of his fish in the photo album.
Mike got his first shower today since his accident. We joked and told him that he by far has the longest streak between his friends of going without a shower. He looks so much more comfortable, and also very handsome. I am proud of him, simple things like shaving, getting dressed, grabbing a shower, they are very difficult tasks for him. He also shaved with Dad's help. The goatee is still there, but he wants Mom to bring his electric shaver in, and he's gonna shave it off sometime soon.
I took some pictures tonight of Mike and us and Kurt. He is smiling more for the camera and looks very nice. His sweatshirt looks frumpy, but it is his most favorite Sports Illustrated sweatshirt he's had for years! He loves it! We have joked that we are gonna find another Sports Illustrated sweatshirt just like it for him someday and buy it for when this one hits its last life!
Well, I have a few things I need to do on my Halloween costume before tomorrow night. I tried it on today though, and it is WICKED! Can't wait to post some pics. The jacket looks great (thanks Grandma)!
Mike is luckily feeling better today than yesterday, but still under the weather. He was able to eat well today and drink plenty of fluids. In fact, as of today, Michael is now allowed to drink thin liquids, which include his personal favorites, water and pop (as long as it is caffeine free).
They also were able to get him up and around for therapy.
He had no fever today, but overall still felt cruddy.
They figured out from a culture that Mike has a staph infection in his trache hole wound.
He also has some particles in his left lung, possibly from one of his first meals when his swallowing was just starting to get strong. It showed up on the chest x-ray they did.
Also, the urine sample indicated that he has a touch of a urinary tract infection.
All said, he is on two antibiotics, and the infections are expected to resolve themselves in time. They will keep an eye on it.
For the first time, Mike is fully aware that he is missing a part of his skull on the left side. He saw the sign we had posted that says, "No Bone Flap on Left" above his bed. It is a new sign. We saved the red sign that was made in the SICU as a keepsake, because it went with him all the way down to the PICU, and it feels like good luck.
With this realization came some tears. It freaked Mike out a bit, plus the fact that he will have to go back in for another surgery later. This was before I was there. Mom said Mike did a handful of crying today. I guess he is very frustrated that he cannot walk like he used to. "I just don't feel like myself," he says. He saw a commercial of some people surfing and cried a bit. He told them he wished he never fell. Mom and Dad told him all about what happened when he was asleep. How we made two trips everyday down to AGMC. How so many people made us meals, sent us cards, sent money, sent gift certificates...it blew Mike away. About how Brian made posters at Drug Mart to collect money for his exhaust system for the 5.0 someday. He cried a bit at all that too--tears of amazement. By the time I got there, he was okay though. He even told me about the bone flap and what Mom had told him. He seemed freaked out but understood. He cautiously touches that side of his head. I told him it saved his life. He nodded.
Mike also gave me his fish he painted in recreational therapy. I was very flattered, and it will be a very cherished belonging, but just having Mike back to talk to is gift enough. He is now painting a horse. I put a picture of his fish in the photo album.
Mike got his first shower today since his accident. We joked and told him that he by far has the longest streak between his friends of going without a shower. He looks so much more comfortable, and also very handsome. I am proud of him, simple things like shaving, getting dressed, grabbing a shower, they are very difficult tasks for him. He also shaved with Dad's help. The goatee is still there, but he wants Mom to bring his electric shaver in, and he's gonna shave it off sometime soon.
I took some pictures tonight of Mike and us and Kurt. He is smiling more for the camera and looks very nice. His sweatshirt looks frumpy, but it is his most favorite Sports Illustrated sweatshirt he's had for years! He loves it! We have joked that we are gonna find another Sports Illustrated sweatshirt just like it for him someday and buy it for when this one hits its last life!
Well, I have a few things I need to do on my Halloween costume before tomorrow night. I tried it on today though, and it is WICKED! Can't wait to post some pics. The jacket looks great (thanks Grandma)!