Post by Kristen Gamauf on Jan 26, 2006 0:28:39 GMT -5
A day like today comes along only a few times in a person's life. I'll tell you why.
For the first time since August 20th, or for many months prior to that for that matter, I feel like everything is going to be alright. I think somewhere along the way in a young person's life you realize the big picture. That is how today has been for me. Somehow, despite many different things that have been personally trying for me, I have been able to realize that events have happened for a reason and could not have happened any other way. I know that sounds deep, but I have reached that conclusion about my life, and hope that my family and Mike especially can see that too.
A few examples exclusive to Mike's hospital visit today...
As we were at the reception area for pre-surgery waiting, along came Dr. Muakkassa who greeted Mike and shook his hand. Mike of course did not recognize him but was his friendly self. It seemed like that moment where we met him in the hallway was meant to happen, and I saw it as good omen. Mike was very good but jittery in pre-op. We waited with Grandma & Grandpa and Aunt Jennifer, finally moving to the surgical waiting room when he was wheeled off to surgery at 1:05pm. While waiting, Jennifer and I went to the gift shop. I saw and bought the cutest stuffed dog, a Sheltie, just like our Doogie who was Mike's best friend in the world. It is the new Lil' Panda. It is very soft. The dog was the only Sheltie on the shelf, and so I bought it. It seemed as if I was meant to find it, and I took it as good omen. Aunt Jenny bought a Slim Jim and a giant Hershey Kiss for Mike.
Dr. Markarian arrived at the surgical waiting room about 2:45pm following Mike's surgery, which went well as you probably could tell or have heard. I was out in the lobby because a couple of my good friends from school stopped by (which was very thoughtful). When I got back I joined my Mom and Dad in the consultation room. The doctor spent 30 MINUTES talking to us about Mike's surgery, his recovery, and his experience in general. This meant so much! I personally challenge all doctors to take as much care in their patients as Dr. Markarian has taken in Mike. It really puts your heart at ease, and I especially know it put my mom at ease.
He told us of how Mike's fracture looked, what he had to do to piece the bone fragments back together (there were like 4 or 5 pieces!), and how they were held together. Mike now has titanium plates of various shapes and sizes holding his bone in place! They have titanium screws holding the plates to the bone. Mike was intubated for the surgery, but they removed the tube before he even woke up. He as a result has a sore throat.
Turns out, our lovely Kristy has transferred departments and now works in neurosurgery. She arrived at her shift in time to see the doctor sewing Mike back up. She followed him through the recovery process and back up to the SICU where it all began. When we were waiting in that oh-so-familiar 4th floor critical care waiting room, I saw her head peak through the door and a big grin summoning us back to see Mike. She came out and told us how things went; my mom gave her the hug she didn't get the opportunity to give before Mike was transferred to the PICU. So Mike met Kristy, didn't recognize her, but seemed to enjoy hearing stories!
In fact, Kristy told us that as he was coming to at the end of the surgery, she told him they were gonna move him to another bed. I guess his head abruptly lifted up and whipped her way all while he was in a fog. So something about that voice touched his unconscious!
Mike has a giant, turban-looking bandage around his head. That will stay a couple days. It is stapled to his head since they didn't shave the hair (they have nothing for tape to stick to). He has nylon sutures in his wound area, which will come out in about 12 days. He has a drain tube in his head exactly like what he had the first time around. However, that is about where the similarities stop. He's only got two IV bags, one is some Potassium salts and the other an antibiotic they will give him for three treatments as a precaution. His vitals are strong and he was alert most the night. Of course, the best indication of a person's state is the fact that they are conscious and talking to you! So that is awesome to be able to talk to him.
Really being back in there (only 4807 instead of 4811) wasn't as hard as we thought it would be. It feels so positive, and not so grim like before. I guess everyone is calling room 4811 the "Lucky" room. It seems it is the preferable room for head trauma patients.
For second shift, it felt like one big reunion in that Heather is his nurse for tonight. We enjoyed seeing her and having her see Mike doing so well. She told us that Doug is working tonight on the other side, and that she'd be sure he knew Mike was there. We didn't get to talk to him. He's the one who said that Mike was going to do awesome at rehab, something most patients like Mike don't get to do.
Up until Saturday, which was a really difficult day for me, I was very nervous about today. I was feeling like we'd used up all our miracles so-to-speak. I know that sounds weird. I was so afraid that after all this that has been so unnaturally lucky, something would go wrong today. I even went so far as to go to the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery <www.cem.va.gov/nchp/ohiowesternreserve.htm> Saturday night and say a prayer and look at the flag illuminated by the moon and stars (a sight I really would recommend to anyone if they've never seen it). My grandparents plan on being buried there, and we have relatives resting there. After that point, I felt okay about things. I don't mean to blab on about these personal thoughts, it's just that I am so relieved that today went as good as it possibly could. We all needed that, especially Michael.
I will probably remember more about this day that I want to share with you all, but for now, I am tired, and I need to wrap things up.
For the first time since August 20th, or for many months prior to that for that matter, I feel like everything is going to be alright. I think somewhere along the way in a young person's life you realize the big picture. That is how today has been for me. Somehow, despite many different things that have been personally trying for me, I have been able to realize that events have happened for a reason and could not have happened any other way. I know that sounds deep, but I have reached that conclusion about my life, and hope that my family and Mike especially can see that too.
A few examples exclusive to Mike's hospital visit today...
As we were at the reception area for pre-surgery waiting, along came Dr. Muakkassa who greeted Mike and shook his hand. Mike of course did not recognize him but was his friendly self. It seemed like that moment where we met him in the hallway was meant to happen, and I saw it as good omen. Mike was very good but jittery in pre-op. We waited with Grandma & Grandpa and Aunt Jennifer, finally moving to the surgical waiting room when he was wheeled off to surgery at 1:05pm. While waiting, Jennifer and I went to the gift shop. I saw and bought the cutest stuffed dog, a Sheltie, just like our Doogie who was Mike's best friend in the world. It is the new Lil' Panda. It is very soft. The dog was the only Sheltie on the shelf, and so I bought it. It seemed as if I was meant to find it, and I took it as good omen. Aunt Jenny bought a Slim Jim and a giant Hershey Kiss for Mike.
Dr. Markarian arrived at the surgical waiting room about 2:45pm following Mike's surgery, which went well as you probably could tell or have heard. I was out in the lobby because a couple of my good friends from school stopped by (which was very thoughtful). When I got back I joined my Mom and Dad in the consultation room. The doctor spent 30 MINUTES talking to us about Mike's surgery, his recovery, and his experience in general. This meant so much! I personally challenge all doctors to take as much care in their patients as Dr. Markarian has taken in Mike. It really puts your heart at ease, and I especially know it put my mom at ease.
He told us of how Mike's fracture looked, what he had to do to piece the bone fragments back together (there were like 4 or 5 pieces!), and how they were held together. Mike now has titanium plates of various shapes and sizes holding his bone in place! They have titanium screws holding the plates to the bone. Mike was intubated for the surgery, but they removed the tube before he even woke up. He as a result has a sore throat.
Turns out, our lovely Kristy has transferred departments and now works in neurosurgery. She arrived at her shift in time to see the doctor sewing Mike back up. She followed him through the recovery process and back up to the SICU where it all began. When we were waiting in that oh-so-familiar 4th floor critical care waiting room, I saw her head peak through the door and a big grin summoning us back to see Mike. She came out and told us how things went; my mom gave her the hug she didn't get the opportunity to give before Mike was transferred to the PICU. So Mike met Kristy, didn't recognize her, but seemed to enjoy hearing stories!
In fact, Kristy told us that as he was coming to at the end of the surgery, she told him they were gonna move him to another bed. I guess his head abruptly lifted up and whipped her way all while he was in a fog. So something about that voice touched his unconscious!
Mike has a giant, turban-looking bandage around his head. That will stay a couple days. It is stapled to his head since they didn't shave the hair (they have nothing for tape to stick to). He has nylon sutures in his wound area, which will come out in about 12 days. He has a drain tube in his head exactly like what he had the first time around. However, that is about where the similarities stop. He's only got two IV bags, one is some Potassium salts and the other an antibiotic they will give him for three treatments as a precaution. His vitals are strong and he was alert most the night. Of course, the best indication of a person's state is the fact that they are conscious and talking to you! So that is awesome to be able to talk to him.
Really being back in there (only 4807 instead of 4811) wasn't as hard as we thought it would be. It feels so positive, and not so grim like before. I guess everyone is calling room 4811 the "Lucky" room. It seems it is the preferable room for head trauma patients.
For second shift, it felt like one big reunion in that Heather is his nurse for tonight. We enjoyed seeing her and having her see Mike doing so well. She told us that Doug is working tonight on the other side, and that she'd be sure he knew Mike was there. We didn't get to talk to him. He's the one who said that Mike was going to do awesome at rehab, something most patients like Mike don't get to do.
Up until Saturday, which was a really difficult day for me, I was very nervous about today. I was feeling like we'd used up all our miracles so-to-speak. I know that sounds weird. I was so afraid that after all this that has been so unnaturally lucky, something would go wrong today. I even went so far as to go to the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery <www.cem.va.gov/nchp/ohiowesternreserve.htm> Saturday night and say a prayer and look at the flag illuminated by the moon and stars (a sight I really would recommend to anyone if they've never seen it). My grandparents plan on being buried there, and we have relatives resting there. After that point, I felt okay about things. I don't mean to blab on about these personal thoughts, it's just that I am so relieved that today went as good as it possibly could. We all needed that, especially Michael.
I will probably remember more about this day that I want to share with you all, but for now, I am tired, and I need to wrap things up.