Update on John since 12/23:
John woke up from his 12/22 surgery for removal of "most" of his Large Intestines due to a rupture. They didn't test him right before his immediate surgery, but he may have had "divertculitis" (? spelling). Which is like absess's on the intestines.
Still has NO fever - just 1 BP medication that also regulates his heart rate - back on "CUP" over trache & dad said Tuesday they said he's almostly breathing on his own & gave him "moist air" while dad was there. PLUS - no hand restraints, 'cuz the trache TUBE is out that he kept trying to pull out!!
He's also back on nutrient type food thru nose instead of just liquid nutrients. Has a suction thing (like dentist) next to him & can suck up saliva or whatever on his own.
He's totally weaned off sedation medication as of today & much more aware & using communication board. He even read the Rehab brochure & (according to Doreen) seems to have accepted his amputations & colostomy bag & wants to "move on" like he's thankful for being alive.
John even communicated to the nurse (by pointing to a picture of himself on his bulletin board). She understood before shaving his face, that he wanted her to try to do a "goatee" like in the picture. She said she tried, but said it was hard. But John always was "into" his appearance & that's a good sign he asked.
Doreen bought him a new Todd Rudren CD (his favorite) & she said he started trying to play "Air Bass" & she asked him if he misses playing his bass guitar & he said yes. Another great sign, music "REALLY IS" his life's passion.
They had John on highest (10) level of Morphine for pain mgmt. after surgery & it's been slowly weaned too. Today they dropped it to (4), & giving him Methadone (according to Doreen) 'cuz it's a way to get people off Morphine.
He has a clear pain patch still (for the past 3 weeks) as Morphine has been lowered to help with pain increasing. Remember before 12/22 emergency surgery that he was already being weaned off oxygen & morphine 'cuz he was doing so well & may've been moved to rehab soon!
ALSO STILL NO SIGN'S HIS KIDNEY'S & LIVER SUFFERED FROM THIS PAST SURGERY!! (Miracle in itself)!
Only concern Doreen had, was his left arm seemed to swell tonight after he rec'd. antibiotic (which I'm assuming is needed since it's only a week since surgury, plus he still has the prior skin graph surgery's not totally healed & the last thing he needs is an infection right now!
John asked for his daughter Sylvie on Christmas & when Doreen said she was not coming up today, he cried. Sylvie did visit the day after Christmas tho' & it was the first time since aprox. 10/10 (before his medically induced coma) that he's been awake while she visited him & he was extremely glad to see her!!
My other 2 sisters have visited him since surgery with thier husbands that have the week off. My husbands a carpenter & there's work right now, so he can't take time off to visit with me (since there's been no work alot this fall & I still haven't found a job & we need the money).
So I'm visiting tomorrow with dad & I'll try to see if anything else has changed since tonights/this AM's tel. update from Doreen.
All past & future prayers from everyone for John is so-o-o very much appreciated more than words can express!!
My heartful thanx go out to you all & a wish for blessings for everyone's new year!
(I knew I should've bought that book about "getting to the point in writing" - I seem to write like I talk)! LOL
