In March 2007, Mike was in an accident that resulted in an above-the-knee amputation and degloving of his left leg. This blog was created to simplify keeping a large and distributed group of family and friends up to date, and while it still serves that purpose, it also now provides a record of all that has gone before.
- Please let us know you were here! Sign the guestbook, or leave a comment to an entry (look for the
). - Check out some pictures of Mike on his last blogged adventure: when he and Ruth hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2004 (as Oxymoron and Maine Dish, respectively).
11 April 2007: LET'S GET MOVING!
NO PAIN MEDS. For the record, he did all of the following (except the bandage change) with only the residual pain medication: no boosters.
Dad had a fantastically exhausting day in therapy. It all started around 1:30p, when the nurses and I got to help him get out of his hospital finery and into some clothes. The nurses were pretty creative in creating a case of absorbent pads to wrap around his stump so it wouldn't drool all over the place. It was kind of haphazard and reminded me of bloomers. Once the stump was padded, we got the T-shirt and pants tucked over the whole thing, and then it was up and over into the chair, with him helping.
I got to wheel him around for about a half hour before PT started, so we went out across the floor to the visitors waiting room. It has a spectacular view of downtown Cleveland, and I wanted to give him something BIG to see--something beyond hospital rooms and hallways. I was so excited I kept wanting to cry. Since I was pushing the chair, I couldn't see Dad's face, but all the people we passed started smiling...
So, after doing some laps around the floor in the chair, it was time to go to PT! We rolled our way into the gym, and straight over to these mat tables: 2-3 feet off the floor, with a thin layer of padding on top. The PT gave Dad some strategies for getting from the chair to the table, and spotted/assisted him in making that transition. He got to do some rolling around (all the way over onto his belly!) and some stump exercises before learning some options for transitioning back to the chair. The transitions to and from the chair were done well. I think Dad is getting the hang of it. They certainly aren't graceful maneuvers, but they worked, and it looked like he had a little more confidence than he has thus far, which is progress!
From there, we rolled him over to the parallel bars. The wheelchair didn't fit in between the bars that well (this is a rather bulky interim piece), but it was enough so that Dad could practice standing! He stood for a whole minute. The thing he has to learn at this stage is where and what to push off of or grab for: e.g. push off the railings of the chair before reaching for the bars, and find the railings of the chair with both arms before sitting down.
He was doing really well through all of this--he got light-headed once in awhile, for very short durations, and usually when he turned his head fast. Even the standing went really well. Then came the weight lifting. Yes, my Dad lifted weights today. It was pretty standard gym equipment in some cases, and in others it was obviously shaped to accomodate a person in a wheelchair. 3 sets of 10 reps for 8 different activities. By the end he was almost crying with tiredness. He was still excited, still happy to be out of that room and that bed, but he was TIRED.
Dad had a fantastically exhausting day in therapy. It all started around 1:30p, when the nurses and I got to help him get out of his hospital finery and into some clothes. The nurses were pretty creative in creating a case of absorbent pads to wrap around his stump so it wouldn't drool all over the place. It was kind of haphazard and reminded me of bloomers. Once the stump was padded, we got the T-shirt and pants tucked over the whole thing, and then it was up and over into the chair, with him helping.
I got to wheel him around for about a half hour before PT started, so we went out across the floor to the visitors waiting room. It has a spectacular view of downtown Cleveland, and I wanted to give him something BIG to see--something beyond hospital rooms and hallways. I was so excited I kept wanting to cry. Since I was pushing the chair, I couldn't see Dad's face, but all the people we passed started smiling...
So, after doing some laps around the floor in the chair, it was time to go to PT! We rolled our way into the gym, and straight over to these mat tables: 2-3 feet off the floor, with a thin layer of padding on top. The PT gave Dad some strategies for getting from the chair to the table, and spotted/assisted him in making that transition. He got to do some rolling around (all the way over onto his belly!) and some stump exercises before learning some options for transitioning back to the chair. The transitions to and from the chair were done well. I think Dad is getting the hang of it. They certainly aren't graceful maneuvers, but they worked, and it looked like he had a little more confidence than he has thus far, which is progress!
From there, we rolled him over to the parallel bars. The wheelchair didn't fit in between the bars that well (this is a rather bulky interim piece), but it was enough so that Dad could practice standing! He stood for a whole minute. The thing he has to learn at this stage is where and what to push off of or grab for: e.g. push off the railings of the chair before reaching for the bars, and find the railings of the chair with both arms before sitting down.
He was doing really well through all of this--he got light-headed once in awhile, for very short durations, and usually when he turned his head fast. Even the standing went really well. Then came the weight lifting. Yes, my Dad lifted weights today. It was pretty standard gym equipment in some cases, and in others it was obviously shaped to accomodate a person in a wheelchair. 3 sets of 10 reps for 8 different activities. By the end he was almost crying with tiredness. He was still excited, still happy to be out of that room and that bed, but he was TIRED.
11 April 2007: On the spot
Mike says (I'm just the medium):
Thanks again for all the thoughts, prayers, cards, everything. I never appreciated how much this stuff meant; but being the one on the critical list and facing this long and challenging rehab, I wanted to share that the positive energy is palpable--I feel like I have the world behind me.
Thanks again for all the thoughts, prayers, cards, everything. I never appreciated how much this stuff meant; but being the one on the critical list and facing this long and challenging rehab, I wanted to share that the positive energy is palpable--I feel like I have the world behind me.
10 April 2007: we can breathe again...
I got in to see Dad right around 11 in the morning, when his first PT session on the rehab floor started. As he still had the incredibly smelly vac dressing on (w/ the suction hooked up to the wall), he was restricted to the bedside.
This session was a re-eval checking range of motion and strength in different muscle groups. Dad is still pretty strong, even after 4 weeks(!) in bed. He has the same thin stretched-out look to his muscles that he did when he finished the AT. He has mentioned several times that he thinks his time on the AT saved his life.. purged toxins, built up good (if well-padded) muscles, improved conditioning, etc.
The most painful part of PT was dealing with the donor-site bandages on his back. The zero-form was very stiff, and wanted to pull away from the healing skin when he sat up. Picture the itchy, crusty, partly healed scab you'd get on a skinned knee, reinforce it on the outside with something tape-like, and then picture that covering/stuck to most of your back and your butt. Then think about sitting up or moving to get out of bed. YEOW.
As the PT was working with Dad, I noticed that some of the assistants were busy with the Lysol out in the hallway--the dressing was that fragrant. At around 4:30, Tammy came in to change it (it had been on for 5 days). The improvement to air quality was noticeable immediately.
This session was a re-eval checking range of motion and strength in different muscle groups. Dad is still pretty strong, even after 4 weeks(!) in bed. He has the same thin stretched-out look to his muscles that he did when he finished the AT. He has mentioned several times that he thinks his time on the AT saved his life.. purged toxins, built up good (if well-padded) muscles, improved conditioning, etc.
The most painful part of PT was dealing with the donor-site bandages on his back. The zero-form was very stiff, and wanted to pull away from the healing skin when he sat up. Picture the itchy, crusty, partly healed scab you'd get on a skinned knee, reinforce it on the outside with something tape-like, and then picture that covering/stuck to most of your back and your butt. Then think about sitting up or moving to get out of bed. YEOW.
As the PT was working with Dad, I noticed that some of the assistants were busy with the Lysol out in the hallway--the dressing was that fragrant. At around 4:30, Tammy came in to change it (it had been on for 5 days). The improvement to air quality was noticeable immediately.
09 April 2007: New Diggs
Dad moved today from the 11th floor to the 7th. This room feels a little smaller, and he has another roommate, but (at least in theory) he'll be working towards not having to be in it very much.
He and I frittered away most of the morning waiting to move, and then were both briefly engulfed by the flurry of activity that crops up any time you move around in a hospital. The nurses on the 11th floor sang "So long, farewell" from the Sound of Music as his bed was wheeled off towards the elevators - that was pretty funny, especially when they got to the high note.. "See? that's why I'm a nurse!"
We spent a good deal of time talking to the doctors on the new floor, trying to reconcile the rules for wound recovery to the rules for rehab. I'm quite sure a lot more will be clear after Dad's big bandage change tomorrow. The bandages he has now are getting pretty old, and for the record, they stink (as in, the air around him smells like the elephant house at the zoo). The question tomorrow will be whether or not the vacuum/suction bandage has to go back on, or if it has to cover as much area, or..
Gramma and Aunt Marsha and I headed back over to see him at around 7 (I left around 5), and he seemed pretty pooped, but otherwise ok. This new bed has one of those trapeze hanger/handle things over it -- and Dad just LOVES it. He said he could lift his whole middle off the bed (between the trapeze thing and his right leg) when they were changing the bedding. "Super way easy." He made some mutterings about how much easier the last week and some would have been if he'd had this trapeze thing all along.
New Rehab doctors: Dr. Mejia, and Dr. Fox (who may be a resident, I'll have to check).
Oh, and as I just found that cool directory thing, here's the 'fo on Dr. McDonald, too. I didn't realize she was a professor at Case! Man, some really smart people come from that school.
He and I frittered away most of the morning waiting to move, and then were both briefly engulfed by the flurry of activity that crops up any time you move around in a hospital. The nurses on the 11th floor sang "So long, farewell" from the Sound of Music as his bed was wheeled off towards the elevators - that was pretty funny, especially when they got to the high note.. "See? that's why I'm a nurse!"
We spent a good deal of time talking to the doctors on the new floor, trying to reconcile the rules for wound recovery to the rules for rehab. I'm quite sure a lot more will be clear after Dad's big bandage change tomorrow. The bandages he has now are getting pretty old, and for the record, they stink (as in, the air around him smells like the elephant house at the zoo). The question tomorrow will be whether or not the vacuum/suction bandage has to go back on, or if it has to cover as much area, or..
Gramma and Aunt Marsha and I headed back over to see him at around 7 (I left around 5), and he seemed pretty pooped, but otherwise ok. This new bed has one of those trapeze hanger/handle things over it -- and Dad just LOVES it. He said he could lift his whole middle off the bed (between the trapeze thing and his right leg) when they were changing the bedding. "Super way easy." He made some mutterings about how much easier the last week and some would have been if he'd had this trapeze thing all along.
New Rehab doctors: Dr. Mejia, and Dr. Fox (who may be a resident, I'll have to check).
Oh, and as I just found that cool directory thing, here's the 'fo on Dr. McDonald, too. I didn't realize she was a professor at Case! Man, some really smart people come from that school.
09 April 2007: Easter Visit
Between some weekend classes I've been taking and the "white Easter" weather phenomenon, I (ruthie) got to sneak in for a short visit yesterday (Sunday). Dad looked great! He didn't seem as tired as when I saw him last and looked reasonably comfortable, even though his donor sites are progressing to the "itchy" stage. Which, btw, is a very good sign that the skin is healing, and despite how annoying the itchy feeling is, Dad is simply delighted! We got to chat about our speculations for the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows coming out this July and just sit and enjoy each other's company. We also talked a little about starting his physical therapy. He is both anxious and so very ready. I am hoping that his fears (like most) are mostly about the unkown, and he'll feel less anxious once he is in the program and knows what to expect. I am looking forward for the update to see how his day went today (hint, hint)!!!
Well Dad, I'm thinking of you and I can't tell how grateful I am that you have gotten this far. Keep on truckin', Old Man, and you'll get there!
I almost forgot! Dad told me about his coolest "phantom sensation" yet. His leg was shivering! He said that he could feel it shiver from his hip all the way down to his foot. He looked at his stump to see if it was shivering, which it wasn't. So he closed his eyes to see if he could find the anomalies between the phantom sensation and his real leg...nope...pat pat pat...and it stopped. How fascinating...
Well Dad, I'm thinking of you and I can't tell how grateful I am that you have gotten this far. Keep on truckin', Old Man, and you'll get there!
I almost forgot! Dad told me about his coolest "phantom sensation" yet. His leg was shivering! He said that he could feel it shiver from his hip all the way down to his foot. He looked at his stump to see if it was shivering, which it wasn't. So he closed his eyes to see if he could find the anomalies between the phantom sensation and his real leg...nope...pat pat pat...and it stopped. How fascinating...
08 April 2007: SNOW!
It was a pretty quiet day here in Cleveland. Maybe it was all the snow.
He did sit in the chair for a little over an hour this morning, and he arranged to change his pain meds - he didn't like how screwed up he was (and for how long) after the 6 percocets he had for the bandage change on Thursday. He was up all night Thursday night, and said he felt pretty weird most of the day on Friday. The upside: he slept like a baby last night. He called me at some ungodly hour in the morning to tell me so.
Tom and Bessie made the haul to Cleveland in spite of the nasty weather. They had a long visit; Dad was pretty tuckered out after all that talking, but was thrilled to see them. On her way out, Bessie mentioned what I've always thought to be true: you feel better about this whole thing after you've seen him.
He spent the rest of the day comfortably (if a little sideways in the bed at first)--I was with him for most of it. I went in around noon to give the crews some time with the roads (and spend some time with GiGi, too!), and drove home in the blinding snow with no real clue where the lane lines were.
Everything is lined up for him to start the PT program (the orders are written, etc), all we're waiting for now is a bed on the PT floor. The word is that will happen on Monday. He mentioned that when they were getting him back into bed this morning (no PT, so the nurses helped him rather than making him do the whole standing thing himself), he was able to help them adjust the pad by arching his back: he could get his whole middle off the bed using his shoulders and his right leg. Good stuff.
It also came up in conversation that Dad should find a shoe buddy--someone with whom he can share the other half of his shoes.
Bessie - I'm sure you have more to add..
comment away.
He did sit in the chair for a little over an hour this morning, and he arranged to change his pain meds - he didn't like how screwed up he was (and for how long) after the 6 percocets he had for the bandage change on Thursday. He was up all night Thursday night, and said he felt pretty weird most of the day on Friday. The upside: he slept like a baby last night. He called me at some ungodly hour in the morning to tell me so.
Tom and Bessie made the haul to Cleveland in spite of the nasty weather. They had a long visit; Dad was pretty tuckered out after all that talking, but was thrilled to see them. On her way out, Bessie mentioned what I've always thought to be true: you feel better about this whole thing after you've seen him.
He spent the rest of the day comfortably (if a little sideways in the bed at first)--I was with him for most of it. I went in around noon to give the crews some time with the roads (and spend some time with GiGi, too!), and drove home in the blinding snow with no real clue where the lane lines were.
Everything is lined up for him to start the PT program (the orders are written, etc), all we're waiting for now is a bed on the PT floor. The word is that will happen on Monday. He mentioned that when they were getting him back into bed this morning (no PT, so the nurses helped him rather than making him do the whole standing thing himself), he was able to help them adjust the pad by arching his back: he could get his whole middle off the bed using his shoulders and his right leg. Good stuff.
It also came up in conversation that Dad should find a shoe buddy--someone with whom he can share the other half of his shoes.
Bessie - I'm sure you have more to add..
comment away.
06 April 2007: Holy Cow!
Aunt Marsha and I went for a visit this morning. Dad had called her and said they were moving him down to the rehab floor within the hour. So of course we rushed over there only to find that the move would happen "sometime today."
We did, however, walk in to find him sitting upright in a wheelchair, and before we left, we watched Dad transition from the wheelchair to the bed. We are so proud!
We did, however, walk in to find him sitting upright in a wheelchair, and before we left, we watched Dad transition from the wheelchair to the bed. We are so proud!
06 April 2007: Bragging rights
I (erin) got spend a ton of time with Dad today (Thursday) - I didn't leave the hospital until after 11p. When I got to his new room the first time (a little after 5p), he was in the middle of a bandage change (more on that in a second), and when I went back later (after 7p) he said they'd given him like 6 percocets - he couldn't stop talking.
He asked me to reiterate how sincerely he appreciates everything: the cards, the pictures, the visits, the thoughts, the prayers, everything! He just runs out of words when trying to express his gratitude. He asked me again to make sure everyone knows he says, "Thank you and thank you and thank you."
He said the bandage change went really well. I was outside for a little bit when Dr. McDonald and Tammy (the Nurse Practitioner) were working on the bandages, and they were both really pleased.
That was apparently an understatement. This is Dad's account, bearing in mind that he was under the influence of pain meds (which he has been for most of these entries--he asked me to ask you to bear that in mind when reading all this stuff):
He said Tammy and Dr. McDonald were "like two girls in a cracker jack box" while they were checking over the grafted areas. They removed some staples and were thrilled at how well things were progressing. So thrilled, in fact, that Dr. McDonald called in some peers so they could check it out. Dad said he didn't mind being on display (even though it did hurt while they were rolling him around) because they were saying such morale-boosting things: basically, his skin is healing exceptionally well, and the grafts are textbook-perfect--even in the really tricky areas around the groin.
Between the percocets and the excellent feedback from the bandage changing, Dad was in a stellar good mood (and a chatterbox, as I mentioned earlier). What a great day!
He asked me to reiterate how sincerely he appreciates everything: the cards, the pictures, the visits, the thoughts, the prayers, everything! He just runs out of words when trying to express his gratitude. He asked me again to make sure everyone knows he says, "Thank you and thank you and thank you."
He said the bandage change went really well. I was outside for a little bit when Dr. McDonald and Tammy (the Nurse Practitioner) were working on the bandages, and they were both really pleased.
That was apparently an understatement. This is Dad's account, bearing in mind that he was under the influence of pain meds (which he has been for most of these entries--he asked me to ask you to bear that in mind when reading all this stuff):
He said Tammy and Dr. McDonald were "like two girls in a cracker jack box" while they were checking over the grafted areas. They removed some staples and were thrilled at how well things were progressing. So thrilled, in fact, that Dr. McDonald called in some peers so they could check it out. Dad said he didn't mind being on display (even though it did hurt while they were rolling him around) because they were saying such morale-boosting things: basically, his skin is healing exceptionally well, and the grafts are textbook-perfect--even in the really tricky areas around the groin.
Between the percocets and the excellent feedback from the bandage changing, Dad was in a stellar good mood (and a chatterbox, as I mentioned earlier). What a great day!
05 April 2007: Retraction
When I called Mike this morning to get an OR time, he told me that he was only going to get a dressing change...no plan for grafting. Where he got that idea?? Who knows!! He sounds great--lookiing forward to a visit from Rodney this morning and Erin this afternoon. (mls)
04 April 2007: Mike's new quarters
GiGi and Marsha(that's me) vistied Mike this morning and found Jenny at his side. Ruth had just left for the trip back to Maine--Mike will miss her regular visits. He was trying to get comfortable, but was having a hard time as the "drying" out of his donor sites although successful, was causing a lot of pulling and some pain. It's a little different having to share the room, but I guess the move to the new floor shows that he has reached some significant medical goals.
As we were there, the Resident Physician from the in-patient rehab unit stopped by to talk about his entry into the rehab program. Jenny and I went to the unit to take a look at it and met the recreational therapist, Kevin, who is wheel chair bound from a spinal cord injury. He took us through the unit and showed us some of the activities and pieces of equipment that will be used to allow Mike to move toward recovery.
Mike called later in the day to say he will be going to the O.R. tomorrrow for not only the anticipated dressing changes, but Dr. McDonald has decided to graft the areas (5%) on Mike's leg that did not "take". Mike has been incredibly brave through all of this and he is so apprecaitive of all the support, prayers, visits, etc. that helps him face these challenges.
I will be with Mike after surgery tomorrow and then Erin and Phyllis will arrive around 3:30. This should be the last of the surgeries. We are all hoping that he now begins to regain his strength so his rehab goes smoothly. (mls)
As we were there, the Resident Physician from the in-patient rehab unit stopped by to talk about his entry into the rehab program. Jenny and I went to the unit to take a look at it and met the recreational therapist, Kevin, who is wheel chair bound from a spinal cord injury. He took us through the unit and showed us some of the activities and pieces of equipment that will be used to allow Mike to move toward recovery.
Mike called later in the day to say he will be going to the O.R. tomorrrow for not only the anticipated dressing changes, but Dr. McDonald has decided to graft the areas (5%) on Mike's leg that did not "take". Mike has been incredibly brave through all of this and he is so apprecaitive of all the support, prayers, visits, etc. that helps him face these challenges.
I will be with Mike after surgery tomorrow and then Erin and Phyllis will arrive around 3:30. This should be the last of the surgeries. We are all hoping that he now begins to regain his strength so his rehab goes smoothly. (mls)
