by Chris Adams | Sep 5, 2014 | Uncategorized |
Yesterday I had the pleasure of accompanying Allison on the drive out to visit Vernon in Brea. I am in the lucky position to be able to work from the passenger seat on occasion and from the waiting room. I hadn’t seen Vernon in 2 weeks. I was also lucky enough to go rock climbing with The Maki for about three hours that evening.
I’ll keep it real short. First, my visit to Brea.
– Vern could communicate with yes and no nods of his head.
– Vern can speak, apparently quite a bit to the speech therapist (not while I was there because he didn’t have the proper valve)
– Vern still has a sense of humor
– Vern is moving his left arm and leg a lot, his right side is a bit behind the left
– Vern can sit up very well, not completely on his own.
I was extremely impressed with Vernon and his progress. I can’t imagine what it will be like soon when he can actively communicate through speech.
NOW, onto another highlight of my week…the rock climbing gym. A few highlights.
– I am apparently still out of shape, walking into the gym doesn’t change that…news to me.
– also news to me…on a route difficulty scale of 0-6, 2 is nearly always too difficult for me
– In truth I am more capable that I expected
– hanging out with Maki is a lot like hanging with his witty old man
So, my takeaways from yesterday.
– I can’t wait to grind out a few more routes with Vernon & Maki, these guys are both on the upward swing and I’m stoked to be able to hang around with both of them
by Chris Adams | Jun 30, 2014 | Day by Day, Uncategorized |
On Thursday I stood on the top of Mt. Whitney at 14,508ft. I was higher than every land-bound person in the lower 48 at that moment. On the long journey up (and down) my heart was filled with anxiety, joy, sadness, fear and a million other emotions. My mind raced as I tried to calm my senses and bring my feelings and reactions under control lest I miss a step and tumble thousands of feet off a switchback. I thought of Vern. I spoke to God. I expressed my fear and frustration to Him. I looked to other familiar faces on the trails for encouragement and I encouraged other hikers who looked like they needed a helping hand.
I returned late Friday night and was able to make it in to see Vernon on Saturday.
Vernon had his eyes open as he stared at the ceiling. He was sweating. Breathing quickly. His heart rate was elevated. Vernon looked like I felt while standing on a 2 ft wide ledge thousands of feet above the ground…with a storm approaching. Except Vernon was in the storm. An intense storm.
A portion of TBI patients experience “sympathetic storming”. You can google the term and read a lot about the cause and effects. Essentially the brain goes into a state (referred to as “storming”) that causes the body to react to the trauma by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, etc. The treatments for storming vary based on the specific symptoms, but much like hikers seeking a summit they must wait for the storm to pass.
Vernon is working through the process, trying to find a way out of the storm.
Allison and I spoke about it and equated the process to the spinning pinwheel you get on a mac when the resources are tied up and the system needs relief from the tasks at hand.
Vernon needs prayer for the storming to subside, the brain to heal, his reflexes and reactions to return. He needs God’s healing and peace.
Pray for God’s mercy and healing.
by Chris Adams | Jun 20, 2014 | Day by Day, Uncategorized |
Hi All, this has been a heavy week. Vernon is completely off sedation and this time tomorrow he will be off pain medications and onto methadone which is easier to get off later.
I will be heading out of town for next week at an extremely critical time for Vernon and the family. I’ve been told I have to go and I am heeding that advice.
My thoughts and prayers will be with you all and most of all with Vernon.
Listen everyone, Vernon needs a significant push of prayer.
We need to lobby the big Man upstairs in a significant way. Vernon needs healing in his brain. He has shearing that needs to be repaired by the Master Surgeon. Going forward the assessment of Vernon will continue in earnest and the family is going to need support from friends as the path before them continues to illuminate.
Please continue to reach out.
Maki, you are missed already man. Hope you guys aren’t too jet lagged!
by Chris Adams | Jun 12, 2014 | Day by Day, Uncategorized |
15 breaths per minute…the speed established by the ventilator.
22 breaths per minute…actual breath taken.
Based on the math Vernon was taking 7 gulps of air on his own accord when I saw him briefly today.
His breathing isn’t strong enough, deep enough or sustained long enough yet…but he is starting to get his lungs under him again.
The pelvis surgery went well. The doctor was satisfied with the patch job after an hour and a half.
According to the nurse he will continue to stir more and more as they reduce the meds every 12 hours.
The kidney tests are improving, though still not in the range they should be.
by Chris Adams | Jun 11, 2014 | Day by Day, Uncategorized |
Allie asked me to put up tonights post. She provided the pictures, I’ll do the narration.
Vernon has been in a medical induced coma for 19 days. I’ve been trying to make it in as much as possible to see the old boy and do anything I can to help.
It just so happens that I missed the 9th and I wandered in around 5pm on the 10th. As I peered across room 6 I noticed there was a few things missing. The three items that measure oxygenation, pressure and drain fluid from his brain. Gone. Not only that but Vernon looked thinner. Water weight. Gone. They have pulled 3.5 liters a day out of Vernon’s blood through dialysis over 10 days now.
I asked the nurse (who I didn’t recognize) about what I noticed and she shrugged, somewhat nonchalant…”oh yes, they took out his ICP and ventric today. They’ll start waking him up tomorrow.”
It’s funny how the nursing staff can be so direct in their delivery before you get to know them.
As tears welled up, I laughed and sat on the bench listening to the typing of the nurse, the beeping of the machines and the peaceful in and out of the ventilator. Laughing quietly.
What a day it was yesterday.
Tomorrow is another very big day. They will be performing the pelvis surgery. It is a big surgery and it’s not to be taken lightly. There are a lot of very big arteries and veins they will be working around.
Pray for success in this surgery. The outcome of this surgery will have a huge impact on future mobility and comfort.
Vernon is continuing to receive dialysis and they are reducing his medication levels every 12 hours.
Pray he remains stable during the surgery tomorrow.
