Updates from Luke's Mom

He slept till 9ish would not wake up for early rounds, physical therapy had him sit on edge of bed(dangle) he had to be supported up right. He was told to reach out and touch my hand, he did with right hand but not left. They tilted him to his right and asked him to push himself up. He put out his arm/elbow and fired all the correct muscles to do it. Then they tried left side and he got a EXTREME look of pain, red faced. Could not do anymore, had to go back to bed. He got pain meds, but that makes him sleep too much during day. I have asked that they cut dose in half for day shift. later in day in chair for awhile, thumbs up, moving some muscles when asked. Lesley, Larry, Jesstina, and Kevin visited while I slept for awhile. after pain meds wore off he listened to conversations, Max got him going about weddings. Max gets to win all conversations for awhile. When we went to put Luke back to bed I helped and he reached for the black bar lift, so I moved it closer and he reached up and grabbed it, held for few seconds, to me it was forever. He had to get pain meds again and that put him out. When he is in pain he knits his eye brows together and his arms start to quiver.

When he was in bed 5 am with reposition he stirred for awhile and crossed left leg over right and stuck his foot into side rail and kept pushing on side rail. The other night he pushed on side rail on and off, kept moving till his toes/foot between the rail.

Good or bad- I am unsure- I can not read anymore on TBI, I have to believe good, Luke's more relaxed with his arms when he sleeps now. I know that ICP up and his muscles can spams in, for him it was his arms.

Luke woke up at 9 pm in time to get sleeper. but has not wanted to go back to sleep. Wanted mouth cleaned, wants brace off badly, but not happening, marched for awhile , did what nurse asked, when nurse asked if he wanted pain meds, I said lets ask him, he really scowls when in pain, so got pain meds back to sleep little after 11;00.

The doctors think he will be ready for rehab the end of next week. Mom is very happy, but very scared. The army has said they will take him to their rehab facilities. A transport coordinator has already been in touch with the d/c planner here. Still very unsure where he will end up. They are going to base this on reading the charts. Now if they only read the doctors notes, he is not doing well and may get less intense rehab, doctors do not have much hope for recovery, but if they see nurses they will see how much he does move and respond, they are at bedside longer that 3 minutes. I want the best most intense rehab possible for best chance for full recovery, not just warehoused somewhere. This is were I am scared I do not have any control and I will not be bedside anymore. Who is watching that he is doing rehab. I do stuff all the time when Physical therapy is not here. So did mom.

There is a place in Boson, but not Army, Walter Reed outside Washington, DC, there is a place in Atlanta Georgia, private and Army in Atlanta Georgia. Texas and Washington state also have a level 1 rehab. there are only 4 level one in the country.

So continue prayers, more healing of that brain, strong body, and pray for the best possible rehab place for recovery and give family strength to turn him over to the Army for this.

Update via Luke's mom

Luke is having a bad day. Not doing as asked did not want to open eyes even to sternal rub this am. This afternoon he opened eyes for awhile when I got here. seemed to be listening, but would not move. They did cover his trach for few minutes(not take out) to have him breath through nose and see if he would talk, but all he did was cough and sneeze. O2 dropped so back on o2 through trach. He did sit in chair today for awhile but did not tolerate as well.

Keep prayers for no seizures, continue healing the pnuemonia, and continue healing the brain, pray that Luke can continue to make progress and stay awake longer every day.

It is so hard after days of progress.

Tuesday's Update

From Aunt Jenny:

Today Luke's central line was removed, that was the IV that had been surgically placed for direct access and quick delivery into his bloodstream. He is left with a regular small IV on the back of his hand. The ventilator has been removed from the room He wears a cervical collar to protect and maintain proper neck positioning during healing.

and she posted this on Luke's Facebook (since not everyone can see her Facebook posts, she comments on his page):

Luke makes progress each day. Like the movie "What About Bob" They may be small baby, steps but my heart is full with each one because I know that each step on this mountainous journey is Luke climbing back to us. Thank you God for all your blessings! All your posts to Luke are being read to him and saved. I am making a book for him so he will know about the lost days and the outpouring of love and support.

Monday's Update. Can you say miracle?

Updates from Luke's Aunt Jenny:

With Luke at the hospital. I am so amazed and in awe of his progress. He was up in a chair today! He lifted each leg on request and was able to lift his arms, thumbs up, peace sign etc. When I rounded the corner to his room and saw him for the first time (since the accident) it was amazing :). His eyes are opened, he's making eye contact and "getting" my witty comments! Thank you God and the power of prayer.

I just had the most incredible experience with Luke. I bootlegged my Blackberry into Luke's room and went on Facebook, I read out loud to him all the wonderful encouraging posts that have been put on his wall (and other's). He smiled and I cried (of course!) Every one of the posts so heartfelt and loving, some even demanding! He looked concerned at one point and I said, "We almost lost you Luke" Here we are, day 10

Luke had a GREAT night, he was not put on the ventilator at all! The blood gases (that blood draw that almost took me down) came back great, I overheard the nurses saying that the ventilator could come out of the room, they would leave it in for a day just in case. He was not in any pain, very alert. Might have been my stimulating conversation lol.

Coos County Democrat Newspaper Article

The article can be found here: http://www.newhampshirelakesandmountains.com/Articles-c-2011-06-23-154187.113119-Whitefield-soldier-airlifted-after-car-crash-in-Whitefield.html

Sunday Update

Luke & his Dad

Posted as a Note on Facebook from Luke's mom:

They let Luke breath on his own 13 plus hours, now letting him rest and turn cpap back to vent. Spent most of day off Dex, fetanyl down to 50 mcg an hour. Started on oral pain meds through PEG tube. Hope to have off fentanyl all together overnight. Still having trouble with fevers. Opened eyes today multiple times, spit, and stuck his tongue out on command occasionally, earned mit to stop him from taking tubes out. He feels around til he gets one then pinches with thumb and finger and then pulls, I started range of motion with him, boy are his joints stiff, slowly ever so slowly, it is so important to have someone at bedside, that way he can exercise and not have his mitts on. I am home for few days to work, Gram Helen, Aunt Jenny, and dad will be there. I will still post up dates.

Pray for control of temperatures, fighting infection, healing of his brain so he can walk out of that place. Prayers and positive thoughts are working. His progress has surprised the nurses. We have to pray real hard now, his antanneas are out of his head, less reception

Love and thank you to all

And since I {Penny} am the one who tracks the family's PayPal donations and Lenore is the one who collects local donations from around town, We would both like to say thank you so much to Stacy.

The love, prayers and generosity of people across the globe is absolutely amazing.

I know some of you are following this blog via my personal blog or via Dawn's blog and for those of you who have expressed that you'd like to send something but don't have a PayPal or you express your regret that you don't have a PayPal... the most important thing, absolutely the most important thing is for everyone to pray for Luke and send lots of positive thoughts and good vibes.

Many updates today and last night

Updates from Luke's mother:

11:00am Luke had a restless night. They had to really medicate him to keep him still, so when came to do neuro this morning he was less responsive. Would only wiggle left toes when asked. Slight right toe but would not move hands.
Wednesday 5:37pm Luke just made the first, what the doctors will consider purposeful movement. Kept bringing both arms, left more than right up to chest area, The nurse suctioned him and he was more awake kind of panicking by gagging on tube. I said Luke calm down, he did she started to ask Luke stick up your thumb. Luke stuck up 2 fingers. He did it with left hand, and kept opening and closing fingers uncoordinated trying to grab.

He will get the trac so that he stops panicking with the tube so they can keep sedation lower. Remember the left is what they said would be paralyzed . I have been so concentrating on that side I guess I have to equal them out now.

Keep the prayers coming, purposeful movement when asked by the staff. Low ICP the time out of woods for that has not passed yet. He is in there we need low numbers so not to destroy the healing that has happened,

We were so hoping after Luke spent the night so restless with the vent that we could be on the list for today, but we can not, they have to do PEG, Trach, and change his central line to other side, they cultured it, it may be infected or contamninated at draw, so we will draw culture today and wait for culture and d change line Friday when doing all else. They do Peg right at bedside as well.

11:03am Need paryers for: Low ICP numbers, calmness, rest, rewire his brain, move when asked. Thumbs up, 2 fingers up, eyes open, wiggle toes.

12:40pm Came out to get positive energy and recharge while they turn Luke. Thanks to you all. Even though Luke moves for nurse the doctors will not agree because he does not move for them. I know Luke is in there, perhaps he is waiting for strength for that punch, take them by surprise. The doctors say they do not see improvements, boy are they ultimate pessimist.

4:40pm Luke has had a calmer day then night, he is in a real good sleep right now, he will get a trach on Friday, and feeding tube on Friday. His A line is red at site and they are not drawing as many artiial gases. So they are going to take out line and not put one back in at this point. Many residents in to see him. So lots positive thoughts are needed, they have too much neg energy.

... well that lasted all of 20 minutes. The residents decided to put a new A line in Right wrist.

On a personal note, and I'm sure the family would agree... Thanks to those that have donated. Every little bit helps.

Updates, Links, and a Reminder

The latest update posted just minutes ago from Luke's mom:

Luke is stable. They have tried to wean vent (breath for him) He breaths on his own, he always has just not enough due to sedation. they are using his brains carbon dioxide leave to keep his ICP down, when they turn off vent the numbers rose, so he still needs time to rest. he overbreaths the vent most of time now. it is just if he breaths in a little the vent forces the volume in he needs, so he will be getting the trach Thurs night or Friday, Unsure feeding tube timing. They have took away one machine today. I never understood it any way. it took map, BP, CPP, artirial pressure, and 2 other numbers did fancy callculations and spit out 6 numbers to read. the doctors watched but never said anything about. I asked once and was told all looked good. Only one number was low when first admitted.

He still has the attic sun on. fancy blue pants, temp control has been issue. normal with brain injury but also hard with pneumonia and sinus infection, his radio antannea will be their for awhile still. I am ok with that because it allows us to see his ICP. not just guess by how his other numbers are. It is so instant with his reaction to noise or cough.

They are keeping him more sedated today. Could be they are very busy too and do not have time to push prn fentanyl, I am ok with that he needs to sleep today he did not last night except for 2 hours.

**Also there is a prayer group on Facebook here, and don't forget there is a donation button in the sidebar over there ----->>> Luke's parent's are spending all their time in the hospital with him and the hospital is hours from home when they need to go home to see their other children or get something or like the other day: attend their only daughter's 8th grade graduation. Even if you only donate a single dollar it will help!

Many updates via Luke's Mom

Luke has had a restless night good and bad. His ICP stayed down even with moving. He moved his left arm tonight. May end up in mittens by morning.They started him on bunch of anitbiotic and he has a rash, so changed antibiotic again. So we will pray for the thumbs up sign, eye blinking, or the peace sign. These are what the doctors are looking for.

later...

funny story. Luke likes to chew-he is half billy goat. They have to keep a bite block in his mouth so that he does not bite tubes(3) in half. He had managed work it into his mouth. Respitory guy was trying to get it out futher. "Luke give it to me" luke would clamp down more. tried wiggling it, luke not giving up. He asked again and Luke moved his head side to side and back and then proceded to move bite stick further into his mouth like he was packing chew into check.

still later...

Weds the vent team will be coming around. all nurse and night doctor today have talked about putting a tracheotomy tube in his throat. They think they can lower sedation more if they do not have to worry about him biting tube in half. They fell with lower sedations they will get a better nero exam. They want to see how much of Luke is still in there. He has a sinus infection as well so they can not put a tube up his nose to stomach to feed him, so he will end up with a G tube as well.

Update June 21 2:49pm

Update from Rebecca in am, Luke had a quiet night, no need for extra meds. He moved his right arm and both legs to stimulation of pain. Moves his head side to side. His left arm did not move. The nurse did say things come and go with his moving and strength of each movement. They have downed his fentanyl some. So good that pressure is not going up. We still have till Friday to be the worse days.

Here is the new thing to pray over. Still keep low intercranial (head) pressure, now they are asking Luke to open his eyes or move arms or legs. Pray that Luke can follow their directions. Pray he opens his eyes, KEEP PRAYING.

Update 1:30pm June 20th

Update from Luke's mother is as follows:


"Keep prayers and good thoughts and love to Luke, what the doctors are worried about over the next few days till Friday is ICP, this can cause secondary injury to brain. So he is not out of woods yet. The doctors want to keep him asleep for brain to heal. There are alot of interventions that can be done but they all have side effects. My prayers are low ICPs and then his antennas out of his head."

Please keep praying for Luke!!! 

For non-believers... from Luke's mother

For those of you that can not believe here is what the good thoughts can be.There is doctor down here that keeps saying really bad things. I know the obvious. You can visualize Luke sitting up in bed and punching this doctor(tall, thin,crazy hair, white coat) right in face. Right fist right on the cheek. and saying "Is this purposeful enough movement for you?" "stop making my mother cry"