7/27/2008

Carol is sleeping at the moment so I thought I would take a second and blog. Carol's mom stayed with Carol the last couple days/nights which seems to be becoming customary on the weekend, so I can spend some time with the rest of the my family. I try to bring both girls up here to see Carol, but it's a little tough. Safiya is easy, but all Chloe wants to do is run up and down the halls, touch things she shouldn't etc.

Carol had a bad couple days, with out much sleep. The nurses gave her some Ambien to sleep last night, and she finally got a good nights' rest. When I called her this morning, she was pumped to get things going. She said " I feel good, I want to get out of here, give me two months and I am good". By the time I got to the hosiptal she had tuckered out a little bit, but still determined. Funny what a little sleep can do for you.....

Apologies for not writing every day, there isn't a whole lot to write. She is very stable now, and it's just a get better kind of thing. She needs alot of TLC now though.....she get's hot then cold, then uncomfortable, doesn't like to be alone, needs ice, then her face cleaned, then her hair brushed, then her teeth brushed. etc. Plus she is getting very bored. I went and got some books on CD for her, but even then it is hard, becuase she can't press play, stop, rewind, etc. I think half of her needing so much right now is just to interact with someone. She wants to talk about things, anything. As I am writing this, that actually makes sense. I've been wondering why she wants all these things so much more than she normally would. I think she just needs interaction. We have had someone here at all times the last week, if I am not here. If she is alone for more than a half hour or so, she has one of the nurses call me to find out what's going on. So if you have been holding back on coming to see her, and have wanted too, now is a great time. I guess she has even said so today....

The physical therapy and occupational therapy on her hand and legs continues and she continues to progress there. I told her that once she can touch her head, which she almost can, I will program a bluetooth headseat so she can answer calls, and do voice command calls. It was funny, she immediately started trying to raise her hand to her head. She also sat up on her own for a couple minutes by herself today. So that was good....

As far as all the grafting goes..I will try and answer a couple question, and I apologize for a somewhat pissy post before. Basically Dr. Luu didn't think that enough quality tissue engineered skin could be made in a timely manner, plus it costly, how costly I don't know. My point was that I don't care the cost, I would make it work it out no matter what. I just wasn't presented with the option when I should have been in my opinion. I was looking through the blog, and we started talking about grafting as a real deal back on 6/15/2008. If we though it was going to be neccessary back then and the grafting takes 4-6 weeks to grow, why did we not start it then? I know it's not protocol, but it shows that when it comes to septic infection, there is not specific protocol. Just deal with the biggest deficit at the moment. Which, after living through this last month, I get. But I think this is an area in medicine where great improvements can/should be made. It is so rare though, training people could be a real issue.


Carol, is starting to eat a little bit now. We tried soup, grill cheese, a vanilla shake and applesauce for dinner. Went ok, but gave her a little stomach ache.

Anyway, I started this post a long time ago and forgot about it. Holler, if anyone has any questions. Carol will be at a new hospital, harborview at some point this week, most likely early in the week. I will post when and where, when I know for sure.


Thanks!!

scott