7:00pm
Andrew is continuing to improve neurologically. Tonight Andrew started on a trial of breathing entirely on his own and is passing this with flying colours; the breathing tube remains. We are hopeful that tomorrow the breathing tube comes out! It is looking good at this time. Then, he should be able to speak. I wonder what he will say...I have my bets on, "Go Bears". And on to that...someone used the acronym 'GAG' for, "Go Andrew. Go." Maybe it should be, "Go Bears"...Go On Beat Expectations Andrew Recover Soon!
Today we received beautiful flowers from Zach Vahalos and crew and also from the Cartwrights on behalf of the Nanaimo rowing community...thanks (they don't let us keep flowers in ICU but they are beautiful and will share our hotel room tonight!). Cal pulled some punches and got us a reduced hotel rate...thanks for that, and of course we have been floored by all the well-wishers both on the blog, email, phone calls and texts...WOW! One of the sophomore mums dropped by with yet another offer of lodging. We had Coach Teti and Zach come by...but Coach Teti excused Andrew from practice. What a great extended family. The support is truly uplifting and we are so grateful for everyone who is taking time out of their already overtaxed schedules to do all of this. It is hard on the grandparents, aunts and uncles and this support really helps them, too. Thank you. I think that we will print out all the comments, texts, and emails and put them on a big card...the modern version of those big cards that people sign. The modern age of technology and connectivity sure has made this process so much easier. I can't imagine dropping rolls of quarters in some hospital payphone in a noisy lobby like the days not long ago.
We have new nurses and staff rotating through...Jeanine is the queen of clean and organization. Rosa, head nurse hovers and oversees things and makes sure that everything is in order. There are also senior nursing folks from the hospital, in general, to make sure that we are being well cared for. Dr. Turner is the ICU night resident and he has helped reassure us that we can go home to sleep. This has become our second home for now and although you don't want to wander the streets after dark in this area, it is a pretty good second home considering the circumstances.
So many people to thank at this point. See you in the morning and let's hope for good news. It is going to be a busy day...I think that Marcie is going to lower her 'cone of silence', so don't be offended by few returned calls.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Day 4
11:00 am...83 hours
Andrew is making progress...yeah! Our slogan should be, "Go Andrew. Go!" Andrew had a restful night. His status is clearly improving. He continues to be sedated in the ICU. Because he had swelling in the brain, the idea is to ensure excellent blood flow and oxygenation of the brain so that healing can progress. To that end, he remains with a breathing tube and of course that is not very comfortable. He knows that Mum and Dad are by his side. He opens his beautiful hazel eyes and looks at us even though it is through the haze of the sedation. He is pretty sore everywhere as he had a big fall. He has cracked some of his solid frame but there is nothing to cast and everything is stable.
So today is a big day for Andrew...breathing, resting and getting closer to removal of the breathing tube. Go Andrew. Go!
 |
| Freshman Andrew at Cal |
 |
| Grandparents at Grad |
Andrew is making progress...yeah! Our slogan should be, "Go Andrew. Go!" Andrew had a restful night. His status is clearly improving. He continues to be sedated in the ICU. Because he had swelling in the brain, the idea is to ensure excellent blood flow and oxygenation of the brain so that healing can progress. To that end, he remains with a breathing tube and of course that is not very comfortable. He knows that Mum and Dad are by his side. He opens his beautiful hazel eyes and looks at us even though it is through the haze of the sedation. He is pretty sore everywhere as he had a big fall. He has cracked some of his solid frame but there is nothing to cast and everything is stable.
So today is a big day for Andrew...breathing, resting and getting closer to removal of the breathing tube. Go Andrew. Go!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Drop Box
Day 3.75
Andrew has made some more progress today.
Andrew and his older brothers, Fraser and Spencer last Spring.
Day 3
February 28, 2012
2:30pm
Some good news for Andrew today...he is off of sedation for his checks every couple of hours and this a.m. with reduced sedation he followed commands briskly (thumbs up on right hand and switching to two fingers quickly) and opened his eyes briefly. He had a repeat CT scan and things are stable. He is being weaned off of his sedation slowly and is starting to breathe on his own. The concern is his lungs and the need to get him breathing because he had a pretty severe bronchitis in January/February so that he can get his lungs healthy and avoid pneumonia.
As for California, we have many Cal people continue to support us... visiting, driving us, getting the things that we need ... so very thankful. We taxi back to the hotel at night and back in the a.m. This hospital is much like where I trained...a inner city county hospital that sees a lot of high-level medical problems, and, especially trauma.
We have continued great care here starting with Dr. Moure, our neurosurgeon, his crack intern Dr. Chin who is keeping it straight and staying on top of things, our nursing staff Rodney, Patricia, Ellen and the other teams of respiratory, dietary and social workers. It takes a lot of caring people to make you better in this kind of a situation and we remain so thankful for all of this.
Andrew's brothers are holding their own and appreciate the help from their friends as they struggle with this. Spencer is holding his focus on his rowing and Fraser on his school as Andrew would want them to.
Also, thanks for the comments on the blog page. We are so grateful for all of the warm wishes and support.
Steve and Marcie
2:30pm
Some good news for Andrew today...he is off of sedation for his checks every couple of hours and this a.m. with reduced sedation he followed commands briskly (thumbs up on right hand and switching to two fingers quickly) and opened his eyes briefly. He had a repeat CT scan and things are stable. He is being weaned off of his sedation slowly and is starting to breathe on his own. The concern is his lungs and the need to get him breathing because he had a pretty severe bronchitis in January/February so that he can get his lungs healthy and avoid pneumonia.
As for California, we have many Cal people continue to support us... visiting, driving us, getting the things that we need ... so very thankful. We taxi back to the hotel at night and back in the a.m. This hospital is much like where I trained...a inner city county hospital that sees a lot of high-level medical problems, and, especially trauma.
We have continued great care here starting with Dr. Moure, our neurosurgeon, his crack intern Dr. Chin who is keeping it straight and staying on top of things, our nursing staff Rodney, Patricia, Ellen and the other teams of respiratory, dietary and social workers. It takes a lot of caring people to make you better in this kind of a situation and we remain so thankful for all of this.
Andrew's brothers are holding their own and appreciate the help from their friends as they struggle with this. Spencer is holding his focus on his rowing and Fraser on his school as Andrew would want them to.
Also, thanks for the comments on the blog page. We are so grateful for all of the warm wishes and support.
Steve and Marcie
Monday, February 27, 2012
Day 2
7pm
Andrew remains in a chemically-induced coma and we are about 31 hours after the accident. Today, Andrew has held his own. He continues to get excellent care and we are grateful to the doctors and nurses looking after him. The next 36 hours is going to give us a better idea of where we are headed.
Today, we had a chance to get together with his teammates with the help of Wyatt and let them hear what is going on with Andrew and piece together events of the fateful day. Cal parents, Janet and Cindy came by today with goodies and support. Others came by including the teams' physician, the athletic director linked to rowing....so many others from Cal and back home have let us know their love and support. For all of that we are truly grateful.
It can be hard for some to communicate in these difficult situations. So I will try to keep this blog going. Feel free to let people know about this blog.
Steve and Marcie
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Day 1
February 26, 2012
Marcie, Steve, Spencer and Fraser are so very sad to report that Andrew is in critical condition in a California hospital after an accident a few hours ago. Andrew fell and suffered a significant head injury. His mum and dad are there by his side. His injury occurred just after midnight February 26th. Mum and Dad were able to be there within a few hours by a stroke of luck.
What we can tell you is that Andrew is being well-cared for and is in an Intensive Care Bed. He is being sedated and now we will have to wait and see what the next few days will bring.
Some thanks are in order starting with Carl and Todd who have closed down the Tofino cabin after our mad dash to Nanaimo, some friendly Air Canada folks who helped us get a ticket quickly, the lady at US customs who broke the rules to let us to the front of the line and is now probably being disciplined for breaking protocol, Wyatt, freshman coach, for being there when we arrived at the hospital and other Cal Berkeley staff who are helping out, Morgan for our house sitting and finally, all of the friends and family who have offered their support including lodging, meals and even vehicles.
With so many family and friends, we hope that this blog will keep everyone up to date and become the main source of information for our precious son, Andrew.
Marcie, Steve, Spencer and Fraser are so very sad to report that Andrew is in critical condition in a California hospital after an accident a few hours ago. Andrew fell and suffered a significant head injury. His mum and dad are there by his side. His injury occurred just after midnight February 26th. Mum and Dad were able to be there within a few hours by a stroke of luck.
What we can tell you is that Andrew is being well-cared for and is in an Intensive Care Bed. He is being sedated and now we will have to wait and see what the next few days will bring.
Some thanks are in order starting with Carl and Todd who have closed down the Tofino cabin after our mad dash to Nanaimo, some friendly Air Canada folks who helped us get a ticket quickly, the lady at US customs who broke the rules to let us to the front of the line and is now probably being disciplined for breaking protocol, Wyatt, freshman coach, for being there when we arrived at the hospital and other Cal Berkeley staff who are helping out, Morgan for our house sitting and finally, all of the friends and family who have offered their support including lodging, meals and even vehicles.
With so many family and friends, we hope that this blog will keep everyone up to date and become the main source of information for our precious son, Andrew.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)