The blessing of today was three (count them....three) spontaneous eyes open (notice the plural on that eyes) experiences.   Usually a move prompts the eye opening but today she just did it herself.

Granted it is for seconds but Hey!  we take it and we rejoice and we praise God and then we anticipate the next item.   

Her left eye swelling is so reduced and Josh did a beautiful job softening up the gunk --- so much so that it was able to open.

Her temp is steady.   No antibiotics today....   She was up in the cardiac chair for 5 hours and at one point has all three seat belts unharnessed either through unhooking, squirming, or wiggling.   She is back in bed now and pretty zonked out.   

Someone asked about our schedule:  We finally moved to a somewhat shared schedule.   Josh and I agree that when she does wake up one of us should be with her....of course, we want it to be both of us but we just get too tired.   With some encouragement, Josh sleeps out of the hospital every other night and so do I.   We spell each other during the day doing exercises, running errands, answering emails, writing updates.   We are suppose to go home, sleep without an alarm and come in when we wake up.   Sometimes you just wake up and are re-living the nightmare phone call.   Sometimes you wake up with a peace-filled feeling of the last accomplishment she achieved.   What an unexpected adventure.

I have dubbed today Playful Angela Day

Ang spent four hours in the cardiac chair.   This means they roll her onto a bed with three seatbelts:  one at the bust, one at the hips, and one at the ankles and then sit her up.   So, we are busy reading, singing, talking and she is fidgeting.   All of a sudden she unsnaps the top seatbelt.   Thinking this is a fluke, I rebuckle it and wait.   Sure enough, the little scamp unbuckles it again and yet again....  OK by this time, I am clued in that she does not want the top seat belt buckled.

On our day goes.  

After her IV has completed, the nurse puts on her white boxing glove and lets her right arm roam free for a bit.   She is stretching and exploring and feeling everything.  The doc says she is in her tactile exploration phase and we can really see it.

After a bit, the glove comes off and she is loosely restrained.  The next thing I see is her right arm extending the fingers of her left arm just like we do for her exercises.   She was being so gentle with her fingers, it was touching to watch.

A bit later, she is playing with a bean bag fish that the nurses gave her in ICU.   She has been crunching that fish for days now but today she decides she wants to taste it.   In her mouth it goes.   She nibbles fin, tail, and nose almost gleefully.   I could not help but laugh out loud.

Finally, she is back in bed and settled down.  Has a bit of a nap and then Josh tells me to look.   She has snagged the fish's tag and is twirling the fish by the tag first in one direction and then in the opposite direction with the funniest little grin on her face.   Josh and I could only just marvel and the playfulness of the little imp.  

Thought you would enjoy sharing this.

Many of you have asked about the level of unconciousness and what it all means.   I can tell you that the information they gave us to read calls the scale the Glasgow Coma Scale.   The book I got explains the 10 levels from coma to "normal" and what to expect in each stage.   As I said earlier, Ang is considered to be between stage 4 and 5 moving towards 10.   

She is not 'awake'.   She does not always focus when she opens her eye (soon to be eyes because the swelling in the left eye receeds daily).  When she does focus it is for seconds at a time.   She is tracking more when the flashlight checks her eyes.   She has a lot more rapid eye movement when her eyes are closed.   

She vocalizes by making some sounds but the sounds are not decipherable (although there are moments when we believe we hear all kinds of things).

Love,

Teresa 

restraint:  being in the hospital requires a large degree of restraint.   I want to scoop her up and take her someplace safe, someplace where lights don't blink and beeps don't sound and she is peaceful -  but that is not possible right now.   

Ang is in an agitated state where she kicks alot.  Her blankets, sheets, and pillows are often on the floor.  Her right arm is restrained so will not pull out her feeding tube.  She wiggles and wiggles until the restraint threatens to come off.   So, they put a soft, white, plush boxing glove on her and she wiggles right out of that too.   She alternates a soft boot with a hard boot on her feet to assist in keeping maximum flexion capabilities on her ankles and to prevent  skin blisters from rubbing.   Guess?  She not only wiggles out of the soft boot, sometimes she finds a way to stick both feet in together.   

Last night she wiggled herself way down in the bed so they are talking about seat belts in the bed....sigh.... more restraint.....

I fear I am losing my restraint and will just begin screaming.   BREATHE.... PRAY....  Thank God for the blessings.....  

Right now, she sleeps peacefully with nothing moving except good even deep breathing.... time for a nap.

Someone asked me what a "normal" day is like.   Let me tell you what we have come to expect.
About 5:30am a student/resident comes in and makes a visual review taking notes for the checkin.   
About 6:30am the Ortho arm team arrives and assesses the status of her broken arm/elbow.   Next the wrist team arrives and assesses.   About 7:00am the night nurse checks in one final time and then runs off to the transition meeting with the day team.   The aides do a room/room handoff with night staff prepping day staff on who needs a bath, who had what bodily functions occur, who gets rotated next, etc.  About 8:00am the day nurse shows up and takes vital signs, check out what is going on and lets us know what we might expect if anything unusual is planned:  sitting in the chair, seeing the speech pathologist, etc.   About 8:30 the General Surgery team arrives and checks her incisions, asks how her night was, and generally corroborates all that was heard in the transition meeting.

We are then pretty much on our own for exercises, changing her boot for her foot, brushing her hair, etc.   About 10am someone arrives to do something and before you know it, it is 1:00pm.   Again we typically have an hour or so to brush teeth, do exercises again, read to her, or something.   During the week there are people to talk to, arrangements to make, insurance calls, talking to the police, answering phone calls, writing emails, etc.   Another vital sign check about 4:00pm.   Shift change occurs at 7:00pm with the night nurse coming on and the same transition meeting occurs only passing day to night.    Then a 10pm check, a 1:30am check, a 3:30am check and before you know it, it is 5:30 again.

Some of the tests they do include:  blood work, tummy gas work, medications, checking to see if the contents of her stomach are processing, blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, pulse, and activity levels.

Tonight is my night at the hospital so I am going to grab my first nap.

Gnight. 

Hello,

Sorry I couldn't post yesterday.  Sometimes there is more desire than energy.  All is about the same.   Her white blood count keeps going up and down.   Today her temp was the lowest yet so the new antibiotics are doing well.   The nurse called herself the "hospital mosquito" yesterday because they keep taking blood to culture to see if they can find the infection.   More results due tomorrow.

Today they got her up in a chair.   It is a bit disconcerting to see her slumped over and seat belted into a chair.   I try and make up stories about her 'resting' but when the nurse said "talk to your momma", I got a bit overwhelmed.   I would give a lot to have her "talk to her momma".

I know you worry when you get no news but please know that if things change.... I will let you all know.   Josh and I read your posts everyday and we read them to Angela too so know you are loved and blessed.   You can always ask me a question in your post and then I will know more what you might want to hear about.   Course if one of you has a question, I am certain all you of you do.  

Teresa

Another test passed!  The eye doctor just dilated her eyes and looked deep inside.   Said she passed with flying colors.   Her baby blues have sustained no injury.

The white blood count is remaining stable.

Her head is rolling back and forth more and more.   

Now, we focus all on healing the brain.   


Love,  Mom 

I have to admit that the last couple of days have been extremely difficult.   When the surgeries were over I wanted Ang to jump up and shine in my heart of hearts.  But- it is not my timing nor is it my plan.  I can’t begin to tell you all how much I miss my amazing wife.  She is doing so awesome, but sometimes it is easy to lose perspective when you look forward more than a day. 

I met with Pastor Adam this morning for a Bro-down / meltdown session.  We went to St. James Cathedral near the hospital.  I had never been there before and am looking forward to returning with Ang to tell her about the experience. I read Psalm 139 with Adam through tears of sorrow and heartache for my wife and it was calming.

Being a dude, I found some peace in the following scripture and wanted to share. 

Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Your thoughts and prayers strengthen our shield and sharpen our sword.  This has truly been a battle for my beautiful wife and our family.  Please continue to pray for Angela and our family boldly and diligently.  I cannot begin to express in words the power of your prayers and the little miracles that the Lord blesses us with every day.

I have wept and wept trying to understand why this has happened.  I have been angry with God and gone through the gamut of “why’s” and “what-if’s”.  BUT- I know that the Lord will finish the good work in Angela that he started.  I know that she belonged to Him first, but I am right behind Him in line waiting to see her beautiful eyes light up the room once again.

This has been and will continue to be a long and arduous road. I cannot imagine being on it without all of your support. Every second that we have with the people that we love, and every breath we take, is simply a gift extended to us by the grace of God.

We should have another update tonight, but I wanted to let you all know how much we love and appreciate you all. 

With love and blessings-

Josh

“Awake, O sleeper, rise up and Christ will shine on you.”

UPDATE:  The Speech and Pathology lady came by this morning.  Ang passed the "swallow" test and was deemed a good candidate for eating. Kind of makes you laugh a bit doesn't it?   The lady said Ang had good oral care and Ang followed some simple, basic commands from the lady  like swallow and clear your throat.  I was a bit surprised she would not stick out her tongue when the lady asked but she did do some big yawns so the lady could look at her mouth and tongue.

The lady gave Josh and I Guides for Patient and Family on Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI's).   Josh is reading it now and I will read it soon. Ang is between level 4 and 5 on a 10 level scale.   

Right after that lady left, the Ortho doctor came in and removed her cast for a splint.   He was pleased with her progress and is ready to start adding her wrist to the things that get exercised.

Right after that the Physical Therapy lady came in and did all her range of motion exercises - which Ang passed with flying colors on her right side and with 'good improvement' on her left side.

Whew!  What a morning.

Another restless night but YOUR PRAYERS WORKED, they said her white cell count is holding and all the cultures so far show no infections.  While they are not done testing, they are more positive with each test.   

My child looks like a pincushion.   Seems every time one turns around someone needs to poke her for something.   You think they would think of a way to all use the same sample and only poke once. Just a teeny bit of complaining.....

Today, we need your prayers for Josh.   It all seems so daunting and overwhelming.   While he knows the Lord in in charge, sometimes that old tempter introduces doubt and trepidation.   Pray to keep the devil away. 

As a Mom, I thought I was lucky to have Josh for my girl.   I am learning and growing in finding out what am amazing man he is.

Teresa  

Hey everyone,

I don't have too much new to report other than today was a day of rest and healing for Ang.  She opened her eyes a few more times today, which is so wonderful.  She's still moving quite a bit, and loves to have her hand held, especially by Josh, and boy does she have a tight grip!  

A praise that Josh got some good rest last night, and prayer for rest tonight, both for him and Teresa, and that Ang would have a peaceful night.  I know they appreciate all of your prayers, and enjoy reading your comments on this website.  You are all very encouraging.  :) Until tomorrow...

Lucy 

Ang's morning report was good.   So far no infections can be found! ! !    A few more tests results are expected but the first ones are clear.   

She is becoming more interested in getting the tube out of her nose.   She has begun picking up her head to get closer to her hand.  Even when we make the restraint on her hand shorter, she just lifts up her head higher.   

Physical therapy says we have to work her harder and make her do more exercises.   They are already moving her plated elbow and stretching out her fingers on the broken left arm.   Not like in the old days when they just set it and left it be.

The face doc again said the face looks good.   Pretty swollen today but that was expected by everyone but her Mom.

She had a restful night with only one small dose of pain meds so we all got some much needed sleep.

You are all AWESOME to work with us to help heal this miraculous child of mine.

Teresa 

A tiny moment of quiet....  Angela is resting comfortably.   The doctor just left saying the surgery looked good.   The incisions are great.

Ang had lots of tests today to check for infections.   We shall see what those produce....   

Hallelujah that all the surgeries are completed.   Doctors continue to monitor her progress and her bruising and swelling continue to subside.   She can get quite active kicking and pushing her legs.  Today she helped me rub lotion into her legs and hand.   I would put lotion on her leg and she would rub it in.   I so enjoyed having her know where the "cold" sensation was and how to knead it right into her skin.    Oh, the little things we grasp on.

More soon.   P. S.  I will be a Grandma tomorrow when Ang's brother is blessed with his little bundle.   Ang will be an Auntie on this side of the family for the first time.  Of course she is already an experienced Auntie on Josh's side of the family.

Teresa 

Exciting morning.

• While being moved from her bed to the gurney for transport to surgery this morning, Angela opened her eyes. Wide. As Josh puts it, "you could see her baby blues." Not only were they open, but she was tracking around the room. Then they had to sedate her for surgery.
• Surgery went well. They repaired her cheek and also repaired the area around one of her eyes. To repair the eye socket area, they were able to go in through an existing incision to further reduce scarring.
• Following the surgery, she was extubated again and now she is resting.

Please continue to pray for her healing and recovery as everyone is anxious for the sedatives to wear off and have her open her eyes again.

Pray that she would continue to fight any potential infection.

Also be in prayer for Josh, Teresa, and Marian that they might be able to find rest.

Phil 4:6 - And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We need prayers that the white blood count goes down and stays down.

A slowly increasing white blood count indicates infection and all kinds of stuff has to be added to an already busy regime for Ang.

Thanks for all the prayers....

Mom 

This is the first minute I had to update....  Angela had a fantastic day.   No pain meds.   No sedation.   She is steadily improving. 

She gave Josh two more 'thumbs up' later in the day.  She is so connected to him and will do anything for him.   He is asking for open eyes and she will flutter....  we are so hopeful.

I think I already told you that her neck brace came off today.   She tolerated it well.  She can swallow.   She can cough.   She can stick out her tongue....all necessary for breathing.   YAHOOO  and praise the Lord.   The brace has remained off.   Never tell her I told you this but the little one may have developed a double chin!

Tomorrow should be her FINAL surgery.   Her left cheek has to be replaced with titanium.   Please pray that nothing else needs to be fixed once they get inside.   The doctors all talk about what might happen but no one knows until they go inside.   Fortunately they are using a procedure that should leave no scar.   Probably pain and discomfort but we shall see.

We know you are all with us on this journey and we know it is hard for you to honor the request to limit visits, calls, etc. We also hope you know how much we appreciate it.  

Please know that as soon as we can, we will have jobs and requests and sugestions on how you can help.   The doctors keep reminding us that this may be a long, long road.   We will need each and every one of your helping hands.   Thanks for helping right now by keeping them folded in prayer.   

All my love as I fall into bed.

Teresa

Keep up your prayers.   Today, she lifted up her thumb when Josh asked her to.   She did this three times in a row.  We are VERY excited.

She also fluttered her eyelids open for Josh this morning.  No eyes focused yet but the lids opened.   

Her heart rate remains LOW.   
What a roller coaster....

Teresa 

More updates:  Ang got her left wrist casted.   They started physical therapy and her left arm tolerated shoulder, extension, flexion, and wrist movement on the left with considerable more motion on the right.   Josh and I got to learn how to do the physical therapy so we will work with her.   The therapist said it was great if the family could assist.   Josh jumped right in and did the first leg exercises.   

Pray for her brain to function.  Josh needs his girl back.

More soon. 

Well, one step forward  but baby, baby steps.   The incision on her tummy from having her spleen removed is healing beautifully.   That was the first piece of news this morning.  She has staples from mid tummy to lower tummy.   They leave these in for two weeks.

Then, the ICU team comes by.   They are so pleased with her progress that they will most likely kick her out of her very soon.  This is a blessing that things are improving and a fear because she won't be monitored as closely when we move.

Her neck brace came off to move to the next level and make sure she protects her airway.   With tube feeding, she gets to relearn which tube to use for swallowing and which for air a tiny bit slower.  The Doc says eating takes a lot of coordination = good thing Ang is motivated to eat.

With the neck brace off, it is easier to see her little sunken cheek.   This will get fixed tomorrow in a surgery expected to take about 2 hours.

The BIG deal is still no response to commands.   She "cries" more now so it is harder to listen and know she hurts.   


Well, maybe more than you wanted to know but that is this morning's update.

Mom 

Ang got her heart rate down to 100 today.   This is great!  It has not been below 128 since we arrived! ! !   Another milestone.

She still is not coughing as much as we would like but everyone is watching her and helping suction out her mouth.   Sitting up makes it a bit better but drops her chin forward which is still not as stable as we want.   

They started physical therapy on her left arm today and she showed no discomfort when they raised it up over her head - meaning the shoulder is not stiff - she also tolerated the extension of all of her fingers.  We got some wincing and resistance when closing some of the fingers into a fist but the therapist said it was a start.   The PT therapist even let me do it which makes me feel useful!! ! !

Ang got her hair washed and braided and her toenails painted.   The nurses do all kinds of things to keep up the spirits of the family members.   Josh grinned when he saw her feet! ! 

We have had EXCEPTIONAL care from the ICU staff.... doctors, nurses, aides, housecleaning, supply stocking, etc. etc.   May you never have to use their services but if you do, they are wonderful.

More tomorrow.

Teresa 

It has been a roller coaster of a morning.  We have seen her move her left side - which is good!  She is generally quite restless and agitated.

They sat her up in a trauma chair for a couple hours this morning which helped her coughing and got her heart rate pretty high.   We would put the pillow under her feet and she would kick the pillow off.  
She got the oxygen out of her nose and they are just starting to resume her tube feeding.  We know how Angela likes her food!

Now, we just need her to WAKE UP!  It is the next step.

Physical therapy started this morning on her arm.  They said her fingers were flexible and so is her shoulder...all good news.   Can you tell I grasp the good news with both arms!

More later.   

Well, today was a HUGE day.   The breathing tube was removed and Angela is quickly re-learning how to "protect her airway".   She has always passed her self-breathing tests for the past three days but today it lasted a lot longer than the 1/2 hour test.   

She did not get to eat today even through her tube so we can only imagine how much this displeased the little one.   She does love to eat.

All of her vital signs remain well within all bounds and hold quite steady  BUT  we still await her returing to conciousness.

Keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Teresa 

Today, Angela had surgery to repair the many breaks in her left arm.  Physical therapy is scheduled to begin on Monday.  Doctors are eager to get Angela's shoulder and arm moving to maximize mobility now and in the future.

We are still anxiously awaiting for the breathing tube to be removed and for Angela to regain conciousness.  

Please pray for these two things to happen VERY soon!!!

More later.... 

TEST