Stryker Brigade News

We've been explaining some of Scott's personality so the medical staff can get a response from him. For example, another doctor (who's really good, but got off on the wrong foot with Scott by denying him the liquid diet this past weekend) asked Scott how he's feeling and where he has pain. Scott just shines him on and answers yes to everything he's asked. Once we explained why Scott has to be so independent (successfully leading dismounted patrols in the middle of the desert requires someone who knows his own path) they all understood completely. This led to the request for a proper military introduction.

Back to the angiogram. It seems an artery leading to the parts of the brain currently impaired may be narrowed as a secondary result of the initial trauma. (Think of it as a shock wave bouncing back and causing trouble.) If the doctor opens this vessel up with a microballoon inserted into the spasming vessel, it may cause bleeding elsewhere down the line or it could fix everything. Think of it like opening up the water pressure to your house all the way and making small leaks much worse. Scott's symptoms resemble those of a stroke victim. The idea is not to complicate the stroke by making it bleed, too. The doctor's words: "It's like I'm on a tightrope and I'm working without a net." The good news here is the vessels looked better today (more contrast and more arteries visible) than in Friday's angiogram. Friday's was described to us as "normal" in that no blood vessels were damaged, but it was abnormal in that the contrast did not branch out like on the other side of his brain due to the vasospasm. Now we have a clear picture of the peril Scott is in. If he should suddenly lose the function he barely has now (some speech and movement of his right side), the doctor will need to widen the artery regardless of the consequences. This would be hairy. Should this not occur, the brain will eventually build more blood vessels to the hampered part like surface roads and detours springing up when a major artery is blocked in your town. This would be recovery.

Word of the day: "When?" asked by Scott when told he would have to wait for food until the doctor could evaluate his swallowing ability.

Tests up tomorrow: A PT (physical therapy, not training) evaluation in the morning and a radiologic study of his swallowing (the old barium milkshake?) in the afternoon. If he does well on the swallowing "test" he will be able to eat anything he desires (including the hearts of the bastards that shot him, should they be found). His mother reminds me that she has See's Candy to tide him over until those hearts can be located.

Pain management: Scott was on fentanyl and had a patch delivering said substance with additional shots available, if necessary. This was objected to by Scott who apparently thought (no, KNEW) the patch was a joke. He kept making the thumb pressing motion you make to operate a patient administered delivery device. He was changed back to morphine later in the evening and again was able to rest.

Bug report: All of Scott's lab tests have come back clear so we don't have to worry about him infecting us with something.

For some reason, Scott's brain is thinning out his blood so he's getting plasma and other goodies to help him. I know some of you have asked what you can do to help Scott out. I don't know that he needs specific blood products or donations to be made in his name, but there's somebody out there who could use it, perhaps a soldier or Marine. Won't you consider becoming a blood or platelet donor if you can? I suppose it won't hurt to mention his name as your reason even if it ends up in an accident victim or a child with leukemia. I've got credit for several gallons donated over the years because a child on a football team I coached years ago developed leukemia.

ST

September 28, 2004

Dear Friends,

Today was a much better day for us and for Scott than the previous two days. When we arrived at the ICU at Bethesda today, his bed was configured into a big chair and a very alert Scott was seated in it. He was awaiting a PT evaluation and our return. (We're currently staying at the Four Points Sheraton in Bethesda and the hospital can be seen from our hotel room window. I often gaze out at it in the middle of the night when I can't sleep.) We all gave him hugs and he kissed his wife and mother.

We have been wondering if Scott had any recollection of the ambush that caused his injury. Today, he volunteered to discuss it with us almost immediately after our arrival. He was aware of many of the details of who was where when the shooting started, but did not seem aware of all the results (we have not told him about the fate of SGT Demand or another soldier seriously wounded in the incident). The story telling seemed like a scene from Quest for Fire wherein one of the warriors relates his adventures, but it made perfect sense to us from his sound effects, gestures and the few words he could get out. He concluded by shaking his head slowly and sadly. We reassured him that his men still in Iraq were hunting for the perps.

Scott's head has been bothering him at times and we've been trying to discover exactly what is causing this. We know the stitches in his scalp are uncomfortable and he can't be happy about the large hole cut in the left side of his skull to allow the brain to swell outward without causing more damage. At times, he is persistent with the nurses about getting an injection to relieve his pain. They want him to extend the intervals a bit more all the time. Scott looks at them with narrowed eyes and asks "When?" They answer and he squints at the clock on the wall opposite him. He grunts his grudging approval at the nurse and goes back to his story. Some minutes later he looks at me, makes a "what time is it?" gesture with his left hand and narrows his eyes again. I answer with exactly how many more minutes it will be before the next injection and he shoots me a quick "thumbs up" and a respectful nod. Once he was not satisfied with the nurse's response when the time had passed and he let out a very distinct "You suck!" to the amusement of everyone.

I've been suspecting that Scott's hearing has been affected as he speaks (or emits noises in the attempt to speak) loudly and does not seem to be able to modulate his volume. He's used to shouting orders to soldiers over the din of battle, so his "YOU SUCK!" tends to make others look up and notice. Since we're all laughing, they slowly begin to understand why and smile at us as they pass by or go back to their tasks.

The "swallow test" this afternoon was passed very successfully so Scott was given a regular meal for dinner. He didn't like much of it (some mystery meat, alleged to be Pork, with rice and a weird squash-like vegetable), but he attacked the pears with relish. He has to have the bed raised so he is sitting in order to eat, but this tires him easily. I doubt he could have eaten it all, even if it had been something he found palatable.

The best news of the day was that Scott was nearing the end of this critical period of potentially life/brain tissue threatening vasospasms and may be able to return to Walter Reed soon. This is very good news indeed as the environment there seems more friendly to us and it will be like Paul Baumer's return to the main ward in All Quiet on the Western Front to Scott as he badly misinterpreted the need for the trip to Bethesda last Friday. It will mean another move for us (hotel number three), but we're getting good at this now.

Thanks for all your support and expressions of goodwill. I pass them on to Scott, but he still looks back at me like I'm nuts. You and I know the truth...

ST