Stryker Brigade News

When we arrived in Scott's room this morning, we immediately began trying to get a shower chair so we could (finally!) get him in there. His hair hasn't been washed since the incident (Eeeeew!) other than the occasional washcloth and we all wanted to get it clean. Julie warmed him up a little with a bit of a leg stretch and then we sat him up. The hated helmet was placed on his head and the strap tightened. Tiffany and I helped him up to his feet and we slowly walked to the shower. Scott had some trouble with his right foot (dragging it a bit). He took a tentative step with it and then brought up the left. We got him into the chair and then Tiffany took over from there. While he was in the shower, Julie and I changed the sheets and got things ready. Scott got into regular hospital pajamas and is no longer in the gown thingy ("Thingy" is an inside joke, by the way, just treat the "y" as silent if you're not in on it.) He took off the top and fell asleep in this condition later tonight. He looked much better when he got back into bed. He still needs a haircut to even out the "do" he's sporting, though. I took some alcohol prep pads and cleaned off the glue from the various monitor tabs he's been wearing until recently. I need to get the ones off his back tomorrow. It's a little like getting bubble gum out of hair or carpet.

I said we needed to all get one of these helmets and wear them whenever Scott does. It would look like Team Thorne, or something. Hey, maybe when Scott gets to Minnesota he can get a purple cover (instead of the forest green color we have now) with some horns and blond hairbraids on it. No, wait, his brother, Dan, is the Vikings fan. Scott's a Dolphin's fan. Hmm. Dorsal fin? Needs work...

Not that Scott can't be polite, but his mother and I have noticed an increase in "thank you's" from him. We've also noticed an increase in finger extensions, so I guess it's a mixed bag. He has taken the hint (command?) to speak to staff as often as possible. They are able to understand him most of the time and are aware when they irritate him.

We were visited by the Physical Therapy Fairy this afternoon. I don't mean this as an insult, but she did appear to be more used to a much younger patient. I liked her work, though, and that's all that matters. Scott wanted to do more than she requested he do and that's a good sign, too. He even did some eye rolls at some of her comments.

Scott's been getting a lot of antibiotics through his peripheral IV lines (the kind you get in the back of your hand) and this has been causing him problems. This afternoon, they disconnected him from the PCA (allows Scott to press a button when he needs pain medicine) because of this. Just clearing the line with saline caused him some nasty pain, so it was decided to give him shots for pain until another IV could be put in. This was a painful process and a reminder that IV insertion is more art than science. The first nurse didn't get the job done, but a second later in the afternoon got it quickly and the equipment (including more antibiotics) were reconnected. A PIC line will be put in tomorrow sometime. It's not as intrusive as the sub-clavian (that collarbone IV thingy) line, but allows more flow than the hand thingy.

In between IV adventures, my friend Chris Carlson came to visit and to present some very nice hand-made "get well" cards from his wife's cub scout troop (Troop 995, if I recall correctly) and, more edibly, some homemade chocolate chip cookies. Chris has relatives in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area and has graciously offered to put them out in the snow so we can stay in their homes. Or something like that. Seriously, his offer (the real one) was very kind and we'll take advantage of it, should that prove necessary. Another nice reminder of "who your friends really are."

Scott was able to speak on the phone to his cousin and a high school friend who was visiting her. He speaks more slowly on the telephone and is a bit more distinct. We tried to call another distant location, but the intended recipient of the call won't be arriving at work until about the time I finish writing this.

Scott watched Beetlejuice again over about three or four hours with all the IV, naps, injections and visitors. When it was time for us to go to dinner, he gave me a big smile, a proper (right-handed) handshake and a hug. Julie said she got a "wonderful kiss good-bye." When we returned, he was sound asleep with the TV about twelve inches from his face and no top on. Julie wrote him another "good night note" and we slipped away.

ST