Category: AtlantiCare

Update. 4:30 pm 3.22. So sometimes no news is good news. Sometimes no news is no change. Bobs drain was removed from his brain this morning. There was no swelling so it was important to remove it to cut down the risk of infection. For my “This is Us” fans, he looks a whole heck of a lot like Toby (and I think he’s adorable). I’m working on getting him an iPod to play music for him. He’s listening on his cell phone now, but when I leave I’m taking that with me. When I started Brad Paisley, he bobbed his left shoulder up one time. Which for those who know him well, realize that that’s the extent of his dancing. 😊 He also used his right index finger to wipe a bead of sweat from his nose. I see that as purposeful movement, even though it wasn’t on command. They repositioned his breathing tube bc it was comping out and put a teeth separator in there bc he had been biting down on it. He has had a few more fevers. Could be that the temperature regulator part of his brain is damaged or that he has a sinus infection. He’s been giving amatadine which is used to wake people from comas. Dr. Ali (trauma doc) told me this morning “this type of injury is extremely difficult in our microwave society. All we can do for him now is to provide supportive care and watch and wait”. I’m having a hard time with that. He also told me to take care of myself so I will be sleeping in a house with a bed tonight and might even get to see my son for a little bit. I’ve been working hard to keep all of the “plates” spinning. Advocating for Bob, finding care for Michael and the baby, paying bills, managing bobs computer business, worrying about a flooded basement since we lost power, insurance and car rental, work, etc. but my brother in law pointed out “Remember some of those plates that you’re juggling some of them are Styrofoam some of them are paper you don’t have to keep them all in the air. Some of them can fall and theyll l be completely fine we can pick them up later. You stay strong take care of yourself so you can be there for Bob. Whatever you need we are here. I love you and tell Bob I love him.” We’re gonna be ok. It’s been a life changing 48 hours. We can do this. Bob is strong and he’s a fighter. Please keep praying. All our love, karen and bob

Update from around 4 pm. Met with the neurosurgeon. He has a DAI to his brain which is causing him to continue to sleep. DO NOT GOOGLE THIS. I just did and it was a bad bad bad decision. 😳 His age and the fact that he fights like hell with his arms when he’s agitated are both positive signs. They are currently putting a drain in his skull to reduce any swelling. They don’t believe that there is swelling but the risks to not drain are worse than just draining. He’ll have a bald spot, an incision and drill in his skull to place tube. If he doesn’t start to breathe on his own they have discussed a tracheotomy. But no decision has been made in this area yet. Terry found the van after an extensive search. Social worker just left. I only cried twice. Just trying to keep our lives and his business running like it was before. But that’s just impossible. Please keep praying.

Please respond to me outside of the group text since I keep adding people and not everyone is completely up to date.

Good afternoon.

MRI results are back. His neck results are clear though we are waiting for a result from the CTA vessels in his neck. If there was damage to those the concern would be stroke. But the MRI doesn’t show any sign of stroke. Bob has an injury to the neurons in his brain. Which is essentially a few bruises to his brain. It is not something that surgery can fix. There will be a neurosurgeon consulting today anyway. He will be in ICU for a period of time. Then a step down unit in the hospital. He will then need rehab in a facility that handles brain injuries. He is still on the ventilator and is not yet awake. Please keep praying for him.

I REALLY hate group texts. Especially when I don’t know everyone in them so I apologize, but I don’t have it in me to send these all separately and personally. And you all know and love either my hubby, me, or our precious boy, Michael.

To catch you up, Bob was in a serious MVA on 3.20 at around 4:30 pm. He was unconscious at the site but was breathing and had a pulse. Was taken to Atlanticare AC Trauma Center.

Updates from overnight 3.20-3.21:

Still unconscious on ventilator. I slept for about an hour and a half. We’ll be here in the hospital awhile. Mike, Terry and Pastor Chris were here at the hospital when he was first brought in. His brother Kevin has been here since 10 pm. Bob localizes to pain. Meaning he reaches for where he’s being pinched or poked. Doesn’t consistently respond to commands. Like wiggle toes and squeeze hands. He is moving more, just not on command. They are cutting back his oxygen level to 50% bc his blood gases came back with good numbers this morning. This means that he is still getting the same amount of air and pressure from the vent. Just lower concentration of oxygen because he doesn’t need as much pure oxygen. Getting an MRI this morning and then a consult with neurology or neurosurgeon depending on results. He’s also had a fever overnight. Off and on with a max of 101.8. They have given him Tylenol and packed him in ice bags. It could be from the little bit of fluid in his left lung. Which likely happened when they intubated him. He NEEDS to open his eyes and wake up so he can get off the vent. Please keep praying for my husband. I’ll update again later when we get more test results or as his status changes.

Maisy the Van…