Picture Time
For Neal. Here ya go Papaw. The kid is still pretty handsome.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
First Visitor
Kevin was allowed his first non-family visitor today - Maya. Maya arrived just as he was moving into his new room. She brought a flower and some books. Sitting here typing in the waiting area. Just saw Kevin, Maya, and a physical therapist out for a walk down the hallway. Must admit it startled me.
Kevin was allowed his first non-family visitor today - Maya. Maya arrived just as he was moving into his new room. She brought a flower and some books. Sitting here typing in the waiting area. Just saw Kevin, Maya, and a physical therapist out for a walk down the hallway. Must admit it startled me.
Sunday afternoon
Kevin has been visited by several therapists -- physical, occupational, and speech.
OT evaluates the jumpy vision problems that he is having. He is having trouble with vision convergence. The jumpy stuff is due to problems with his inner ear. (His skull fracture runs along that path.) The OT would like for us to get Kevin's glasses repaired. Need to be full frames to give his eyes a good frame of reference.
The speech therapist analyzes his cognitive state. Her name is Janelle. She gave him a screening test. He scored about 50% -- half pass, half failed. Stuff like recalling number sequences, paragraph comprehension, series of words, naming as many animals as you can in a fixed time, other things. All of this can be overcame with therapy which will continue after he leaves the hospital. We are told that the Mapleton center hospital is great with this sort of therapy. Janelle says that Kevin is really in a good disposition to receive therapy.
Kevin has been visited by several therapists -- physical, occupational, and speech.
OT evaluates the jumpy vision problems that he is having. He is having trouble with vision convergence. The jumpy stuff is due to problems with his inner ear. (His skull fracture runs along that path.) The OT would like for us to get Kevin's glasses repaired. Need to be full frames to give his eyes a good frame of reference.
The speech therapist analyzes his cognitive state. Her name is Janelle. She gave him a screening test. He scored about 50% -- half pass, half failed. Stuff like recalling number sequences, paragraph comprehension, series of words, naming as many animals as you can in a fixed time, other things. All of this can be overcame with therapy which will continue after he leaves the hospital. We are told that the Mapleton center hospital is great with this sort of therapy. Janelle says that Kevin is really in a good disposition to receive therapy.
Sunday morning
We got here at the usual time around 6:30 am. We met Kevin's new daytime nurse. His name is Curtis. Goodbye to Diana. She's on her way back to the ranch in Juhlsberg.
Dr Mason came by and is very please with Kevin's progress. He orders that Kevin can be released to a regular room today. He can leave ICU. And he could come home either Monday or Tuesday. He will need to stay on Dilantin for one more week. Then schedule doctor's visits for one week and one month from now.
We got here at the usual time around 6:30 am. We met Kevin's new daytime nurse. His name is Curtis. Goodbye to Diana. She's on her way back to the ranch in Juhlsberg.
Dr Mason came by and is very please with Kevin's progress. He orders that Kevin can be released to a regular room today. He can leave ICU. And he could come home either Monday or Tuesday. He will need to stay on Dilantin for one more week. Then schedule doctor's visits for one week and one month from now.
Saturday evening
Kevin had a really good day overall. He ate well. And no longer has any trouble keeping down his meals. He is able to take his vicodin in tablet form with no issues. Diana spent some time earlier in the day cleaning his road rash wounds.
This evening he got a treat - a real shower. Deb was able to arrange for us to use a real shower up in rehab on the upper floors. Off we went with wheelchair, towels, pajamas, soap, phone, etc. It was the perfect setup with a bench. I was in there in bare feet to hand him wash cloths, towels, and help him get back into pajamas.
Success! Back to bed feeling fresh and good night.
Kevin had a really good day overall. He ate well. And no longer has any trouble keeping down his meals. He is able to take his vicodin in tablet form with no issues. Diana spent some time earlier in the day cleaning his road rash wounds.
This evening he got a treat - a real shower. Deb was able to arrange for us to use a real shower up in rehab on the upper floors. Off we went with wheelchair, towels, pajamas, soap, phone, etc. It was the perfect setup with a bench. I was in there in bare feet to hand him wash cloths, towels, and help him get back into pajamas.
Success! Back to bed feeling fresh and good night.
Saturday
Kevin has asked me to bring him some of his music. It is a concern because the nurses continue to caution on the harmful effects of over stimulation on his brain. Still Kevin wanted me to bring him some of his quieter music. He actually sat down in his chair and wrote out a music list. We were thrilled to see him recalling and writing down all of these albums. I went home and transferred the music from his laptop to my ipod - about 150 songs. Brought the iHome player back with me to the hospital and set it up in his room. Very nice soothing music.
Kevin has somewhat of an eclectic music taste. Here's his list of music:
William Basinski, Soundtrack Clockwork Orange, soundtrack Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, soundtrack to Waking Life (that cool live/animation technique movie), Beethoven moonlight sonata, Duck Yas Yas, PrimitiveWorldMusic, Delia Derbyshire, Animal Collective / Sung Tongsla, Octopus Project / Avalanche.
Kevin has asked me to bring him some of his music. It is a concern because the nurses continue to caution on the harmful effects of over stimulation on his brain. Still Kevin wanted me to bring him some of his quieter music. He actually sat down in his chair and wrote out a music list. We were thrilled to see him recalling and writing down all of these albums. I went home and transferred the music from his laptop to my ipod - about 150 songs. Brought the iHome player back with me to the hospital and set it up in his room. Very nice soothing music.
Kevin has somewhat of an eclectic music taste. Here's his list of music:
William Basinski, Soundtrack Clockwork Orange, soundtrack Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, soundtrack to Waking Life (that cool live/animation technique movie), Beethoven moonlight sonata, Duck Yas Yas, PrimitiveWorldMusic, Delia Derbyshire, Animal Collective / Sung Tongsla, Octopus Project / Avalanche.
Saturday morning
Kevin has been bothered by the need to wear a neck brace. Since the vertabrae of the neck are uninjured in the CAT scans, we are hopeful that it can be removed.
One of the neurosurgeons, Dr Mason, came by this morning. He orders that the neck brace needs to stay on for 2 weeks. The reason is that the muscles that support the neck vertebrae have been severly strained.
Kevin has been bothered by the need to wear a neck brace. Since the vertabrae of the neck are uninjured in the CAT scans, we are hopeful that it can be removed.
One of the neurosurgeons, Dr Mason, came by this morning. He orders that the neck brace needs to stay on for 2 weeks. The reason is that the muscles that support the neck vertebrae have been severly strained.
Friday evening
We say goodbye to Diana the day nurse and hello again to Deb the night nurse. Both are great, highly skilled nurses. Kevin's fourth CAT scan is scheduled for Saturday morning.
We head home around 10 pm. The online artical has triggered a lot of messages on the home phone with expressions of concern and support.
We say goodbye to Diana the day nurse and hello again to Deb the night nurse. Both are great, highly skilled nurses. Kevin's fourth CAT scan is scheduled for Saturday morning.
We head home around 10 pm. The online artical has triggered a lot of messages on the home phone with expressions of concern and support.
Friday afternoon
We stepped out for dinner and ended up at KT's. As luck would have it, the doctor came by while we were gone. He is the neurosurgeon,. Dr Villavicencio. Very nice man. He called back once he got home.
Just got off of the phone with him.
He said that Kevin is going to be fine. He won't really be needing the services of a neurosurgeon now. He will probably be going to a regular room tomorrow. The various therapists will be seeing him. So, I am thinking he might be heading home Sunday? We'll see.
We stepped out for dinner and ended up at KT's. As luck would have it, the doctor came by while we were gone. He is the neurosurgeon,. Dr Villavicencio. Very nice man. He called back once he got home.
Just got off of the phone with him.
He said that Kevin is going to be fine. He won't really be needing the services of a neurosurgeon now. He will probably be going to a regular room tomorrow. The various therapists will be seeing him. So, I am thinking he might be heading home Sunday? We'll see.
Friday afternoon
People have called us to tell us it is in the paper. Here are the links. We were touched by the Reader's expressions of concern too.
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/may/08/boulder-skateboarder-suffers-serious-head-injury/
People have called us to tell us it is in the paper. Here are the links. We were touched by the Reader's expressions of concern too.
http://www.dailycamera.com/
Friday noon
Officer Richart, the police officer who handled the case, called me. He wanted to check in on Kevin's condition. I learned more details of the accident from the witness accounts. Kevin was speeding down a hill and lost control of his long-board close to 20 mph. He rolled on the street and hit his head on the street curb. A woman held him in her arms until the ambulance could get there. We need to meet her and thank her. We also just heard that one of Darcie's co-workers, Andrea, was at the scene while people waited for the ambulance. Darcie just spoke to Andrea about it.
Officer Richart, the police officer who handled the case, called me. He wanted to check in on Kevin's condition. I learned more details of the accident from the witness accounts. Kevin was speeding down a hill and lost control of his long-board close to 20 mph. He rolled on the street and hit his head on the street curb. A woman held him in her arms until the ambulance could get there. We need to meet her and thank her. We also just heard that one of Darcie's co-workers, Andrea, was at the scene while people waited for the ambulance. Darcie just spoke to Andrea about it.
Friday morning
Kevin showed improvement in his neurological tests all night and throughout this day. He is sleeping except when the nurse comes in for testing once an hour. He has walked around the room once. They give him morphine for his head pain now and then.
Tomorrow morning, he gets another CAT scan. They will send him home when he is able to walk and eat and take care of himself. Probably the earliest that would be is Saturday afternoon.
I think we are past the scary stuff like surgery. He is very much himself when it is time to talk to him. He is answering questions well. The unpredictable part will be the longer term effects of the head injury and concussion, which we are hearing can last up to a year or more.
Kevin showed improvement in his neurological tests all night and throughout this day. He is sleeping except when the nurse comes in for testing once an hour. He has walked around the room once. They give him morphine for his head pain now and then.
Tomorrow morning, he gets another CAT scan. They will send him home when he is able to walk and eat and take care of himself. Probably the earliest that would be is Saturday afternoon.
I think we are past the scary stuff like surgery. He is very much himself when it is time to talk to him. He is answering questions well. The unpredictable part will be the longer term effects of the head injury and concussion, which we are hearing can last up to a year or more.
Thursday evening
Darcie and I are told to go to the ICU waiting room.
Eventually we are called back to be with him.
We meet his nurse Deb.
Deb says that BCH has an excellent Neuro unit.
Deb has a son who also suffered a closed head injury.
Kevin is responsive but not clear.
Deb is giving him gross neurological exams by the hour.
Stuff like... what day is it, what month, what year, where are you, who's president, hold your arms out, check you pupils, etc.
He is still throwing up. Mostly blood by now.
He is receiving Dilantin to control any potential seizures.
And still receiving morphine for pain. I think zofran for nausea.
We head home around 10 pm.
His third CAT scan is planned for 5 am.
Nurses change shifts a 7 am.
Once home, we let some relatives know for the first time.
I send out a quick email and head to bed.
Darcie and I are told to go to the ICU waiting room.
Eventually we are called back to be with him.
We meet his nurse Deb.
Deb says that BCH has an excellent Neuro unit.
Deb has a son who also suffered a closed head injury.
Kevin is responsive but not clear.
Deb is giving him gross neurological exams by the hour.
Stuff like... what day is it, what month, what year, where are you, who's president, hold your arms out, check you pupils, etc.
He is still throwing up. Mostly blood by now.
He is receiving Dilantin to control any potential seizures.
And still receiving morphine for pain. I think zofran for nausea.
We head home around 10 pm.
His third CAT scan is planned for 5 am.
Nurses change shifts a 7 am.
Once home, we let some relatives know for the first time.
I send out a quick email and head to bed.
Thursday PM
When I got to ER he was being treated for a nasty laceration on his head. Kevin is in a neck brace. Multiple road rash cuts. He has had a CAT scan. He is awake, active, and very agitated.
Dr Lunde, the ER doc, informs me that he has a skull fracture, plus epidural and subdural bleeding in two spots. The police officer, Ross Richart, is filling me in on the accident including detailed accounts from two witnesses. An anestheologist shows up and an OR nurse. They are preparing for surgery. Dr Villavicencio is the neurosurgeon on call.
They cart Kevin away for a second CAT scan. He returns. The CAT scan results are quick and yield good news. There is no increase in bleeding. The OR staff is called off. We can relax one small bit.
When I got to ER he was being treated for a nasty laceration on his head. Kevin is in a neck brace. Multiple road rash cuts. He has had a CAT scan. He is awake, active, and very agitated.
Dr Lunde, the ER doc, informs me that he has a skull fracture, plus epidural and subdural bleeding in two spots. The police officer, Ross Richart, is filling me in on the accident including detailed accounts from two witnesses. An anestheologist shows up and an OR nurse. They are preparing for surgery. Dr Villavicencio is the neurosurgeon on call.
They cart Kevin away for a second CAT scan. He returns. The CAT scan results are quick and yield good news. There is no increase in bleeding. The OR staff is called off. We can relax one small bit.
Okay. I'd like to see if I can cover the last two days.
Some of this will be a repeat of what you all have received in emails.
Thursday, 5pm
Looking back a bit to Thursday about 5 pm.
Darcie received the call from the police that Kevin was in the hospital. That he had had an accident with his skateboard. Darcie called me at work.
Some of this will be a repeat of what you all have received in emails.
Thursday, 5pm
Looking back a bit to Thursday about 5 pm.
Darcie received the call from the police that Kevin was in the hospital. That he had had an accident with his skateboard. Darcie called me at work.
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