Coleman's Journey 11/15

Yesterday, Coleman's Care Team met to discuss where we were at and where things were going.  Coleman is still in neuro ICU.  In order to transition  from neuro ICU to rehab, he'll need to address a number of issues:

• Needs to be breathing better on his own.  Presently, he's breathing with a ventilator.  
• A tracheotomy will help with this.
• They may remove his surgical feeding tube at the same time. 
• Yesterday, he breathed on his own for 30 minutes.  Today, he went 45 minutes breathing on his own, 95% to 96% of the time.
• He's getting most of his meds via transfusion.  He'll need to be able to take his meds in pill form.
• His second stroke event may have affected his ability to swallow.
• He's down from four different sedatives to one.
• His last of his two brain drains will probably be removed soon as well.

There are multiple levels of rehab and care that he could go to after leaving the neuro ICU.  It all depends on what he'll be able to do on his own versus what he'll be dependent on others for.