Coleman's Journey 12/29

Presently, Coleman is unable to use his left hand or arm.  He has a left visual field cut.  He can only walk with assistance.  Are these permanent conditions?  We don't know yet.  They say that because he is so young, that he has a chance of making a full recovery.  We're told that he'll see the greatest improvement in the first 6 months and then again in the second 6 months.  Presently, he's in the rehab program at Courage Kenny (CK) down at Abbott Northwestern (ANW) hospital.  This facility is designed for those that need to see a doctor daily.  He'll be there for about 2 more weeks.  The working assumption is that he'll then need to continue rehab at CK (Golden Valley).  This GV facility is for those that don't need to see a doctor daily.  It's estimated that he'll be at the GV facility for 2 to 6 weeks.  In both facilities, he'll be getting 3 to 5 hours of rehab daily, 5 to 6 days per week.      

His feeding tube was supposed to come out today, but now that is up in the air.  Deb will be making some inquiries in to the reason for the delay.

Coleman's Journey 12/28

Coleman continues to improve a little bit each day.  Sometimes, it still feels like two steps forward and one step back.  Yesterday he took his first shower since Halloween.  He's tolerating food better which is really a blessing.  Every day, therapy has him using electronic muscle stimulators.

Coleman should be getting the many stitches in his scalp out one of these days.  

Coleman's Journey 12/25

It is really quiet in the hospital on Christmas day.  There's very few patients and employees.  Deb and I celebrated Christmas eve and Christmas day with Coleman in his hospital room.  

Coleman's Journey 12/24

Coleman had a great day today.  Everything he ate stayed down - breakfast and meal later in the day.  No pain relief meds, primarily only blood pressure meds.  He participated in physical and occupational therapy.  It was probably the best day that he's had in over a week. 

Coleman's Journey 12/22

With his skull piece back in place, Coleman needs to get back to Courage Kenny (CK) for rehab.  In order for that to happen, he needs to:

1. Not be receiving any drugs intravenously, for at least 24 hours.
1. Seems as though the anti-nausea drug was making Coleman nauseous.  Stopping that.
2. Get things moving on the inside.
1. I believe this was addressed today.

Considering the holiday and the weekend, I'm not hopeful that Coleman will physically make the move to CK until Tuesday.

Coleman's Journey 12/20

Coleman had the part of his skull, that was removed weeks ago, put back into his head yesterday morning.  Spent hours waiting for a room to open up in the neuro ICU after surgery.  If everything continues to keep healing, Coleman's next stop is back to Courage Kenny (CK) for rehab.   

From the neuro ICU nurses, waiting for Coleman to arrive from surgery recovery.

Coleman's Journey 12/18

Yesterday, I saw Coleman sit up on his own.  Haven't seen that for a while.

Skull plate goes back in tomorrow morning. Back to rehab at CK Thursday if all goes according to plan.

Coleman's been in the hospital for just over 7 weeks now.

Coleman's Journey 12/16

Two steps forward...

Yesterday Coleman had an issue with blood pressure that was too low.  I saw 2 things that I haven't seen for a while. Coleman was able to shrug his left shoulder. He was also able to bring his left leg up to his chest. 

This morning, Coleman has been vomiting quite a bit and has had a bunch of pain in the left part of his head. He's been unable to keep any meds down.  A CT scan this morning showed a scalp bleed, but no bleeding in the brain. No idea why his scalp bled. It's looking like he might have to return to the neuro unit. We really don't want to leave rehab.

I assume that I will have more to report later today.  Coleman did return to the neuro unit Saturday afternoon.  We hope that he'll be returning to CK's rehab soon.  

Coleman's Journey 12/15

While Coleman continues to rebound back, he still has a long way to go.  In addition to lots of occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy, Coleman is still looking at having the piece of his skull re-installed under his scalp.  This will require surgery.  Additionally, he still has one PUG feeding tube to remove.  This can be done bedside.

Baby steps 

- left shoulder shrug 

- lateral movement of his left arm

- better movement of the left leg 

- better tolerance and schedule for meds 

Coleman's Journey 12/12

Coleman's been able to improve each day through therapy.  They've been really working him.  At the end of each day, he's really tired and has no difficulties falling asleep.  It seems as though they've been focusing on his left leg.  The ends of the limbs and the fine motor skills are typically that last to come back.

His speech has made big returns.  His field of vision has been reduced some what on the left side.       

Coleman's Journey 12/11

Baby-steps:  

• Coleman did great this morning when he walked 4 lengths of 25' each, with the help of a harness.  
• He brushed his teeth in the bathroom.
• Coleman's rehab care team met today to discuss past performance and future options.  They anticipate a discharge date of 12/29 with a transition to Courage Kenny (CK) - Golden Valley (a transitional Care Unit - TCU) to continue rehab with fewer dr. visits.  Each week this plan may change based on how well he is doing.  The CK GV time-frame could be as short as 2 weeks, but can be longer.  He would be in-patient.  

Coleman's Journey 12/9

Today, while Coleman was getting cleaned up in the early afternoon, his tracheotomy basically fell out.  Since the plan was to remove it in about a week, give or take, the doctor decided to leave it out, and dress it up.

Another baby-step - check done.

Coleman received a care-package of assorted swag from the Green Bay Packers this week.  It was really special to see how it lifted his spirits.  It was a class move.  I guess that I can like them now.

Coleman's Journey 12/8

Coleman had all three therapies again today and when he was done, Deb said that he passed right out from being tired.

Deb's been busy:

Coleman's Journey 12/7

On Thursday, Coleman had speech, occupational, and physical therapy.  He sure was tired when he was done.  He heard from one of the doctors that his tracheotomy may come out soon.  There's still that small matter of his skull bone piece that needs to go back in.  

Coleman's Journey 12/6

Today was a big day.  Coleman moved from the neuro unit at Abbott Northwestern to the Courage Kenny Rehab.  He's going to have some tough days coming up, but he's where he needs to be.  His days will be filled with physical, occupational, and speech therapy.    

Coleman's Journey 12/5

Todays baby-steps: 

• Fewer diet restrictions
• He had a PB&J this afternoon - his favorite
• Relocating tomorrow to CK ("Courage Kenny") for rehab
• Also part of the ANW (Abbot Northwest) campus
• This is huge.  It's a great opportunity for him.  
• Speech sounds much better
• Neck muscles not as sore.  He has a lot more control of his head and neck.
• He sat in his chair and on the side of his bed for a longer time 
• His core is becoming stronger
• The location where part of the skull was pulled from is more concave now
• This is an indicator that the skull piece that was removed will be put back in a couple of weeks or so

Coleman's Journey 12/4

Coleman sat on the side of the bed twice today.  He needs a lot of help getting there, but it's another one of those baby-steps that we keep looking for.  They traded his 6 inch trake with a 4 inch trake.  Me might lose his trake altogether later this week.    

Courage Kenny (CK) came to talk to him today.  They've not been far during his stay.  His skull bone sounds like it might go back with in about 3 weeks or so.    

Coleman's Journey 12/3

Coleman spent some time sitting on the side of the bed, strengthening his core.  His neck muscles seem to be getting stronger.  They are less sore.  He continues with a liquid-only diet.  

Coleman's Journey 12/2

 Coleman sat in the wheel chair today.  He wore the voice valve on his tracheotomy today.  His speech is getting better.

His left side is definitely starting to come back a bit.  He can feel touch to his arm, leg and foot more.  Imagine how your leg or arm feels all "electric-ity" when it falls asleep.  That's how his left side has been feeling lately.  He's not moving his left limbs on his own yet, but he's got feeling there.

His neck is often tight and sore, probably from not using those muscles much.  Will come back with his core.

Coleman's started a liquid diet.

  

Coleman's Journey 12/1

The neuro doctor talked to the radiology doctor about removal of the blood clot filter and they said to wait awhile until Coleman is stronger and more mobile.

Coleman sat on the side of the bed with assistance for 9 minutes today.  Coleman sat in a chair for an hour with assistance from the occupational therapist.  Coleman goes to radiology for a swallow test this afternoon.  The physical therapist will do physical therapy this afternoon.  

Coleman might be ready for rehab by the coming Tuesday or Wednesday.