Hello everyone, Richard here from Lisa’s temporary room on one of the “telly” units here at St. Joe’s. Lisa will be back in her room at BNI’S neuro rehab tomorrow (Monday) morning with an old ally –her trach- protecting her from opportunistic infections that would delay her recovery.
Lisa’s continuing struggle with spasticity developed a new complication that called upon the many medical resources here at St. Joe’s. With Lisa’s muscles so rigid, pain and medicine for that pain necessarily follow. Despite the efforts of Lisa’s caregivers, her bowels became impacted, most likely from the pain medicine, resulting in nausea and vomiting on a couple of occasions. Lisa inhaled or aspirated during one of those episodes, drawing the bacteria- laden material into her lungs.
With her spasticity also preventing Lisa from protecting her airway, her caregivers were ready to respond to the next threat, infection. Lisa’s pulmonologist, Dr. Wright, and her regular guardian angels, Dr’s Bliss and Kwasnica, recommended Lisa get her trach back. They explained this will make keeping her lungs clear from secretions (like those caused by allergies) or other aspirated material safer, easier and free from the trauma of having to run a tube up her nose, down her throat, past her voice box before reaching her lungs. This was done without a hitch on Thursday.
Next, the team was ready for the inevitable infection from the aspiration with powerful antibiotics targeting the specific bugs before they had a chance to do damage. To manage the process, Lisa’s doc’s moved her to an ICU bed where her condition could be closely monitored.
The ICU staff was really wonderful and welcomed us with warm compassion and clinical expertise. Normal restrictions were waived and I was permitted to be with Lisa overnite in her tiny, equipment jammed room. Michael won rave reviews when I taped up pictures (he couldn’t come into ICU) from his recent visit with his Oklahoma relatives and Godparents Jack and Napua.
Dr. Kwasnica kept Lisa’s neuro rehab room for her so we didn’t have to pack and unpack; a huge blessing for the organizationally challenged.
By Saturday, Lisa’s infection was under control, her numbers were all good and she was ready to move out of ICU and into a unit where she could be monitored (with telemetry, hence the nickname “telly”) until Monday morning when neuro rehab opens again for admissions.
As pulmonologist Dr. Wright says, “No more rehab days lost to preventable stuff.”
What’s next? We jump back into our fight with her spasticity. Lisa’s Baclofin pump is above the level we hoped would provide relief with her muscle tone improved but not enough to permit her to begin rehab in earnest. So, with Plan A not “gettin’ r done” Lisa’s team is putting together Plan B.
We’ll keep you posted, but be certain; the folks on Lisa’s team are caring for a lot of other folks in need. So, I am absolutely committed that 100% of the time that Lisa’s team has to work at getting Lisa better will be spent on that and that alone. I’m grateful for the understanding that nothing must distract or delay getting Lisa past this obstacle and firmly on the road to rehab. So, I look forward to answering (or getting answers to) any questions about Lisa’s care and conditions from all the many who love her too.
I know Lisa’s ready to get back to work in rehab when we find the right mix of medicine and therapy, whether it’s inside the box or outside of it. Helping find and fund that right mix is my Job #1 so, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Richard. wintoryok@hotmail.com
