January 28, 2021
Hi Everyone
Here is an update. It has been way too long. We celebrated Christmas/New Years again, thank God!!
Since Davids ATV accident in 2016, he has had 7 surgeries, many UTIs, been septic and still pushing forward.
His surgeries are as follows:
Nov 2016: Cervical fusion surgery by neurosurgeon 2 rods and 10 screws in his neck
Aug 2018 Baclofen Pump Surgery: David had the implantation of a pump to help with his spasms. His legs/arms and body would spasm irregularly. Especially if we would touch him anywhere or when we would get him up or put him to bed.
Oct 2018 David had a SupraPubic Catheter put in. This is a permanent hole placed right below his belly button. I place a foley tube in this hole that goes directly to his bladder to drain his bladder. Otherwise, I had to cath his every 3 hours through his urethra with a foley since paralyzed individuals have a neurogenic bladder which means they cannot go on their own. David would start to sweat and his Blood Pressure would increase (starting to go into Autonomic Dysreflexia) so we knew to cath him) Now he just carries around his urine bag with him at all times without sweating/bp problems.
Surgery #4:
David had a colostomy surgery. This occurred because there was a hole in his colon that I found when I was doing his bowel program one Saturday morning. Paralyzed people also are on a bowel program. This means they or someone else must place a suppository up their rectum to get them to have a bowel movement once or twice a day. This process is also due to the fact that they have neurogenic bowel so they have to be stimulated to go.
Surgery #5
The fourth surgery was not enough!! This hole caused a major infection that infected Davids tailbone. He then was told to switch hospitals and have another surgery. This time his descending colon was permanently removed.
Surgery #6 August 2019
Davids backside was opened up because pus pockets were found and they needed to be debrided. At this time his tailbone was removed and a large hole was left in his backside so a wound vac was attached.
Surgery #7 Oct 2020
Rectum removed and this opening that was made in 2019 was finally closed. A flap was also made to completely close this up!
Other happenings:
May 2019 David was septic due to cellulitis ...3 blood transfusions..
Dec 2020: David now needs a noninvasive ventilator at home ( sophisticated bipap machine) His breathing is more labored after the last surgery
I have retired now to help care for him. It has been difficult to get consistent help.
July 17, 2020
Hi Everyone
Here it is July of 2020. David has been a SCI survivor for 3.5 years already. Thanks to all of your support. From the donations we were able to get the adaptations in a van for David to drive. We have been able to pay for medical supplies and caregivers.
David had 3 surgeries last summer (2019). He had part of his colon removed due to an infection that started because of a hole in the lower part of his colon. This infection became pretty bad and spread into his tailbone. The last surgery he had, the surgeon opened up and debride the area and removed his tailbone. Today David still has a wound vac to try and heal that area.
Earlier this summer he became septic and was hospitalized due to other infections. He is quite the fighter.
Thank you for your continued support of our family. We appreciate all of you and your prayers.
July 3, 2018
HI Everyone!!!
David is presently in Omaha, NE at QLI receiving some great PT and OT. The people there are outstanding and helping him to achieve some vertical status which he has not had much of yet. This should lead him to being able to be upright for part of everyday. Eventually he may be able to have a wheelchair that could stand him up someday.
He is also working harder at getting stronger by lifting weights and strengthening that core strength.
November 16, 2017
Hi Everyone!!!
David is a student at UW-Madison. Well not actually but he has a student ID and is attending Adaptive Fitness Classes on Fridays at UW. He also went in yesterday for driver evaluation. We will be having to take him for more driving lessons and getting the vehicle adapted for him. His goal is to drive by his birthday in March. He has gained much strength back in his right shoulder and arm which were injured while he was at the rehab center. So that is great. We were able to put in an asphalt pathway in the yard for him to get around easier at home. We also had an automatic door put in on the house so he has a remote to control that and the garage door.
So things have definitely progressed in one year!!!
Oh yes...his FES exercise bike is a blessing. When he is hooked up to that it is great to see the smile on his face when he sees his own legs moving with the motor and electrical stimulation!!
Thanks everyone for your help to achieve these items. Without you all of this would not have been possible!!!
March 21, 2017
Hello!!
David has started his therapy at St. Marys Dean in Janesville. He is working on healing a pressure sore on his left achilles area. The new wheelchair is working out pretty good. There is a new apparatus in the van that he drives up into and it locks his wheelchair in so that we do not have to strap him in anymore. He has survived his first cold...ugh!
There will be a benefit dinner, auction Saturday June 10th in Evansville with a band and we would love to see everyone!! It runs from 5-?pm It will be at the Red Barn. There will also be a raffle.
March 3, 2017
Hi Everyone
David has received his own wheelchair this week. He has a pressure sore on his left Achilles area that we are taking care of at this time. Phone calls and visits are welcome here at our home.
February 1, 2017
Hi Everyone!!
Last friday was the 12 week mark!! David is going to acupuncture today. We are going to start PT outpatient and looking to do OT outpatient also. If some of you are available during the day to take him to appointments during the day that would be awesome since I started back to work last week. Our homecare people have been great! David loves to get out too...can't wait for warmer weather!! Give him a call in the afternoons, he loves it!!
January 18, 2017
Hi Everyone
So we have been home for about one month. David has been attending Maria's practices and helping coach tournaments on the weekends. He had a cortisone shot in his right shoulder ball and socket joint about a week ago. Today he felt me touching behind his right knee! Yippee!! We also started acupuncture last week and we will try it again tomorrow. I am going to try to go back to work next week. David believes that each of us should return to our "jobs". He is unsure of his return as of yet. Two wonderful women have been hired to help out in the morning to get David ready for each day. One other RN is coming in to help mid day and then I will be home for the rest of the day. It would be great if insurance understood that this was a medical necessity...since he is not independent but they do not...It seems like we are always trying to justify something - medical equipment, therapy, doctor appointments, tests, etc.
Heather went back to UW yesterday. She was a great help to all of us. This has definitely made us stronger as a family unit in ways we never imagined. Our family and faith has grown stronger! Thank you for all of the continued support, cards, etc.
December 29, 2016
HI Everyone Yes we have been home for almost two weeks. David is happier home. Here are a few adjustments at home: he has a revamped bedroom with a hospital bed (with a special mattress to help with pressure relief to prevent pressure sores from developing), cough assist machine ( since he can only breathe using his diaphragm), and a hoyer lift to help move him from his power wheelchair to bed or to his shower/commode chair. During the day, David is more sensitive to temperatures than he use to be. If someone stops to visit he will be wrapped in a blanket and wearing a hat because he is cold even though the rest of us are rather warm. This is common for SCI (spinal cord injury) people. Visitors are welcome but please do not come if you have any illness because David cannot fight off respiratory infections easily with limited breathing capabilities.
December 9, 2016
David's home visit went well yesterday. We are looking for an accessible van to be able to take him around. The renovations on the house are getting into the final stages. Some of the final stages are:
1.the new zero entry bathroom, so that I can wheel him into the shower and do other necessary hygiene duties 2. the hardwood floor in the bedroom so that he can maneuver his wheelchair in the room. 3. the final painting over the new widened entry ways. WOW how far we have come in a few short weeks. Thanks to all the contractors, friends, and neighbors. We are waiting for the hospital bed, respiratory therapy machines, the lift apparatus and bathroom chair to arrive. Then David can safely come home as soon as next week.
December 5, 2016
Hi Everyone!! David is feeling much better! Some of the girls from his BB team stopped by to visit him yesterday after their tournament. He will have a home visit on Wednesday this week to see if we are getting close to having him home next week...WOW. Where has the time gone. He is making tremendous strides. We are now searching for at home care, a van, and finishing up renovations. Staying strong and keeping the faith!!
December 2, 2016
Dec 2nd 2016
Thanks for joining us on our new page!! We are hopeful that David's fever will be under control. We are asking for a couple of days of rest. Our house should have the ramp in place in the garage. All doorways have been widened. The workers are had at work on the bathroom 0 entry shower, etc. New floor in the bedroom. We are searching for help with care when he comes home...All things take time and patience. Thanks to all of you for being there for us! He will be our Christmas gift!!
November 27, 2016
Hi everyone!
We have decided to start a fundraising page with HelpHOPELive to cover any costs medical costs for David. We are going to continue posting on CaringBridge to keep you all updated!
