Bennett is Delirious and I’m Deliriously Happy!

December 9, 2011

Yesterday Bennett was weaned off the ventilator!  He was extubated (tube removed) before Sara, Britt, Cy and Rachel left so they were able to speak to him.  In order for him to be extubated he was weaned off the sedatives, so he was fairly coherent when they pulled the tube.  He knows everyone, knows he was in a snow boarding accident and hit a tree, knows he’s in a hospital and know he want to leave NOW.  The origami cranes (and Altamaha-ha) were hanging above his bed and when asked if he knew where he was he said a hospital in Japan.  I think he was joking…

Bennett was able to move the toes on the right foot and said that he could feel his shin being pinched, so we are thrilled.  It’s pretty hard to understand what he’s saying but we’re getting better at it. As the day progressed he became more delirious.  He thinks he can leave here and get in his own bed.  He kept trying to get up.  He asked if the pigs were real...  We keep reminding him of his injuries and how important it is to keep his right leg still because of the arterial graft.  He’s very frustrated but hopefully the delirium will pass soon and he’ll be able to understand clearly the extent of his injuries and come to terms with the fact that he’s going to be stuck here for a while.  

As I write this he’s in surgery having the wound vacs on his calf and upper thigh (where the arterial graft was done) washed out and reapplied.  If nothing changes the next surgery will be on Sunday to put a permanent plate on his right femur. 

We have been warned and understand that there will still be ups and downs, but to see Bennett extubated and witness his smile is a pretty wonderful thing.    

Thanks again for all the love, prayers and positive energy being sent his way.  

Much love and gratitude,

Libby

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Hurry up and Wait

December 7, 2011

Yesterday was a rollercoaster, but not necessarily in a bad way.  We’re learning that we have to be fluid.  Bennett’s doctors are constantly reassessing his needs.  We are told what’s going to happen next, they reassess and we’re told something else.  I’ve embraced this fluidity.  There is nothing predictable about Bennett’s condition and prognosis, so we are rolling with it.   

We thought that he was going to get an epidural during his pelvic surgery and be weaned off the ventilator.  Turns out that they couldn’t do to epidural but his pelvic surgery went fine.  Because of the importance of not compromising Bennett’s arterial graft they were only able to do part of the pelvic reconstruction.  Dr Olson, his vascular surgeon and made it clear to everyone that his right leg where the graft is must stay stable or the graft could tear.  If this happened and it was not able to be repaired again Bennett would loose his leg, so protecting the graft is at the top of our priorities.  

The part of the pelvis surgery that was not done is the reconstruction of his acetabulum.  The head of the femur meets with the pelvis at the acetabulum, forming the hip joint.  In order for the orthopedic surgeons to reconstruct the acetabulum they must manipulate the leg which would stretch or contract the artery.  Also, the femoral artery runs on top of this area, so it has to be lifted up.  While the eventual reconstruction is extremely important to Bennett’s future mobility the artery is more important.  I’m sure the orthopedic surgeons are just itching to get in there and fix it but they may have to wait longer than anticipated or possibly even not fix it and give Bennett a hip replacement in the future.  In the mean time they are reaching out to colleagues around the world to figure out the best way to get it done safely.  

Thanks SO MUCH for all the love, prayers and positive energy being sent his way.  

Much love and gratitude,

Libby