Happy New Year!

Jan 4,2011

It’s 4 days into the New Year and Bennett’s hanging in there.  His days consist of laying on his back in a hospital bed, keeping up with the many meds he’s on, visiting with friends, asking me to do things for him (which I of course love doing), worrying about me being bored (get over it Bud),  eating, worrying about the weird pains in his right leg and foot , worrying about the drains coming from his thigh and pelvis, talking to nurses, doctors and therapists, using his I Pad (on his golden cheese wedge and Chocolate Moose), trying to read (it puts him to sleep), talking on the phone, snoozing, being bored, being thankful, BEING, HEALING.  This is just what I can observe.  I have no idea what’s going through his head but even with his pain and worries he remains positive.  No pity parties in room 321 of St. Anthony Hospital.  He’s an inspiration to me.  

Pain is still front and center.  He has taken to setting his alarm for every 2 hours at night so he can get his pain meds and stay in front of the pain.  Otherwise it gets in front of him and he spends hours chasing it.  He’s still on track to start rehab next week, but can’t be on any IV pain meds or heparin when he starts plus he needs to be out of traction.  He’s been waiting for a “pain consultation” since last Friday, and the anesthesiologist responsible for doing this still hasn’t shown up.  HELLO?  The goal of this consultation will be to find longer term relief.  Right now his pain management consists of   a variety of narcotics, nerve meds and muscle relaxers.  This includes an IV pump and on occasion (when the pain gets too far ahead of him) IV Dilaudid in addition to the pump.  We hope that in 6 days he can move to the 7^th floor for rehab, but the pain could be an obstacle.  

Last night we got our Coumadin “talk”.  Bennett is transitioning from Heparin to Coumadin (both anticoagulants for the blood clot).  His doctors tell him he will have to be on Coumadin for 6 months and then have the blood clot checked.  The talk consisted of the importance of staying off motorcycles and having a doctor lined up that will monitor his International Normalized Ratio...or INR  weekly after he leaves the hospital.   I remember when Jerry’s (Bennett’s Dad’s) grandmother was on that rat poison; how hard it was to regulate and how easily she bruised.  I always hated that stuff.  Now it could save Bennett’s life.  I’m hoping that Bennett can have the blood clot checked before 6 months, that it will be gone and he can discontinue it.  While it will likely be a long while before Bennett is back to an active lifestyle, 6 months seems like a long time to be on rat poison that could cause you to bleed to death.  Ok Ok, I am sounding pessimistic, but like I said I always hated that stuff.  It’s ridiculous, I know.  After everything I’ve seen Bennett endure over the last 5 weeks and I’m stressing over this?  Sorry for the negative rambling.  Did I say Happy New Year?

Bennett’s plastic surgeon is pleased with his skin graft and has released him to be able to move his right thigh. He also got cleared today to be able to use 1-2 pound weights or bands for his arms.  We’re waiting on word from his Orthopedic surgeon as to what exactly he can do with his right leg.  We already know that it will be a couple of months before he can put full weight on his right leg, but the Physical Therapists are looking for guidance on what he CAN do.  Hopefully he will be able to put full weight on his left leg when he goes up to rehab next week.  

An x-ray was done a couple of days ago on the left femur and he has quite a callus growing around his break.  It sounds as though there will always be a lump there of extra bone.  This is one more example of the heterotopic ossification, the condition caused by trauma that creates extra bone growth.  Better this than the alternative, no new bone growth.  We’re not complaining. 

The staff infection continues to be treated with strong IV antibiotics which Bennett will be on for another 5 weeks. The Infectious Disease Specialist told us a couple of days ago that the infection responded better to a different antibiotic in the lab, so he was taken of one of the big guns and switched to another.  He does not have a fever and his blood work is looking good so we’re optimistic that these antibiotics are working their magic.  I’m trying to get a lot of good critters back in Bennett’s gut to counteract the antibiotic damage done.  

Bennett’s breakfasts are consisting of lots of berries, kefir and/ or yogurt.  The kefir and yogurt have probiotics and will help keep his gut healthy and replace the good critters that have been killed by the antibiotics.  I’ve also been incorporating a lot of miso into his foods that with also will help with this and his healing and immune system.   My twist on the southern new years dinner for Bennett was a warm black eyed pea, wild rice and veggie salad with a garlic, miso and balsamic dressing (Hopping John), Braised green and purple kale (for the money), and homemade sausage.  I didn't get around to the corn bread.  Hopefully 2012 will be a great year full of good luck and prosperity.    

Today an old friend Joey stopped through on his way to Vail from Athens, GA.  It’s been at least 14 years since we’ve seen him.  What a great surprise.  Kyle came in town today from Tybee and will be here with me and Bennett for a few days before heading up to Breck.  Yesterday Saundra and Beth came down from Breck and the night before Dan and Heather stopped by.  Bennett loves these visits.  I’ve heard him tell several people that he knows the prayer and positive healing vibes being sent his way are helping him heal.  He feels it and is grateful.  

Happy New Year!

Much love and gratitude,

Libby

Great Appetite, Crummy Infection

 Horse Pen Creek Crabs: Sara, Andrew and Bennett

Bennett continues to improve and he has a great appetite.  When he first started eating he was craving lots of fruit.  Now he'll eat just about anything (but hospital food).  Last night was sushi.  Night before Thai.  Each morning he has a big bowl of berries and some yogurt and he’s loving his smoothies.  Just a minute ago he ate a variety of about 6 Christmas cookies that folks have brought (we have a multitude of sweets and have been trying to fatten up the nurses).   It’s getting expensive eating out so today I went to the grocery store.  Mama B’s gonna have to start cooking again.

The biggest struggle for Bennett is pain.  Tomorrow he has a consultation with pain specialists.  Hopefully they'll be able to figure out a formula that will consistently control the pain.  Right now it seems like he is often chasing it. 

Wednesday morning Dr Reynolds (plastic surgeon) came in with some bad news.  The cultures that had been taken from Bennett’s inner thigh and up into his pelvis area had grown out an antibiotic resistant staph infection.  Now Bennett has added Infectious Disease Specialists to the long list of caregivers.  Things could be a lot worse.  While this is a resistant staph, it’s not resistant to everything and it’s not one of those flesh eaters.  It’s actually the staph that lives on our skin, Staphylococcus Epidermidis. Needless to say, it should not be inside Bennett.  The big concern is that it’s by the metal plates and screws in his right femur and pelvis.  Bugs love to live on metal and the antibiotics have a hard time getting there since there’s no blood flow.  Bennett is on powerful IV antibiotics for 6 weeks.  Luckily this will not keep him from starting rehab. 

So, what happens if the bacteria is on the metal and the antibiotics don’t kill it?  We haven’t spoken to the Orthopods about this yet, but the Infectious Disease Specialist says that if it’s there the plates will start acting up and could come loose.  This would be a sign that the bacteria is still there.  The solution would be to go back in and take out the metal.  Hopefully this would be far enough in the future that the bones will have fully healed and the hardware is no longer needed.  Sheesh.  If it’s not one thing it’s another.  Right now the important think is to control it so the bones can heal.

When I first learned about this new infection I was terrified and I think Bennett was too, but the ID Specialist sees this type of infection every day and seems confident in his ability to successfully treat it.  I’ve learned to roll with each new crisis.  One of Bennett’s orthopedic surgeons once told me that there comes a point when you have to quit worrying about the science and have faith in the miracles that our bodies and God perform.  I found this so interesting coming from a man that loves science and works with such precision.

Now, it’s time for me to go perform a miracle in the kitchen because I laterally haven’t cooked in over a month.  Tonight, garlic clam sauce on wild mushroom ravioli and a salad.  I wonder if cooking is like riding a bike?

Much love and gratitude, 

Libby

A Very Special Christmas and Looking to the Future

  Bennett viewing his students in Spain.  Bennett loves that job!

On Christmas Eve I realized that I really hadn’t gotten anything special for Bennett.   Somehow it had snuck up on me.  He had received some presents in the mail, but I hadn’t really done anything.  He had an origami covered tree in his hospital room.  He had a few presents under the tree that friends had sent.  On the other hand I had a great present; Bennett.  I was fussing about where the other kids would be.  Bennett called Cy and told him that they’d BETTER be going down to Grandma and Pops.  Alternately Kathryn had invited them to Glos.  Britt said she had a photo shoot on Christmas afternoon.  It just didn’t seem all that Christmassy.

On Christmas morning we spoke to people that we love on the phone and opened our presents.  Bennett’s friend Heather came early with a snowcat poster signed by all the snowcat operators plus goodies and books.   

A signed poster of the snow grooming machine Bennett operates.  Bennett loves that job!

He spoke to cousins, Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and quite a few friends.  Sara called late in the afternoon and assured us that they had finally all gotten together and were driving down to Grandma and Pops which made Bennett happy.  Then Britt Sara and Cy walked into Bennett’s hospital room.   It was so strange; everything slowed down and got a little foggy.   For a second Bennett got mad that they weren’t with their grandparents, but only for a second.  The last few days with all the kids have been sweet and amazing.   The previous time the kids were here (3 weeks ago) Bennett was extubated right before they left and was able to speak for the first time since he had been admitted.  The kids are leaving tomorrow and today Bennett was given some great news that has allowed him to set goals and make plans for the not too distant future.  Today Bennett is smiling.

It was one month ago today that I received the kind of call from a hospital chaplain that every parent dreads.  Bennett had been critically injured in a snowboarding accident and was in route via Flight for Life to St Anthony Hospital in Lakewood Co.  Breckenridge is a small town and it seems like there’s only one degree of separation between everyone there and countless people from there have told me what a strong will to live Bennett had that day.  We also know certain events lined up that day that saved his life in the hour or so after the accident.

Last week Bennett was told that he would not be getting his hip replacement for maybe 3 months and he would have to stay in traction until the hip replacement.  The social worker that told him this went on to say that rehab could not start until he was out of traction and that he would likely be discharged from the hospital prior to that.  This conversation had weighed heavily on Bennett in the last few days.  He wondered where he would go when he was discharged and how he would get there.  He feels confident with his doctors here and wants to continue his care here.  He’d been very quiet since hearing this news.

Besides the worry about being discharged and stuck on his back in traction for months, Bennett had started having a strange and scary sensation in his right foot.  The feeling in his foot gave way to a numbness, burning and tingling 5 days ago.  It was hard not to obsess on this and wonder if he was losing nerve function.  The neurologist was unable to do an EMG because the metal from the traction would interfere. 

This morning Bennett and I met with 2 of his orthopedic surgeons and part of the trauma team.  We were give good news on several fronts.  For simplicity sake I’ll list the news:         

• The doctors believe that the tingling and burning in Bennett’s foot is the nerve coming back, not the other way around.  Bennett has been able to move the toes on his right foot down, but not flex them up.  They think that this burning is caused by the nerve coming back that will allow his to flex his toes up. 

• Bennett is growing new bone at a rapid rate.  The broken bones are bridging (connecting and growing back together) quickly.  The acetabulum is the only bone that has not been repaired and is considered inoperable because of the risk of infection so the plan was a total hip replacement.  Now the orthopedic surgeons feel that if the acetabulum heals as it is it will support the femur enough for Bennett to be able to bare full weight in another 3 months and that hip replacement should be put off as long as possible.  The thinking is that the acetabulum is healing so quickly and Bennett is growing so much new bone that it will function pretty well.  The hip replacement will only last 15 years and if he had one now it would have to be redone several times throughout his lifetime, so delay it as long as possible. 

• The traction was reduced today from 20 to 10 pounds.  Starting today the traction will be taken off for 1 hour each day and physical therapists will be working with Bennett each day.  Tomorrow they may sit him up on the edge of the bed.  In 2 weeks the traction will be gone and he can start full time in house rehab.  

• In order to move up to rehab he will have to be off the heparin drip and IV pain meds.  This is a goal for Bennett.  He will have to be switched to Coumadin (for the blood clot) and oral pain meds. 

This news completely changed Bennett’s outlook and he now has a goal of making it to Panama in April for Ani’s sister’s wedding.  Before he had talked about this, but it didn’t seem realistic.  Now it seems like a realistic goal.

Other good news:  Yesterday Dr Reynolds closed up Bennett’s inner thigh and put a skin graft on it.  The skin came from his left thigh.  There is still some infection in the upper inner thigh, but it seems to be responding well to antibiotics.  Hopefully nothing will grow out of the new cultures and it won’t blow up.  

Bennett continues to have lots of visitors and he’s always happy to see them.  Today Tim, a Swiss friend that Bennett met in France last summer stopped by.   That was a wonderful surprise.  We are so grateful to many people and there are many people that I want to thank.  Please know you are appreciated!  I especially want to thank John for getting the kids out here.

Please continue to send that positive energy and prayer.  Bennett feels it.

Much love and gratitude,

Libby

It’s easy to lose track of time...

 Bennett bobbing head jar decorated for the holidays at North Beach Grill, Tybee Island GA

It’s easy to lose track of time when you are spending it day in and day out in the hospital.  Bennett’s accident happened 4 days after Thanksgiving.  Now it’s Christmas Eve.  He will have been at this hospital 4 weeks this coming Monday.   This has been a week of big improvements and scary setbacks.  Yesterday he ate solid food for the first time since his accident.  He was craving fruit and the first thing he ate was a tangerine.  Then he had half of a green apple espresso brownie.  These are by far the best brownies I’ve ever eaten.  They were hand delivered from Tybee (thanks Cindy!) at least 2 weeks ago, and it hasn’t been easy saving any for Bennett, but I held on to some and he was glad that I had.   Next on the menu was a brothy asparagus leak and salmon stew Bennett’s Dad made.  Yum.  

This past Tuesday Bennett had surgery to put the permanent plate on his right femur and set his right Clavicle.  I didn’t even know he had a broken clavicle until about a week ago.  I guess his docs thought that it was small potatoes compared his other injuries so they just left it off the list.  He also had a washout done on the inner thigh where the infection has been and the wound vac reapplied. Unfortunately there was some puss found in the wound vac area but the surgeon didn’t think it communicated any more ( had passage to) to the femur area.  

Bennett’s orthopedic surgeon, Dr Desai , reported after the surgery that Bennett is growing new bone at a remarkable rate.  He explained that patients with traumatic brain injuries and fractured bones sometimes experience enhanced osteogenesis (bone growth). Somehow the body secretes a hormone that enhance the production of a protein that promotes calcification (don’t ask me to take a test on that.  I wasn’t taking notes).  Evidently Bennett bumped his head hard enough for that to happen, but not hard enough to cause brain damage.  Thomson swears that his mind is sharper now than it was before the accident.  Hmm.  Back to Dr. Desai… he said that this bone growth is a good thing and it produces a lot a blood flow which helps fight infection.  Hopefully it will also help the bones around Bennett’s hip socket harden up and heal more quickly so that he can have his total hip replacement sooner rather than later.  More on that later.     I found out today (or was it yesterday?) that an undesirable side effect of this enhanced osteogenesis is called heterotopic ossification.  This is when bone forms in soft tissue, where it shouldn’t be.  On Wed a CT scan was done of Bennett’s pelvis and hip areas and it appears that this is happening.  The Critical Care doctor that mentioned this to us said it is treatable, but we’re still waiting to hear how it will be treated.  The CT Scan was done to try and determine where the infection is originating from.  They were looking for pockets of fluid but instead of seeing signs of infection they saw signs of heterotopic ossification.

Bennett has had several ultrasounds of his arms and legs to check for blood clots.  His legs have been fine and I mentioned in a previous post that he had blood clots in his arms that the doctors weren’t too worried about because they were in superficial veins (close to the surface) as opposed to deep veins that carry more blood.  Last night I noticed that Bennett’s right arm was swelling and alerted the nurses.  Another ultrasound was done and a clot in Bennett’s right subclavian vein was identified.  This is a deep vein running under the clavicle and is serious.  It must be treated with blood thinners.  The last time Bennett was treated with heparin (blood thinner) his blood counts dropped so much that they discontinued it.  Last time wasn’t so critical, but his body was in much worse shape and still oozing a lot of fluids.  Hopefully now that he is more stable this will not be a problem.  I am concerned though.  He received a unit of blood Wednesday.  

Today Dr. Reynolds (plastic surgeon extraordinaire)  washed out Bennett’s inner thigh again where the infection has been.  He said that it looked pretty good in there but is concerned about it being open for so long.  He felt that the arterial graft was safe and the tissue around it healthy, but found that the infected area communicated with the pelvic area and femur.  We just have to hope that the infection doesn’t start living on the metal plates and screws.  Time will tell.  Dr Reynolds is hoping that he can do another washout on Monday and on Wednesday close up the thigh and do the skin graft.  After today’s surgery Bennett was started on a heparin drip.  The medical staff will closely monitor his blood count and hopefully the heparin will blast the new blood clot to oblivion.  

Bennett’s hospital social worker, Maggie, has been trying to find out when he’ll be heading up to rehab.  He can’t start rehab until he’s out of traction (right leg) and yesterday Maggie was told that he will be in traction until he can have his total hip replacement.  That could be months, so it was a tough day for Bennett.  It’s hard to imagine being in bed and in traction for that long.  Next week Maggie will gather Bennett’s team together so we can get a clearer idea of what is in store for him over the next few months.  He has so many different doctors on his team and it will be interesting to have them all together and hear what they have to say.  The primary team members are trauma, critical care, ortho, plastic, neuro, & vascular.  I’m probably forgetting someone.  Back to his total hip, for several reasons the orthopods have determined that the hip socket (acetabulum) is inoperable.  The primary reason is that repairing it would require a lot of manipulation of the leg which could put the arterial graft at risk.  Another reason is fear on infection.  Dr Desai says that Bennett would probably need a total hip at some point anyway.  If they try to repair the acetabulum they would have to use plates and screws.  Bacteria loves to live on metal because there’s no blood flow and if the area gets infected he won’t be able to ever have a total hip.  So there you go.  Bennett is waiting for his body to be strong enough for a total hip.  Because the acetabulum is shattered there’s nothing to keep the leg from moving up into the pelvic region, thus the traction.  

Yesterday Bennett’s friend Ashley stopped by with a Christmas tree.  Today while he was in surgery I decorated it with the origami that the kids had made his first week in the hospital.  It looks great.  Then some gifts were delivered (thanks Santa Glo!), so we not only have a Christmas tree in Bennett’s room, we have a Christmas tree with gifts under it.   Bennett has had lots of other friends visit this week.  Today Thomson, Steven and Jason all stopped by on their way back to GA.  Safe travels Boys.  We love you.  This evening  his snowmaking buddies, Todd and Rick dropped by with snowmaking photos, a gameboy, some books, sketchpad, snowboarding videos and a 2012 calendar of the US Women’s Rafting Team (Tastefully unclothed. Talk about muscles!  Sheesh!).  Later this evening Vince stopped by who hadn’t seen Bennett in a couple of years.  Wednesday 4 of his Snow Cat buddies  (including his boss) stopped by and presented to him the first place prize money from the snowflakechallenge.   Monday Megan Sandra and Ariel came.  Over the weekend one of his bosses from snowmaking dropped by.  I know I’m forgetting some folks but please know that it means so much to Bennett (and me) to have you visit.  Please continue to drop by.  Bennett is also taking phone calls.  Thanks to everyone who continues to make Bennett’s days better by visiting, sending cards, calling, praying and sending positive vibes. 

With much love and gratitude,

Libby

LoVeloVelovE

          Coworkers and buddies of Bennett Bacon (not pictured here) spent about 95 hours creating their piece, which one first place, to help him with his medical bills he has after a snowboarding accident.

December 19, 2011

Bennett has been surrounded by so much love and positive energy; it’s having a visible healing effect.  His friends and colleagues in Breck have been amazing and it’s been a treat to meet his Colorado family.  The link below is just another example of the wonderful friends that he has cultivated out here.  I love you guys.    

http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20111218/NEWS/111219839

Bennett has been in a lot of pain in the last few days, though I think his mind is more in tune with his body.  He has stopped all the sedatives which had started backfiring on him.  He is now getting more pain meds but his mind is clear and he’s finally sleeping.  It appears that the infection in his thigh is under control.  Tomorrow the orthopedic surgeon will place a permanent plate in his right femur and set his right clavicle. 

Last week Bennett finally got an MRI.  He hadn’t had one because of the traction, but they temporarily took it out so they could get an MRI and put it back above his knee (it was through his lower leg).  The trauma surgeons had identified a basilar skull fracture when he came in but the MRI showed a C1 vertebral fracture.  Just typing this makes me feel a little sick.  The MRI also showed that there was no deep brain injury.  Today the Neurologist from Craig Hospital released him saying that it looked as though all of his rehab will be orthopedic.  Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado is exclusively dedicated to spinal cord injury (SCI) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation, and research.  

Yesterday Bennett’s restriction was removed on how far up he could sit.  Previously he was restricted to sitting up at no more than a 45 degree angle.  Now he can sit up at 90 degrees which also enables him to swallow liquids and food!  ( I think this increased mobility is also contributing to his increased pain) Last week he “flunked” his swallow test (twice) but passed with flying colors today.  Bennett’s Dad, Jerry has bought lots of groceries to make his famous seafood stew.  He’s determined to fatten Bennett up.   While the speech therapist was giving him the swallow test she also gave him some cognitive tests and he did “above average”.  Thomson teased him that his mind might be sharper since the accident.  I know his mind is sharper than mine after hearing the questions from the speech therapist that stumped me.  It reminded me that I need to start taking some ginkgo but I’m sure by tomorrow I will have forgotten.  

We’ve had so many visitors and each one makes Bennett so happy.  We thank you all. 

Will comes bearing gifts from Old Crow

December 17, 2011 afternoon

Bennett has had an exciting day and it just keeps getting better.  He is so stoked.  This morning his critical care doctor decided he was ready to move off the ICU to the step down unit.  He also agreed to remove all the sedatives that are supposed to help Bennett sleep, but seem to be having the opposite effect. 

Uncle Bill stopped through on Thursday and yesterday Will and “honorary Dad”, John flew in.  Then Ani and Thomson reappeared this morning after an adventurous road trip exuding their love and positive energy.   Bennett is extremely grateful for all his friends and family that have been here to visit him.  He is so happy to see his cousin Will.  They’ve always had a special bond.  Will came bearing gifts from Old Crow Medicine Show including a signed EP.  Pretty sweet.  _____________________________________________________________________________________

Rest for the Weary

December 16, 2011 morning

In the last 6 days Bennett has had 2 more washouts of the wound vacs and besides being anesthetized for about 2 ½ hours for each of those procedures he has slept maybe an additional 7 hours.  This has been heartbreaking to see, and is evidently something that can happen to patients that have been in ICU for a prolonged period of time.    The term for this is ICU Delirium or ICU Psychosis.  My understanding is that it’s caused by the combination of drugs and the fact that in ICU there is continues activity…24/7.  It’s hard for the patient to tell the difference in night and day and the sleep cycle is interrupted.  The combination of sleep deprivation and multiple drugs may cause hallucinations, and In Bennett’s case he is hallucinating off and on.  It’s worse at night and early morning.   The first 2 nights were the worst.  He had a lot of congestion that he was able to cough up, but it would then have to be suctioned out of his mouth and he seemed to be afraid to fall asleep because of the risk of choking.  Since then it’s cleared up some and he is able to suction himself, but he is still hallucinating and not sleeping.  His hallucinations aren’t scary.  Some of them are even comforting, but most cause confusion.  Even when he’s hallucinating he knows where he is, what month and year it is, and who we are.  Bennett thinks that the very drugs that are supposed to help these symptoms are the ones that are causing them and I am beginning to suspect that he’s right.  He lays in the dark, eyes darting back and forth.  I'll speak to his doctor in the morning about stopping these meds.    

While all this sounds scary, Bennett is making remarkable progress.  The infection in his thigh area near the arterial graft seems to be clearing up nicely.  Dr Reynolds preformed the washout today and was prepared to close up his right calf and do a skin graft.  He was actually able to close up the calf completely without a skin graft.  Future plans include another washout on Sunday and on Tuesday the permanent plate in his right femur. 

A brief (but good) update

I keep starting a new update, then get sidetracked and something changes.  I’ll try to post a more comprehensive update on the last week in the next day or so but the bottom line is that Bennett is making great progress.  He was moved from the NSICU yesterday evening to the “step down” unit.  This unit still has a high level of care is for those patients who have been in ICU and aren’t quite ready to go to a regular floor.  This is a huge move.  He’s had so many friends and loved ones here and he’s in pretty good spirits.  Last night he said to me, “Mom I have a lot of great friends don’t I?”   Yes he does.

Much love and gratitude,

Libby

I always disliked roller coasters…

December 11,2011

I always disliked roller coasters but I’ve got to get over that just to keep my sanity.  Bennett’s progress sometimes seems like being on a roller coaster, but as long as we keep creeping forward we have a lot to be thankful for.  My last update2 days ago I was deliriously happy and Bennett was delirious.  He’d just been extubated (ventilator tube out) and was being pretty funny as the sedatives wore off.  As I wrote the update he was in surgery getting his right thigh and calf washed out and the wound vacs re-applied.  

The news from that surgery was not good.  The surgeon found a lot of dead muscle around the site where Bennett’s femur had come out through his inner thigh.  It’s infected and the infection is right next to the arterial graft.  It’s common to get infections when compound fractures occur, but the arterial graft adds a scary complication.  I just can’t bring myself to throw that complication out into the universe by stating what it is in this blog.  I will just say that in order for a leg to be alive you must have blood flow.   The surgeon found that the deep femoral artery had also been severed.  The deep femoral artery branches off the femoral artery going deeper into the leg and does not leave the thigh.  A leg can live without the deep femoral artery however the reduced blood flow to the deeper tissues in the thigh probably didn’t help the situation.  The surgeon removed the dead muscle tissue, (he held up his fist to show how much), washed the heck out of the infected area and applied a fresh wound vac.  He also applied one to the incision on the outer thigh where the surgeons had gone in with the temporary plate on the night of the accident.  

After being deliriously happy with Bennett being extubated I crashed when I heard the news.   Later that evening I accidently redialed the number of a call I had missed earlier.  I didn’t know that I had dialed the number and heard a “hello?” coming from my phone.  When I placed the phone to my ear and apologized for “pocket dialing” someone, I found myself speaking to the brother of the young woman who witnessed Bennett’s accident, got the GPS coordinates and called ski patrol.  She stayed with Bennett and spoke to him until ski patrol arrived and was the first of many people that helped save Bennett’s life that day. 

Thank you Jennifer.  

That was two days ago.  Over that last 2 days Bennett has become more lucid and we see his personality intact.  He’s being pumped full of antibiotics and today his orthopedic surgeon went in to check out the infected area, do another washout and apply new wound vacs.  The surgeon found a bone splinter while he was in there that he removed and said that everything looks pretty good.  No more dead muscle had to be removed.  The graft is working well and he has a good pulse in his right foot.  He is loving company and although he’s still a little sedated he can carry on a great conversation, albeit a little slurry.  He knows where he is and why.  

I keep hearing amazing stories from the nurses, surgeons, helicopter team and friends of ski patrol about the series of events and actions that took place and saved Bennett’s life the day of the accident.   If any one of these actions or decisions by Bennett’s caregivers had been different he likely would not have made it.  When and if I get a clearer picture of what happened I’ll share the story.    

Friends that have visited in the last couple of days: Heather, Jason, Taylor (Chewbacca), Aaron (Treehugger), Marcus, Lindsey.  

Music therapy:  Little Tybee, Third Word, Nancy Griffith, Joe Craven, the Dodos, Chick Corea, Old Crow Medicine Show, Grateful Dead, Herbie Hancock, The Devil Makes Three, The Posies, The Accomplices

Book Therapy:  A walk in the woods

        Camels and Kite Surfing in Morocco