Dustin is doing amazingly well the last two days. thanks to his doctors they have gotten his pain under control. he is doing so well that he has not used his delotin drip since yesterday afternoon. And he has been in a great mood.
Yesterday he started physical therapy (no time for rest on the road to recovery). his therapist showed him some excercises to keep his hip muscles limber. they had him lift and lower his residual limb (the stump) off the bed 10 times, then had him do what is easiest described as snow angels with his legs. they then got him to sit up, and he eased his way to the edge of the bed. He got dizzy and had to lay back down, but great progress for the first day. the dizziness was expected since he lost some blood during surgery.
in about an hour the PTs are coming in with a WALKER, the plan is to get dustin up and out of bed, and take a few steps using his walker. i cannot even express how excited i am for this moment. for those of you who know dustin well, you know he has been in agony being stuck in bed for this long. hopefully tomorrow they will get him in a wheelchair and i will be able to take him out of our room so he can see some of the world again.
Dustin's attitude still amazes me, even though i wouldn't expect anything else from him. Thank you so much for all the well wishes, flowers, gifts and prayers. you can tell that all the prayers are working when you look into his eyes and see....happiness, hope and determination.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
April 7th
i apologize for keeping everyone waiting for today's status update...surgery went really well , they were able to successfully amputate the leg in a single surgery (they feared it may take 2 tries because of the lack of skin)
Dustin has been suffering from excrutiating pain today, but the doctors and nurses say that today will be the worst, and it will get significantly better from here. Dustin has finally fallen asleep for the evening (at least for now) i am sitting in a chair next to him manning his PCA drip (the pain meds button) that way he can sleep without having to wake up to hit the button when the meds wear off, so every 8 minutes he gets a dose of deloten, until midnight when they bring him another dose of oral meds
tomorrow i will write more, but i wanted to leave you with a quote from my husband...after surgery today he looked at me and asked what the date was, i of course answered April 7th, he responded...
"April 7th; that seems like a day to remember"
Dustin has been suffering from excrutiating pain today, but the doctors and nurses say that today will be the worst, and it will get significantly better from here. Dustin has finally fallen asleep for the evening (at least for now) i am sitting in a chair next to him manning his PCA drip (the pain meds button) that way he can sleep without having to wake up to hit the button when the meds wear off, so every 8 minutes he gets a dose of deloten, until midnight when they bring him another dose of oral meds
tomorrow i will write more, but i wanted to leave you with a quote from my husband...after surgery today he looked at me and asked what the date was, i of course answered April 7th, he responded...
"April 7th; that seems like a day to remember"
Saturday, April 4, 2009
the date has been set
After multiple talks with dustin's orthopedic doctor and the prosthetic team he has come to realize his decision. Dustin has chosen the route that should lead to quickest recovery possible. He has chosen living his life over waiting, hoping that someday he will have a life again. After much thought, prayer, information, and soul searching dustin has decided to let the doctors take his leg.
As i mentioned before they will be removing the leg above his knee (approx. where the break is), after surgery we will be in the hospital for another week or two; but therapy will start almost immediately. they will begin working with his thigh muscle in his residual limb (the remaining part of his right leg) to strengthen those muscles and get him ready to wear his prosthesis. the doctor's feel that the break in his left leg will not prohibit him from standing on it right away (the fracture was minimal), and the rehab team will help to strenghten that leg and teach him to adjust to having to rely on the prosthesis.
this rehab process will be grueling, but is necessary for him to regain normal function in his leg. he is preparing himself for the battle ahead, and knows that his willingness to work is everything. dustin has goals of walking, running, working out, getting back to work, starting a family with me, and eventually getting back on a bike again. with these goals in sight he will be able to keep his eye on the target.
Tuesday will be the day that we say good bye to dustin's right leg.
as the doctor told us "this is not the end; just a new beginning"
As i mentioned before they will be removing the leg above his knee (approx. where the break is), after surgery we will be in the hospital for another week or two; but therapy will start almost immediately. they will begin working with his thigh muscle in his residual limb (the remaining part of his right leg) to strengthen those muscles and get him ready to wear his prosthesis. the doctor's feel that the break in his left leg will not prohibit him from standing on it right away (the fracture was minimal), and the rehab team will help to strenghten that leg and teach him to adjust to having to rely on the prosthesis.
this rehab process will be grueling, but is necessary for him to regain normal function in his leg. he is preparing himself for the battle ahead, and knows that his willingness to work is everything. dustin has goals of walking, running, working out, getting back to work, starting a family with me, and eventually getting back on a bike again. with these goals in sight he will be able to keep his eye on the target.
Tuesday will be the day that we say good bye to dustin's right leg.
as the doctor told us "this is not the end; just a new beginning"
Friday, April 3, 2009
meeting with doctors
After surgery yesterday dustin was able to meet with 2 of his doctors to discuss the current situation with his leg.
surgery yesterday was again to clean the wound and reset the knee, dustin also asked that both the orthopedic and plastic surgery teams to be in the room so that they could reassess his status.
Dustin was able to ask Dr Martin (from the orthopedic team) if she thought there was any change in their diagnosis....he was not looking for a miraculous recovery, just information. The doctor explained to him that from a bone standpoint that his knee is completely shattered and that they would be able to pin and needle it back together; however it would NEVER function properly again. He would most likely never regain the ability to lift his foot up and down (due to nerve damage) and he would lose the "hinge" function in his knee. He would always have a limp, which could inturn lead to other issues in both his hip and ankle. He asked what her professional opinion would be, and she explained that if amputation is the route he chooses to go he will have a rough recovery, but will lead a normal and healthy life...the surgery route he never would (and that at some point they would end up taking his leg regardless)
today (friday) the prosthetic team is coming to meet with us, to provide us with information, guidance and poin us in the right direction for the kind of support that dustin will need. he feels that his decision is pretty muh made...he does not feel like he has given up the fight to save his leg, but has made the right decision to continue on with the life that he loves.
surgery yesterday was again to clean the wound and reset the knee, dustin also asked that both the orthopedic and plastic surgery teams to be in the room so that they could reassess his status.
Dustin was able to ask Dr Martin (from the orthopedic team) if she thought there was any change in their diagnosis....he was not looking for a miraculous recovery, just information. The doctor explained to him that from a bone standpoint that his knee is completely shattered and that they would be able to pin and needle it back together; however it would NEVER function properly again. He would most likely never regain the ability to lift his foot up and down (due to nerve damage) and he would lose the "hinge" function in his knee. He would always have a limp, which could inturn lead to other issues in both his hip and ankle. He asked what her professional opinion would be, and she explained that if amputation is the route he chooses to go he will have a rough recovery, but will lead a normal and healthy life...the surgery route he never would (and that at some point they would end up taking his leg regardless)
today (friday) the prosthetic team is coming to meet with us, to provide us with information, guidance and poin us in the right direction for the kind of support that dustin will need. he feels that his decision is pretty muh made...he does not feel like he has given up the fight to save his leg, but has made the right decision to continue on with the life that he loves.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
our address
many of you have asked where you can send cards, flowers and well wishes...our address is:
Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
6411 FanninHouston, Texas 77030
(713) 704-4000Room 606
dustin's direct ph# is 713 704 8606...he may not always be able to answer the phone, but if he is awake and I am there we would love to hear from yall
if this info changes i will let you know
Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center
6411 FanninHouston, Texas 77030
(713) 704-4000Room 606
dustin's direct ph# is 713 704 8606...he may not always be able to answer the phone, but if he is awake and I am there we would love to hear from yall
if this info changes i will let you know
thursday, surgery #3
Dustin just went off to surgery # 3, this one again is to clean his wound and remove any dead tissue. We will be asking the doctor's if there are any changes with his condition, and get updated statistics for saving his leg. he of course is in good spirits, but naturally nervous about the operation again.
we have asked to speak to people in the prosthetics department so that we can be better informed if that is the route we choose to take.
****if you have not read yesterdays blog, please do so, it will give you a better understanding as to what is going on with us***
thank you for all the heart felt messages of support, they keep us going each day
we have asked to speak to people in the prosthetics department so that we can be better informed if that is the route we choose to take.
****if you have not read yesterdays blog, please do so, it will give you a better understanding as to what is going on with us***
thank you for all the heart felt messages of support, they keep us going each day
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
we got a room!
Late last night after dustin's surgery we were moved from the SIMU (intermediate care facility) to our own room! We are now located on the 6th floor of the jones pavillion...less restricted visitation so feel free to come see us.
however, yesterday we learned just how BAD dustin's injury really is:
as i mentioned before dustin sustained multiple injuries to his legs, to be more specific he fractured his left leg below the knee. and his right knee is completely shattered, he broke both the bone below and above his knee (all of which could be repairable) however he lost the majority of the tissue and skin in that area ....this is the info we already knew.
after surgery yesterday dustin's plastic surgeon met with me and my family to show me the photos taken during his procedure. i could have never prepared myself for what i saw. the top portion of dustin's thigh is normal, but from above his knee to about mid calf it is just muscle, bones and blood vessels. along the outer portion of his knee is an approx 2 inch piece of skin holding it all together. none of us knew how bad it was!!
the doctor explained to dustin and i that he has a couple of options and they are willing to go either way with us. At this point he can let them take the leg (above the knee) or we can start the process of MULTIPLE surgeries. with each and every surgery they will go in, clean the wound, save what they can and check for infection. they will have to start grafting skin from other parts of his body to hopefully begin to fill in what he is missing. this will involve taking skin from other parts of his body to repair the knee. This second option will leave dustin in pain not only during the surgeries, but perhaps for the rest of his life. and scariest of all there is no guarantee that after all this effort that he will be able to keep the leg.
Dustin is still weighing the decision (as of course any of us would be) time will bring him peace with what he chooses.
We have found oursleves wondering why something like this would happen to such a strong, passionate and loving person. our only condolence is that God must have a plan for my husband and know that he is strong enough to make it through this .
we feel your prayers every moment of every day, and will need them even more throughout this process...thank you to all of you for all the support
however, yesterday we learned just how BAD dustin's injury really is:
as i mentioned before dustin sustained multiple injuries to his legs, to be more specific he fractured his left leg below the knee. and his right knee is completely shattered, he broke both the bone below and above his knee (all of which could be repairable) however he lost the majority of the tissue and skin in that area ....this is the info we already knew.
after surgery yesterday dustin's plastic surgeon met with me and my family to show me the photos taken during his procedure. i could have never prepared myself for what i saw. the top portion of dustin's thigh is normal, but from above his knee to about mid calf it is just muscle, bones and blood vessels. along the outer portion of his knee is an approx 2 inch piece of skin holding it all together. none of us knew how bad it was!!
the doctor explained to dustin and i that he has a couple of options and they are willing to go either way with us. At this point he can let them take the leg (above the knee) or we can start the process of MULTIPLE surgeries. with each and every surgery they will go in, clean the wound, save what they can and check for infection. they will have to start grafting skin from other parts of his body to hopefully begin to fill in what he is missing. this will involve taking skin from other parts of his body to repair the knee. This second option will leave dustin in pain not only during the surgeries, but perhaps for the rest of his life. and scariest of all there is no guarantee that after all this effort that he will be able to keep the leg.
Dustin is still weighing the decision (as of course any of us would be) time will bring him peace with what he chooses.
We have found oursleves wondering why something like this would happen to such a strong, passionate and loving person. our only condolence is that God must have a plan for my husband and know that he is strong enough to make it through this .
we feel your prayers every moment of every day, and will need them even more throughout this process...thank you to all of you for all the support
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
