Saturday, December 09, 2006
Evening
Mark seems to have had his worst day and night yet. He still has a high fever from the infection and now has pneumonia in the right upper lung. The pressure in his four ventriculostomies was rising and his heart rate was in the 160's. They checked him for a heart attack, but this was negative. They are beginning additional antibiotics for the pneumonia. He was uncomfortable enough that they lightly sedated him tonight. Dick, Maggie and I are at our lowest point yet. I'll call the hospital first thing tomorrow and will post again then.
Morning
Courtesy of Dick Seymour:
For those of you who have held back on adding comments for Mark to read later because the process of doing this is too complicated, try this:
[You might want to higlight this whole section, copy and print it for reference while you establish your identity. After that it'll be easy --- just remember your screen name and password]
Scroll down to the end of the first entry on the blog “Friends of Mark W. ….”
You will see on the lower right the word “comments” preceded by zero or a number (depending on how many folk have commented recently) Click on this word
This will take you to a new screen. Ignore all the stuff at the top and click on the “sign up here” near the bottom
This will take you to a new screen. Fill in your email address, next enter a password (twice), pick a display name (the actual name or nickname you want to appear below your comments), do the word verifying step to prove you are a person and not a computer program, approve the terms and conditions and click “continue”
This will bring you back to the comment screen again. Type your greeting to Mark in the box, enter your display name and password and when you’re satisfied with your comment, click the “Login and Publish” button at the bottom.
For those of you who have held back on adding comments for Mark to read later because the process of doing this is too complicated, try this:
[You might want to higlight this whole section, copy and print it for reference while you establish your identity. After that it'll be easy --- just remember your screen name and password]
Scroll down to the end of the first entry on the blog “Friends of Mark W. ….”
You will see on the lower right the word “comments” preceded by zero or a number (depending on how many folk have commented recently) Click on this word
This will take you to a new screen. Ignore all the stuff at the top and click on the “sign up here” near the bottom
This will take you to a new screen. Fill in your email address, next enter a password (twice), pick a display name (the actual name or nickname you want to appear below your comments), do the word verifying step to prove you are a person and not a computer program, approve the terms and conditions and click “continue”
This will bring you back to the comment screen again. Type your greeting to Mark in the box, enter your display name and password and when you’re satisfied with your comment, click the “Login and Publish” button at the bottom.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Evening
Go see Mark's picture on the Angioma Alliance website. http://www.angiomaalliance.org/index.html You might have to wait awhile for his picture to scroll past. You know he's just gonna love it!
Not too much new to report, sometimes I think that’s a good thing. Mark did have a continued fever today, and now has a bacterial infection in his spinal fluid. He's receiving antibiotics directly through his ventriculostomies (the drains in his head). On a positive note, they plan to remove both of the front ventriculostomy tubes soon and they hope he will continue to drain through the rear drains. Since he was awake most of the day yesterday and all through the night, he was sleepy today although easily aroused. He was able to communicate today with horizontal and vertical nods of his head but also threw in a shoulder shrug and raised eyebrows to all the other questions and commands. I think this was a positive sign that he is aware and understands our questions. He really needs to get through this infection.
So, keep up the comments. If you need help leaving a comment and aren't sure how to do it, just go find an eight year old to walk you through it. Or, check the blog tomorrow. Dick Seymour is going to leave detailed instructions for you.
Chris
Not too much new to report, sometimes I think that’s a good thing. Mark did have a continued fever today, and now has a bacterial infection in his spinal fluid. He's receiving antibiotics directly through his ventriculostomies (the drains in his head). On a positive note, they plan to remove both of the front ventriculostomy tubes soon and they hope he will continue to drain through the rear drains. Since he was awake most of the day yesterday and all through the night, he was sleepy today although easily aroused. He was able to communicate today with horizontal and vertical nods of his head but also threw in a shoulder shrug and raised eyebrows to all the other questions and commands. I think this was a positive sign that he is aware and understands our questions. He really needs to get through this infection.
So, keep up the comments. If you need help leaving a comment and aren't sure how to do it, just go find an eight year old to walk you through it. Or, check the blog tomorrow. Dick Seymour is going to leave detailed instructions for you.
Chris
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Thursday, December 07, 2006
Evening
You have the dubious honor of a guest editor tonight. I (Mark’s father) arrived from California this afternoon and found Mark perceptibly improved over my last visit. He had his usual evening body temperature control problems, but has added a new gesture to his vocabulary – a shoulder shrug which we interpret as being somewhere between a yes and a no. As much as he loves to talk, it must be incredibly frustrating to have that ventilator tube down his throat. Both Chris and I are feeling much more optimistic – largely based on the feedback from others with very similar problems who have recovered substantially all of their mental and physical capabilities. We are sure that the enormous ground swell of good thoughts from the small army of Mark’s friends has helped with the turn around. Keep it up!
Morning
I haven't called the hospital yet. Seems every time I do I head right down there even though I can't see Mark till noon. Today I'm restraining myself and will call later, if at all. But I do have some realizations to share with you today. And I didn't even stay in a Holiday Inn last night.
Early in the blog, a man named Kirk left a message about the Angioma Alliance website - you can see his post a couple of nights ago. This website is definitely lay person friendly. Kirk has the same thing that Mark has but he didn't go into his own history. There's no way for me to reach him but if he reads this again, I want him to know that I found more information there than through all of the staff at the hospital. Here goes my take on the whole thing.
I do know that Mark had a bleed in his mid brain which is part of the brain stem. This type usually bleeds into the tissue, not the skull, which takes longer to dissipate. Bleeding here is responsible for certain symptoms, of which Mark seems to have them all. I've copied a couple of paragraphs here, but if you want to know more, go to http://www.angiomaalliance.org/cainfo.html
Brainstem – The brainstem is the lower extension of the brain, located in front of the cerebellum and connected to the spinal cord. It consists of three structures: the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata. It serves as a relay station, passing messages back and forth between various parts of the body and the cerebral cortex. Many simple or primitive functions that are essential for survival are located here.The midbrain is an important center for ocular motion while the pons is involved with coordinating eye and facial movements, facial sensation, hearing and balance.
The reticular activating system is found in the midbrain, pons, medulla and part of the thalamus. It controls levels of wakefulness, enables people to pay attention to their environments, and is involved in sleep patterns.
If anyone out there has a digital picture of Mark, please email it to castellano@proofmark.com. And if anyone else can tell me how to post it here, it would be most appreciated.
One last note. I created this blog for all of his friends to keep updated and post notes to him. All of your kind posts about me are extremely touching, but this should be all about Mark. Thank you all for keeping up the posts. MARK WILL JUST LOVE READING THEM SO DON'T HESITATE TO POST EVERY DAY!!! I want someday for all of you to have a chance to meet each other.
Chris
Early in the blog, a man named Kirk left a message about the Angioma Alliance website - you can see his post a couple of nights ago. This website is definitely lay person friendly. Kirk has the same thing that Mark has but he didn't go into his own history. There's no way for me to reach him but if he reads this again, I want him to know that I found more information there than through all of the staff at the hospital. Here goes my take on the whole thing.
I do know that Mark had a bleed in his mid brain which is part of the brain stem. This type usually bleeds into the tissue, not the skull, which takes longer to dissipate. Bleeding here is responsible for certain symptoms, of which Mark seems to have them all. I've copied a couple of paragraphs here, but if you want to know more, go to http://www.angiomaalliance.org/cainfo.html
Brainstem – The brainstem is the lower extension of the brain, located in front of the cerebellum and connected to the spinal cord. It consists of three structures: the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata. It serves as a relay station, passing messages back and forth between various parts of the body and the cerebral cortex. Many simple or primitive functions that are essential for survival are located here.The midbrain is an important center for ocular motion while the pons is involved with coordinating eye and facial movements, facial sensation, hearing and balance.
The reticular activating system is found in the midbrain, pons, medulla and part of the thalamus. It controls levels of wakefulness, enables people to pay attention to their environments, and is involved in sleep patterns.
If anyone out there has a digital picture of Mark, please email it to castellano@proofmark.com. And if anyone else can tell me how to post it here, it would be most appreciated.
One last note. I created this blog for all of his friends to keep updated and post notes to him. All of your kind posts about me are extremely touching, but this should be all about Mark. Thank you all for keeping up the posts. MARK WILL JUST LOVE READING THEM SO DON'T HESITATE TO POST EVERY DAY!!! I want someday for all of you to have a chance to meet each other.
Chris
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Evening
This is a good site: http://www.angiomaalliance.org/cainfo.html Mark's cavernoma is located in the mid-brain, which is part of the brain stem.
Hey! How about some better news? Mark still has some swelling but his MRI came back with no signs of a stroke. His fever is down but he's still wearing a cooling blanket. This is a great invention to those of us with hot flashes, but I'm sure Mark is hating every minute of it.
I called my old friend Patty Walsh who works at Jefferson. She pulled a few strings and two very important looking Patient Advocates arrived within the hour and escorted me to a conference room. All eyes were on us, walking down the hall to Mark's room like a senior mod squad. I think it brought the fear of god to the nurses station. They gave me a lot of good information and the day got better from there.
During our six o'clock visit, the nurse repeatedly told Mark to wake up. After a few times, she said "wake up, Chris is here" and he did. He stayed awake (as well as he could) for the entire half hour. I asked him if he understood what I was saying and he opened his eyes wide - that's our sign. Later, during the eight o'clock visit, his nurse asked the same old questions, wiggle your toes, give me two fingers, give me a thumbs up. Well, he wiggled his toes and fingers of his right hand, but more importantly, for the first time in days, he was able to do the same, although weaker, on his left side.
Mark's attending physician he said that he may have some visual imparement, but he's hoping for more progress in the coming days.
I know this has happend before, but I'm going to get just as damned excited as I did all the other times. Hope you all do too.
Damon and Derrek, people have been asking how this all started, and I'd like you guys to write the beginning of the story. They're the ones who actually saved Mark's life and got him to the emergency room.
Chris
Hey! How about some better news? Mark still has some swelling but his MRI came back with no signs of a stroke. His fever is down but he's still wearing a cooling blanket. This is a great invention to those of us with hot flashes, but I'm sure Mark is hating every minute of it.
I called my old friend Patty Walsh who works at Jefferson. She pulled a few strings and two very important looking Patient Advocates arrived within the hour and escorted me to a conference room. All eyes were on us, walking down the hall to Mark's room like a senior mod squad. I think it brought the fear of god to the nurses station. They gave me a lot of good information and the day got better from there.
During our six o'clock visit, the nurse repeatedly told Mark to wake up. After a few times, she said "wake up, Chris is here" and he did. He stayed awake (as well as he could) for the entire half hour. I asked him if he understood what I was saying and he opened his eyes wide - that's our sign. Later, during the eight o'clock visit, his nurse asked the same old questions, wiggle your toes, give me two fingers, give me a thumbs up. Well, he wiggled his toes and fingers of his right hand, but more importantly, for the first time in days, he was able to do the same, although weaker, on his left side.
Mark's attending physician he said that he may have some visual imparement, but he's hoping for more progress in the coming days.
I know this has happend before, but I'm going to get just as damned excited as I did all the other times. Hope you all do too.
Damon and Derrek, people have been asking how this all started, and I'd like you guys to write the beginning of the story. They're the ones who actually saved Mark's life and got him to the emergency room.
Chris
Later Morning
I'm heading to the hospital now. Mark had a CAT scan during the night but I don't know the results. Only one of his ventricular drains is draining. His ventriculars are dry but his brain is still swollen. They've given him medication to reduce the edema. He's responding less. Mark is having an MRI to rule out a stroke this morning. I also have a meeting scheduled with his attending physician sometime this afternoon. Finally.
Chris
Chris
Morning
Thank you to all THREE of you who left a message on this blog. I created this blog more as a time line for Mark than for us. I thought it would be a good way when he's able to read this for him to know that all his friends were out there wishing him well. I know that you need to sign up and sign in, blah blah blah (although I can't see that screen). This is a two way street. I know some of you have never been to a blog and may be intimidated. Yes, it's a pain. But yes, you need to do it anyway. And often.
In trying to keep everyone's spirits up, and partly trying to erase it from my mind, I've edited out all the crappy things that have happened, the really scary stuff, the insensitive doctors, the cold nurses, the lack of communication, the really dark hours that I thought would never end, and the horror I have felt. My only concern is for Mark to make a full recovery. I've never been so scared in my life; trying not to think about going on with my life without the most wonderful man in the world.
Chris
In trying to keep everyone's spirits up, and partly trying to erase it from my mind, I've edited out all the crappy things that have happened, the really scary stuff, the insensitive doctors, the cold nurses, the lack of communication, the really dark hours that I thought would never end, and the horror I have felt. My only concern is for Mark to make a full recovery. I've never been so scared in my life; trying not to think about going on with my life without the most wonderful man in the world.
Chris
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Evening
Mark's Diagnosis: scroll 1/3 of the way down the page to section 4, Cavernous Angioma
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3469.htm
Another day of highs and lows. I had a consultation with the Head Head-Resident, Dr. Birkness, and he gave me a lot of information and answered my questions. Mark did in fact have a drain placed in both rear ventricles this morning. They were both draining much more than the two in the front had so I hope we're making progress. Dr. Birkness also said they he has never seen anyone who needed four drains and that Mark has had almost every complication there is. So, this must be a good sign, because he's gotten past all the hurdles so far.
Dr. Birkness also told me that each time Mark is anesthetized, it takes longer for him to wake up and not to expect too much until tomorrow morning. But only two hours post surgery, his eyes were open a little and he did squeeze my hand. Soon after, he was fast asleep again. Mark's receiving steroids to reduce the swelling in his brain, which has induced temporary diabetes. Now he has to have his blood sugar tested and he receives insulin. They expect this to reverse itself after he's weaned off of the steroids.
Mark's Hospital http://www.jeffersonhospital.org/neuroscience/
I've left the best till last. My dear friend, Sandy Kauffman, put me in touch with Janice Belitsky, Ph.D., who works at Bryn Mawr Rehab, one of the best brain rehab centers in the US. We talked on the telephone for an hour and she reassured me that Mark will do extremely well with rehab. She said the more intelligent a person is, the more he's likely to get a good result.
Rehab Center http://www.mainlinehealth.org/br/
Mark still has a long way to go. They hope that with the reduced pressure and swelling he will wake up tomorrow. Hopefully there will be steady progress from here.
Chris
http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3469.htm
Another day of highs and lows. I had a consultation with the Head Head-Resident, Dr. Birkness, and he gave me a lot of information and answered my questions. Mark did in fact have a drain placed in both rear ventricles this morning. They were both draining much more than the two in the front had so I hope we're making progress. Dr. Birkness also said they he has never seen anyone who needed four drains and that Mark has had almost every complication there is. So, this must be a good sign, because he's gotten past all the hurdles so far.
Dr. Birkness also told me that each time Mark is anesthetized, it takes longer for him to wake up and not to expect too much until tomorrow morning. But only two hours post surgery, his eyes were open a little and he did squeeze my hand. Soon after, he was fast asleep again. Mark's receiving steroids to reduce the swelling in his brain, which has induced temporary diabetes. Now he has to have his blood sugar tested and he receives insulin. They expect this to reverse itself after he's weaned off of the steroids.
Mark's Hospital http://www.jeffersonhospital.org/neuroscience/
I've left the best till last. My dear friend, Sandy Kauffman, put me in touch with Janice Belitsky, Ph.D., who works at Bryn Mawr Rehab, one of the best brain rehab centers in the US. We talked on the telephone for an hour and she reassured me that Mark will do extremely well with rehab. She said the more intelligent a person is, the more he's likely to get a good result.
Rehab Center http://www.mainlinehealth.org/br/
Mark still has a long way to go. They hope that with the reduced pressure and swelling he will wake up tomorrow. Hopefully there will be steady progress from here.
Chris
Past Updates
Tuesday morning, December 05, 2006
I received a call early this morning from the head resident. They’re somewhat like college students, you only hear from them when they want money. Mark’s two front drains aren’t sufficiently draining the fluid from the lobes so he’s in surgery now to place a ventriculostomy tube (I’m not sure if they’re putting it in on one side or both) in his back lobe(s). This is a little more dangerous, but it’s the next step. They are still hopeful that once his cerebral spinal fluid is drained and there is less pressure on the brain, things will vastly improve. And from what I can see in the waiting room, they have lots of practice and success with these procedures. They expect the procedure to be completed around 10-11am. I will be at the hospital by noon so there won’t be an update until tonight.
I’m getting some returned emails, so if you know of anyone who isn’t receiving this, but would like to, please forward it on. In the meantime, we need to think about a blog.
Chris
Monday, December 4, 2006
This contact list has grown so much that I needed to add another group! It’s amazing how many people Mark can call his friend, and I hope you’re as proud as I am to be included. Keep sending me the emails. I’m sure Mark will enjoy reading them when he is better. They certainly make me feel good.
Mark didn’t have a good night last night and had six CAT scans between 8pm last night and 10am this morning. They’re still trying to control the fluid in his brain that is causing the pressure that’s making him sleepy but they weren’t successful using drugs. This morning around 10 they inserted a second drain in his brain. They both worked briefly then stopped due to the fact that the two frontal things (I can’t remember the name) were now dry. There are two more cavities in the back but placing tubes in those is more risky and has to be done in the OR. Fortunately, this evening the new drain began to drain again. Hopefully, some of the fluid from the back is migrating to the front and is being drained.
His fever was also beginning to climb again tonight. They’re waiting for the blood they drew yesterday to come back from the lab. But in the meantime, he is on antibiotics.
His neurosurgeon was very hopeful this morning that the new drain would bring him around he hoped that this evening would be a repeat of his progress of Saturday night. Unfortunately, this wasn’t to be. He was following commands with a lot of persuasion. His right side is stronger than the left, which I take to mean his left side is weak. His nurse said he was hitting every bump in the road. He seems comfortable enough (considering everything he’s going through) and is not in any pain.
I’m sure he’s going to want to know who the hell ERNEST is. I’ll save that for tomorrow.
If anyone wants to add their email address to this update, please send me an email directly. It’s much easier for me to add your name directly from the email.
Chris
Sunday, December 3, 2006
It turns out that Mark’s medical self-intervention last night was not a good thing. When I called the hospital this morning they said he had again become very sleepy and difficult to arouse and would need the drain replaced. When I arrived at the hospital at 10am they were about to begin the procedure. He again needed general anesthesia and intubation. His head drained well but we were still not able to get him to wake up. He developed a fever of 103.9 and they did blood tests to see if they could find the reason for it. I think it’s a bladder infection since his urine is bright RED. They placed a cooling blanket on him and his temperature returned to normal later in the evening. At 8pm they sent him for another CAT scan and found no additional bleeding or changes and don’t know why he wouldn’t wake up. They increased his steroids to reduce the swelling in his brain. They continue to say he’s doing well. He was first placed under general anesthesia on Wednesday night and Saturday evening was the most wakeful I’ve seen him. Hopefully this is just a matter of time and we need a little more patience.
So, if there are any believers out there, maybe a few prayers wouldn’t hurt.
I will continue to send an update each evening when I return from the hospital.
Thank you all very much.
Chris
Saturday, December 3, 2006
Dick and I spent most of the day at Mark's bedside. Since Dick is leaving in the morning to return to California he was resigned to the fact that he may have to leave without seeing Mark actually awake during his entire visit. We were watching the Army Navy football game in his room, when his nurse asked us to step out while she assessed him for her shift change. When we returned only 15 minutes later Mark was more awake than we had ever seen him. The first thing he reached for was the TV remote control and began his usual routine of watching every show available for 5 minutes at a time. We don’t know what his nurse did, but it sure worked. His friend Alan and his wife Deb stopped in to visit and he knew who they were and even said their names. As the afternoon went on, Mark stayed awake and only nodded off occasionally. I called the hospital tonight around 11pm before I went to bed and the nurse said that Mark was even more awake and aware and had even pulled out the drainage tube from his head that was stitched to his scalp with multiple stitches. He even apologized to her and said that he had been bad. Unfortunately, he now has wrist restraints because they think that his catheter was the next thing to go! We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this wakefulness continues and is the beginning of a quick road to recovery.
I have a conference with his physician tomorrow and I hope to have even more good news to share.
It’s very comforting to know you’re all out there thinking and praying for Mark.
Chris
December 1, 2006
Mark is doing well neurologically, although he doesn’t arouse easily due to the swelling of his brain. We talked to a neurologist (at 15, this one was older than the last one) who said that he was doing extremely well neurologically and that the swelling, like any other bruise, would take a few days to go down. When Mark did wake up a few times last night, we found his short term memory to be markedly better and I think his double vision is vastly improved. All around, I think this is terrific progress. The best part of the night was when his case worker talked to me and his father, Dick, and told us to make plans for his departure from the hospital!!! She thinks they will recommend intensive inpatient rehab due to his young age. Of course, everything depends on his insurance company.
As a parent, I can only imagine the strain on his parents. How his dad is holding up so well amazes me. He’s hard a work every minute making sure Mark will have a seamless, worry free, and smooth recovery.
His mother Maggie, who lives in Nantucket is waiting for Mark’s discharge so she can be here to help him when he returns home. I know it must be very difficult for her not being here and we try to keep her updated often.
Mark was moved to an intermediate unit last night and will probably spend 4-5 days there until they discharge him to rehab. He’s in room 607 of the Jefferson Center for Neuroscience, at 9th & Walnut Sts. in downtown Philadelphia. When Mark is awake and able to have visitors, I will let you all know. In the meantime, as I have told a lot of you, please please feel free to call me at any time on either my cell 610.716.1791 or Mark’s cell which I always have with me.
I don’t know most of the folks who have emailed or called me, but I’m sure Mark will be very touched when he sees how many people are thinking and praying for him.
And as I found out last night, the prayers of even the unfaithful are sometimes answered.
We will keep you posted and thank you all again for your concern for our friend Mark.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
As some of you know, Mark is in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit of Jefferson Hospital. He had an incident on Wednesday of bleeding in his brain due to an Arteriovenous Malformation. He was taken to Lankanau Hospital, and from there they flew him to Jefferson. His major symptoms are double vision and extreme short term memory loss, along with a very odd personality change, sort of like a cross between Charlie Brown and Charlie Chaplin.He's being transferred to an intermediate unit today at the same hospital; it's far too soon to know a discharge date. Please feel free to call me on my cell: 610.716.1791 or Mark's cell: 904.687.9876 for an update. Thank you all for your support.Chris
I received a call early this morning from the head resident. They’re somewhat like college students, you only hear from them when they want money. Mark’s two front drains aren’t sufficiently draining the fluid from the lobes so he’s in surgery now to place a ventriculostomy tube (I’m not sure if they’re putting it in on one side or both) in his back lobe(s). This is a little more dangerous, but it’s the next step. They are still hopeful that once his cerebral spinal fluid is drained and there is less pressure on the brain, things will vastly improve. And from what I can see in the waiting room, they have lots of practice and success with these procedures. They expect the procedure to be completed around 10-11am. I will be at the hospital by noon so there won’t be an update until tonight.
I’m getting some returned emails, so if you know of anyone who isn’t receiving this, but would like to, please forward it on. In the meantime, we need to think about a blog.
Chris
Monday, December 4, 2006
This contact list has grown so much that I needed to add another group! It’s amazing how many people Mark can call his friend, and I hope you’re as proud as I am to be included. Keep sending me the emails. I’m sure Mark will enjoy reading them when he is better. They certainly make me feel good.
Mark didn’t have a good night last night and had six CAT scans between 8pm last night and 10am this morning. They’re still trying to control the fluid in his brain that is causing the pressure that’s making him sleepy but they weren’t successful using drugs. This morning around 10 they inserted a second drain in his brain. They both worked briefly then stopped due to the fact that the two frontal things (I can’t remember the name) were now dry. There are two more cavities in the back but placing tubes in those is more risky and has to be done in the OR. Fortunately, this evening the new drain began to drain again. Hopefully, some of the fluid from the back is migrating to the front and is being drained.
His fever was also beginning to climb again tonight. They’re waiting for the blood they drew yesterday to come back from the lab. But in the meantime, he is on antibiotics.
His neurosurgeon was very hopeful this morning that the new drain would bring him around he hoped that this evening would be a repeat of his progress of Saturday night. Unfortunately, this wasn’t to be. He was following commands with a lot of persuasion. His right side is stronger than the left, which I take to mean his left side is weak. His nurse said he was hitting every bump in the road. He seems comfortable enough (considering everything he’s going through) and is not in any pain.
I’m sure he’s going to want to know who the hell ERNEST is. I’ll save that for tomorrow.
If anyone wants to add their email address to this update, please send me an email directly. It’s much easier for me to add your name directly from the email.
Chris
Sunday, December 3, 2006
It turns out that Mark’s medical self-intervention last night was not a good thing. When I called the hospital this morning they said he had again become very sleepy and difficult to arouse and would need the drain replaced. When I arrived at the hospital at 10am they were about to begin the procedure. He again needed general anesthesia and intubation. His head drained well but we were still not able to get him to wake up. He developed a fever of 103.9 and they did blood tests to see if they could find the reason for it. I think it’s a bladder infection since his urine is bright RED. They placed a cooling blanket on him and his temperature returned to normal later in the evening. At 8pm they sent him for another CAT scan and found no additional bleeding or changes and don’t know why he wouldn’t wake up. They increased his steroids to reduce the swelling in his brain. They continue to say he’s doing well. He was first placed under general anesthesia on Wednesday night and Saturday evening was the most wakeful I’ve seen him. Hopefully this is just a matter of time and we need a little more patience.
So, if there are any believers out there, maybe a few prayers wouldn’t hurt.
I will continue to send an update each evening when I return from the hospital.
Thank you all very much.
Chris
Saturday, December 3, 2006
Dick and I spent most of the day at Mark's bedside. Since Dick is leaving in the morning to return to California he was resigned to the fact that he may have to leave without seeing Mark actually awake during his entire visit. We were watching the Army Navy football game in his room, when his nurse asked us to step out while she assessed him for her shift change. When we returned only 15 minutes later Mark was more awake than we had ever seen him. The first thing he reached for was the TV remote control and began his usual routine of watching every show available for 5 minutes at a time. We don’t know what his nurse did, but it sure worked. His friend Alan and his wife Deb stopped in to visit and he knew who they were and even said their names. As the afternoon went on, Mark stayed awake and only nodded off occasionally. I called the hospital tonight around 11pm before I went to bed and the nurse said that Mark was even more awake and aware and had even pulled out the drainage tube from his head that was stitched to his scalp with multiple stitches. He even apologized to her and said that he had been bad. Unfortunately, he now has wrist restraints because they think that his catheter was the next thing to go! We’re keeping our fingers crossed that this wakefulness continues and is the beginning of a quick road to recovery.
I have a conference with his physician tomorrow and I hope to have even more good news to share.
It’s very comforting to know you’re all out there thinking and praying for Mark.
Chris
December 1, 2006
Mark is doing well neurologically, although he doesn’t arouse easily due to the swelling of his brain. We talked to a neurologist (at 15, this one was older than the last one) who said that he was doing extremely well neurologically and that the swelling, like any other bruise, would take a few days to go down. When Mark did wake up a few times last night, we found his short term memory to be markedly better and I think his double vision is vastly improved. All around, I think this is terrific progress. The best part of the night was when his case worker talked to me and his father, Dick, and told us to make plans for his departure from the hospital!!! She thinks they will recommend intensive inpatient rehab due to his young age. Of course, everything depends on his insurance company.
As a parent, I can only imagine the strain on his parents. How his dad is holding up so well amazes me. He’s hard a work every minute making sure Mark will have a seamless, worry free, and smooth recovery.
His mother Maggie, who lives in Nantucket is waiting for Mark’s discharge so she can be here to help him when he returns home. I know it must be very difficult for her not being here and we try to keep her updated often.
Mark was moved to an intermediate unit last night and will probably spend 4-5 days there until they discharge him to rehab. He’s in room 607 of the Jefferson Center for Neuroscience, at 9th & Walnut Sts. in downtown Philadelphia. When Mark is awake and able to have visitors, I will let you all know. In the meantime, as I have told a lot of you, please please feel free to call me at any time on either my cell 610.716.1791 or Mark’s cell which I always have with me.
I don’t know most of the folks who have emailed or called me, but I’m sure Mark will be very touched when he sees how many people are thinking and praying for him.
And as I found out last night, the prayers of even the unfaithful are sometimes answered.
We will keep you posted and thank you all again for your concern for our friend Mark.
Thursday, November 30, 2006
As some of you know, Mark is in the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit of Jefferson Hospital. He had an incident on Wednesday of bleeding in his brain due to an Arteriovenous Malformation. He was taken to Lankanau Hospital, and from there they flew him to Jefferson. His major symptoms are double vision and extreme short term memory loss, along with a very odd personality change, sort of like a cross between Charlie Brown and Charlie Chaplin.He's being transferred to an intermediate unit today at the same hospital; it's far too soon to know a discharge date. Please feel free to call me on my cell: 610.716.1791 or Mark's cell: 904.687.9876 for an update. Thank you all for your support.Chris
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