Posted on 05/31/2010 6:45:46 AM PDT by Gail_Head
Another week, and we are seven days closer to going home! Jeff continues to have more good days. A lot of time he has a good day and then sort of crashes in the evening. For some reason, his body temp sporadically fluctuates giving him bad chills one moment and then almost a fever . (Makes it hard to keep his room temperature consistent!) Yesterday (Sunday) he actually had a fever of 101, so the doctor ordered blood cultures, urine culters, and x-rays. Tomorrow (tuesday) he will also have some sort of test to make sure he doesn't have any blood clots in his legs.
Overall, Jeff is in very good spirits. He was on the tilt table every day last week and is now up to 45 degrees....half way there! His physical therapy is the high point of his day because it gets him out of his bed and gives him an activity that shows measurable progress. Thursday they actually had his feet touching the ledge on the end and doing a little weight bearing. A CT scan is scheduled for tomorrow, and if it looks like the bone graft is growing, they will keep going with the tilt table and maybe even have him take a step next week.
He still has four drains in his back. We were hoping to get one or two out last week, but that didn't happen. Maybe this week? Jeff has started on the bowel management training. It basically trains his body into a predictable routine. It has been challenging, to say the least, but it takes time and he is working hard to get it figured out.
Probably the biggest challenge for Jeff right now is the neurogical pain associated with losing the nerve roots to his legs and feet. It was explained to us that the nerves in his legs and feet are searching for a connection that is no longer there, and it creates "pins & needles", burning, tingling, shooting pains, and the feeling of a muscle cramp coming on. We do therapy three times a day that helps to de-sensitize the nerves, and that helps. He is also taking Lyrica, which helps a lot. Eventually, the nerves will calm down and he will have permanent numbness in some areas. Hopefully not too much.
Jeff's spirits are pretty good. He is grateful for all the love and support he has received. I am putting the cards he receives up on the walls in his room. For those of you who have made a donation, I get a Get Well cards to represent it so that he can see your names as well. I think it helps for him to have a visual of the many people who are praying for him and wishing him well. Prayers are answered, and we look forward to more improvement this coming week!
Good News! Prayers...
The body is a miraculous thing Gail. I pray to God that the nerves will manage to find a new route. You tell Jeff that we still have him in our prayers and we are so proud of him.
Prayers continue.
Please pass along my prayers for Jeff and your entire family.
Great News!
Prayers continue for you both. Happy to hear of his improvements, God Bless you with health and strength.
Thank you so much for taking the time to post another update. It sounds like he is doing as well as can be expected.
I will keep prayers headed his way, and will continue to pray for his saintly doctors.
Ongoing prayers for you and Jeff. Thank you for the updates and may God bless you both.
I am still amazed this type of treatment is even possible. I am even more amazed at those that go through it. If anyone can pull this off it is no doubt Jeff. Glad to see the progress. Blessings to all.
Eagerly awaiting word that all is well with every test ...
God bless you Jeff (and Gail!) - we’re praying for you here in FReeper land.
Hang in there Jeff, you will beat this thing.
5.56mm
Prayers going up for Jeff.
ßump
Thank you for your update, Gail. I often think about Jeff and how he is progressing. Please let him know that his FReeper FRiends have not forgotten him and that we will continue to pray for his recovery. May God Bless you and your family. TMG
Thank you for your updates.
Thanks for the update Gail. I was thinking about you folks last night, wondering how Jeff was progressing. Prayers continue.
Thanks for the information. Best wishs for Jeff and prayers for continued improvement!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.