Last Wound Vac change (hopefully) * warning somewhat graphic pics

We are happy to say that today was Brigham's last wound vac change.  Wahoo!  We are planning + hoping that it is his last one.  The only reason why he would have to continue home health wound care is if he doesn't end up having surgery for some reason.

This afternoon he had a Covid Test in prep for surgery on Monday. 

Mondays surgery is with the plastic surgeon at Huntsman Hospital to close up the fasciotomy sites. 

Plan A: was to have a pre-op appointment where they accessed the fasciotomy's without the wound vac and decide what they could stitch up + where they would use a skin graft. Well...that appt was scheduled this past Tuesday (8th) and was cancelled due to the intense wind storm. So, on to Plan B.

Plan B: They will access him before Monday morning before going into surgery. 

More good news...Huntsman recently changed their policy and I can go into the hospital with Brigham and wait in the OR waiting room while he is in surgery. What a relief + blessing that we don't just have to drop him off at the front door alone.  

We are so impressed with how his fasciotomy's are healing. Today they looked so good.  You can see new tissue + skin filling in.  Since today is most likely that last day of home health + wound care I took more pictures throughout the process.

*WARNING*  You will see his open wounds in the images below.

This is Nick. He is Brigham's awesome home health nurse.  He is a rockstar at our house.  He is a former marine + a soccer fan which gave them lots to talk about during the wound vac appointments. This pic was taken before his wound vac today.  This is what Brig looks like 90% of the time...no shirt.  The room he is recovering in is the hottest in the house.

This is how his leg looked after removing the ace bandage.  The fibrous foam inserts (which Nick cuts to shape) are suctioned down with the wound vac.  Any fluid is sucked out of that tube. 

This is the inside of his right calf.  That scar line coming from his thigh (right side of pic) is where they harvested the vein used for the femoral artery + femoral vein graft.

 I would guess this fasciotomy is only about 1 1/2 inches wide at the widest point. 

It looks so good and is definitely smaller than the beginning.

This is the outside of his right calf.  The vascular surgeon said when they cut this side during surgery it popped out (kind of like a balloon) due to the extreme leg swelling from the trauma. 

That is the whole purpose of fasciotomy it is to avoid compartment syndrome 

which cuts off circulation + can lead to amputation. 

Applying tape around the wounds. This helps with sealing so the wound vac can work.

Just finished taping on the fibrous sponge. We tease that they are some funky shin guards.

He had the choice of doing wound care until they healed themselves he would probably have scars in the shape of those wounds.  It would look like some tribal like tattoo in scar form.  Brigham chose surgery instead of waiting another 4-6 weeks of vac changes while it healed. He did tell the surgeon to not do his best work because he wants a gnarly scar.

Here Nick is applying the bridge that goes between the 2 wounds.  

They have to makes sure the tape is applied carefully with no leaks.  

Seriously, I found this so fascinating and probably asked way too many questions over the past 4 weeks. 

Once the tube is in place and hooked to the wound vac he turns it on and you watch the sponge suction down tight into the wound bed and Brig holds his breath or yells depending on the pain. 

This pic is actually from awhile ago...but it shows the machine he has been carrying around for the past month plus you can see the fluids. The fluids more recently have been more red + milky looking. When both sides become full an alarm will go off.  This week it woke Brigham up at 1:17am and we had to change it in the middle of the night.  Of course, just like a fire alarm...always at night.

Now Brig is in quarantine until surgery Monday at 9am. Crossing our fingers his Covid test is negative. He doesn't have symptoms but you just don't know, right?! We will take any prayers for another successful surgery + recovery.  Thanks for all the continued support through texts, prayers, meals, gift cards, and so much more.  We feel so loved through your kindness.