Brigham Updates

4 minutes. 4 minutes we have been told. 4 minutes was the time Brigham would have bled out + died.  This is our miracle.  The homeowner with no medical training applying pressure in the exact way needed to save him.  How?  If you ask her...she followed the instructions that came to her mind. She knows that Heavenly Father provided her with that knowledge, it was not information that she knew. The paramedics + life flight who desperately + swiftly did all that they could, knowing that he was bleeding out. They couldn't believe he was still alive. The ER doctor/nurses who saw him for but a short time did their best to stabilize + save every last drop off blood by sitting on him into the OR where the surgeons were ready. Unsure that he would make it, hoping he would. The OR doctors/surgeons/nurses who quickly accessed their options of saving his life, saving his leg and how they were going to do it. Doctors with fingers plugging his artery + vein to keep the blood he ha...

 Today Brigham took a shower!  This is his first real shower since before the accident. We wrapped a garbage bag around his calf and duct taped it tight to his leg.  He sat in a shower chair in our master shower and was able to clean himself. He called to us once he was done and needed a towel and help getting out.  It was a success! I'm sure it felt good. Brigham is getting more mobility and bored quicker.  You can find him taking walks to the kitchen or family room to get a different view.  It was so good for him to go to his cousin's soccer games on Tuesday + Wednesday. It was nice for all of us to do something normal.  He wheeled onto the field after the game and it was technically his first time back on the field after the accident.  He has goals of getting back on the soccer field and playing a game. You can be sure of one thing- we will be their to cheer him on.

We just got back from our 2nd visit to the plastic surgeon, Dr. Agarwal. It has been 2 weeks since his first visit.   They read the surgery report hoping to learn more information on what they saw regarding the major nerve in his thigh. Well...it stated that there was a laceration on the nerve but no more information than that. So, it leaves them wondering how much was cut and if it pulled or stretched other nerves. Good news: With the swelling down in his leg they were able to access his nerves. They were able to see how he can move his leg + use his quad muscles on his own.  They touched several different areas on his right leg finding where he can and cannot feel.  He has no feeling in his right inner thigh and just a small area on his knee.  They are taking the wait + see approach regarding any nerve repair surgery.  They are optimistic that they will not need to do anything. The doctors are happy with the progression of healing on his fasciotomy and sc...

2:00am- pain meds, sometimes ice pack for his ankle, water refill 6:00am-  2 pain meds Breakfast in bed, water refill PT exercises Sometimes a trip to the bathroom carrying his wound vac and using the walker 10:00am- pain meds, aspirin Lunch in bed, water refill PT exercises 2:00pm- pain meds, stool softener 6:00pm- 2 pain meds Dinner in bed (occasionally he eats in his wheelchair), water refill PT exercises with a walk to the kitchen + back 10:00pm- pain meds I usually rotate is ankle to help loosen + stretch it before bed. Jeremy and I give Brig his meds every 4 hours.  Sometimes he chooses to go 6 hours when he is having a good day.  On Monday, Wednesday or Friday there is a 1 1/2 hours where Nick visits to change his wound vac. It is never the same time so I don't schedule anything that day and will only leave for a quick errand after wound care is done. So far every week he has had at least 1 doctor appointment where we are gone for a few hours.  2-3 times a wee...

PHYSICAL THERAPY Bob the physical therapist has visited Brigham twice. We were all amazed (including Brigham) when he lifted his leg up with no help and then able to bend the knee and bring towards his chest. Brigham realized part of that was mental more than physical. During another exercise Bob could feel the 3 quad muscles all working.  This is fabulous news.  Brig cannot feel part of his thigh but his muscles are reacting + working which really no one knew if he would ever be able to do that.  This week he was given standing + sitting exercises to do.  He is suppose to keep his pain level at a 5 or lower.  These are exercises to reactivate the muscles and getting them more or less warmed up. He can only do so many exercise before he has to elevate his foot to release the pressure from the swelling.   PAIN He was moved to a smaller dose of meds and longer apart dosage time on Monday. This happened the same day as a not-so-awesome wound care appointm...

On Monday August 24th,  Jeremy and I took Brigham to his follow up appointment with Sheryl DeSpiegelaere NP in Dr. Akhtar's vascular + vein office.  We were pleasantly surprised when they let me go in with him. Seriously...such good news and a relief to all of us.  Getting into the car + traveling was so much easier for Brigham then it was a week ago.  Thank goodness. It was less painful + he could move better.  During the appointment she removed the 28 staples out of the injury site. It looks so good. He kept the staples to add to the 5 from his head when he was 6 years old. Some new details we learned from Sheryl (who was in the 6 hour surgery): He did not code in the OR. However there was 3 times when they were worried he wouldn't make it. His blood pressure got down to 50/20, which is really low. There is also no record of him coding on the life flight.  Brigham was one of the first femoral artery grafts they have done. We are guessing because most peop...

Today feels like a milestone we should celebrate.  Today marks 2 weeks since the accident and 1 week since he returned home! And today was the best wound care appointment yet.  Nick (the nurse) rocked it! He tells Brig it gets better each time except for the tape on the hair. Yikes....waxing + wound care, all in one.  His fasciotomy's are looking good and showing signs of healing.  We learned that Wound Vac's help heal wounds 50% faster...that is awesome + helps survive the pain 3 times a week. It reduces swelling, stimulates the growth of new tissue, + prevent infection.  Here is a pic of what the wound vac has sucked out in 2 days. On Wednesday he was able to join us in the kitchen for dinner.  We set up his tray over in front of his wheelchair.  His leg did a little bit better at a lower elevation but he still likes it to be repositioned every so often to relieve pressure. He looks like a child ready to be served. Haha! Ah....and we can't forget thi...