Mike continues to do remarkably well. It is about 8 PM now on Tuesday. Dr. Futran, the surgeon, came to see him about 7 after having just finished up a very similar surgery today on another patient. Wow - that guy works LONG hours.
Dr. Futran was very pleased with how everything is looking, and Mike has continued to pass the all-important "flap checks." Earlier in the evening Mike spent 45 minutes sitting up in a chair, and he looks good and remarkably strong after all he has been through. Dr. Futran even okayed a move tomorrow morning to a nice private room on the regular post-surgery floor. These are all good signs of how well Mike is doing. Right now he is back in bed and watching the M's, who hopefully can pull off a repeat of their opening day victory yesterday.
Thanks to all of you who have left comments on the blog and via e-mail. I will print out your messages tonight so that Mike can read them tomorrow. I haven't had a chance to respond to each of you individually, but I want you to know how much your love and support mean to both of us. Thank you!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Mike's awake!
I got to the hospital this morning just before 6 and when I arrived at Mike's room he was awake! It was great to be able to make eye contact with him. They have removed the ventilator and he is breathing through the trach on his own. He can't talk to me, but he was giving me lots of messages by blinking his eyes, raising his eyebrows, etc. The nurse assigned to Mike has no other patients, which means Mike is getting constant, very attentive care. He continues to look remarkably good.
A little bit after 6, the three residents came by for rounds. They did the "flap check," which I promised to explain. This is a where the doctor pokes a small needle into the skin graft in Mike's mouth to make sure that it bleeds. Turns out this is a simple yet effective way for the docs to check the viability of the flap, which is one of the primary conerns during the first couple of days postop. They will continue to do this every 6 hours.
The chief resident said the plan is to let Mike rest this morning, and if all continues to go well, they will try to get him up into a chair later today. He may even be able to move into a "regular" room tomorrow and get out of the ICU, which would be great. The ICU is very reassuring for all its technical machinery and monitors, but also quite loud (because of all its technical machinery and monitors).
They have moved Mike into a larger ICU room with a nice view of the stadium and some beautiful flowering fruit trees. I'm not sure he is ready to appreciate that yet, but by this afternoon I think he'll be glad to have a view outside of the hospital.
I don't know how much I will post today, but at the very least I will make a note here before I go to bed tonight and let you know how Mike's day went.
P.S. Thanks Nancy and John for the coffee, bacon, and scones. That was a great way to start the day.
A little bit after 6, the three residents came by for rounds. They did the "flap check," which I promised to explain. This is a where the doctor pokes a small needle into the skin graft in Mike's mouth to make sure that it bleeds. Turns out this is a simple yet effective way for the docs to check the viability of the flap, which is one of the primary conerns during the first couple of days postop. They will continue to do this every 6 hours.
The chief resident said the plan is to let Mike rest this morning, and if all continues to go well, they will try to get him up into a chair later today. He may even be able to move into a "regular" room tomorrow and get out of the ICU, which would be great. The ICU is very reassuring for all its technical machinery and monitors, but also quite loud (because of all its technical machinery and monitors).
They have moved Mike into a larger ICU room with a nice view of the stadium and some beautiful flowering fruit trees. I'm not sure he is ready to appreciate that yet, but by this afternoon I think he'll be glad to have a view outside of the hospital.
I don't know how much I will post today, but at the very least I will make a note here before I go to bed tonight and let you know how Mike's day went.
P.S. Thanks Nancy and John for the coffee, bacon, and scones. That was a great way to start the day.
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