Pete in MI
New member
Future Surgery??
Posted 9 hours ago
Brian's pain levels have, for the most part, remained the same with only occasional bouts of severe pain episodes. He still has a tough time sleeping though.
He hurt his right leg getting out of bed into his wheelchair last week and we feared he may have had a hairline fracture but the doctor examined his leg and felt that it was probably just a muscle pull or very small fracture at best. It is fine now.
One of his big toes has an in grown toenail that is infected and causing pain so Brian is on an antibiotic plus an antibiotic topical ointment. After it has run it's course we go back to the doctor to have the in grown nail taken care of. Most of the pain from this has subsided now also.
The tumor under his chin has grown so large that Brian can't suction his trach without pushing it to one side. He didn't mention it to us...Carol noticed it wasn't in straight and was afraid his strap was loose and feared it would come out. The large tumor also makes changing the trach difficult.
This morning I uploaded a picture of Brian showing how he sleeps. The tumors in his face are so large that when he lays flat they create a lot of pressure and pain so by leaning forward and propping his head on a stack of pillows he can get a little sleep. He said he can also breathe better that way too.
Our pediatrician will contact our plastic surgeon at Vanderbilt to see about scheduling a tumor reduction surgery of the chin. We saw his doctor last Friday and hope to hear something soon.
Dad is doing great!! Mom posted the following on dad's Carepage yesterday.
"It's a wonderful morning. The white count is up to 1.8, a little over double of what is was yesterday. When it reaches 2.0 we will be close to going home. We are hoping for the weekend.
Howard feels better today. He had been walking out in the halls when they are clear so he is getting stronger. He is eating much better so food much have a little more flavor than a week ago. It is really hard to have an appetite when the taste buds are off.
Thanks again for all your love and concern.
Donna and Howard"
We are all praying that dad will be released by Easter!!
Please keep Carol's mom in your prayers also. She has a heart cath scheduled for April 7th and may have to have a stent put in to open an artery. Pray this is succesful and that open heart surgery won't be neccesary.
Our whole family wants you to know that all of your thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than we can convey in words!
Thank you,
Doug, Carol and Brian
Posted 9 hours ago
Brian's pain levels have, for the most part, remained the same with only occasional bouts of severe pain episodes. He still has a tough time sleeping though.
He hurt his right leg getting out of bed into his wheelchair last week and we feared he may have had a hairline fracture but the doctor examined his leg and felt that it was probably just a muscle pull or very small fracture at best. It is fine now.
One of his big toes has an in grown toenail that is infected and causing pain so Brian is on an antibiotic plus an antibiotic topical ointment. After it has run it's course we go back to the doctor to have the in grown nail taken care of. Most of the pain from this has subsided now also.
The tumor under his chin has grown so large that Brian can't suction his trach without pushing it to one side. He didn't mention it to us...Carol noticed it wasn't in straight and was afraid his strap was loose and feared it would come out. The large tumor also makes changing the trach difficult.
This morning I uploaded a picture of Brian showing how he sleeps. The tumors in his face are so large that when he lays flat they create a lot of pressure and pain so by leaning forward and propping his head on a stack of pillows he can get a little sleep. He said he can also breathe better that way too.
Our pediatrician will contact our plastic surgeon at Vanderbilt to see about scheduling a tumor reduction surgery of the chin. We saw his doctor last Friday and hope to hear something soon.
Dad is doing great!! Mom posted the following on dad's Carepage yesterday.
"It's a wonderful morning. The white count is up to 1.8, a little over double of what is was yesterday. When it reaches 2.0 we will be close to going home. We are hoping for the weekend.
Howard feels better today. He had been walking out in the halls when they are clear so he is getting stronger. He is eating much better so food much have a little more flavor than a week ago. It is really hard to have an appetite when the taste buds are off.
Thanks again for all your love and concern.
Donna and Howard"
We are all praying that dad will be released by Easter!!
Please keep Carol's mom in your prayers also. She has a heart cath scheduled for April 7th and may have to have a stent put in to open an artery. Pray this is succesful and that open heart surgery won't be neccesary.
Our whole family wants you to know that all of your thoughts and prayers are appreciated more than we can convey in words!
Thank you,
Doug, Carol and Brian
Ma Betty