As you can see, the posts are slowing down.
We are in the process of settling into a routine of outpatient rehabilitation. Appointments are mostly on Tuesdays and Thursdays and, as important as they are for his healing, they do take their toll on Dan. He is very tired after about 45 minutes and begins to lose focus. He naps about 3-4 hours every day - sometimes in shifts, sometimes all at once. The brain shuts down in order to heal, I guess. And the pain from his ribs is exhausting. So he sleeps whenever he can.
The problem is that on appointment days, he has to push through. Tomorrow he has a 9:00, an 11:00, and a 1:00 - so he won't even get home until after 2 which is usually deep into his nap time. I won't expect to see him after that until dinner time.
On his appointment days, I am at work so that I can go with him if I am needed (which I was in the beginning) or if I want to. Julia drives him over and drops him off or he goes in with me. Pretty soon, however he gets there, he'll be going to his appointments and I will work, meeting up with him between appointments to check in. It's so convenient having him at UWMC.
We are ready for visitors at last. If you would like to come, give me a call. I have to stress that visits should be limited to one hour tops. He starts to fade and it's best to leave before that happens. I am getting pretty good at reading the subtle signs.
Hopefully this won't last forever. I am very hopeful that in time we will be increasing visiting times but for now, let me know if you want to come and we'll make a plan.
Thanks for everything and especially for your understanding.
Remember: Gratitude is the attitude. Love each other, overlook the petty stuff, keep your face toward the sun. It's shining pretty brightly these days.
Love,
Irene
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
WELCOME HOME DAN
Sorry to be silent for a while. It's been a very busy few days.
Dan was discharged on Saturday! Not all better, not out of jail yet. We are home, but he is now considered an outpatient with a full dance card of appointments that will keep our schedule packed. In fact, we are working this morning to put things on the calendar (part of his therapy) and figure out how to make it all work with my schedule and Sarah & Julia backing me up.
He is not allowed to drive or work for a while - to be determined. He must have 24 hour supervision for at least 3 weeks.
So - you can see that there has been a lot to do to get organized.
Also, we have had to make modifications to our particular living situation to make it more comfortable and accessible for Dan.
He still has rib pain appropriate for 2 out of 6 weeks healing time. It's hard to watch him navigate around the boat, clearly struggling with the pain. And my "no-narcotics, no addiction" husband has relented to the prescribed dosage of pain meds which tells me a lot about the level of his pain. If you know Dan, you know it must hurt something awful for him to take meds for it.
Cognitively - well - it depends on the time of day.
His therapy will be a combination of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Counseling, and Speech (Cognitive) Therapy.
At a welcome home gathering on the dock the Saturday afternoon, I raised a glass in thanksgiving for the fact that Dan is home. This could very easily have been a different kind of gathering. So many of you have acknowledged this fact to me. I think we have all learned how precious life is - how easily it can turn on us. How in one moment it can all change.
Cherish it. Cherish each other. Be grateful for what is.
Love,
Irene
Dan was discharged on Saturday! Not all better, not out of jail yet. We are home, but he is now considered an outpatient with a full dance card of appointments that will keep our schedule packed. In fact, we are working this morning to put things on the calendar (part of his therapy) and figure out how to make it all work with my schedule and Sarah & Julia backing me up.
He is not allowed to drive or work for a while - to be determined. He must have 24 hour supervision for at least 3 weeks.
So - you can see that there has been a lot to do to get organized.
Also, we have had to make modifications to our particular living situation to make it more comfortable and accessible for Dan.
He still has rib pain appropriate for 2 out of 6 weeks healing time. It's hard to watch him navigate around the boat, clearly struggling with the pain. And my "no-narcotics, no addiction" husband has relented to the prescribed dosage of pain meds which tells me a lot about the level of his pain. If you know Dan, you know it must hurt something awful for him to take meds for it.
Cognitively - well - it depends on the time of day.
His therapy will be a combination of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Counseling, and Speech (Cognitive) Therapy.
At a welcome home gathering on the dock the Saturday afternoon, I raised a glass in thanksgiving for the fact that Dan is home. This could very easily have been a different kind of gathering. So many of you have acknowledged this fact to me. I think we have all learned how precious life is - how easily it can turn on us. How in one moment it can all change.
Cherish it. Cherish each other. Be grateful for what is.
Love,
Irene
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday - 2 Weeks Today
One day at a time as they say. Hard to believe that 2 weeks ago today, at just about this time, Dan was getting ready to do some work on our boat and needed a couple of parts to begin the job. He laid out his tools, took off the hatch to the battery compartment, got everything set to go and then hopped on his scooter to get the parts he needed.
And that was the last time he was home.
Dan has been through a rigorous routine of therapies and they are lining things up for his discharge. He is utterly exhausted at the end of each day because he barely gets a break. And then at night, his rib pain is such that he can't sleep well. The bed is not his bed, and he is tired of being here, so discharge will be good news, in a way. But when that happens (and I'm nervous about that, to be honest), he will have a full dance card of outpatient appointments both for rehabilitation of his body and of his brain. The brain part especially will be an intensive program, per doctor recommendations.
We have been told that he needs 24 hour supervision for about 3 weeks. So I'm working on that.
Listen to me and hear me well. DON'T TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING! I have no idea of the situation regarding Dan's accident and if that was a factor. That's not my point here. But I have been told by the detective on our case that if someone is in an accident and it is discovered that a cell phone was involved, the charge can go up to a felony.
Driving is serious business. Pay attention, don't get into competition, don't hurry, be safe.
That's my lecture for the day.
Again - thank you all - family and friends - for everything.
Love,
Irene
And that was the last time he was home.
Dan has been through a rigorous routine of therapies and they are lining things up for his discharge. He is utterly exhausted at the end of each day because he barely gets a break. And then at night, his rib pain is such that he can't sleep well. The bed is not his bed, and he is tired of being here, so discharge will be good news, in a way. But when that happens (and I'm nervous about that, to be honest), he will have a full dance card of outpatient appointments both for rehabilitation of his body and of his brain. The brain part especially will be an intensive program, per doctor recommendations.
We have been told that he needs 24 hour supervision for about 3 weeks. So I'm working on that.
Listen to me and hear me well. DON'T TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING! I have no idea of the situation regarding Dan's accident and if that was a factor. That's not my point here. But I have been told by the detective on our case that if someone is in an accident and it is discovered that a cell phone was involved, the charge can go up to a felony.
Driving is serious business. Pay attention, don't get into competition, don't hurry, be safe.
That's my lecture for the day.
Again - thank you all - family and friends - for everything.
Love,
Irene
Monday, August 22, 2011
Reality Check
I spent all day at the hospital yesterday. Dan and I had a nice day together. He slept on and off. We managed to catch a little bit of sunshine, getting a wheelchair pass and stepping out the door into the fresh air for the first time (for Dan) in 10 days or so. It felt so good and Dan was clearly into it. But when we got back to the room he went deep into sleep and slept through his dinner tray arriving.
Today began a week of intensive daily therapies. I go back to work tomorrow and will be just a few floors below him so will be able to go up to say hi and check in. There is a meeting of his entire team of doctors, nurses and therapists tomorrow around 2 which I've been asked to attend. Kevin will probably join me for that as a second pair of ears. Or third if you count Dan's!
Lastly, I want to let you know that my lack of response to emails, phone calls, texts, etc., is not personal. I have to be careful about how much time I spend on the phone or emailing because I am trying to get my own strength back and preserve my energy. The "no visitors" restriction is for Dan's good. He is exhausted and his brain injury is serious. The best therapy for his healing is to rest, to only be stimulated in the way the pro's want to stimulate him for therapeutic reasons. Visitors (other than family) put a strain on him at this point. So please don't be hurt or take any of this personally.
I appreciate all that you are doing, praying, thinking, sending - all the love. But we need to maintain his safe, quiet place for a bit longer.
Thanks for understanding.
Love,
Irene
Today began a week of intensive daily therapies. I go back to work tomorrow and will be just a few floors below him so will be able to go up to say hi and check in. There is a meeting of his entire team of doctors, nurses and therapists tomorrow around 2 which I've been asked to attend. Kevin will probably join me for that as a second pair of ears. Or third if you count Dan's!
Lastly, I want to let you know that my lack of response to emails, phone calls, texts, etc., is not personal. I have to be careful about how much time I spend on the phone or emailing because I am trying to get my own strength back and preserve my energy. The "no visitors" restriction is for Dan's good. He is exhausted and his brain injury is serious. The best therapy for his healing is to rest, to only be stimulated in the way the pro's want to stimulate him for therapeutic reasons. Visitors (other than family) put a strain on him at this point. So please don't be hurt or take any of this personally.
I appreciate all that you are doing, praying, thinking, sending - all the love. But we need to maintain his safe, quiet place for a bit longer.
Thanks for understanding.
Love,
Irene
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Too tired to think of a title for this entry...
So tired. Haven't had time to post for a bit, simply because of fatigue.
Dan is still really tired and sleeps after the slightest exertion. I know they say this will take a while but I'm impatient. Gotta take some deep breaths and wait this out.
Tomorrow (Monday) starts an intense week of therapy. I am hoping we see some improvement this week. The brain is a fascinating organ. It is so delicate and a jarring like Dan's brain experienced has jostled him up in a way that is at times an exaggeration of who he is, at others someone I don't recognize.
Patience is my goal this week. Patience and hope.
Thanks for everything, everyone.
Love,
Irene
Dan is still really tired and sleeps after the slightest exertion. I know they say this will take a while but I'm impatient. Gotta take some deep breaths and wait this out.
Tomorrow (Monday) starts an intense week of therapy. I am hoping we see some improvement this week. The brain is a fascinating organ. It is so delicate and a jarring like Dan's brain experienced has jostled him up in a way that is at times an exaggeration of who he is, at others someone I don't recognize.
Patience is my goal this week. Patience and hope.
Thanks for everything, everyone.
Love,
Irene
Saturday, August 20, 2011
All you need is LOVE. (And some really good doctors, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists.)
I'm sitting on the boat, sun streaming in, salt air making its way through the hatches, drinking a strong cup of coffee and - other than the fact that I have to deal with a stack of papers from insurance companies (3 of them); police reports; medical release forms; witness emails; communications to and from the detective on our case; receipts... I feel normal! Slept like a log last night for 10 hours straight.
But that's enough about me.
Julia is getting some rest now, too, finally. She and I have been joined at the hip ever since I came home. Sarah is spending more time over there now that she is able to. We are a good team. We have a lot of hope and are working on maintaining that.
Dan had a busy day yesterday. He had PT from 9-10; OT from 11-12; PT class from 1:30 - 2:30; Speech Therapy from 3 - 4. He did great in PT except the class - you know he's not a "class" kind of guy and he hated that. Also did not understand why the speech therapists were making him draw lines and answer ridiculous questions. He was really annoyed by that. I won't tell you everything he said about it... but those of you who know him well can imagine.
One thing for sure, though. His sense of humor is intact. Fully. It is a little extreme at times - but it's there.
The docs are expecting a full recovery. I'm hoping that he'll be even better than before he had the accident. "Can you get his biceps up to where they were when I met him?" "Can you get his hair to grow back?" "How about rewiring his brain to buy me flowers on a regular basis like he used to?" "Oh - and can you embed in his brain that Boat Street Cafe is my favorite restaurant?"
But enough about me.
One thing I will say... there are so many good things that are happening as a result of this awful experience. There is nothing like coming close to losing someone or something to make you realize how good you have it. The little annoyances that can crop up between people who have been married as long as we have suddenly become precious - things you miss. Petty differences among family members, frustrations at work, things that you find yourself complaining about totally lose their significance at a time like this. Selfishness flies out the window. Love floats in and takes control. It's a strong, positive force. My gratitude for what this is vs. what it could have been reduces me to tears on a regular basis.
I feel strong, supported, loved. Sarah & Julia feel the same. We are immensely aware of how blessed we are.
But enough about us.
I would ask to maintain the "no visitor" status for a little bit longer. I promise to let you know when that changes.
Lots of LOVE,
Irene, Sarah & Julia
But that's enough about me.
Julia is getting some rest now, too, finally. She and I have been joined at the hip ever since I came home. Sarah is spending more time over there now that she is able to. We are a good team. We have a lot of hope and are working on maintaining that.
Dan had a busy day yesterday. He had PT from 9-10; OT from 11-12; PT class from 1:30 - 2:30; Speech Therapy from 3 - 4. He did great in PT except the class - you know he's not a "class" kind of guy and he hated that. Also did not understand why the speech therapists were making him draw lines and answer ridiculous questions. He was really annoyed by that. I won't tell you everything he said about it... but those of you who know him well can imagine.
One thing for sure, though. His sense of humor is intact. Fully. It is a little extreme at times - but it's there.
The docs are expecting a full recovery. I'm hoping that he'll be even better than before he had the accident. "Can you get his biceps up to where they were when I met him?" "Can you get his hair to grow back?" "How about rewiring his brain to buy me flowers on a regular basis like he used to?" "Oh - and can you embed in his brain that Boat Street Cafe is my favorite restaurant?"
But enough about me.
One thing I will say... there are so many good things that are happening as a result of this awful experience. There is nothing like coming close to losing someone or something to make you realize how good you have it. The little annoyances that can crop up between people who have been married as long as we have suddenly become precious - things you miss. Petty differences among family members, frustrations at work, things that you find yourself complaining about totally lose their significance at a time like this. Selfishness flies out the window. Love floats in and takes control. It's a strong, positive force. My gratitude for what this is vs. what it could have been reduces me to tears on a regular basis.
I feel strong, supported, loved. Sarah & Julia feel the same. We are immensely aware of how blessed we are.
But enough about us.
I would ask to maintain the "no visitor" status for a little bit longer. I promise to let you know when that changes.
Lots of LOVE,
Irene, Sarah & Julia
Friday, August 19, 2011
GRADUATION DAY
It's Friday morning, 8 am. I slept at home last night for the first time since the accident. The sight of the Olympics as I pulled into the parking lot just after sunset was a balm for my very tired psyche. It felt so good to walk down the ramp, see the water, feel the air. I love where we live.
Dan woke me up about at 7 calling to say hi and check on a couple of systems-related things on the boat. Ha! So - that part of his brain is working just fine!
But here's the best part. He was calling me from UW Medical Center's In-patient Rehab Unit! Yes indeedy. Yesterday, Thursday, at 6 am, we were awakened by "GOOD MORNING MR. HOPKINS." I opened my eyes to four white-coated doctors standing in a semi-circle around Dan's bed. One of them told us they had secured a bed at UWMC and Dan would be moving over there by afternoon. I could have cried with relief a) that they feel him well enough to do that and, b) that we will be at UWMC. That was worth being woken up for, but can I just say, 6AM? REALLY?
During breakfast the detective assigned to our case visited, bringing Dan a few things from the crash scene that he thought we might want (his hat and a lock). We talked for about 30 minutes but I can't reveal any of the details of the investigation. He advised me not to be in touch with witnesses and so I'm keeping quiet until the investigation is over and we have all the results. But I will say, Dan is not in any way at fault.
After showering (where we discovered a rash that has spread all over his body - heat rash? Not sure...), I started packing. Loaded up bags with things that had accumulated during the week, gave flowers to other patients I had gotten to know. Chuck got one bouquet, the lady from the waiting room got another.... So those of you who sent flowers, know that they served more than one purpose.
We were told to leave Harborview sometime after 1. Around 2:15 after Dan had lunch, and Julia and I ate food Aileen brought us, the discharge coordinator came rushing in saying she was sorry but we were supposed to BE at UWMC at 1 and that they might give our bed away if we didn't get there soon.
Let's skip the part where I gave them my FEEDBACK on the misinformation....
Warp Speed. On my mark. Engage! I helped Dan into his street clothes; Julia and Aileen packed the last few things; we signed discharge papers; got a wheelchair ordered for discharge. We were out of there in 10 minutes! Thank you Aileen and Julia! It had been determined that he didn't qualify for a Cabulance ride (although the day before I had been told that he was "impulsive; had problems with balance; had dizziness issues"). WHAT-EVER... So Julia pulled the car around, a transporter helped me get him and all our stuff down to the main entrance, Aileen helped us load up the car and then we got Dan into the front seat and headed over to UWMC with Aileen following us.
Arrived at UWMC. My second home. For those of you who don't know, I have worked there for 24 years and my department co-runs the transport services for the medical center. My co-worker arranged for three guys from the Lift Team to meet us outside the hospital and help get Dan into a wheelchair. A couple of my office mates were on hand for long, hard hugs. It felt so, so good to be there.
We got to the room around 3 or 3:30 and almost immediately there began a battery of tests and evaluations. Julia, Sarah and Aileen were there so I had back up for my tired brain. The docs and Physical Therapist all thought he was in remarkably good shape and that boded well for his recovery. They anticipate him being there for 1-2 weeks.
Dan is determined to get out asap. He will be having intensive therapy, both one on one and in group class situations. He will have a combo of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy (which is for his brain function as opposed to his speech which is fine). His goal: Physical. My goal (because I have no doubt about his ability to get the physical part back together): Cognitive. Again, his intelligence shines through and is impressing everyone. The docs all say they can see what an intelligent, analytical man he is. His main problem is tracking, staying on topic, but we can see him working hard to make connections. He is one determined guy.
The room is beautiful, has a view looking west, is right near nurse's station so they can keep an eye on him when I'm not there, the food is incredible, and, the cream on top is that he doesn't have a room-mate. As Kevin said, "You're at the Ritz now, Dan." That works for me. As they say, "You can take the girl out of Scarsdale..."
Best of all, though, he is now in the #3 Rehab Facility in the entire nation. Over and over, UWMC is rated in the top 3 nationally so I feel an enormous sense of relief in that. Aileen said my face changed visibly as we began to settle in...
After going back and forth as to whether or not to stay with him, I decided to go home. I need sleep, I need to be with Julia. I trust the staff at UWMC so thoroughly and Dan was encouraging me to go home. Aileen and I went out to dinner and then I went to the boat and got clothes for Dan so he would be ready for PT this morning at 9.
Ran into a couple of dock buddies - what a fabulous community we have down here at Shilshole. One of our neighbors, Christi, walked me up the dock as I was on the way back to UW with Dan's clothes. By the time we got up the ramp, Christi said she would drive me over. Thank you, Christi. I am hyper aware of bad drivers and don't want to be responsible for hurting anyone due to impaired judgment and fatigue.
Julia has been a champ all week. Give her a hug if you see her. She needs it. Sarah is stepping in today. She has been working and moving and so busy but she will be with Dan over the weekend and giving us a break.
I am still discouraging visitors for just a bit longer. I'll let you know via this blog when that changes. He will be tired and needing rest between therapies.
OK - enough for now. Thank you all for your love and caring.
Much love,
Irene, Sarah & Julia
Dan woke me up about at 7 calling to say hi and check on a couple of systems-related things on the boat. Ha! So - that part of his brain is working just fine!
But here's the best part. He was calling me from UW Medical Center's In-patient Rehab Unit! Yes indeedy. Yesterday, Thursday, at 6 am, we were awakened by "GOOD MORNING MR. HOPKINS." I opened my eyes to four white-coated doctors standing in a semi-circle around Dan's bed. One of them told us they had secured a bed at UWMC and Dan would be moving over there by afternoon. I could have cried with relief a) that they feel him well enough to do that and, b) that we will be at UWMC. That was worth being woken up for, but can I just say, 6AM? REALLY?
During breakfast the detective assigned to our case visited, bringing Dan a few things from the crash scene that he thought we might want (his hat and a lock). We talked for about 30 minutes but I can't reveal any of the details of the investigation. He advised me not to be in touch with witnesses and so I'm keeping quiet until the investigation is over and we have all the results. But I will say, Dan is not in any way at fault.
After showering (where we discovered a rash that has spread all over his body - heat rash? Not sure...), I started packing. Loaded up bags with things that had accumulated during the week, gave flowers to other patients I had gotten to know. Chuck got one bouquet, the lady from the waiting room got another.... So those of you who sent flowers, know that they served more than one purpose.
We were told to leave Harborview sometime after 1. Around 2:15 after Dan had lunch, and Julia and I ate food Aileen brought us, the discharge coordinator came rushing in saying she was sorry but we were supposed to BE at UWMC at 1 and that they might give our bed away if we didn't get there soon.
Let's skip the part where I gave them my FEEDBACK on the misinformation....
Warp Speed. On my mark. Engage! I helped Dan into his street clothes; Julia and Aileen packed the last few things; we signed discharge papers; got a wheelchair ordered for discharge. We were out of there in 10 minutes! Thank you Aileen and Julia! It had been determined that he didn't qualify for a Cabulance ride (although the day before I had been told that he was "impulsive; had problems with balance; had dizziness issues"). WHAT-EVER... So Julia pulled the car around, a transporter helped me get him and all our stuff down to the main entrance, Aileen helped us load up the car and then we got Dan into the front seat and headed over to UWMC with Aileen following us.
Arrived at UWMC. My second home. For those of you who don't know, I have worked there for 24 years and my department co-runs the transport services for the medical center. My co-worker arranged for three guys from the Lift Team to meet us outside the hospital and help get Dan into a wheelchair. A couple of my office mates were on hand for long, hard hugs. It felt so, so good to be there.
We got to the room around 3 or 3:30 and almost immediately there began a battery of tests and evaluations. Julia, Sarah and Aileen were there so I had back up for my tired brain. The docs and Physical Therapist all thought he was in remarkably good shape and that boded well for his recovery. They anticipate him being there for 1-2 weeks.
Dan is determined to get out asap. He will be having intensive therapy, both one on one and in group class situations. He will have a combo of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy (which is for his brain function as opposed to his speech which is fine). His goal: Physical. My goal (because I have no doubt about his ability to get the physical part back together): Cognitive. Again, his intelligence shines through and is impressing everyone. The docs all say they can see what an intelligent, analytical man he is. His main problem is tracking, staying on topic, but we can see him working hard to make connections. He is one determined guy.
The room is beautiful, has a view looking west, is right near nurse's station so they can keep an eye on him when I'm not there, the food is incredible, and, the cream on top is that he doesn't have a room-mate. As Kevin said, "You're at the Ritz now, Dan." That works for me. As they say, "You can take the girl out of Scarsdale..."
Best of all, though, he is now in the #3 Rehab Facility in the entire nation. Over and over, UWMC is rated in the top 3 nationally so I feel an enormous sense of relief in that. Aileen said my face changed visibly as we began to settle in...
After going back and forth as to whether or not to stay with him, I decided to go home. I need sleep, I need to be with Julia. I trust the staff at UWMC so thoroughly and Dan was encouraging me to go home. Aileen and I went out to dinner and then I went to the boat and got clothes for Dan so he would be ready for PT this morning at 9.
Ran into a couple of dock buddies - what a fabulous community we have down here at Shilshole. One of our neighbors, Christi, walked me up the dock as I was on the way back to UW with Dan's clothes. By the time we got up the ramp, Christi said she would drive me over. Thank you, Christi. I am hyper aware of bad drivers and don't want to be responsible for hurting anyone due to impaired judgment and fatigue.
Julia has been a champ all week. Give her a hug if you see her. She needs it. Sarah is stepping in today. She has been working and moving and so busy but she will be with Dan over the weekend and giving us a break.
I am still discouraging visitors for just a bit longer. I'll let you know via this blog when that changes. He will be tired and needing rest between therapies.
OK - enough for now. Thank you all for your love and caring.
Much love,
Irene, Sarah & Julia
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Our One Week Anniversary
Day 7. One week. Wednesday.
I couldn't remember what day it was as I started writing this. I asked Dan and HE told ME! "It's Wednesday." That's a far cry from thinking it was 1935 which is what he was saying in the ICU.
In some ways it feels like we just got here, in other ways it feels like we have lived here forever. I know where the linen closet is and I help myself. I know most of the staff now and Dan has many fans. He keeps the girls laughing and the guys think he's really cool.
Today was fantastic. After a long night of wakefulness and constant disturbance as our neighbor was evaluated through the night (lights on, loud talking, laughing, banging around), when I finally fell asleep, Dan took charge. He got up by himself, walked across the room, closed the window, took off his hospital duds and put on his mother's sweater which Julia wears and had left here overnight.
Ok - that's great you're thinking, right? Well, on one hand it is. But on the other he is still a fall risk, gets dizzy, does not have his cognition back yet and so it is extremely dangerous. If he were to fall, he could hit his head, start his brain bleeding again, break any number of bones and not be discovered for a while. That would be an unbearable setback.
He did something similar when Julia and I were down the hall drinking a cup of coffee.
So he got a good scolding today from Julia, me and his Occupational Therapist. He didn't like it but I think he gets it now. But tonight: Bed Alarm is On!
Biggies today: Shower. Rehab evaluation. OT training to use the bathroom and brush his teeth - SAFELY. He only took a couple of short naps so hopefully will sleep tonight. Read Newsweek. Watched a movie. Got the word that they are working on discharging him to Rehab (keep fingers crossed for UW). So we feel really good tonight.
Kevin (Dan's brother) is back in town and has been amazingly helpful in getting the business end of this together. He is the one who found the Fremont blog and that is where all the best witnesses have come from. Even now more witnesses are stepping forward. People are amazing. Kevin has been helping me keep my head on straight as far as insurance, rehab facilities, police reports, medical records requests, etc. He went down to the police station for the report and got that rolling. Between Aileen, Kevin and Joe this has been really coming together.
I talked to a couple of women in the waiting room today. Both are here because of motorcycle accidents. One is here with her husband who has been in for a month -- 2 weeks in ICU and 2 weeks here on the Trauma floor. The other is here for her son who has been in and out for a long time. In all of our cases, it was the other driver's fault. We comforted each other, compared notes, one woman cried a little from fatigue and worry and missing her husband and then we pinkie swore to never allow motorcycles or scooters under our men's butts again. Again - it's the other drivers who really have to be considered. We seem to live in a city of crazy, distracted people who are on cell phones, texting, trying to get ahead, beat the other guy, look at signs, stores, babies in back seats... Driving is serious business and I think we've all become too lax in our attitude on the road.
Again, thanks for cards, calls, emails. I can't answer them all, but just seeing them makes us feel so good. As problems go, having too many emails and phone calls to respond to is a pretty good one. And it's been the best medicine of all.
I couldn't remember what day it was as I started writing this. I asked Dan and HE told ME! "It's Wednesday." That's a far cry from thinking it was 1935 which is what he was saying in the ICU.
In some ways it feels like we just got here, in other ways it feels like we have lived here forever. I know where the linen closet is and I help myself. I know most of the staff now and Dan has many fans. He keeps the girls laughing and the guys think he's really cool.
Today was fantastic. After a long night of wakefulness and constant disturbance as our neighbor was evaluated through the night (lights on, loud talking, laughing, banging around), when I finally fell asleep, Dan took charge. He got up by himself, walked across the room, closed the window, took off his hospital duds and put on his mother's sweater which Julia wears and had left here overnight.
Ok - that's great you're thinking, right? Well, on one hand it is. But on the other he is still a fall risk, gets dizzy, does not have his cognition back yet and so it is extremely dangerous. If he were to fall, he could hit his head, start his brain bleeding again, break any number of bones and not be discovered for a while. That would be an unbearable setback.
He did something similar when Julia and I were down the hall drinking a cup of coffee.
So he got a good scolding today from Julia, me and his Occupational Therapist. He didn't like it but I think he gets it now. But tonight: Bed Alarm is On!
Biggies today: Shower. Rehab evaluation. OT training to use the bathroom and brush his teeth - SAFELY. He only took a couple of short naps so hopefully will sleep tonight. Read Newsweek. Watched a movie. Got the word that they are working on discharging him to Rehab (keep fingers crossed for UW). So we feel really good tonight.
Kevin (Dan's brother) is back in town and has been amazingly helpful in getting the business end of this together. He is the one who found the Fremont blog and that is where all the best witnesses have come from. Even now more witnesses are stepping forward. People are amazing. Kevin has been helping me keep my head on straight as far as insurance, rehab facilities, police reports, medical records requests, etc. He went down to the police station for the report and got that rolling. Between Aileen, Kevin and Joe this has been really coming together.
I talked to a couple of women in the waiting room today. Both are here because of motorcycle accidents. One is here with her husband who has been in for a month -- 2 weeks in ICU and 2 weeks here on the Trauma floor. The other is here for her son who has been in and out for a long time. In all of our cases, it was the other driver's fault. We comforted each other, compared notes, one woman cried a little from fatigue and worry and missing her husband and then we pinkie swore to never allow motorcycles or scooters under our men's butts again. Again - it's the other drivers who really have to be considered. We seem to live in a city of crazy, distracted people who are on cell phones, texting, trying to get ahead, beat the other guy, look at signs, stores, babies in back seats... Driving is serious business and I think we've all become too lax in our attitude on the road.
Again, thanks for cards, calls, emails. I can't answer them all, but just seeing them makes us feel so good. As problems go, having too many emails and phone calls to respond to is a pretty good one. And it's been the best medicine of all.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
We Gotta Get Outta This Place (8/16 - Day Six)
First things first. We have a new roomie! Van went back to Montana this morning. Left around 6 a.m. Now we have a new guy. Let's call him "Chuck." He was admitted today and spent most of the afternoon having psyc evaluations. Not a bad guy, but quite unwell upstairs. So it's me, Dan & Chuck, all cuddled up together having a sleepover. This is the closest I've ever come to a three-way. So far it's very disappointing. Not sure what the big deal is.
Dan was up most of last night - until about 4 a.m. He was very anxious and in pain and restless. He wanted out. Wanted to figure out "How the system works and then how to beat it." I knew he was in there and I knew what he was doing. But it made for a long, long night. Lots of trips down to the nurse station to ask for help repositioning him, changing, getting warm blankets. Oh well. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, right?
Up at 8. Doctors in checking on progress, nurses changing shifts, lots of activity. Dan had breakfast and ate heartily and then he was helped into a chair which I wheeled to a skybridge where we sat and looked at Mt. Rainier. He was so happy to have a change of scenery! But still scheming how we could get out of here and get back to the boat.
PT came in - a great gal named Beth - and got him up and walking after lunch. 50 feet! Down the hall and back. Such determination. Amazing. All the HA's were cheering for him in the hall when they saw him.
The cognitive evaluation they did today resulted in a decision to keep him here a bit longer, although they had been pushing for discharge to a nursing facility in the next day or so. His intelligence is shining through as he is evaluated. When asked a series of yes or no questions, he considered and said, "well, that is not a clear yes or no because it depends on the situation and the circumstances." When read a paragraph and then asked to repeat the events, he gave an analysis of what happened, what should have happened, who was clearly together in the story and who was lacking... All of you who know him, know that this is how he is. He will assess, analyze, decipher, discern, and then comment on a situation. But it was not what they were looking for and so he is here for a little while longer. And I am glad of that. I think it's what he needs.
The next step when we get out of here will be an in-patient rehab facility. I'm pushing for UWMC so I can work while he is an inpatient.
His ribs will take 6 weeks to heal. His brain could take up to 6 months. So we need my income.
But that's fine! Because he's alive! And he is walking! And he will be okay eventually.
Today I got some news on the accident. The woman who hit him was making a left hand turn from the right lane heading north on the Fremont Bridge. I repeat. A left hand turn from the right hand lane. Loads of witnesses corroborate this, the police detective called me today and we talked for a long time about it. She has insurance and we should be fine long-term. Phew.
Julia and I went out to dinner while Joe (our nephew) stayed with Dan. He has to have 24 hour supervision. While we ate there were a few times where I thought I saw a huge spider crawling on me. Sleep deprivation is a bad thing for the mind.... Julia took care of me though. Searched the floor for the spider and assured me that it was not there.
Thanks for flowers, cards, emails, voicemails, all the love you are sending our way. It helps so, so much. And it's working. Because he is getting better.
Check out the Fremont blog if you want to. So many comments and words of support from caring strangers who saw the accident. So heartening.
OK - gotta get back to Dan & Chuck. They await my services. Hopefully I'll get a little sleep tonight!
Love,
Irene
Dan was up most of last night - until about 4 a.m. He was very anxious and in pain and restless. He wanted out. Wanted to figure out "How the system works and then how to beat it." I knew he was in there and I knew what he was doing. But it made for a long, long night. Lots of trips down to the nurse station to ask for help repositioning him, changing, getting warm blankets. Oh well. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, right?
Up at 8. Doctors in checking on progress, nurses changing shifts, lots of activity. Dan had breakfast and ate heartily and then he was helped into a chair which I wheeled to a skybridge where we sat and looked at Mt. Rainier. He was so happy to have a change of scenery! But still scheming how we could get out of here and get back to the boat.
PT came in - a great gal named Beth - and got him up and walking after lunch. 50 feet! Down the hall and back. Such determination. Amazing. All the HA's were cheering for him in the hall when they saw him.
The cognitive evaluation they did today resulted in a decision to keep him here a bit longer, although they had been pushing for discharge to a nursing facility in the next day or so. His intelligence is shining through as he is evaluated. When asked a series of yes or no questions, he considered and said, "well, that is not a clear yes or no because it depends on the situation and the circumstances." When read a paragraph and then asked to repeat the events, he gave an analysis of what happened, what should have happened, who was clearly together in the story and who was lacking... All of you who know him, know that this is how he is. He will assess, analyze, decipher, discern, and then comment on a situation. But it was not what they were looking for and so he is here for a little while longer. And I am glad of that. I think it's what he needs.
The next step when we get out of here will be an in-patient rehab facility. I'm pushing for UWMC so I can work while he is an inpatient.
His ribs will take 6 weeks to heal. His brain could take up to 6 months. So we need my income.
But that's fine! Because he's alive! And he is walking! And he will be okay eventually.
Today I got some news on the accident. The woman who hit him was making a left hand turn from the right lane heading north on the Fremont Bridge. I repeat. A left hand turn from the right hand lane. Loads of witnesses corroborate this, the police detective called me today and we talked for a long time about it. She has insurance and we should be fine long-term. Phew.
Julia and I went out to dinner while Joe (our nephew) stayed with Dan. He has to have 24 hour supervision. While we ate there were a few times where I thought I saw a huge spider crawling on me. Sleep deprivation is a bad thing for the mind.... Julia took care of me though. Searched the floor for the spider and assured me that it was not there.
Thanks for flowers, cards, emails, voicemails, all the love you are sending our way. It helps so, so much. And it's working. Because he is getting better.
Check out the Fremont blog if you want to. So many comments and words of support from caring strangers who saw the accident. So heartening.
OK - gotta get back to Dan & Chuck. They await my services. Hopefully I'll get a little sleep tonight!
Love,
Irene
Monday, August 15, 2011
August 15, Day What?
We are watching Antiques Road Show. Dan is into it. He loves antiques and is appraising and assessing each item.
It's been a long day but a good one. Dan had a rough night (ergo, so did I). This morning he had a headache, was a bit confused. But I've been told that his confusion will wax and wane and not to be upset by it. It's hard sometimes, though, because I'm used to Dan being one way and I don't recognize this version of him... but he has had enough lucid moments today that I'm feeling encouraged.
It's most important not to overstimulate him and not to worry him. Positive, clear, happy, everything-is-under-control attitude is essential.
He wants out of here. Told me today that "We are leaving TODAY." Asked me if we had our car here and when I asked why he wanted to know he said, "I want to know what our transportation options are because we are leaving."
After a good breakfast of hot eggs, yogurt, applesauce which he ate with determination, PT came in and got him up on his feet today. HOORAY! He looked so tall and it was incredibly good to see him upright. He did a few exercises in that position and then, with help, pivoted and sat down in a chair. I read to him from Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies and we laughed, as did the nurse changing his bed. Next, OT came and got him out of the chair after doing a bunch of tests. When he got back on the bed he vomited. Too much activity? Too much pain? More brain trouble? After consulting with the doctor we determined that it was the first two.
Aileen and Julia conspired to get me out of here today which I did for 3 + hours. Lunch, gym, TJ's. Felt so good to feel the sun and breathe real air... Sarah was here when we got back and so he had all his girls around him.
The general idea from here is work like crazy to get out of here and then it'll likely be a skilled nursing facility and then an inpatient rehab situation. It's gonna be a haul.
Your support and emails and posts and phone calls (which I don't answer because I just can't) mean so much to us all.
Before I close I have to tell you one thing. When I called for a warm blanket tonight, the aid who brought it in was so nice. Dan said, "Could we get one for my wife, too?" I smiled at him and he said, "I'm looking out for my woman." What a guy.
Too tired to write well or more. So that's it for now.
It's been a long day but a good one. Dan had a rough night (ergo, so did I). This morning he had a headache, was a bit confused. But I've been told that his confusion will wax and wane and not to be upset by it. It's hard sometimes, though, because I'm used to Dan being one way and I don't recognize this version of him... but he has had enough lucid moments today that I'm feeling encouraged.
It's most important not to overstimulate him and not to worry him. Positive, clear, happy, everything-is-under-control attitude is essential.
He wants out of here. Told me today that "We are leaving TODAY." Asked me if we had our car here and when I asked why he wanted to know he said, "I want to know what our transportation options are because we are leaving."
After a good breakfast of hot eggs, yogurt, applesauce which he ate with determination, PT came in and got him up on his feet today. HOORAY! He looked so tall and it was incredibly good to see him upright. He did a few exercises in that position and then, with help, pivoted and sat down in a chair. I read to him from Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies and we laughed, as did the nurse changing his bed. Next, OT came and got him out of the chair after doing a bunch of tests. When he got back on the bed he vomited. Too much activity? Too much pain? More brain trouble? After consulting with the doctor we determined that it was the first two.
Aileen and Julia conspired to get me out of here today which I did for 3 + hours. Lunch, gym, TJ's. Felt so good to feel the sun and breathe real air... Sarah was here when we got back and so he had all his girls around him.
The general idea from here is work like crazy to get out of here and then it'll likely be a skilled nursing facility and then an inpatient rehab situation. It's gonna be a haul.
Your support and emails and posts and phone calls (which I don't answer because I just can't) mean so much to us all.
Before I close I have to tell you one thing. When I called for a warm blanket tonight, the aid who brought it in was so nice. Dan said, "Could we get one for my wife, too?" I smiled at him and he said, "I'm looking out for my woman." What a guy.
Too tired to write well or more. So that's it for now.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
What the Hell Happened to My Scooter?
One of the first things out of Dan's mouth this morning was, "So. What condition is my scooter in?" When I told him it was totaled, he sort of grunted. I told him a little about the accident, asking him where he had been going on his scooter, reminding him that he had been working on the boat. He thought for a bit and then said, "Oh yeah - Boat Electric." So now I know for sure that he was heading over the Fremont Bridge for Westlake.
I told him about the Fremont Blog and the photos.
A little bit later on, he was sitting up in a chair and eating his breakfast (cold scrambled eggs). After an impressive try at eating, he proclaimed, "Enough of this mush. Show me the pictures." Which I did. He called on the Lord several times when viewing the photos. Those of you who know Dan well, know what a religious man he is so I am sure you can envision this prayerful scenario.
Here's the good news today - he is much more alert. Much more conversant. Much more himself. Great sense of humor, lapsing into goofy from time to time.
The doc told me today to expect a wide range of emotions and behavior. Normal for this type of brain injury which she termed "serious." And she told me it could take up to 6 months for him to be his old self again.
Yikes.
I told him about the Fremont Blog and the photos.
A little bit later on, he was sitting up in a chair and eating his breakfast (cold scrambled eggs). After an impressive try at eating, he proclaimed, "Enough of this mush. Show me the pictures." Which I did. He called on the Lord several times when viewing the photos. Those of you who know Dan well, know what a religious man he is so I am sure you can envision this prayerful scenario.
Here's the good news today - he is much more alert. Much more conversant. Much more himself. Great sense of humor, lapsing into goofy from time to time.
The doc told me today to expect a wide range of emotions and behavior. Normal for this type of brain injury which she termed "serious." And she told me it could take up to 6 months for him to be his old self again.
Yikes.
Dan & Van
Day 3, August 13.
Ahhhh.... family sleep accommodations in hospitals. A chair that folds out in 3 sections with cracks in between each section. Scrounged up sheets and thin white blankets. Sleeping next to the a/c with a fleece and socks and the blankets over my head. Nurses coming in all night checking on Dan and our room-mate. Yes - that's right. A room-mate and his daughter. 4 of us in this little space with lights going on all night long and noise and talking.
We are sharing a room with an older gentleman from Montana named Van. He and his daughter who is older than I and has 25 grandchildren of her own (!) are very nice and we are making it work as best we can, giving each other privacy with curtains and averted eyes. Dan was not too alert as a result of some fairly strong pain med the night before. When he came to, every time Van's nurse said "Van," Dan answered and every time our nurse said, "Dan," Van answered. I kept expecting Jack Nicholson to walk in...
I'm writing this late at night on the 14th (Sunday). First chance I've had. Yesterday was tough. He was really sleepy and I wasn't getting good answers from the nurses or docs. We got him up in a chair but he kept dozing off. I finally channeled my NY and started demanding a doctor come talk to me, asking for results of the CT scan from the night before, and got the staff hopping a bit. They are all great - each and every one of the nurses on this unit. But they are busy, overworked and dealing with cramped conditions. So, being an advocate for Dan is really important now. That's what I learned yesterday.
By evening he was waking up a bit and we were seeing glimmers of his old self. When Sarah & Julia are here he really comes to. Responds to them in a way that gives me a heart burst (Sarah's phrase).
Ahhhh.... family sleep accommodations in hospitals. A chair that folds out in 3 sections with cracks in between each section. Scrounged up sheets and thin white blankets. Sleeping next to the a/c with a fleece and socks and the blankets over my head. Nurses coming in all night checking on Dan and our room-mate. Yes - that's right. A room-mate and his daughter. 4 of us in this little space with lights going on all night long and noise and talking.
We are sharing a room with an older gentleman from Montana named Van. He and his daughter who is older than I and has 25 grandchildren of her own (!) are very nice and we are making it work as best we can, giving each other privacy with curtains and averted eyes. Dan was not too alert as a result of some fairly strong pain med the night before. When he came to, every time Van's nurse said "Van," Dan answered and every time our nurse said, "Dan," Van answered. I kept expecting Jack Nicholson to walk in...
I'm writing this late at night on the 14th (Sunday). First chance I've had. Yesterday was tough. He was really sleepy and I wasn't getting good answers from the nurses or docs. We got him up in a chair but he kept dozing off. I finally channeled my NY and started demanding a doctor come talk to me, asking for results of the CT scan from the night before, and got the staff hopping a bit. They are all great - each and every one of the nurses on this unit. But they are busy, overworked and dealing with cramped conditions. So, being an advocate for Dan is really important now. That's what I learned yesterday.
By evening he was waking up a bit and we were seeing glimmers of his old self. When Sarah & Julia are here he really comes to. Responds to them in a way that gives me a heart burst (Sarah's phrase).
DAY 2 - ICU
OK. Let's get you all caught up.
Dan was moved to the ICU around 8 pm on Thursday night. We waited for them to set him up and then went in with him - but only 2 at a time. Seeing him in that big bed with all those machines around him was surreal. Most weren't hooked up but they were ready. As ICU patients go, he was definitely on the low end of scary. The guy next to us had been in a motorcycle accident and was barely alive. We were counting our blessings and realizing that, although not out of the woods yet in terms of the brain injury, we were extremely lucky. He was not on life support, breathing room air (as opposed to ventilator), not hooked up to beeping, buzzing machines, etc.
His cognition was shaky. Didn't know where he was, what year it was, when asked who was the President, he said, "Bozo the Clown." Attempt to make us laugh? Political commentary? Probably both. He also told the ER staff that his wife was "Bozo the Clown," so somehow Bozo was there with him on several fronts.
He has always used humor to lessen our worries and to protect us from going to the dark place in difficult situations. So I felt a glimmer of hope seeing that that was intact. I knew he was in there trying to surface and trying to calm us at the same time.
To make a long story short, Julia and I had gone home to sleep but were back on the ICU by 6 a.m. Friday morning, hoping to catch the neurological team on their morning rounds. They showed up around 8. Still watching brain bleed... He was in the ICU all day. The nurses were busy with so many other, sicker patients. It was frustrating because he was really agitated and wanted to get up and get out of there and wanted his catheter out and ended up dislodging one of his IV's and bleeding all over the place. I ended up rifling through drawers finding tape and reattaching the bandage on his arm. Do I get a discount for that?
By mid-afternoon we were told that they were releasing him to the acute trauma floor which they did just as his dinner tray was served. He had a swallow test early in the day and because of his difficulty, he was served minced turkey and mashed potatoes which he had just started eating when they came to move him.
We waved a fond farewell to ICU and headed down to our new home.
Dan was moved to the ICU around 8 pm on Thursday night. We waited for them to set him up and then went in with him - but only 2 at a time. Seeing him in that big bed with all those machines around him was surreal. Most weren't hooked up but they were ready. As ICU patients go, he was definitely on the low end of scary. The guy next to us had been in a motorcycle accident and was barely alive. We were counting our blessings and realizing that, although not out of the woods yet in terms of the brain injury, we were extremely lucky. He was not on life support, breathing room air (as opposed to ventilator), not hooked up to beeping, buzzing machines, etc.
His cognition was shaky. Didn't know where he was, what year it was, when asked who was the President, he said, "Bozo the Clown." Attempt to make us laugh? Political commentary? Probably both. He also told the ER staff that his wife was "Bozo the Clown," so somehow Bozo was there with him on several fronts.
He has always used humor to lessen our worries and to protect us from going to the dark place in difficult situations. So I felt a glimmer of hope seeing that that was intact. I knew he was in there trying to surface and trying to calm us at the same time.
To make a long story short, Julia and I had gone home to sleep but were back on the ICU by 6 a.m. Friday morning, hoping to catch the neurological team on their morning rounds. They showed up around 8. Still watching brain bleed... He was in the ICU all day. The nurses were busy with so many other, sicker patients. It was frustrating because he was really agitated and wanted to get up and get out of there and wanted his catheter out and ended up dislodging one of his IV's and bleeding all over the place. I ended up rifling through drawers finding tape and reattaching the bandage on his arm. Do I get a discount for that?
By mid-afternoon we were told that they were releasing him to the acute trauma floor which they did just as his dinner tray was served. He had a swallow test early in the day and because of his difficulty, he was served minced turkey and mashed potatoes which he had just started eating when they came to move him.
We waved a fond farewell to ICU and headed down to our new home.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
So....
I'm going to get caught up with the story and then can move into the "keeping you posted" phase.
So...
The ER team was clear before I even arrived that they were admitting him. (Dan DID tell me that accurately on the phone.) When I got there and started bull-nosing my way to more information - both giving them info on Dan and getting info from them, I learned that he would be in ICU. The Neuro team came with his x-rays showing brain bleeds in two places on the left side. They let me know all the worries (stroke, serious brain damage, etc.) but expressed optimism. I felt fairly good - kept thinking "well - that's for someone else, not Dan." Sarah & Julia and Aileen were there by this time and we were all trying to register what was happening.
Finally, after 7 freakin' hours, they moved him up to the ICU for what they told me would likely be 3 days. They made us wait in the waiting room while they worked on him for a little while. Excruciating wait even though it was only a half hour...
Eventually we realized we were hungry and so the girls went for food and when they got back we ate in the waiting area, taking turns being with Dan. Joe (our nephew, S&J's cousin) came and hung with us for a while and went back to see Dan but he was not alert at all.
After debating for a while, I went home to sleep - no place to sleep in ICU and the waiting room was too brightly lit and public. However, the vise-like grip around my heart made sleep hard to come by so I got up, did dishes, packed a bag for the next day, tidied, wrote emails, etc. Finally hit the wall around 3 and slept until my alarm went off at 5 and Julia and I headed back to the hospital.
It's now really late and I can't write anymore so stay tuned for DAY 2 - ICU.
Love,
Irene, Sarah & Julia
So...
The ER team was clear before I even arrived that they were admitting him. (Dan DID tell me that accurately on the phone.) When I got there and started bull-nosing my way to more information - both giving them info on Dan and getting info from them, I learned that he would be in ICU. The Neuro team came with his x-rays showing brain bleeds in two places on the left side. They let me know all the worries (stroke, serious brain damage, etc.) but expressed optimism. I felt fairly good - kept thinking "well - that's for someone else, not Dan." Sarah & Julia and Aileen were there by this time and we were all trying to register what was happening.
Finally, after 7 freakin' hours, they moved him up to the ICU for what they told me would likely be 3 days. They made us wait in the waiting room while they worked on him for a little while. Excruciating wait even though it was only a half hour...
Eventually we realized we were hungry and so the girls went for food and when they got back we ate in the waiting area, taking turns being with Dan. Joe (our nephew, S&J's cousin) came and hung with us for a while and went back to see Dan but he was not alert at all.
After debating for a while, I went home to sleep - no place to sleep in ICU and the waiting room was too brightly lit and public. However, the vise-like grip around my heart made sleep hard to come by so I got up, did dishes, packed a bag for the next day, tidied, wrote emails, etc. Finally hit the wall around 3 and slept until my alarm went off at 5 and Julia and I headed back to the hospital.
It's now really late and I can't write anymore so stay tuned for DAY 2 - ICU.
Love,
Irene, Sarah & Julia
What happened...
What happened? I wish I knew. All I have are bits and pieces given to me by witnesses to the accident and medical personnel who attended him initially.
On Thursday, mid-day, Dan was heading south, over the Fremont Bridge. The light was green and he had the right of way. I don't know where he was going but when I got home late that night, there were tools all over the boat and he was clearly working on some electrical and battery-related stuff as he told me he would be when I left for work that morning.
A car heading in the opposite direction, made a left turn and for some reason didn't see Dan and hit him hard, denting the front of the car pretty impressively. Dan was thown off his scooter and landed 40 feet away. For those of you who might be challenged to think what 40 feet looks like, our boat is 42 feet. It's far. His scooter ended up in the middle of the intersection, bashed, broken, wheel off, totaled. Reports I've heard from witnesses say people rushed to Dan and attended to him until the medics came. Police roped off the area and it was quite a scene. The link below will give you some idea and show you some photos.
http://www.fremontuniverse.com/
Fortunately no one else was hurt.
I received a call shortly after 3:00. Dan was on the phone, calling from a strange phone number (not his cell) and told me his scooter had been "crunched" and he was in Ballard/Swedish hospital. I rushed there only to find they had no record of him. I tried to call back the number but there was no answer. Tried his cell. No answer. Tried the number again. Finally a nurse picked up, answering "Harborview ER." That was one question answered. She then put Dan on. I started asking him questions, "Is anything broken? Are you on meds?" Etc. He said no - nothing is broken. Didn't know what happened. Didn't know if he was on meds. Finally the nurses started getting hip to the fact that he had no idea what was going on and got on the phone with me. I told them that he sounded really odd and they agreed to order a CT (brain) scan. I then began to panic, called the girls and Aileen.
Made my way to Harborview slowly because of rush hour traffic. So frustrating! Got to the ER and Dan was having his scan. Came back and - wow - his face was bloody and bruised. He had road rash on his back and legs and butt. Three ribs broken (7, 8 & 9, left side for you nurses in the club). The worst thing - for me - is his disorientation. The CT scan came back showing a brain bleed so the Neuro team watched him pretty carefully (so far, no improvement - but not worse either.)
I'm going to post this now and finish it later so you can at least start getting caught up.
We are fine. Julia & Sarah are amazing. Aileen is our rock.
And all of you, our dear, dear friends and family, are the thing keeping us all going. Thanks for the love, prayers, good wishes, caring. KEEP IT COMING PLEASE!
p.s. no visitors for now. family only. thanks.
On Thursday, mid-day, Dan was heading south, over the Fremont Bridge. The light was green and he had the right of way. I don't know where he was going but when I got home late that night, there were tools all over the boat and he was clearly working on some electrical and battery-related stuff as he told me he would be when I left for work that morning.
A car heading in the opposite direction, made a left turn and for some reason didn't see Dan and hit him hard, denting the front of the car pretty impressively. Dan was thown off his scooter and landed 40 feet away. For those of you who might be challenged to think what 40 feet looks like, our boat is 42 feet. It's far. His scooter ended up in the middle of the intersection, bashed, broken, wheel off, totaled. Reports I've heard from witnesses say people rushed to Dan and attended to him until the medics came. Police roped off the area and it was quite a scene. The link below will give you some idea and show you some photos.
http://www.fremontuniverse.com/
Fortunately no one else was hurt.
I received a call shortly after 3:00. Dan was on the phone, calling from a strange phone number (not his cell) and told me his scooter had been "crunched" and he was in Ballard/Swedish hospital. I rushed there only to find they had no record of him. I tried to call back the number but there was no answer. Tried his cell. No answer. Tried the number again. Finally a nurse picked up, answering "Harborview ER." That was one question answered. She then put Dan on. I started asking him questions, "Is anything broken? Are you on meds?" Etc. He said no - nothing is broken. Didn't know what happened. Didn't know if he was on meds. Finally the nurses started getting hip to the fact that he had no idea what was going on and got on the phone with me. I told them that he sounded really odd and they agreed to order a CT (brain) scan. I then began to panic, called the girls and Aileen.
Made my way to Harborview slowly because of rush hour traffic. So frustrating! Got to the ER and Dan was having his scan. Came back and - wow - his face was bloody and bruised. He had road rash on his back and legs and butt. Three ribs broken (7, 8 & 9, left side for you nurses in the club). The worst thing - for me - is his disorientation. The CT scan came back showing a brain bleed so the Neuro team watched him pretty carefully (so far, no improvement - but not worse either.)
I'm going to post this now and finish it later so you can at least start getting caught up.
We are fine. Julia & Sarah are amazing. Aileen is our rock.
And all of you, our dear, dear friends and family, are the thing keeping us all going. Thanks for the love, prayers, good wishes, caring. KEEP IT COMING PLEASE!
p.s. no visitors for now. family only. thanks.
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