After much confusion back and forth, it has been decided that Simon will be moved to Craig Hospital in Denver on Monday, for a rehabilitation course that will last 6 weeks. Craig is a very highly-regarded hospital that specializes only in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, so we are lucky that we live relatively close to such a facility. (According to Mapquest, it is 72 miles from our house in Fort Collins to Craig.) I will probably stay down there at least some of the time, as they encourage family involvement in the rehab process; I should learn more about that on Monday. At least for now it is nice to know what the immediate future holds for us! If you want to know more about Craig, check out: www.craighospital.org/
Simon was pretty tired yesterday (from all the previous day's activities), but he rallied in the afternoon and was using his "thumbs-up" signal to answer a few simple questions from the nurse. He sat up for awhile in his bed, and also in a huge wheelchair (called an "ortho chair"), and the physical therapists worked with him. He seems to be emerging very gradually from his fog, but his responsiveness is still intermittent, and he tires or "zones out" frequently. I am sure he will start to regain his stamina now that he is able to do more.
(I asked one of our anesthesia staff to bring me a horse endotracheal tube and breathing bag, because I have been telling the nurses and respiratory therapists here at Medical Center of the Rockies about anesthesia and critical care for animals. The 30-mm diameter tube and 30-L breathing bag were a great hit - they are so much bigger than anything these folks have ever seen!)
So, soon we'll be moving on, from the lifesaving acute care, to the longer term work of rehab. I will likely stop sending these daily updates, and perhaps write an update every other day, or whenever there is a major development. Thanks again to EVERYONE for their support and positive thoughts - we appreciate all of it!
Ann
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Ann, one of my former students went away to HS. He was snowboarding in Kansas (!), and fractured his cervical vertebrae, leaving him a quad. When ready, he was flown by air ambulance to Craig, and I visited him there. It is an impressive place, world-famous, and if any facility can bring Simon as far as he can go, they will. This is a good thing. I think about you both all the time. I'm going to Tucson to ride my horses next week, and I always dedicate each ride to someone. The first will be for Simon. Love, Mary
ReplyDeleteAnn, the transfer to Craig will be great because the rehab treatments will produce steady progress in the weeks to come and that will likely boost Simon's spirit as he emerges more and more from 2 weeks of "fog" as you called it. Knowing Simon, he loves progress! It is his nature and his sport's spirit will eventually get him through the rehab with the best possible outcome. He may sometimes arrive at a moment where he does not believe in further progress anymore but at the end of the day Simon will make the best of any situation -he always did!
ReplyDeleteGive him a big hug from us when you get a chance and remind him that all your friends are with him in keeping the thumbs up.
Only the best to you and Simon,
Bernd & Laura