Every Day is a BIG Day even when you're in a very small room.

Hello Loved Ones,  Here is tonights update.  Maybe a little later than usual, but I took a little time to myself and had Taco Tuesday Night with my Dear friends Chris and Maria.  Sometimes you just need to take a little time to down shift.  I love that Mikey encourages me to do so....  The days seem long and perhaps it's because the heat is so warm in the room..  We are in the tropics, but I'm not getting tan. 

So here's what happened with Mr. C today.  Shift change, breakfast and toiletries.  MC got up and into the bathroom today via a wheelchair.  I didn't even know they could get a WC into the room, but they did and Mike really appreciated it.  He has his bathroom preferences!!!  I don't blame him.  

Back to bed with the leg up and it wasn't long before Dr. Chang the Infectious Disease Doc came in.  He said there is still no bacteria growth - that's really good news.  Soon after "Just Craig" (Mike's new name for PA Craig Keller)  came in and the timing was good because Dr. Chang wanted to take a look at Mike's leg.  

Dr. Chang observing "Just Craig's" wound change

Next within minutes of opening up the wound, the Trauma Unit headed by the BIG GUY, Dr. Long, came in to make their Team assessment.  Dr. Chang and Just Craig stepped aside while they "did their thing".  This Team makes their rounds every morning and they go into each and every room.  They are over seeing Mike's progress as well as the other Doctors. 

You can see the room is FULL and everyone is huddled around the bed and trying to get a glimpse of Mike's foot.  Just Craig referred to the Free Flap as Enormous!   It is very large and covers the bottom of his foot, his entire ankle and up the side of his leg.   Mike's back is recovering well.  Thing #1 and Thing #2 got shorter leashes.  Dr. Long's orders.  I guess they work better than way. 

Dr. Long was a Hoot and spent time teaching Mike a little bit about this and than.  Some formulation that I got lost way before I could make sense of it.  I think Mike could sort of repeat the conversation.  It was interesting and this Doctor has a lot to share.  Good guy! 

This is pretty much how MC hangs out during the day with just his loincloth covering his privates.  His foot would normally be covered up. 

Just Craig wrapped it up with the help of Mike's Nurse Tiel and Tina - and Mike.  He works hard to lift that leg up.  Just Craig was not happy about the direction Mike's foot is heading.  The swelling is pushing the foot downward.  The cast that they are using is really not keeping the foot upright.  SO... "Ortho Craig" was called in. 

Here is Ortho Craig showing MC the aluminum splint they are going to lay his foot in.  After customizing it to fit his leg and allow for the flap to be free of any pressure, they fit it to his leg and wrapped it up again. 

It looked so pretty when they got done and I think Mike felt like his foot was pretty comfy. 

Yesterday he tried to reduce his pain meds, but that didn't work and he learned the hard way that he is in no way ready to wean himself off of pain meds.  

Mike met with his Nutritionist, PT, OT and many nurses throughout the day.  Then came the replacement of his Central Line (CVC).  This was good news to be taking it out of his chest, but this meant he needed a PICC line.  That's basically an IV inserted into his bicep area.  This procedure took two nurses, a tent covering Mike, an ultrasound and 45 minutes.  MC was not happy about this, but word of needing antibiotics via IV for 4-6 weeks meant he had no choice.  They didn't shave his arm hair and they kind of pinched his skin under the plastic tape - he was super grumpy about this!  I don't see him grumpy very often, but he doesn't like having his hair pulled.   After the PICC line was put IN, there needed to be an X-ray to verify that it was put in correctly.  YEP - looks good.  Now the Nurse hooked the IV lines up from the CVC to the PICC.  Later the CVC was removed along with the stitches holding it in.  Happy to have the CVC out ever happier to have the Telemetry Monitor ( click here to learn more )  off as well.  Now MC was Happy!!!  (Except for all the hair pulling on his chest again.  Owwwwww 

Nurse Ember - MC's favorite Nurse, even came over from ICU to visit with him today.  His hi-light of the day.  (that's my take. Seeing someone like that, who cared so much about him really made his day)  

Next came Scott the X-Ray Tech.  What?  Can't they do all the x-rays at once.  Now it was time for the foot to get a photo taken.  New Doc you really haven't heard about - Dr. Gilman the "bone" doctor wanted photos.  A little complicated because of the aluminum boot Mike was wearing and it took a small army of staff to undress, x-ray and redress his wound.  All in the day of Mikey Colligan...  

Next came some dinner, phone calls, TV and hopefully a peaceful nights rest.  Oh MC and I have such long and slow days that are packed with one activity after another.  

Night all, Night MC from home in Tigard.  SB out for tonight.   

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