Tony Soderstrom's News Articles: 

 

Helicopter Fire

 

Updated: Saturday, 30 May 2009, 4:38 PM CDT

Published : Saturday, 30 May 2009, 4:38 PM CDT

myFOXaustin (AUSTIN) - A helicopter caught on fire near Kyle around noon on Saturday. The crop duster helicopter landed in a field at 8363 Camino Real (SH-21) in Hays County. The pilot was in the process of refueling, with the engine running when the fuel ignited and engulfed the cockpit. The pilot has been identified as 43 year old Tony M. Soderstrom from Wimberley. He suffered severe burns to the chest, arms, neck and face and was taken to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

FAA is investigating.

 

DPS: Pilot injured in Hays County aircraft ignition

 

By Joshunda Sanders | Saturday, May 30, 2009, 08:50 PM

 

A Wimberley man was hospitalized with severe burns Saturday after the helicopter he was in became engulfed in flames.

 

Tony Soderstrom, 43, of Wimberley was transported to the Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio with severe burns chest arms neck and face, according to Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety. His condition could not be confirmed Saturday.

 

Soderstrom had landed the crop-duster helicopter, a Bell 47 model G2, at around noon Saturday in a field located off State Highway 21 in Hays County and was refueling when the incident occurred, according to a DPS incident report. Soderstrom was inside the cockpit when fuel ignited and engulfed the aircraft.

 

Tony Soderstrom's Appeal:

 

Please read all about this appeal for Tony: http://www.swedesintexas.com/readingroom/rrtonyappeal.htm

 

Tony Soderstrom's Appeal Update:

 

You will find the latest update on Tony's progress here:  http://www.swedesintexas.com/readingroom/rrtonySep.pdf  

 

 

Tony Soderstrom's Journal  (in reverse chronological order):

 

Tuesday, March 2, 2010     

 

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Tony has had some trouble getting his medical records from the hospital to an independent cardiologist as the surgeon requested, but he has an appointment this Friday, March 5th, and will have an assessment for allergies on March 8th.  This is too late for his surgery to be scheduled in March, and he is not sure if he wants to do it in April, because he is hoping to work a little this summer.  So, we will wait and see how all the test results look before making a decision. 

One of the hardest things right now is that he's unable to take any antihistamines for 10 days before the allergy tests, so his skin is constantly itching and he's very uncomfortable (on top of the usual discomfort).  He is continuing with physical therapy, compression gloves and mask, stretching exercises, plus splints and mask and tubes in his nose at night. He is still sore in his chest from the CPR, and although he's working hard with his therapy, there is no doubt that he will need reconstructive surgery on his hands and his face some time in the future.  Hopefully, the tests will determine how we can avoid a repeat of his reaction to the anesthesia.

Thanks to all the people who care about us and offer their continuing support.  The road is long, but you are the wind at our backs.      Carey

 

Monday, February 8, 2010 9:38 PM, CST


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I know some of you have been wondering why I haven't updated the journal since Tony's surgery, and I apologize for waiting so long.  Here's what happened:

Tony went into surgery at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, and at 9:30 a.m., the surgeons came out to tell me that he had gone into cardiac arrest shortly after they administered the anesthesia.  They performed CPR and brought him back, but his heart was not stable for several hours.  After performing a cardiac catheterization and an echo cardiogram, they could find no problems with his heart, and they are guessing he had a reaction to the anesthesia.

So, he did not have the surgery, but they will try again in March (with a different anesthesia).  They kept him for observation until Friday evening, and then sent him home when it became apparent that he had recovered fully.  He is very sore and a bit shaken up, but ready to try again next month.  He will be following up with a cardiologist this week and making some changes in his medications. 

I wish I could bounce back as easily as Tony seems to.  I'm still recovering.      Carey

 

Monday, February 1, 2010 9:51 PM, CST

 

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Last week, Tony got a call telling him that he is on the schedule to have surgery on Wednesday, February 3rd.  I waited until he had his visit with the doctor this morning to confirm that it is a go.  The meeting went well, and we will be going in on Wednesday (we'll find out the specific time of the surgery tomorrow). 

The procedure will be a palmar release on his right hand.  They will make two incisions in his palm and graft skin from his side into the opening created by the incisions.  They may also do a couple of "release" incisions on his face, but they are going to wait awhile longer before doing any surgery on his nose so that the scar tissue can heal there more completely. 

He will be in the hospital for at least twenty-four hours, and maybe up to two or three days - mostly for pain management.
I will update the website when he comes out of surgery and I have news.       Carey

 

Friday, January 22, 2010 3:44 PM, CST


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Tony was informed this week that his surgery has been moved to March.  They did not tell him why, and we're assuming that there were higher priority surgeries to be scheduled.  Now, he's hoping that they won't postpone the surgery beyond March, because he wants to make sure he's well in time to go back to flying in June.  Finally, we are beginning to see the scarring slow down on his arms and face, and he has gone from wearing a full long-sleeved vest to just wearing compression gloves and "tubigrip" compression sleeves.  He is not having to wear the mask as many hours during the day, and sometimes he sleeps without it. 

His Physical therapists are going to change his therapy to reflect more task-specific activities like using tools so he can do exercises that will help him resume doing the things he loves to do with his hands.

Athena is weighing over 30 pounds now, and Tony has managed to keep his new headset from being eaten (so far).  We continue to be grateful for the support of our friends and we look forward to the end of bandages, creams, splints, pills, masks, gloves, and all that jazz!  When we know more about his next surgery, I will update the journal.

Carey

 

 

Thursday, December 31, 2009, 8:48 AM, CST

 

Happy New Year to everyone reading this journal!

We had another video conference with the surgeon on Tuesday, Dec. 28th, and plans are the same - the date in February for the surgery hasn't been set, but I will post it as soon as we know.  The surgeon will do a fairly extensive palmar release on the right hand - using skin from Tony's side to open up his hand.  He will also see if there is something he can do to help Tony's breathing by removing some scar tissue in his nose. 

Tony still has a couple of open spots on his right hand where he has split the skin while trying to stretch his fingers.  The doctor said they would not be able to do the surgery if all the open spots were not healed by February.  They have to be completely closed and healed to reduce the chance of infection.  We are told that he will be in the hospital overnight and maybe an extra day, mainly for pain management.  It's hard to imagine anything more painful than he has already experienced, but at least the healing time is supposed to be quick - about three weeks until he can use the hand again and have much better function.

The surgeon also looked at his left hand, which is not as badly scarred - he will probably do a palmar release, but only at the base of his palm, just above the wrist.  That surgery will be sometime after his right hand heals.

 The pinky finger of his left hand is still frozen, and he will probably not regain the use of that finger, but that doesn't seem like such a big deal compared to everything else. 

Tony continues to wear a compression mask, tubes in his nose, and splints on his hands at night.  During the day, he wears a plexiglass mask and works his hands around 6-8 hours.  He also continues to wear compression gloves and compression bandages on his arms.   He is very dedicated to his rehab, and the staff at BAMC are amazed and proud of his progress (me, too).  We are looking forward to the day when he won't need to sleep with all that gear!

Athena, Tony's puppy, is weighing 27 pounds now, and keeping him entertained and occupied with her training and exercise.  She has eaten two of his phone headsets, so I got him a new one for Christmas.

We are thankful for Rod Johnson and the new friends we have made through VASA, and we couldn't have made it through all of this without the constant love and support of our friends and family.  2010 will be a good year!

 

Sunday, November 29, 2009 5:26 PM, CST

 

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On Tuesday, November 24th, we met with the surgeon via a Video Conference.  His name is Dr. Spence, and he is based in Baltimore, Maryland.  He comes to BAMC one week a month to do reconstructive Burn Surgeries.  He also specializes in hand surgeries, and has been working with burns for 22 years.  He looked at Tony's face and hands and decided to do surgery on Tony's right hand first- probably in February. They will also look at his nose to consider whether surgery would help his breathing.  He has suffered from chronic nasal congestion and a narrowing of his nostrils due to scarring - especially his left nostril.

 He will meet with the surgeon one more time before we schedule the surgery.  He will need to recover for about three weeks after the surgery, and then they will set a date to operate on his left hand.  During his recovery, his hand will be in a splint, so he will lose some of the flexibility he has worked so hard to gain all this time.  He is discouraged at times, but very optimistic that the surgeries will be successful in restoring his range of motion in his hands to a large degree.

Meanwhile, he is working to train Athena, our new puppy, working on his hands for 6-7 hours a day, and continuing to go to physical therapy at BAMC twice a week. 

We made a trip to Carlsbad, NM, to see my mother and aunt for Thanksgiving.  Tony and Athena traveled well and we enjoyed the trip; Athena especially enjoyed visiting with Mom and Aunt Marty's two golden labrador retrievers, Sonnee and Sallee.


Saturday, October 31, 2009

 

Our Burn Clinic appointment went very well.  Tony has been released from further clinic appointments - his burns have closed and it's now a matter of physical therapy and patience.  He will be assessed in a few months for reconstructive surgery on his hands.  The surgery is called a palmar release, and it helps release the contracted scar tissue in the palms of the hands that restrict motion.  The surgery has to wait until 9-12 months after the injury to assure that new scar tissue has stopped forming.

We are continuing to receive support and encouragement from our friends and family, and Rod Johnson continues spreading the word about Tony to the Swedish community of Texas.  We've received donations, cards and letters, and Calling Cards so that Tony can keep in touch with his family and friends in Sweden.

He is able to drive a car now, but he still has trouble with things like putting on his shoes (can't tie the laces), turning the pages of a magazine or book, and buttoning his shirts.  Emotionally, he is very tough, but often depressed and discouraged.  Our puppy has helped with his mental and emotional health (maybe not so much with mine, though).

 

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 

I'm sorry it's taken so long to make a journal entry.  We are already scheduled for another Burn Clinic appointment this coming Friday, and hopefully, we will make it - I am home sick with a cold (I hope not the flu) and am hoping Tony won't catch it.

His last Burn Clinic appointment and Physical Therapy evaulation were encouraging.  He has made progress in his range of motion, and he started driving himself to his therapy sessions last week.  He is fighting against the scar tissue that continues to build up on his palms, and he is very dedicated to wearing his mask and working his hands. 

We received bad news from our attorney about his boss's insurance coverage - it seems he only carried liability to cover 3rd party damages and Tony is excluded from receiving any settlement for his injuries as an employee of the company.  We are taking this as a lesson for the future, but it is a hard lesson.  There may be a small hope of recovering something from the manufacturer of the nozzle that failed to shut off automatically, but that is a long shot and a long process.

Athena, Tony's puppy, is growing and providing a great diversion.  She is now 13 pounds and spends a lot of time chewing up things.  He takes her for walks and is teaching her to sit, come, lay down, and speak (I don't really like that one). 

Patience and perseverence - we are learning both.   Carey Clayton

 

Monday, October 05, 2009

 

Tony needed some companionship during his long days home alone, so we adopted a ten-week old German Shepherd-mix puppy at the Town Lake Humane Society. Tony named her Athena, and she's already training him! His spirits have improved greatly, and I'll get him to put a photo on the website.

Burn Clinic went well on Friday. His burns are beginning to show signs of maturing in some areas, and his flexibility is improving. He has an evaluation on the 9th of October to assess his range of motion in his hands. He took a driving test in a simulator today (by recommendation of the Physical Therapist), and he passed! Soon, he will be able to drive himself to the hospital for his therapy sessions.

He continues to wear compression garments and a mask for 23 hours per day; he does exercises with his hands for six to seven hours per day, and now he also takes the dog for walks!

 

 

Sunday, September 27, 2009

 

This week has been a rough one.  Boredom and pain don't go well together, and Tony has been discouraged about the slow progress with his hands.  He is keeping himself to a very strict routine of working his hands several hours every day, and this causes blisters on his fingers and palms, which are painful when we put on and remove the compression garments.

We also had our washing machine break down, and had to buy a new one.  When the delivery people came today, they backed into a limb on one of our Oak trees with their delivery truck when they were leaving and cracked the trunk so that it will now have to be removed.  He was very upset about that, and spent some time on the phone with Sears.

We are beginning to see some lightening in the redness of his skin in some areas, meaning that the scar tissue is starting to mature and will stop growing.  That, at least, is a little good news. 

Tony drove the car a short way yesterday, and did well handling the steering wheel.  It's still painful for him to grip the wheel while turning, but he will be able to drive fairly soon, and I know that will improve his outlook.

We appreciate the prayers, donations, phone calls, and good wishes of all those who care for us.  Tony has a Burn Clinic appointment on Friday, Oct. 2nd, and I will update the journal then.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009 3:33 PM, CDT


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Tony had a new splint made for his right hand yesterday.  The scar tissue on his wrist is thickening, and this splint will be worn at night to help him extend his wrist.  The one he was wearing before at night did not stretch his wrist, only his hand.  We had a hard time getting it on, but we finally managed.  He sleeps (or tries to) while wearing a mask, tubes in his nostrils, splints on his hands, and his compression gloves and vest. 

We continue to be encouraged and supported by friends - Rod Johnson's latest care package contained Corell dishes (lighter than our stoneware so Tony can pick them up), an insulated mug with an easy-grip handle, and more International calling cards donated by Billy Peel.  Linda Moore provides transportation and much-needed companionship, and we are still receiving donations from the Swedish Community of Central Texas. My friends at Wimberley High School have helped in so many ways.  You all are our lifeline.

 

Saturday, September 12, 2009 9:42 PM, CDT

Carey wrote:

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Tony's Burn Clinic appointment on Friday went well.  He still has a long way to go.  There appears to be some tendon damage on the left pinky finger, and we don't know if he will ever be able to straighten it.  The skin is applying pressure to the small muscles and tendons of his fingers as it heals and contracts, so some of his other fingers are also bent at the top joint.  There is no way of knowing at this point what the ultimate outcome will be, but his range of motion, strength, and flexibility are improving little by little. 

The staff were very complimentary of his dedication and efforts in wearing his compression garments, and doing his exercises every day.  He spends around eight hours a day working on his hands, stretching and exercising his face, and it is obvious that he is doing everything possible to get better.  We have another appointment on October 2nd, and he will continue to go to therapy twice a week. 

 At the end of one year, he will probably need to continue physical therapy for up to another year.  Right now he is working on stretching the skin, and after it heals, he will focus more on working the muscles and joints.

We appreciate all the support and help we've received from family and friends (even those we've never met!)

 

 

 

Friday, August 28, 2009 3:59 PM, CDT

 

Tony had a Burn Clinic appointment last Friday and they told him that he would probably need more

reconstructive surgery on his hands in about 6-9 months. This is apparently very common with burns to thepalms of the hands, and it is much less painful than the grafting surgery. His wounds are healing well and he is wearing compression garments (vest with long sleeves, gloves, pants, and a mask) to help minimize the scarring. We purchased a recumbent bike so he can exercise at home, and he is also doing physicaltherapy on his hands at home.

 

Two days a week, Mondays and Fridays, our friend Linda Moore has been taking him to San Antonio for

therapy. We are hoping that he will be able to drive in another month or two.

 

Thanks to Tony's social worker at the NTSB, we have connected with The Swedish Community of CentralTexas, and have had the opportunity to meet two wonderful men, Rod Johnson and Billy Peel. They have helped Tony with International Calling Cards and cash donations. Rod has organized a campaign to help raise money for Tony's expenses over the next year while he is unable to work. We are very thankful.

 

 

 

 Saturday, August 8, 2009 5:05 PM, CDT

 

      It's been awhile since I've been able to update the journal, but I have good news!  Tony continues to progress and we will have some help with transportation from our friend, Linda Moore when I have to go back to work on the 17th of August.  He will continue to go for therapy every day until the end of next week.  After that, he has a burn clinic appointment on the 20th of August, and his compression garments should be ready.  He will have gloves and a long-sleeved vest to wear, and he already has a mask that he is wearing to compress the scar tissue on his face.

 

      The big issue now is finding out how well he can move his fingers and if the scar tissue on his wrists and forearms can be released from the tendons through physical therapy.  It is a matter of working very hard every day (which he is doing) and seeing what kind of function he can regain.  He has some special hand splints that he wears during the day, and another set of splints that he wears at night.

 

      Tony has connected with a wonderful gentleman named Rod Johnson, who is President of the Swedish Pioneers Association and heard about Tony's accident through a contact at the Red Cross.  We met him in person today, and he has already generously helped us with international calling cards and grocery cards to defray our expenses.  We are so very grateful for his kindness.

 

      I will update the journal again when I have a chance - I will have daily internet access when I return to school.

 

Thursday, July 23, 2009 3:37 PM, CDT

 

      Tony and I continue to drive to San Antonio Monday through Friday for his physical therapy.  They will be doing another evaluation on August 9th to see what his schedule for therapy will be.  His burn clinic appointment on Tuesday was very positive - the physician's assistant said his hands looked "100 percent better"!  He just has a few spots that still need bandages, and the rest of his hands are just in compression wraps.  They have also put his arms in a tubular compression dressing instead of ace wraps.  They want him to wear biker shorts or compression underwear instead of ace wraps on his legs, but I can tell you that it is really hard to get those things on and off!  We don't know what we will do when school starts and I have to go back to work, but I am looking for a certified hand therapist closer to Wimberley.

 

      Lew is having back trouble, so we're thinking about starting a caringbridge website for him - I know everyone reading this journal misses his engaging journal entries!

 

      The road is long, but we are just putting one foot in front of the other.

 

 Saturday, July 18, 2009 1:59 PM, CDT

 

      First, I want to thank Lew for continuing to update the journal - I don't have internet access at the RV, and currently, Tony and I are sitting at a table in the San Marcos Library.  He is reading his own website!

 

      Tony will continue to have physical therapy Monday-Friday at 10:00 a.m. through next week.  We don't know how long this schedule will continue, but right now we are doing wound care and bandages in the evenings after we get home from therapy.  That takes about 2-3 hours, and then we can relax for the evening.  We leave around 8:30 a.m., and I've been getting up at 5:30 a.m. to have some "me" time and take a walk.

 

      They've made a couple of new splints for Tony - the one for the left hand has four slings that wrap around the base of each finger with a piece of fishing line attached on the palm side.  At the end of each piece of fishing line is a little strip of velcro, which we pull the down to stretch each finger. He stays in the splint for a few hours every day - the longer the better.  The splint for his right hand holds his wrist in a flexed position, and then I wrap an ace-bandage over his fingers to bring them down into a fist - also for as long as he can stand it.  At night, he wears different splints that keep his wrists flexed and his fingers in a functional position.

 

      On Friday, we went to a clinic in Wimberley where he will be monitored by a primary care physician - they will take over the management of his blood pressure medication and oversee health issues not directly related to his burns.  He has a followup appointment on Monday afternoon to get the results of the bloodwork and urine tests they did on Friday.  His blood pressure continues to run a little high.

 

      Our next Burn Clinic appointment is Tuesday after Physical Therapy.  They will remove all of his bandages and look at his hands to see how they're doing, and soon he will be measured for compression garments that he will wear when the bandages come off.  He will wear gloves, a shirt, and shorts to help the grafts adhere and the scar tissue to stretch and flatten.

 

      We discovered last night that I can actually apply his bandages while he is sitting on the couch watching "Ultimate Fighter" or DIY (Do It Yourself) - that will be our new routine!

 

      I will continue to rely on Lew whenever he's able to update the webpage - and I'll put in a few words when I get the chance.

 

      Soon, Tony can put in his own journal entries!

 

      -Carey

 

 Tuesday, July 14, 2009 7:11 PM, CDT

 

      Tony called me yesterday on his new technology iPhone.  He also sent me a picture of him on the deck from his phone.  I'll put that on the site tonight as well as a picture or two from my camera...even if it is the old technology.

 

      Also, Carey and Tony got a portable air conditioner to help out their RV air conditioner.  They say it has really helped keep the RV comfortable with the current heat wave.  It's been over 100 degrees for more than a week, and will likely be so for the next week.  The RV unit just couldn't keep up and it was getting uncomfortable for Tony with his bandages, etc.  They say this has fixed that problem.

 

      --Lew

 

    Friday, July 10, 2009 10:42 PM, CDT

 

      Well, they put the cast on Tony's hand yesterday.  I should have updated last night, but I was making the 6 hour drive home yesterday.  Carey said they had their PT period and everything went well.

 

      Some really good news yesterday.  Tony's insurance has authorized out of network treatments at BAMC, and they have removed the 30 visit restriction they were going to impose.  Tony will be able to continue his treatments at BAMC, and they will be able to cover all the visits necessary for his treatment.  That will be a big load off of their minds.

 

      Tony is scheduled to have PT Saturday and he will have Sunday off, unless they change his schedule.

 

      For some reason, I have not been getting my phone messages in a timely manner.  I'm sure Tony will say it's because my phone is the old technology.  I got a message from Tony saying he was calling from his new iPhone with the new technology (3GS).  Sigh! I'll never hear the end of that.

 

      Well, hopefully I'll be able to talk to Tony on his new phone tomorrow.  It's a little too late to call him tonight.

 

      --Lew

 

 Wednesday, July 8, 2009 10:57 PM, CDT

 

      Hi, Folks.  I talked to Tony and Carey about 9:30 PM and got a rundown on their day.  It started at 6:30 this morning, with bathing and wound care.  Carey said that took about three hours and they were a few minutes late for their PT meeting at 10:00.  During their meetings today they had some very candid discussions with the staff.

 

      The most important information they got today was that the therapist said that they have a clock running now.  He said you have basically one year with severe burns to affect the healing process.  After one year, the tissue is pretty well set and the results are what you will live with.  Tony's efforts in his rehab therapy over the next year will be critical.  He said it is similar to a race.  You have a limited time to affect the outcome of your healing process.  Tony is ready to start the process, but I know there will be times when he will be discouraged.  That's where our support of both he and Carey can make a difference.  This won't be over for a year, so don't forget about them.

 

      The therapists gave Tony a choice today.  Since his hands are burned on both sides, they can either work on improving his flexibility, or on his ability to extend the muscles.  That is, they can work on his ability to close his hand or open it.  Because he wants to continue flying, he considers the dexterity as the big issue and he will be working on flexing the hand.  His left hand is still an issue, as he has exposed tendons there.  Tomorrow they will put his left hand in a cast until next week.  That should protect those tendons.

 

      Tony and Carey are experiencing a pretty steep learning curve right now.  They are learning their new routines and are picking up the responsibilities that an entire burn ward staff used to accomplish.  They will certainly be a little overwhelmed for awhile.  Hopefully things will settle into a routine in the near future.  Their big concern right now is to get Tony's insurance company to approve him for out-of-network visits to BAMC for his outpatient visits.  Carey should know more about that on Friday.

 

      That's all the news for now.  Keep Tony and Carey in your thoughts and prayers.

 

      --Lew

 

 

 

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 7:31 AM, CDT

 

      Tony is home.  Tony got home last night about 8 PM.  Carey and Tony spent most of the day getting signed out and ready to leave the hospital.  They have to be at the hospital early this morning for an assessment, and then Tony has PT at 10 AM.  I won't know more about his outpatient schedule until I hear from Carey and Tony later today.

 

      --Lew

 

 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 8:19 AM, CDT

 

      Wow.  I didn't see that coming.  I couldn't get the editing screen out of bold print but when it saved, it took the bold out and changed the font size...who knows.

 

      We were all hoping Tony was going to be released yesterday, but Carey said there was just too much paperwork.  She hopes he gets home today.  One low point of Tony's day yesterday...Tony has been really proud of his work with the Flexion Glove on his own time.  It is a compression glove that he puts on his hand (right only, his left hand doesn't flex enough yet) and then someone pulls rubber bands that are attached to the fingertips to a hook on the palm and attaches them.  It forces his hand to flex.  He has been staying in it for thirty minutes at a time and he has been doing that several times a day.  Unfortunately, the PT staff says he has been overdoing that treatment, and he has almost exposed two tendons, so he willhave to be a little less aggressive with that treatment.

 

      Carey is currently driving back to the hospital from Wimberly since Tony wouldn't let anyone bathe him till she gets there.  She said she had coffee on their new deck and enjoyed that, even if she did have ants in her sugar and the half and half was spoiled.  She has't been there much in the last five weeks.  She has been living in a hotel in San Antonio.

 

      At any rate, we hope Tony goes home today.  He should have an outpatient assessment on Thursday, and has an appointment with a network PA on Friday to try to get approval for him to continue to use BAMC for his outpatient treatment.  Tony has been really impressed with his treatment and wants to continue his outpatient treatment there.

 

      I'll try to get another update up this evening, after I hear from Carey and Tony.

 

      --Lew

 

 Tuesday, July 7, 2009 8:04 AM, CDT

 

      Sorry.  I forgot that Carey doesn't have internet in Wimberly.  We had a good time with Tony day before yesterday.  We got there in time for them to wrap him and for him to have lunch.  By the time they got him wrapped, his cheeseburger and fries were cold, so we ordered fresh ones for him.  About the time the hot food arrived, the nutritionist came in and talked about his nutrition and feeding while his other cheeseburger got cold...sigh!

 

      Everyone really enjoyed Carey's playing and singing.  There were three patients, three PT specialists, and three guests in the gym listening and making requests.  I'm going to have to close this entry and start another one.  The editing square has gone to bold and won't come out of it.  It is driving me nuts.

 

      --Lew

 Sunday, July 5, 2009 8:41 PM, CDT

 

      If Lew feels like it, he can make a journal entry about what happened today before I got back to the hospital.

 

      I arrived back from Houston around 2:00 p.m. and it seems that Lew and Bill did a good job of entertaining Tony - he looks great, and he's in good spirits.  Bill, Lew and I went down to Physical Therapy in the "gym" with Tony, and I played  a few songs on my guitar for everyone down there.  No one seemed to mind too much.

 

      We all three ate dinner in the dining facility, and then Bill and Lew left.  I helped Tony shave, and then left to spend one last evening with my grandchildren before they go back home tomorrow.  Hopefully, Tony is also going home tomorrow!

 

Saturday, July 4, 2009 11:42 PM, CDT

 

      Hi, Folks.  I just got "home" to my RV in D'Hanis.  I stayed late at the hospital to watch 4th of July fireworks with Tony.  I went to the hospital at noon, just in time to run into Carey on her way out.  She had bathed and bandaged Tony and had just finished.  When I got up to his room, Tony got his lunch and was feeding himself.  After lunch, we went to PT at the gym and he worked his hands for over two hours.  After PT, Tony called Carey and then we went to eat at the dining hall, and Tony, in honor of the  4th of July elected to have a corndog, two hotdogs, Mac-cheese, and chocolate cake...an all-american dinner!  After dinner, we adjourned to the ward waiting room and Tony asked me to find a TV programfor us to watch.  I tuned in Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" marathon.  I figured it was a good choice for a Swedish sea captain as it is about crab fisherman from Dutch Harbor, Alaska, fishing the Bering Sea.  While we were watching the marathon, the fireworks started at three different locations around the city that we could see.  The view from the hospital was beautiful.  The hospital windows on the fourth floor have a beautiful view of the center of the city and the Hemisfair Tower.  The big shows in north San Antonio and Lackland AFB lasted over half an hour.  Carey will be sorry she missed it...well, maybe not.  She was with her grandkids.  After the fireworks, the visiting hours were over and I had to leave.  Tony was cursing me as I left because I had gotten him hooked on "Deadliest Catch" and he had to watch the rest of the marathon.

 

      Tomorrow,  Bill and I will have breakfast and then go to the hospital at noon, when visiting hours start.  We will have lunch and dinner with Tony, and I think Carey will be back during the afternoon or early evening.

 

      Current plans are for Tony to go home on Monday or Tuesday, if no complications arise.  Bill and Shelley and I finished the deck/stairs, and plumbing modifications on Friday...Oh, all right.  Bill and Shelley did most of the work on the deck, known as "Bill's Chicken", while I nursed my back.  Luckily, Shelley's a pretty good carpenter, and comes with her own tools.  We will update everyone tomorrow.

 

      --Lew

 

 Friday, July 3, 2009 9:43 PM, CDT

 

  Tony is getting better every day.  He really likes using the flexion glove to stretch his right hand.  His left hand is too stiff to use the glove, and he still has an exposed tendon on his left index finger, but it is slowly closing up.   He is getting anxious about leaving the hospital, and I am too, but I think we will be fine when we get into a routine at home.

We did not hear anything about the ultrasound results, so I'm assuming that everything is ok.

 

Thursday, July 2, 2009 10:37 PM, CDT

 

      Today, Tony's physical therapist tried out a new hand treatment - gloves with grommets in the fingertips that have a rubber band attached.  There's a hook in the palm of the glove that holds the fingers down - he can use them to help with his range of motion exercises.

 

      I spent the morning working with the nurses to learn how to bathe Tony and apply his bandages and compression wraps.  It took from 8:00 a.m. til 11:30 a.m., but they assure me that it will get easier and I will get faster (I hope so).  We are all learning patience.

 

      Apparently, Tony had a blood clot in his leg that no one told us about until today, but they have been giving him anticoagulants, and they did an ultrasound this evening to check and see if it's gone yet.  No one seems to be worried about it, but I'm a little annoyed that noone bothered to mention it before.

 

 

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 10:19 PM, CDT

 

      I was gone to Wimberley all day after breakfast this morning - I had to replace the brakes on the Volvo.  Lew kindly took over and stayed the day with Tony.

 

      Tony said his physical therapist was very impressed with the range of motion in his right hand.  The left one is coming along more slowly.  Lew and Tony and I had dinner in the Dining Facility, and Tony was excited because they were serving "Swedish meatballs."

 

      He got to speak with his mother and older sister Annette this morning, and was very glad to hear their voices.  Maybe since Lew was with Tony all day today, he will have an entry to make in the journal.

 

      My daugher Angela, and son-in-law, Art and grandchildren will be coming into San Antonio on their way to Houston tomorrow, and they're planning to join us in the Dining Facility for dinner tomorrow evening.  Tony will have to do without me a little more this weekend, as I will be taking my grandchildren to the zoo on Friday morning and traveling to Houston on Saturday for one night to babysit while Angela and Art attend a Beyonce concert.

 

      We are getting closer to going home, and I am going to practice what I've learned so far about wound care and bandages tomorrow morning.

 

 

 Tuesday, June 30, 2009 10:19 PM, CDT

 

      This afternoon, I learned how to apply the compression bandages to Tony's arms, hands, and legs, and how to help him with physical therapy on his hands.  I think we will be OK when we get into a routine at home.  I'm still trying to figure out how to modify the handles on the front door so that he can open them, but I will go to Lowe's and look around to get some ideas.

 

      Tony and I spent two and a half hours in physical therapy this afternoon/evening, and missed seeing one of Tony's Raven friends who came with Lew to visit; my phone doesn't get service in the "gym" area.

 

      He is still having more trouble with his left hand than his right - the left was more seriously burned, but ultimately, he should have good function in both hands.

 

      Lew didn't give up looking for us and he joined us for dinner in the dining facility.  Mike Molaire also came by this evening.  Tony's "roommate" was discharged today, so we spread out a little bit and enjoyed the quiet for the time being.

 

  Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:14 AM, CDT

 

      I got "trained" in bathing and wound care this morning, and I will be going back at noon to learn how to put on the compression bandages.  I'm feeling a little overwhelmed, but it will pass.  I think the hardest thing is the fact that it is so painful for Tony, and it's hard to inflict that on him, even though it can't be avoided and it needs to be done.  I spoke with the Social Worker, and she said the doctor is trying to get him out of the hospital, and he may come and talk to me.  She said just keep telling him that the house isn't ready yet.  I wish I could just know that they will let him stay until Monday, but it could be a struggle.

 

 Monday, June 29, 2009 9:49 PM, CDT

 

      Today, Tony was a bit discouraged with the level of pain the Physical Therapists put him through.  They were trying to get in two sessions, so two therapists worked on both hands at the same time.  He was not happy about it, and he needed extra pain medication when they were through with the second session.  They also got him to walk up and down one flight of stairs, and he did fairly well with that.

 

      We went to the Dining Hall for dinner, and he fed himself after I cut up his food.  Tomorrow, I'm supposed to get trained in wound care and bathing and applying compression bandages - sounds exciting.

 

      Lew and Bill have almost finished the deck/handrail.  I went to Wimberley today and was really impressed with what a great job they did.  Bill was selected for jury duty today, so they will probably finish it up this coming weekend.  I know Tony will be thrilled when he sees it.

 

 Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:09 PM, CDT

 

      Tony worked hard again today in physical therapy.  The Physician's Assistant said that the skin over the tendon on his left index finger is beginning to close, so he should be able to work that finger more pretty soon.

 

       We went down to the dining hall for lunch and dinner, but he was very tired and napped a lot in between.  He is determined to keep a positive outlook, and I'm very proud of his attitude.

 

Sunday, June 28, 2009 8:10 AM, CDT

 

      Tony was very sleepy this morning, but he woke up enough to eat some breakfast.  On the weekends, there is not enough physical therapy staff on duty for him to have physical therapy twice a day, so he will only have one session today.  He has been working on his own, but his left hand is still not healed well enough to really work on it.  I will try to talk to the physician's assistant today when I go back and noon, since she will be looking at his hands during rounds this morning.  She may be able to give me more information than the doctor gave Tony yesterday.

 

 

Saturday, June 27, 2009 9:52 PM, CDT

 

      Tony said the doctors told him his hands look "good" - not very specific, but it's nice to hear.

 

      He had a good day today; he fed himself lunch and dinner, and we went down to the dining facility for lunch.  His good friend, Linda Moore visited today, and he was glad to see her, but very tired afterwards.

 

      This evening, he shaved himself and held his phone to his ear to talk to a couple of friends.  Progress every day.

 

Saturday, June 27, 2009 9:54 AM, CDT

 

      This morning, Tony's bandages were down for the doctors to see his grafts when they make rounds.  The night nurse removed the bandages at 6:00 a.m., and he had to lie there with wet towels on his hands and arms until 7:30, but he ate a good breakfast, and hopefully I will have more good news about his condition when I return at noon.

 

      Thanks are in order to Lew and Bill for their help through all of this.  Today, they will go to Wimberley to construct stairs with handrails so that Tony can safely negotiate his way in and out of our little RV.  I am eternally grateful for the support and comfort they have provided to Tony and me, and also to the friends who have visited and made comments in the guestbook on this website.

 

      I learned from the hospital Social Worker yesterday that it will take a year for the scar tissue on Tony's hands to "mature" as they say.  It will not be until the end of that year when we know what sort of function he will have in his hands, or whether more surgeries will be required.  I know that he will continue to need support and encouragement throughout this process, as will I; so far so good!

 

  

Friday, June 26, 2009 10:24 PM, CDT

 

      Carey asked me to help her with an editing problem tonight and I thought I should take advantage of the opportunity to make a few comments.  Carey has been carrying the load of the journal entries alone for the last several days, as I had to attend to some family business at home.  She has also been taking care of a daunting pyramid of administrative trivia, including insurance, credit and financial issues, construction projects in Wimberly that were already scheduled, citizenship issues, and NTSB and FAA investigative interviews.  She does all of this between 8 AM and Noon, the time when she is unable to be with Tony because of visiting hour restrictions.  She's doing a great job, and Tony has really appreciated it.

 

      I wanted to pass along some observations especially for Tony's family in Sweden.  I know it is hard for you to experience this situation by long distance communications.  But after returning to San Antonio, I was amazed at the change in Tony.  It has been a real joy to visit Tony and see the change in his condition from a few days ago.  His face is almost totally healed now.  I think he will have no facial scarring (that he didn't already have).  He does, however, think his nose has a distinctly more patrician profile than before.  I don't know how that could have happened with his injuries, but I think he may be right.  His sense of humor has completely returned to normal and he seems to devote himself to entertaining the nursing staff and visitors.  He is very dedicated to his rehab, and does hand and breathing excercises every hour on his own.  In short, I think his rehabilitation is really accelerating.  I know it will be a big transition when he is able to go home, but the staff here won't let him go until everything is in place to support him in continuing his rehab.

 

      Tony asked us tonight when he was going to participate in this web page.  I think that will be very soon.  He can't type for awhile, but we can take dictation.  I think you will be hearing from Tony via this web page, really soon!

 

      --Lew

 

 Friday, June 26, 2009 9:43 PM, CDT

 

      During his wound care this morning they found that Tony has an exposed tendon on his left index finger.  It will need to be watched carefully, and they will not be able to work it as hard in physical therapy as his other fingers, but they feel it will heal without needing another surgery.  Otherwise, he is improving every day, including his sense of humor.

 

      This evening, Lew and Bill came for a visit, and then I took Tony for a tour of the hospital in his wheelchair.  Until yesterday, he had not been off of the 4th floor, so we took a look around.  It's a huge hospital.

 

      He is making progress with using his hands, and he was able to feed himself today, and brush his teeth.  Yeah!

 

Friday, June 26, 2009 9:20 AM, CDT

 

     Tony ate a good breakfast, and hopefully he will remain conscious during his shower and wound care this morning.  I am going to bring some of his clothes for the physical therapist to help him practice dressing himself today (that should be entertaining).  He continues to have some problems with his left hand, especially his left pinky, but his right hand feels much better.

 

Thursday, June 25, 2009 10:24 PM, CDT

 

      There wasn't enough excitement this morning, so Tony decided to pass out while his nurse was giving him a shower.  Fortunately, he was already sitting down.  He did get everyone's attention enough to require an ekg, bloodwork, and his blood pressure taken multiple times (very painfully on his arm).  They have been taking his blood pressure on his leg, and it's not very accurate.  Everything checked out OK, and he thinks it was mostly because of the pain of having his hands scrubbed.

 

      He did well at physical therapy today.  He's practicing picking things up, and he fed himself most of his lunch today, and he brushed his teeth at bedtime.

 

      Mike and his daughter Ali came for a short visit, and Lew and Bill joined us in the dining facility downstairs for dinner (they let Tony have hospital privileges, so now he can eat down there if he wants to.)  His face and body are healing very well, and his hands are coming along.

 

Thursday, June 25, 2009 9:30 AM, CDT

 

      Tony had a restful night and is ready for more therapy.  We tried calling his mother and sister, but there was no answer.  I have to go to Wimberley to take some measurements for stairs/handrails, bathroom/shower devices, but we will try to phone them again this afternoon.  He is anxious to talk with his family, but I know it will be very emotional.

 

      We are also almost finished with the reports/interviews needed by the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).  That will be a load off of us to conclude their investigation and reports.

 

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:24 PM, CDT

 

      The Tony we all know and love is beginning to shine through again!  Tony endured two grueling rounds of physical therapy today and still managed to make a few jokes.  In between walking and working his hands, he sat up all day.

 

      I am working on getting things ready so that he can be comfortable at home, and we will continue his rehab here at BAMC until we are comfortable with other options.  The "target" date for his release from the hospital is next week some time.

 

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 9:17 AM, CDT

 

      Tony was doing very well this morning - he slept well and was ready to get going.  They are planning to discharge him early next week, so I will be trained in wound care, etc. on Friday or Saturday.  We're a little nervous about how all of this will work, but I'm sure we will figure it out.  I will be speaking with the Case Manager and therapists today to arrange home health care as needed.

 

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 10:26 PM, CDT

 

      Tony was on his way to his second round of physical therapy when I returned to the hospital at 3:30 p.m. - I had to go to Wimberley to check the mail and run some errands.  He said that the chest x-ray came back looking very good - his lungs are clear.

 

      The assessment of his pinky finger showed that he just has some scar tissue that will require extra work to regain mobility - he worked very hard on his hands today.

 

      Bill Zarr came by for a visit and gave Tony some encouragement about rehab (Bill went through a very serious motorcycle wreck a few years ago).  I will be talking with the physician's assistant and the case manager this week about getting what we need set up at home to take care of Tony when he leaves the hospital.  He will probably be coming back to the hospital every day for wound care for a few weeks - his hands are still very raw.  Later, I will be able to change his bandages at home.

 

      We have a lot of things to figure out, and I can't help but laugh when I think about both of us trying to fit into the bathroom in our RV when Tony needs help.  Talk about togetherness!

 

   Tuesday, June 23, 2009 8:13 AM, CDT

 

      When I arrived at 7:00 a.m. this morning, the nurses were taking Tony down to the first floor for a chest x-ray.  They are monitoring the congestion in his lungs to see how it's responding to the breathing treatments.  I waited in the room and fed him breakfast when he returned.

 

      Today, they will be assessing his pinky finger to see what type of therapy will be most effective.  Otherwise, he is back to the same routine of wound care, hand therapy, and walking.  His face is almost healed and looking very good.  Most of the second-degree burns on his chest and shoulders are healing nicely, and so is the "donor" skin on his back.

 

Monday, June 22, 2009 10:32 PM, CDT

 

      Tony did a lot of physical therapy with his hands today, and also a lot of walking.  There is some concern about  the lack of mobility in his left pinky finger - it could be scar tissue on the tendon or some calcification.  The physical therapist is going to look at it more closely tomorrow and decide what they can do.  His right hand and his other fingers seem to be in good shape.

 

      Mike Molaire stopped by for a visit, but Tony was pretty groggy after physical therapy and pain medication and having started so early today.  We hung out in the waiting room for awhile, but I got him to bed when he started falling asleep.  He was asleep from about 7:30 until I left at 10:00 p.m.

 

 Monday, June 22, 2009 8:20 AM, CDT

 

      They removed Tony's wound-vacs this morning at 5:30 a.m., and the nurse said he did very well.  The grafts on his fingers look good, but there is a spot on his left forearm that will probably need regrafting.  He has pretty good mobility in his right hand, and his left hand is ok except for his pinky finger, which is really stiff right now.  The doctor told him that he would probably be released from the hospital next week.

 

      Today will be a hard day - they had to give him quite a bit of pain medication while removing the bandages, and he will take a shower and begin physical therapy on his hands again right away.  He's ready to get back to work.

 

Sunday, June 21, 2009 10:24 PM, CDT

 

      When I got to the hospital at noon - Tony was gone.  They had moved him to another room, and he's now in room 412.  It's a semi-private room with two beds, but right now there's no one in the other bed.  It's a nice change from the room he was in with four beds.

 

      He had already been for a walk with the physical therapist when I arrived, and he was sitting up in a chair, watching TV.  We hung out in the room all afternoon, and he ate well at lunch and dinner.

 

        One of his friends and former flight instructors, Gian Clavuot, came to visit him this evening, and he was very glad to see him. Tomorrow morning is the big day when the bandages come off of his hands.  The Charge nurse said they would start removing the bandages at 5:30 a.m. so that he would be ready for the doctor to see his hands when they did rounds at 7:30.  I will still go at 7:00, but I don't know if he will feel like eating breakfast after everything they will be doing to him.  I should have some news about his hands in the morning.

 

Sunday, June 21, 2009 8:14 AM, CDT

 

      I fed Tony breakfast this morning and he said he had slept fairly well.  He is looking forward to a real shower tomorrow instead of a sponge bath in bed.  I will have more news this evening.

 

Saturday, June 20, 2009 9:46 PM, CDT

 

      The Physical Therapy staff is limited on the weekends, so Tony was only able to walk once this afternoon, but he sat up in a chair for most of the afternoon.

 

      Today, he had a few visitors, and he seemed glad for the distraction from being stuck in his room all day.  He is still very tired and running a slight fever, but it is not elevated enough for concern at this time.  He has a small amount of congestion in his chest, but his blood-oxygen levels are good, and he is receiving breathing treatments twice a day.  His compression bandages will come off on Monday, and then we'll know more about how much longer he will be in the hospital.

 

Saturday, June 20, 2009 8:11 AM, CDT

 

      Tony ate all of his breakfast this morning.  He was tired because they had to change out the vacuum tube on his right hand - it was leaking.  They also had a heat lamp on his right leg to help heal the "donor site" where they took skin for this surgery, and the respiratory therapist gave him a breathing treatment last night, too.

 

       He is anxious for the bandages to come off so he can get started with therapy on his hands again.  They are telling us that this will happen on Monday.  The nursing staff is very pleased with how his face and donor sites are healing, so now we just have to keep him quiet and resting until Monday.

 

Friday, June 19, 2009 9:50 PM, CDT

 

      Tony was restless and frustrated today.  They had to give him a unit of blood this morning, and that seemed to improve his energy level, but he's having to stay in his room most of the time because they have "wound-vacs" on his skin grafts - these are bandages that are compressed onto his hands and arms with a vacuum tube to keep pressure on them.  The physical therapist used a portable vacuum when they took him for a walk, but it doesn't work as well as the one in his room, and it's heavy to carry around, so he had to sit in a chair in his room most of the day, and he was not a happy camper.  I think that's a good sign that he's feeling better.  The bandages should come off Monday, and then we will know more about when he can go home.

 

Friday, June 19, 2009 8:24 AM, CDT

 

      Tony seemed in good spirits this morning when I went to feed him breakfast.  He said he slept OK.  He was a little anxious because they have to change his IV line every three days, and today's the day.  They've been having a little trouble finding a good vein and he has one line in his foot and one in his arm.  His nurse this morning seemed very good, and he thought he could get the new IV going without a problem.  He also promised to shave Tony with the shaving creme and razors I brought from home instead of the ones from the hospital.  Hopefully, that will be more comfortable for him.

 

      I will return at noon and see how today goes.  I don't think he would mind having visitors as long as it's not too long (still feverish and recovering from the surgery).  I will update the journal tonight.

 

 

Thursday, June 18, 2009 10:26 PM, CDT

 

      Today was difficult for Tony because he had to stay in his room most of the day.  I fed him breakfast and then Lew came to stay with him at noon until I returned from running errands in Wimberley.

 

      Lew said that the Physical Therapist had taken Tony for a walk, but they were having trouble with the portable vacuum pump

      ( Tony's hands and arms are in vacuum-sealed dressings that keeps constant pressure on his grafts to help them adhere and prevent swelling) so he had to stay in his room close to the vacuum pump by his bed.  He was restless and uncomfortable, but he did cheer up when Lew bought him some lasagna at Oliver Garden and I fed him that for supper instead of hospital food.

 

      When I left at 10 p.m., he had a slight fever of 101, and some swelling in his feet and legs, but we elevated his feet and the nurse gave him some medication for the fever.  We will know how the grafts did when they remove the dressings on Sunday or Monday.

 

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 10:47 PM, CDT

 

      I stayed until 9:45 to make sure that the night nurse helped rig up Tony's pain pump - he taped it to the foot of the bed so Tony can push it with his toe.  He is back in the hand splints for 3-5 days - we will know how the grafts look when they change the bandages.  They had to re-graft his fingers and a few spots on his arms.  They took "donor" skin from his right leg again, and he was really having a lot of pain this afternoon, but he was resting pretty well when I left.

 

       The surgeon came in to talk to us and said that the surgery went very well, and he anticipates that Tony will be fully recovered within 6-12 months - he even thought he might be out of the hospital in a week or two (but not to count on that just yet) - very good news.

 

      I think he will be ok to have visitors by tomorrow or Friday, but 30 minutes is about as long as he can handle without getting tired.  I'm not sure what his physical therapy and wound care schedule will be, but I assume that mid-late afternoon is still the best time to see him.  I will know he's getting better when he starts asking for chocolate (not quite yet, but maybe soon!)

 

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 3:40 PM, CDT

 

      Tony is out of surgery and handled that very well.  He is very sore, and is likely to be more sore as they rebuild his hand splints.  They wanted him in them right away, and it appears that they may have to redo the custom splints.  It is always painful for him when they put him back in the splints.  Tony will not be able to do his rehab hand exercises for about 5 days, and Carey said he probably won't be able to have visitors for about three days.  We will keep you updated via this web page.  Check back often.

 

      Carey is still at the hospital with Tony and asked me to pass this along, since she didn't have internet access at the hospital.  She said she would update the site with the latest word when she got back to the hospital.

 

      --Lew

 

    Tuesday, June 16, 2009 10:45 PM, CDT

 

      I was back at noon, and Mike Molaire came with me, but they were still working on Tony's bandages.  I waited til 1:30 to feed Tony his lunch before they did physical therapy.  He was in a lot of pain today because they really scrubbed him down - but he is looking better every day.

 

      He was exhausted after walking and working out his hands, and he fell asleep in the waiting room when Bill and Lew came to visit around 4:30.  He is scheduled for another surgery tomorrow morning for some spot grafts on his hands and arms - a few places that the grafts did not take on the first time.  He is the second case, so will probably go into surgery between 9 and 10 a.m.  They may take the "donor" skin from his stomach, or from one of the places that they have already taken from (it's healed now).  Tomorrow will probably not be a good day for visitors, and he will have to wait at least 3 days before he can resume therapy on his hands, but they will have him up and walking around again tomorrow afternoon.

 

      I will update the journal tomorrow when he comes out of surgery and I have news.

 

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 8:58 AM, CDT

 

      Tony had a hard time sleeping last night because he is very itchy.  That's a good sign, because it means his skin is healing - but it sure makes it hard to get comfortable and sleep.  He ate all of his breakfast - eggs, sausage, yogurt, fruit cocktail, and milk.

 

      I'm encouraged about his wound care/therapy because today they have assigned two nurses to work with him - I hope that means he will be getting taken care of and started on physical therapy before noon today.

 

      I know he's happy to have visitors, but with his fever still slightly elevated, and the fact that he's still on antibiotics for an infection, I'd appreciate it if anyone who wants to see him doesn't stay too long (30 minutes or so) - he still wants to entertain his guests even when he's feeling "indisposed."

 

 Monday, June 15, 2009 10:41 PM, CDT

 

      Today was another hard day - still not on schedule with the wound care and physical therapy - it took until 3:00 p.m. to get Tony through his morning routine and ready to eat lunch.  He says it's getting a little less painful to change the dressings, and they finally have removed all the bandages from his face.  He looks very good - there probably won't be too much scarring at all on his face.

 

      Dawn and Eric and Lew and Bill came to see him today, and he seemed glad to get out of his room and roam the halls in his wheelchair and hang out in the waiting rooms on the 4th floor, but this evening after everyone left, he had some swelling in his legs and feet, and his temperature was elevated (he is on another round of antibiotics since his last blood culture).  Also, they had to give him insulin today because his blood sugar was a little high.  The nurse said that burn victims often have trouble regulating their blood sugar, but this problem should resolve itself as he continues to get better.

 

      The physical therapist spoke with the head nurse about getting Tony ready for therapy sooner in the day so they will have more time to work with his hands; hopefully, this will go better tomorrow.  One reason for all of the delays is that the ward is completely full of patients - many who came in over the weekend as a result of accidents at home.  Everyone in the burn center is working very hard to help all their patients (but Tony's their favorite one).

 

 

Monday, June 15, 2009 8:49 AM, CDT

 

      I fed Tony his scrambled eggs and yogurt this morning.  He had a rough night because they were trying to draw blood and having trouble, but they found an unburned spot on his right arm and finally got some blood.  He was tired, but ready to start another day of working to get well.

 

 

 

 

    

 Sunday, June 14, 2009 9:41 PM, CDT

 

      I am back on track with internet now that Lew has loaned me an internet cable, but after reading his journal entries, I'm thinking Lew's better at this than I am.

 

      Yes, I've had to be on top of things in 4 East - there was a big crop of new burn victims over the weekend, and the staff is really overloaded.

 

       We kept wondering why Tony wasn't getting the meals I had ordered from the hospital menu, and we discovered that the doctor had not yet changed the orders for "soft" food after they took the breathing tube out.  He was really tired of mashed potatoes and ground beef, and we finally got him some roast beef at lunch time today.  He's eating well.

 

      Today, he didn't finish with therapy til 4:00 p.m.  It takes about three hours in the morning to bathe him and change his bandages.  Then, they have to wrap his arms and hands and legs in compression bandages to help with the swelling and allow him to walk and do exercises without so much pain.

 

      There's a "gym" where he goes to use various machines to help him regain the function and mobility in his hands.  All the nurses and therapists are very impressed with his determination and his progress.  I am very proud of him.

 

      Lew and Bill came by this evening for a visit and we all took Tony for a trip around the 4th floor in his wheelchair.

 

      All the days will be like this for a while - lots of hard work.

 

Sunday, June 14, 2009 12:48 PM, CDT

 

      Sorry, Folks.  I forgot that Carey has changed hotels and didn't have internet yet.  I should have updated the journal yesterday.  Bill Zarr and I went to see Tony yesterday afternoon.  He had had some visitors (Mike and Jeff) and was pretty tired.  The PT staff is working him very hard now.  He usually isn't done with wound care and therapy until about three o'clock.  One area of concern we are having is a tendency for them to work him through his meals.  Carey is having to really watch the nursing staff on that and frequently has to go find him something to eat and feed him after they are done.  Carey's doing a wonderful job taking care of Tony.

 

      Carey went to the hospital at 7 AM to make sure Tony got breakfast.  She ate with him and said the PT folks started working him right after breakfast.  She thinks they may leave the facial wraps off today.  That will make Tony happy, as they are pretty uncomfortable.  I saw most of his face on Friday and was very happy with what I saw.  He may get away from this with very little facial scarring.  The most badly burned areas of his nose and lips appear to be healing very well.

 

      Last year, when Tony was getting ready to start crop dusting, he asked me for my recommendations on flight helmets.  I had worn several different generations of helmet during my Air Force career.  I told him that in my experience, the "Brain Bucket" was not something you wanted to skimp on.  It would be expensive, but since he would be wearing it for 8-10 hours a day, he needed to get the best they had.  Carey bought him one of the very best helmets available, and I think that helmet and visor saved Tony's eyes, ears, and most of his head and face.  The only places that got burned were those not covered by the helmet or visor.  I think Carey wade a good investment.  However, Tony does seem partial to his facial scars, and as Bill and Shelley Zarr say, "Chicks dig scars."  --Lew

 Saturday, June 13, 2009 9:24 AM, CDT

 

      I was at the hospital at 7:00 a.m. to feed Tony his breakfast, but it hadn't been delivered yet, so I went downstairs and brought some.  Tony was sleepy, and said he had rested fairly well.  The night nurse spoke to me on his way out and said that Tony needed to drink more fluids today.

 

      I fed him scrambled eggs and yogurt and milk - he ate very well.  I will go back at noon and bring some food that he will like.  Hopefully they will get back on schedule with his wound care and physical therapy and he will be finished and ready for lunch when I get there.

 

   Friday, June 12, 2009 10:43 PM, CDT

 

      Well, today was another crazy day schedule-wise.  I was there at 7:00 a.m. to feed him breakfast, but they did not bring what he had asked for (eggs)- we finally got that straightened out and he ate some eggs and yogurt for breakfast.

 

      I went to Wimberley to run some errands, and Lew and Bill came at noon to hang out with Tony - the nurses  were still behind schedule with his wound care, therapy, etc.  But eventually, Bill and Lew took Tony for a trip around the ward in his wheelchair.

 

      I returned at 3:00 and brought Tony a cheeseburger.  He ate after the physical therapist took him for a walk, and then fell asleep for awhile.  Bill and Lew took me to dinner at Olive Garden, and I brought some lasagna for Tony - he ate very well and drank some milk.  The night nurse rewrapped some of his bandages and I helped.  They asked me to leave at 10 p.m. when visiting hours were over.  I'll be back at 7:00 to feed Tony his breakfast.

 

Thursday, June 11, 2009 8:57 PM, CDT

 

      When I got back at 4:00 p.m., the nurse was still finishing up with changing his bandages.  He was very tired, but I fed him a hamburger and some juice and brushed his teeth.  He is on another type of antibiotics now because of the latest blood cultures - the nurse couldn't remember what the culture results were, but he said the antibiotic was a very effective one, and Tony should respond well - his fever has not been that high.  I stayed until 7:30 and Tony slept on and off - the physical therapist was coming in at 9:00 p.m. to get him up and walking for a little while.  He asked me to go get some rest and come help him with breakfast at 7:00 a.m.

 

      They had a rough day at the burn unit today because of some soldiers who just came in from Afganistan, so everything was behind schedule.  He should be finished with wound care, etc. by noon tomorrow.

 

Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:35 PM, CDT

 

      I was with Tony for a short while at 1:00 p.m.  They did an assessment of his wounds and made a plan for his physical therapy.  They were about to do wound care and shave him and give him a shower.  Then, physical therapy.  He asked me to come back at 4:00 p.m. and bring him a hamburger from the Burger King on the lower level.

 

      He asked not to have any visitors for a couple of days until he readjusts to the staff and the routine in the rehab unit.  He is a little overwhelmed with all the things they have to do to him every day, and it's all painful and exhausing for him.   Maybe by Saturday he will be feeling better and want to have some company.  He did say that he was able to sleep some last night, and I saw his hands and arms for the first time without the bandages.  Most of the skin grafts look very good and are starting to heal.  No word yet on when they will do another surgery to graft the spots that did not take, but they seem to be fairly small areas on his right hand and forearms.

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 10:55 PM, CDT

 

      At 9:00 p.m. when we went back, Tony had already been moved to the rehab unit - 4 East.  We found our way over there.  He is in a semi-private room with one other patient.  It is much different - fewer nurses, and less restrictive visiting hours.  Visiting hours are noon-10 p.m., but only two persons are allowed to visit at a time.  He may need a day or two more before he's ready for visitors.

 

       He was very uncomfortable - a new bed, new surroundings, and in the commotion to move him, he missed getting supper.  I fed him a protein drink and some juice and brushed his teeth.

 

       In this phase of his recovery, they will be working hard to rehabilitate his hands.  He will also need some rehabilitation for his neck, and some for his face (though it looks good - maybe not too much).  It will be painful, but he already shows signs that he will make a full recovery with the use of his hands.  No word yet on how long he will be here.  I will update the journal tomorrow evening.

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 5:48 PM, CDT

 

      Lew referred to a "small world" story in one of his journal entries from yesterday that I should tell.  It happened during my job interview - one of the interviewing committee members asked me what I was doing with my summer vacation, and when I explained about Tony's accident, another committee member gasped and exclaimed, "That was our cotton farm that the accident happened on!"  Small World.

 

      When we went at 4:30 p.m. to see Tony, he was in physical therapy again, so we will wait until 8:00 p.m.

 

 Wednesday, June 10, 2009 3:45 PM, CDT

 

      The nurses were doing physical therapy on Tony's hands and arms when I went in at noon.  It is extremely painful for him, but he still manages to make jokes.  They were going to walk him and then put him in a wheelchair for a couple of hours after they finished therapy on his hands, so he may be asleep later.

 

      He said they had given him a shower this morning, and yesterday he asked them to shave his head so it would be easier to keep him clean.  His face looks good above the bandages.  He is bandaged from his nose down to his neck, and his hands and arms are covered with bandages; also his back, thighs, and left side are bandaged.

 

      The nurse said they will probably move him to 4 East, the rehab unit, tomorrow - then probably next week he will be ready to have visitors.  I know he's getting better because he asked me to go to the AT&T store to find out when the new I Phone comes out because he wants one.

 

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 6:14 AM, CDT

 

      Good news - Tony's night nurse said he rested well.  The nurse thinks that he may be moving to the rehab unit soon.  I'll report after the noon visit.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:49 PM, CDT

 

      Lew and I went to see Tony at 4:00 p.m. and he was sitting up in a chair.  He was exhausted from a long day of walking, physical therapy, and getting his bandages changed.  He ate some supper and some watermelon while we were there, and because he has has been eating well, the nurse removed his feeding tube this evening.  He also got to have his catheter removed - almost through with tubes!  He is progressing very well, and he could be moved to the rehab unit by the end of the week.  When we returned at 8:30, he was asleep, so we decided to let him rest.  I will phone the night nurse in the morning for an update on how he does during the night.

 

 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 3:27 PM, CDT

 

      I went to see Tony for the Noon to 2:30 visiting period.  He was very tired and uncomfortable from the morning activities.  They had given him a shower, which involves getting him up, taking his bandages off, cleaning his wounds , and then rebandaging him with the solution soaked bandages.  It is pretty painful for him and he says the new solution burns when they put it on.  I was able to talk to him for about an hour, and Bill Zarr was able to visit for a little while.  All the effort and activity left him pretty sleepy so we left to let him take a nap.  Unfortunately,  Physical Therapy ("Physical Torture" as the soldier/patients call them) came by and got him up to walk the ward.  I know he will be really tired after that.

 

      The nursing staff is really after him to eat solid foods and drink their protein drinks right now.  They say if he drinks 7 of their Boost drinks today, they will remove his feeding tube and he will be one more step closer to getting out of the ICU.  He was eating lasagne for lunch when I went in.

 

      Carey had a job interview today.  She looked great in her "interview suit" and she thought that the interview went very well.  There was one thing about her interview that fits in the "small world" department, but I will let her tell that story when she writes later.

 

      The nursing staff think that they have knocked down his infection, but he does still experience some body temperature excursions due to his activities.  All-in-all, he is not as comfortable as he was due to the reduction in his sedation, but he is progressing rapidly and seems stronger every time we see him.

 

      --Lew

 

 Tuesday, June 9, 2009 6:06 AM, CDT

 

      Spoke with Tony's night nurse, Joe, and he said Tony slept well and had no fever last night.  He told me that Tony was awake and watching Fox news on television.

 

Monday, June 8, 2009 10:31 PM, CDT

 

      We went to see Tony at 8:45 p.m, and his night nurse, Joe, reports that Tony has been drinking fluids and may be able to have the nasogastric tube removed in a day or two if he continues eating and drinking.  They have applied dressings that have a silver nitrate solution to help prevent infection and minimize scarring, but they are itchy, so he is taking benadryl for the itching.  He may be moved to the rehab center by the end of the week (or before) if he continues on track.

 

 

 

Monday, June 8, 2009 7:45 PM, CDT

 

      Tony was awake when I called at 4:30 - so we stopped by for a short visit.  The nurse was feeding him chicken and rice and he had eaten a little bit.  He said that he had walked all over the ICU ward and he was very tired.  His fever is elevated again, but not as high as it has been.  The nurse reported to us that 95% of the skin grafts appear to be taking.  That is good news.  He will need more surgery for small spots that did not take, but I'm not sure when that will be.  We will check at 8:30 p.m. to see if he is awake for another short visit.

 

Monday, June 8, 2009 2:41 PM, CDT

 

      Carey and I just got back from visiting Tony at the noon to 2:30 visiting period.  They delayed us going in till almost 1:30 for medical procedures.  They have changed all of his bandages and redressed his face with dressings that should help his face heal and reduce scarring.  The nursing staff really wants us to push him into taking solid foods now.  Right now, he isn't much interested in eating, but we'll have to push him that way or it will delay his recovery.

 

      They also put some new, custom-made, hand splints on him.  That was a bit painful for him, but once they were on they were more comfortable for him.  They wanted to get him up to walk while we were there, but Tony said he was really "wupt" (whipped, in SwedeTex).  They were going to come back to walk him after three.  After the busy day he's had, Carey and I think he will be sleeping through the 4-6 PM visit.  If so, we won't wake him.  We'll give a nurses report if we can't see him.

 

      --Lew

 

 Monday, June 8, 2009 6:00 AM, CDT

 

      I spoke with Tony's night nurse, Joe at 5:45 this morning and he said Tony rested pretty well.  His right hand was hurting during the night, so they gave him pain medication and some tylenol for his fever - it was 102.6, but now it is down to 100, which is about normal for a burn patient.  His day nurse will be Lee, and Lew and I will see him at noon and update the journal.

 

 Sunday, June 7, 2009 4:42 PM, CDT

 

      Tony was so happy to see his friend and Jujitsu instructor Devon today.  We got to follow along while the physical therapist and the nurse took Tony for a walk (two turns around the ICU ward) and they were going to put him in the chair for awhile after he walked.  They had to make special splints to fit his hands, and they put those on today.  It was very painful for him, but he knows it's necessary.  He is doing everything they ask and even wanted to walk more than they asked him to.  I am very proud of him.  His fever is still here, but it is not as high as yesterday.

 

Sunday, June 7, 2009 1:48 PM, CDT

 

      I went in to see Tony at noon, Carey was in the waiting room waiting for Tony's good friend Devon to come to visit.  Tony was very coherent and his voice was much stronger than yesterday.  His (questionable) sense of humor was even more apparent than last night.  We talked for about an hour and he asked us to put him in a sitting position so he could see better.  I came out and Carey went in to visit.  Devon arrived and went to visit.  Carey and Devon may get to see him walk as the nursing staff said that Rehab might try to get him to walk again.

      --Lew

Sunday, June 7, 2009 6:02 AM, CDT

 

      I spoke with Tony's night nurse, Melissa at 5:45 a.m. this morning and she said Tony had a fairly good night.  The Motrin kept his fever down and he slept some.  They are balancing his electrolytes and they had to give him some potassium.  There were a few times when he thought he was in an aircraft, but overall he was cognizant.  Lew and I will be there at noon to see him.  His day nurse today will be Lee (he had her yesterday).

 

Saturday, June 6, 2009 10:29 PM, CDT

 

      Lew and I just returned from the last visitation of the evening.  Tony was in good spirits and flirting with the nurses.  He promised to do a clog dance for everyone soon.  They are still trying to get his fever down and did more blood cultures today.  They were going to give him some Motrin for his fever tonight.  He is scheduled to have the dressings on his skin grafts changed on Monday or Tuesday, but they said everything looked good when they changed the dressings yesterday.  If all goes well, he may be moving to the rehab unit as soon as his fever is under control and his skin grafts are healing well.  A good day.

 

Saturday, June 6, 2009 5:28 PM, CDT

 

      Yikes! I guess we forgot to mention that they had him up and walking around the ICU earlier today.  They said that they tried to quit after one lap but Tony made them do another.

      --Lew

 

 Saturday, June 6, 2009 5:07 PM, CDT

 

      I just got in to see Tony at 4 PM for about 40 minutes.  He recognized me and was completely cognizant and exhibited some of his sense of humor.  He was a little tired from walking earlier, so I only stayed for 40 minutes.  I told him Carey would kill me if I wore him out and he went to sleep when she got here.  He said he wanted a chili-dog and a beer.  He said the bagged food he gets through the tube makes him sick, and his "Pretty nurses shouldn't have to deal with that."  He talked about the accident and said he would be unable to fly for "Two or three weeks." He looked and sounded good to me.

      --Lew

 

Saturday, June 6, 2009 7:32 AM, CDT

 

      I spoke with Tony's nurse at 5:45 and she said he is much better.  She gave him some benadryl and he was still sleeping- he slept well all night.  His fever has lowered to 101.  She said he could be moved to the rehab unit as soon as he is more oriented to his surroundings, possibly by Tuesday.

 

Friday, June 5, 2009 10:21 PM, CDT

 

      At 8:15 p.m., he was looking better.  His fever was down a little, but he is not making sense.  He kept asking the nurses to "land the aircraft."  He told me to call Barak Obama and tell him "I'm not checked out to fly this aircraft!"  He said if I didn't call Obama, he was going to tell Jay Leno.  The nurses say it is very common for patients to react like this when they have a fever and are on pain medication.  We are still waiting for the results on the culture from the blood sample, but they say the antibiotics should bring his fever down by tomorrow sometime. I will get an update from the night nurse in the morning.

 

 

 

Friday, June 5, 2009 6:43 PM, CDT

 

      Today has been a hard day for Tony.  He still has a fever, and it will take another day or two for the antibiotics to work - so he has been disoriented.  He didn't recognize me when I went in to see him at noon, and they told me that he had been angry and yelling that he wanted to leave and go home.  The nurse and I decided that I would come back at 4:00 to see if he was better and they gave him some medicine to calm him down.

 

      When I went back at 4:00 p.m. he was much better.  He recognized me and when I told him I loved him, he said "I love you too."  I fed him a few sips of a strawberry drink, and he asked me if we could go home - I told him we could go home when he's better.  When the nurse asked him how he felt, he said "pretty crappy."  I will go back at 8:00 and see how his fever is doing.

 

 Friday, June 5, 2009 7:00 AM, CDT

 

      I spoke with Tony's night nurse, Keri, and she said he had been restless.  He yelled at her and told her he wanted to get out of bed now!  She said he had to stay and he asked her for a blanket.  She put a sheet on him and he started snoring after that.  His fever spiked again this morning, but they are giving him tylenol and the antibiotics should help soon.  He did not need any more blood, and everything else looks very good.  I will update the journal when I see him at noon.

 

 Thursday, June 4, 2009 10:24 PM, CDT

 

      Tony was very entertaining tonight.  He is talking a little more clearly, but he's not making much sense because of the medication they have him on.  He asked me if we were in the car, and then he apologized for stealing the car.  Later, he asked the nurse for some cake.  They are very pleased with his progress so far.  I will call the  nurse in the morning to see how his night was, and then I'll update the journal.

 

 Thursday, June 4, 2009 6:27 PM, CDT

 

      At 4:30 p.m. when I went to see Tony, they told me he had been asking for me.  His voice is a very hoarse whisper, but he asked me for a cracker.  I had to tell him that he couldn't have any food yet, but the nurse let me feed him some ice chips.  He might be able to have some soft food or fruit tomorrow, and as soon as he is eating enough, they will take away the feeding tube.  Some of what he said didn't make sense, but that is normal with the medication he is on.  The nurse said the antibiotics should bring his fever down within 48-72 hours.

 

 Thursday, June 4, 2009 3:35 PM, CDT

 

      Good news!  They removed the breathing tube this morning and Tony is breathing on his own just fine.  They started a broad spectrum antibiotic because they have not yet identified the bacteria in his blood, but his fever has persisted.  When I saw him at 12:30, he was asleep and had not had any pain medication since 10:00 a.m.  He was resting peacefully.  They said they were putting him on the tilt table at 1:00 p.m., and if he tolerated that, they would put him in a mesh chair for a few hours to help the donor sites on his back get air and help prevent pressure sores.  I am hopeful that he will be awake later this evening and I will be able to hear him speak a word or two.

 

 

 

Thursday, June 4, 2009 7:59 AM, CDT

 

      I spoke with Tony's nurse this morning at 7:45 and they gave him another unit of blood last night.  He is still running a a fever, so they are keeping an eye on that and waiting for the results of the blood culture they did yesterday.  As of now, they are planning to take the breathing tube out this afternoon sometime.  His lungs are clear and his blood pressure is good, but his heart rate is up a little bit.  They will be changing the dressings on his grafts tomorrow and we will know more then about when he might be moved from ICU to the rehab center.  Visiting hours are not until noon, but I will update after I see him then.

 

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 6:59 PM, CDT

 

      Carey and I went in to see Tony about five this evening. They are hoping to extubate tomorrow. They are changing his sedatives up to one that allows rapid recovery so that they can get him conscious more rapidly than some of the heavier drugs.  This allows them to withdraw the meds and get him conscious fairly quickly when they decide to extubate.  He is fairly heavily sedated right now, but he still seems to raise his pulse rate and blood pressure when he hears Carey's voice.  One area they are monitoring closely is a slight rise in temperature.  It is not an item of concern yet, but it is tracked carefully to guard against infections.  They are getting a blood culture to identify any infections early and to allow very specific antibiotic regimens.  We were able to see the grafts  on the left thigh and they look very healthy.  We will update after the 10 PM visit.

      --Lew

 

 

Wednesday, June 3, 2009 1:40 PM, CDT

 

      I saw Tony at noon-thirty.  He was resting comfortably as they hung a bag of lunch.  Last night his blood pressure and heart rate were a little elevated and he got a little agitated so they have increased his pain killers a little to keep him calm and comfortable.  His blood pressure and heart rate are back down and he seems to be comfortable now.  They have him sitting up in a mesh chair to allow the donor sites on his back to get more oxygen and heal better. The right leg donor site is still oozing a bit but he is looking better to me.  Still no word on the extubation.

      --Lew

 

 Wednesday, June 3, 2009 6:14 AM, CDT

 

       Lew and I saw Tony at 9 pm last night for a few minutes and he was doing fairly well.  The sites where they took donor skin were not pretty, but that is normal.

 

      I just spoke with the nurse at 6:00 a.m. and they had to give him one unit of blood, but she said that is very common because of the bleeding from the sites where skin is taken.  He might need one more unit of blood throughout today.  Also, because of the swelling in his neck, they still have the breathing tube in, but it may come out soon.  The nurse said that he actually got some sleep last night and she's very pleased with his progress.

 

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 6:30 PM, CDT

 

      I went in to see Tony at 4:00 p.m. and there is a possibility that they can remove the breathing tube today or tomorrow.  The surgery went well and they grafted skin from his back and right leg onto his hands, arms, chest and left thigh.  They did not put any grafts on his face, but they may have to do so at a later date, as he has a 3rd degree burn on the tip of his nose and some on his cheeks.

 

      He did not need any blood transfusions and his vitals are stable.  It will be critical for the next three days that he remains quiet and still so the grafts will have a better chance of taking.  We are very pleased with his progress so far, and grateful for the staff here at BAMC.  They will start rehabilitation on his hands tomorrow to give him a better chance to regain function.  We are told that this will be very painful, but necessary.

 

      He is still a long way from being able to have visitors, but he's coming along.  More tomorrow

 

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 6:16 PM, CDT

      Sorry for the delay in getting the reports out today.  The web site update screens will not let us access them from our phones, and we didn't have a laptop card with us. That's fixed now.

 

      Tony came out of surgery about 1023 this morning, and the surgical staff seemed happy with the way Tony came through it.  It took them about 2 hours to get him settled in after the surgery.  He is still in the ICU and will not be able to have visitors for a while longer.  Carey was in to see him while I went for the laptop card...so, I'll let her take over from here.      --Lew Hatch