Update

There was what seemed to be progress with Christie today. I wasnt there so I will paraphrase what I was told. The pupil that was blown has seemed to improve. The other pupil is reacting to light. She began coughing on the tube. They also stimulated her eye mucosa and she grimaced with her mouth. The did deep neuro tests on her extremities and 3 of the 4 had response. They began moving her side to side to relieve pressure off her bum. Her ICP's fluctuated throughout the day.
Richard had his trach put in this AM. He doesnt like it. He had much more movement today. He held moms hand most of the day. He even pulled his hand up over his chest. At one point mom tried to let go of his hand and he wouldnt let it go. He needs surgery on his clavicle which they will do on Friday. He opened his eyes also about half way, although he isnt focusing on anything. He fought the trach all day and appeared to be trying to move his hips and legs around. Then mom siad he cried. His pelvis is fractured so maybe it hurts. So I guess he feels pain.
Ive have quit my job so Ill be able to spend more time with him. Ill update you tomorrow.

Good News

Most of the day, Phil and I were taking care of some work related issues for Richard. Its the first time weve been away for most of the day. So what does Richard do? He opens his eyes and holds Moms hand. We rushed to the hospital to find the following. They removed his BOLT (yeah!), took out his left chest tube, and they had him in an upright sitting position (he has been lying flat). It was nice to see him upright. He is in no way awake at this point. They weaned him off of every drug this AM to see what would happen. Mom was provoking him and he opened his eyes wide only to find out later he was just relieving himself (HEHEHE!). But then he would respond to Mom calling his name and he squeezed her hand. Phil and I arrived and began to provoke him also. I called him names and pinched him. He squeezed my hand atleast 20 times. Its a faint squeeze but we'll take it. He then moved his left arm and leg which has been a big question for us as far as being paralyzed. Its the first purposeful movement of that side since the accident. He seemed to get tired out of us screwing with him so we let him sleep. We returned about an hour later to find him in durress. His monitors were alarming and he was moving around in the bed. He is fighting the vent. He start having spontaneous respirations (YEAH) and now does not like the vent. Therefore they gave him a tiny bit of meds to sleep the night and in the morning they will put in the trach. FYI: the tube down his throat stimulates the gag reflex but since he has been in a coma, it was okay. Now that he is waking up, it gags him. The trach doesnt stimulate the gag reflex so it wont bother him. :) Looking forward to tomorrow!!

Update

It has been a week and two days from the accident. Christie has not made any forward progress. Thet weaned her off of most of her paralytic drugs to do a true neuro test. Dr. Lin wants to better 100% sure of her brain activity or lack there of before he will allow the decision to cease any further treatment if thats what Becky chooses. Unfortunately, when they attempt to wean her, she becomes medically unstable and they start her meds back. Its a fine line to walk. We are praying for an answer.
Richard had some set backs today. They didnt take out the ICP or do the trach or scan his head. Instead they spent the day trying to figure out what some bizarre fluid was that was draining from his side chestwall. It seemed to be "burning" his skin so he has large blisters. They put a colostomy bag over the "hole" that the fluid is draining from to stop futher skin damage. They did an ultrasound of his whole abdomen and it was inconclusive so they took him for a hydascan twice. We left at 9pm and the result wasnt back. We'll find out in the AM.

update

Tomorrow will be a big day for us all. Christie will be having a test of her brain to see where she stands mentally. Richard will also have a CT scan, his bolt will come out and they will put in a trach. Anything could happen at this point. We are praying for the best. Thanks to everyone who has prayed for us!!!!

Update

We just returned from our nightly rounds at the hospital. There pretty sure Richard has a bowel obstruction now. They are working on getting that taken care of with meds. He also probably has pnuemonia. That was expected though.
Christie's ICP was better today. Thats a plus. And they weened some off her meds down this evening. We'll see what happens tonight.

Update on Injuries

Christy had a tough night. Becky spent the night with her just in case. This morning she seems to be holding here own. Richard has had a fever on and off for two days. The source hasnt been identified yet. They plan on removing his BOLT on Monday and aslo putting in trach. Those things should make him more comfortable. He will also get a CT scan of his brain to see if its safe to slowly wake him from his coma. Hopefully all will go well.

Update on Injuries

It has been almost a week since the accident. Lots of little things have happened though I'll leave it to the big things. Christie remains in a deep coma that is drug induced. Her BOLT monitor has continued to show high cranial pressure. They would realistically want it below 8. Hers flucuates from 15-35. The doctors have told us they have exhausted their efforts to keep her ICP (cranial pressure) down. She has maxed out her doses of numerous meds. They have finally induced a Phentabarb coma. The doctor compared it to "tieing a knot in the end of her rope" All the meds they haven given her have long term systemic effects so if it does help her brain, it will eventually harm her organs.

Accident and Injuries

As most of you know by now, Richard Martel and his 15 year old daughter Chrisitne we critically injured in a car accident on 4/19/08 at @ 230pm. They were returning from a trip to Fort Lauderdale where they were rescuing a ferret. Richard ran a red light (speculation) and was hit at a high rate of speed on his drivers side door. They were both airlifted to Lee Memorial Hospital where they both remain in the ICU. The injuries are extensive. Christie suffered a severe closed head injury which herniated her brain stem. They performed emergency surgery that same night and removed her temporal lobe. It was a life saving effort at the time. It might not however be a long term fix. She also collapsed her left lung which required a chest tube. She is in a coma and remains very critical. She ,however, does not have a scratch on her and no broken bones.
Richard's injuries are more extensive but his recovery rate is better at this point. He also has a closed head injury but his BOLT (monitor in his brain) readings has been okay. He broke his upper and lower jaw which will eventually require surgery. Its certainly not a priority right now. He broke C1 and C2 which are two neck vertabrae. There is no concrete evidence to show he is paralyzed though. He broke his left clavicle, most of his ribs, and he also collapsed his left and right lungs. He has 2 chest tubes. He required emergency surgery on his abdomen which shows a lacerated liver and a ruptured bladder. Both were corrected. Lastly he broke his pelvis in four places. He also remains in critical condition in the ICU.