EXCITING NEWS!

We woke up yesterday expecting it to be normal day; eat breakfast, dress, brush our teeth, etc. and then head to Portland for Sam's CT scan and neurology follow-up.  In anticipation of slow traffic on I-5 we left by 8:45 for a 10:15 appointment.  Both Sam and Cameron whined a bit about losing half an hour of sleep, but had we left later I know there would have been a traffic jam and we would have been late.  Yes, we got there early and had his CT early.  Well, now we were early for our 11:00 neurologist appointment which then ran an hour late.  Grammy, Dart, Sam, Cameron, and myself occupied the time chatting and watching a ship being built out the window. 

 

When Sam's name was called we all got up and traipsed our way in to his exam room, stopping first for blood pressure check and weight which were both good.  The exam room had three chairs and a table.  Sam of course got the table and three of us pushed two chairs together to make a bench, sort of.  Imagine Cameron and I sitting at the ends with half a butt cheek hanging over and Grammy in the middle.  We needed a camera.  Dart, of course, great aunt that she is got the third chair.  We all took turns walking around the 8x8 foot room until a resident came in to review the CT results with us.

 

Well, it was great.  You could see where the brain had shrunk and was a good size.  He does have some fluid in the empty space, that is to be expected since there is no scull to hold it in, which will be drained during his surgery.  There is also a bit of pressure still on the ventricle in the middle of his brain but that is most likely due to the accumulation of brain fluid.  The hematoma in the temporal lobe has decreased in size so much that it is hard to believe how big it was and how much damage it did at the time.

 

The doctor also did some testing to check for balance, speech, etc. to see how Sam did with in these areas.  He was very positive about the results and felt the bone flap could be put back in.  This of course is not his call, but it is the neurosurgeons.

 

About 10 minutes later Dr. Seldene (sp?) the neurosurgeon, the resident, and their NP came in to talk.  The doctor reviewed the results with all of us.  He also did a few quick tests of Sam's reflexes, speech, etc.  He then said that Sam was definitely ready for the replacement of the bone flap and told us it was scheduled for either the 20th or 23rd, not sure of the date because that really isn't his area of expertise.  He does the surgery but doesn't set the date.  After checking with Angela the surgical appointment assistant we found out that indeed....

 

SAM'S SURGERY IS ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2008.

 

Then came the questions, how long would it take, would he have to wear his helmet, how long would he be in the hospital, could he do sports afterwards, how about a trip to Disneyland, how long would his recovery be, would there be any ill effects from the surgery.  Thank goodness I had Mom and Dart there to help, I was not prepared to discuss surgery in just 12 days.  I was planning (there I go again) that it would be in November. 

 

So what went from a easy going follow-up appointment to becoming the preop appointment and the beginning of the next phase in Sam's recovery.   Sam had his preop lab work done after the appointment, so we pretty much just have to wait for the day and drive to Portland for Sam's surgery.

 

Oh in answer to some of the above questions: 

    The surgery will take between three to four hours.

    He WILL NOT have to wear his helmet afterwards.

    He will be ICU for 24 hours and then on the Dornbecher ward for two to three days depending on how he does.

    He CANNOT DO ANY SPORTS THAT DELIBERATELY INVOLVE HIS HEAD.  In easy terms, he will not be able to play football, ever, maybe flag at family events but nothing in school.

    He can ride amusement park rides like at Disneyland after three months or so.

    The doctors anticipate his recovery to go well.  He may slip back into some of the symptoms he had after the injury itself but they don't expect these to last long.  There are a number of things that could go wrong, but with most of them the percentage is so low, 1-2% in Sam's case, that I'm not worried about them, and my faith and prayers are ongoing that everything will go well. 

  

Our family thanks you for all your love, support, and prayers.  These have been difficult and scary times.  Your prayers have kept us all going and reminded us the power God has when we all work together.  

 

God bless you.

 

Stephanie/Mom

 

P.S.  Mom and Dart, thank you for being there with us.  I will always need your love and support.  Stef