How is it already Friday?

I don't know how this week got away from me, but I just realized that it's Friday.  I was going to post an update last night, but figured I would have a little more information after Ryan's follow up appointments today.  

When I came in to see Ryan on Wednesday, it was just as I suspected.  Ryan had asked to be disconnected from his IV meds so that he could go home.  And they let him.  It was just a matter of paperwork to have everything ready for discharge.  So we ordered some lunch and chatted with each other and Ryan's many visitors.  At 4:00 p.m., I left Ryan to pick up the babies from daycare and Jaida from Drama Club, and got them home and fed.  I went back to the hospital at 6:00 and Ryan was ready to go.  All he had to do was get dressed and sign a couple of forms and a patient satisfaction survey.  We were out the door by 6:30.  

I've been amazed at how well he can see, given that he has bolsters on both his upper eyelids.  The first day there was quite a bit of swelling, but it's gone down enough that he has about a quarter of an inch of clearance when he opens his eyes.  It's been just enough to see where he's walking, what he's eating, and what's on t.v.  That's all he needs for now, I guess.  He's not in a lot of pain, and it's managed well with medication.  

Today, we went in for follow up appointments with Oral Maxillo Facial Surgery and the Burn Clinic.  OMFS took down the bolsters on his ears and declared that it was good.  His grafts appear to be taking well, and they are happy with their work.  It was the first time I got to see what they had done and it took me by surprise.  But then again, I didn't know what it was supposed to look like.  So I have to trust their judgment.  

Next, we stopped in the Burn Clinic and they decided to keep Ryan's eye bolsters on until Monday and his lip bolster on until next Friday.  Nothing is wrong, they just want to give them extra time to take.  We were given clear instructions for wound care for each of Ryan's wounds; what stays wet, what stays dry, what needs to be changed, and what needs to be left alone.  We follow up again on Monday with both clinics.

So, it will be a quiet weekend at our house.  Ryan isn't up for doing much and that's fine by me.  I took the girls to the library tonight and we picked out some good books for the weekend.  Please keep Ryan in your prayers as he recovers from surgery yet again.  It won't be the last, but we're getting closer.

Back in the operating room

After a lovely three months without a trip to the OR, Ryan had surgery yesterday.  And maybe to make up for all the time that they missed him, his surgeons kept him in there for nearly 8 hours.  Not that anything was wrong, they just wanted to be meticulous and productive. 

We arrived at 5:45 am to get checked in and prepped for surgery.  Two different services were working on him together yesterday, so we met with two surgeons, an anesthesiologist, and an OR nurse before they rolled him back at 8:00.  I made sure everyone had my cell phone number, then I went downstairs to the cafeteria for breakfast.  I kept myself busy with a couple of appointments at the hospital and met Teal for lunch in the surgery waiting room.  She brought me Pad Thai from our favorite place, and helped me pass a couple of hours waiting.  At about 2:30, she convinced me to have the volunteer call back to the OR to find out how things were going.  That was good because an anesthesiology resident came out and gave me a good update.  She let me know that Ryan was tolerating the procedure very well and his surgeons were working well together.  She warned me that she expected it to be another hour and a half.  So, I took a little walk and called Ryan's sister to chat.  When I was down the hall on the phone, the volunteer started calling my name because Ryan's plastic surgeon was done and ready to update me.  It was 3:45.  

He told me that everything went really well.  He was able to graft both of Ryan's upper eyelids with skin from Ryan's right side.  He took a composite graft of skin and cartilage from Ryan's ear and revised the center of Ryan's upper lip.  And he released the scars on either side of Ryan's nose, so as to reduce the pulling on the insides of his eyes and across his nostrils.  The doctor was very happy with how it went and believes Ryan will have good results.  He also told me that the oral surgeon successfully removed the cartilage that was left in Ryan's ears and "banked" it under his skin in the incision in his side from where they took the graft for the eyelids.  It will be there for safe keeping if Ryan ever needs some cartilage for future procedures.  They placed the titanium implants in Ryan's skull, two on each side, in preparation for his prosthetic ears.  And they took a skin graft from Ryan's right thigh to close the area on the sides of his head.  They got a lot done yesterday, and even though it took 8 hours, it was only one surgery, instead of two or three.  And that's what Ryan wanted.

Ryan was out of recovery by 5:00, and I walked with him as they rolled him up to the burn ward.  He was obviously heavily medicated, but talking to me coherently.  And not in any pain.  We got him settled in his room and ordered him a tray of clear liquids.  He was starving.  I had to get home to get the kids settled for dinner and the rest of the night, but I took his order for Dairy Queen and promised to be back as soon as I could.  I was back by 7:30 and he started right in with his Blizzard.  He didn't get very far before he got nauseous.  They brought him a little medication to stop the nausea and a little while later he tried to eat again.  But that wasn't a good idea yet either.  They brought him some stronger anti-nausea medication, and Ryan decided to sleep, instead of eat.  That was my cue to head home for the night.  

So, now I'm headed back in to check on my guy and make sure he gets something good to eat today.  We don't know when he'll be coming home from the hospital, but if it's up to Ryan, it will be soon.

Vail Veterans Program

I cannot express in words how happy I am that we had the opportunity to participate in this program. In December, my friend Tracy called to invite us, and truthfully I almost said no right away. But I thought I should ask Ryan before I close the door on an opportunity. I was actually surprised when Ryan said yes so quickly and so adamantly. And I didn't even have to wait 24 hours before my sister volunteered to take time off of work to watch the kids. Now I know why it all came together so quickly and so easily. Ryan was meant to snowboard again!

The Vail Veterans Program is an adaptive skiing and snowboarding trip conceived of by Cheryl Jensen. When Cheryl first planned it she only intended to do it one time, but now six years later it has grown to four programs a year, two in the winter and two in the summer. And the overwhelming response from the veterans who attend is that it is a true taste of freedom after so many months of limitation. It was no different for Ryan. I don't know if it was adrenaline, or just the fresh mountain air, but Ryan did more physical activity in those three days of snowboarding than I've seen him do in the 20 months since his injury. It was amazing!

Everything was perfect, from our flight to Colorado, to our accommodations, to the professional instruction, to every delicious meal. Love and thoughtfulness were evident in every decision that was made. And since Ryan was the only snowboarder, and I think because Cheryl liked him so much, Cheryl gave him a brand new snowboard and bindings from one of the sponsors, K2. Her generosity brought me to tears. The whole time we were there we kept talking about how much fun we were having and how much we wanted to bring the kids back someday. And when Cheryl gave Ryan that snowboard, it was as if she had given him a ticket back to a part of our lives that we thought was forever gone.

We are so thankful for Cheryl, Lindsay, Matt (0ur instructor), all the sponsors and participants of the Vail Veterans Program, and even the Mayor and city of Vail, that welcomed us with open arms. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

There's nothing that Ryan can't do.

Vail Veterans Program participants February 2009

Dinner with friends

Look at that view! Does it get better than this?

P.S. Ryan's next surgery is planned for February 24th. Details and updates to come.