Rhonda Writes -
Tough morning!!! Eric pulled his tube out this morning around 5:30 a.m. and swallowed secretions and has taken about 20 steps backwards. The Pneumonia has climbed to a different level now and his blood pressure dropped dangerously low. They've doubled his antibiotics and are now giving him medications to "raise" his pressure instead of lower. He's even weaker than yesterday after the trauma this morning. The breathing tube will stay in until at least Monday. Even then they think the trach will be needed. He's lost 10 more pounds. He's still responding to everyone with thumbs up and squeezes. Our good friends Susan and Kim are Occupational Therapists and have offered to start coming to the ICU to work with him but the doctors say he's just too critical for that. They don't even want me lifting his arms or legs anymore like I had been doing. We're still praying for improvement. I have hope because of Eric's will and God's will. We've heard from so many people. Eric's on prayer chains from Canada to Florida and California to New England. The strength we feel from others is amazing. We're so fortunate to have the network of friends that we do and family too which goes without saying. Eric's Mom is holding up best that she can. She's focusing a lot of attention on Garrett and Erica. I think its giving her strength. The kids are doing okay. Garrett's having a more difficult time because of his age and the fact that he's so close to his Daddy. Me? I'm a total basket case living day to day and driving these doctors and nurses absolutely crazy. Pray for all of us... our health and our mental status so that we may stay strong for Eric.
Friday, February 29, 2008
February 28, 2008
Rhonda writes -
They're allowing more fluids to release from his brain to keep the swelling down and took him off some of the meds. He is still bleeding some but they've got it under control. He's not on any pain or sedation drugs. He's wiggling toes and giving us the thumbs up and squeezing my hand really tight. HUGE improvement over last night. I'm so happy. Day by day......
They're allowing more fluids to release from his brain to keep the swelling down and took him off some of the meds. He is still bleeding some but they've got it under control. He's not on any pain or sedation drugs. He's wiggling toes and giving us the thumbs up and squeezing my hand really tight. HUGE improvement over last night. I'm so happy. Day by day......
Trey's Prayer
Amy Smith Writes - (Amy is a good friend of the Lacey's)
Last night, Trey came downstairs after bed and asked me where the duct tape was. I asked him why and he said that he said he was praying and asked God that if he could keep his hands folded in prayer all night, that God might see to it that Eric would get better faster. I could not say no. He was very sure of what he was doing so I gave in and taped his hands for him. After he went to sleep, I checked on him and decided to take a picture for you just to remind you that the prayers are always coming no matter what size the person is. We love you and you are constantly in our prayers and in our hearts.
Last night, Trey came downstairs after bed and asked me where the duct tape was. I asked him why and he said that he said he was praying and asked God that if he could keep his hands folded in prayer all night, that God might see to it that Eric would get better faster. I could not say no. He was very sure of what he was doing so I gave in and taped his hands for him. After he went to sleep, I checked on him and decided to take a picture for you just to remind you that the prayers are always coming no matter what size the person is. We love you and you are constantly in our prayers and in our hearts.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
February 27, 2008
Rhonda Writes from her Blackberry-
He's back on the breathing tube. He has some more fluids and blood building up in his brain but they are constantly draining it through the shunt. He's developed pneumonia and therefore is in isolation which just means you have to gown up and wear gloves when you're with him. They're putting in a central line (in his neck) because his veins are fatigued and not accepting a pic line (which is similar to an arterial line that brings fluids and medication into his bloodstream). He's very quiet today. Its just been a stressful day to say the least. His blood pressure is stable now, which is good and he doesn't seem to be in any pain. He's so helpless though. My heart is breaking.
His cousins Jarrod and Morgan both flew in. No one but me and Carol are allowed back with him, though.
Keep the prayers coming. The doctors say that he has a long road to recovery with LOTS of physical and speech therapy ahead of him. His brain seems to be functioning well but he has lots of mechanical issues (moving his arms and legs and speech, etc.) He has no gag reflex and failed a swallowing test yesterday -which means he'll be on a feeding tube for a while. They also told us yesterday that what happened Sunday was a type of stroke. He's strong and will pull through this. He's made it this far against all odds. My love for him has grown so much too. God has brought us back together. I know he won't take him away.
I love you guys.
He's back on the breathing tube. He has some more fluids and blood building up in his brain but they are constantly draining it through the shunt. He's developed pneumonia and therefore is in isolation which just means you have to gown up and wear gloves when you're with him. They're putting in a central line (in his neck) because his veins are fatigued and not accepting a pic line (which is similar to an arterial line that brings fluids and medication into his bloodstream). He's very quiet today. Its just been a stressful day to say the least. His blood pressure is stable now, which is good and he doesn't seem to be in any pain. He's so helpless though. My heart is breaking.
His cousins Jarrod and Morgan both flew in. No one but me and Carol are allowed back with him, though.
Keep the prayers coming. The doctors say that he has a long road to recovery with LOTS of physical and speech therapy ahead of him. His brain seems to be functioning well but he has lots of mechanical issues (moving his arms and legs and speech, etc.) He has no gag reflex and failed a swallowing test yesterday -which means he'll be on a feeding tube for a while. They also told us yesterday that what happened Sunday was a type of stroke. He's strong and will pull through this. He's made it this far against all odds. My love for him has grown so much too. God has brought us back together. I know he won't take him away.
I love you guys.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
February 26 2008 - Afternoon
Tom Writes -
Eric has had a rough afternoon. He is struggling a little today, and is frustrated and distressed over what has happened. He doesn't have memory of the past several days, and does not remember either of the surgeries that he has been through. His doctors have indicated that he is neurologically in good shape, but that physiologically he has a lot of recovery in front of him. This might mean weeks / months of physical therapy - it is really too early to tell.
Right now Eric is still in the NeuroSurgery ICU, and only Rhonda and his mom are allowed back to see him. Tom and Autumn, his step-dad and sister are back down from Indiana, and other family member are due in today. Garrett and Erica and doing well, but do not yet know a lot about what is going on.
Eric's recovery time looks like it will be a lot longer than we had hoped. I do not doubt, however that he will recover. He woke up fighting, and I believe he will continue to do so. Please keep visiting this site to get updates on how he is doing, how the Lacey family is doing, and when we can expect to see Eric at home again.
Eric has had a rough afternoon. He is struggling a little today, and is frustrated and distressed over what has happened. He doesn't have memory of the past several days, and does not remember either of the surgeries that he has been through. His doctors have indicated that he is neurologically in good shape, but that physiologically he has a lot of recovery in front of him. This might mean weeks / months of physical therapy - it is really too early to tell.
Right now Eric is still in the NeuroSurgery ICU, and only Rhonda and his mom are allowed back to see him. Tom and Autumn, his step-dad and sister are back down from Indiana, and other family member are due in today. Garrett and Erica and doing well, but do not yet know a lot about what is going on.
Eric's recovery time looks like it will be a lot longer than we had hoped. I do not doubt, however that he will recover. He woke up fighting, and I believe he will continue to do so. Please keep visiting this site to get updates on how he is doing, how the Lacey family is doing, and when we can expect to see Eric at home again.
February 26 2008
Posting taken from emails sent by Rhonda Lacey and Karen Lindia, Rhonda's cousin, on February 25, 2008
Email from Rhonda
Some of you are not aware of the complications that occurred yesterday with Eric. Some of you may not even be aware that Eric had a tumor removed Thursday that was diagnosed as cancerous. The tumor was not an Ependymoma like they thought, but was a vascular tumor in his brain stem. It was a very difficult surgery but Eric pulled through it and went home a day earlier than expected (Saturday). Sunday he began having a lot of pain and numbness in his right arm, jaw and temple. It was so severe that we called an ambulance to transport him back to Duke. They realized that the area where the tumor was removed was bleeding internally and the prognosis was not good. We spent the evening not knowing if he would make it. He was not responsive and on a ventilator. Early this morning, things began turning around. It's truly a miracle that Eric's alive. He's so strong and fighting so hard. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. I know he'll be coming home soon. (Read below)
Karen continues below.....
A quick update for all of you. First, thank you so very much for your prayers!!! God is showing his power and love! I now have a little better understanding of what happened last night that I can share. A blood clot separated from the surgery site in the brain stem area, allowing blood to flow from that area and into the brain. He lost consciousness almost immediately after they recognized that something was wrong and EMS took him to Duke’s ED. They drained the blood and put in a shunt. He was admitted to the IDU. The initial report was that he either would make it, or he wouldn’t, and that we’d have to wait until this morning to see if he could come off the ventilator.
During the night he made amazing progress in terms of consciousness/awareness and motor ability. This afternoon, they extubated him (took out the tube connecting him to the ventilator) and he is breathing on his own. He had his usual fun spirit even with the tube in – flirtatiously giving Rhonda that double eye-brow raise when she kissed him. Rhonda and Eric’s mom, Carol, finally went home at 2 p.m. today for showers and to talk with the kids, who are missing their parents and no doubt have question . When Rhonda told him she’d be back at 5 p.m., he responded that he’d be there “with bells on”!
Once again with Eric, the doctors are amazed, and we are giving God all the credit!! We still need lots of prayer. His speech is slurred more than after the initial surgery. The area affected controls the senses. The doctors said Sunday night that if he came though it there would not be a quick recovery. There has been no discussion yet of next steps or what may lie ahead. But we are exceedingly encouraged by his determination and good spirits, as well as by the surprise on the part of the docs!!
Please pray for continued and steady progress, for sufficient attentiveness on the part of his caregivers (they’ve been great!), for God-inspired decision-making, and for God to be glorified in all this. Please also pray for strength and peace for Rhonda, Carol, the kids (Garrett and Erica) and Eric’s dad and sister (Tom and Autumn, who just drove back here from Indiana last night after being here for the surgery last Thursday).
Email from Rhonda
Some of you are not aware of the complications that occurred yesterday with Eric. Some of you may not even be aware that Eric had a tumor removed Thursday that was diagnosed as cancerous. The tumor was not an Ependymoma like they thought, but was a vascular tumor in his brain stem. It was a very difficult surgery but Eric pulled through it and went home a day earlier than expected (Saturday). Sunday he began having a lot of pain and numbness in his right arm, jaw and temple. It was so severe that we called an ambulance to transport him back to Duke. They realized that the area where the tumor was removed was bleeding internally and the prognosis was not good. We spent the evening not knowing if he would make it. He was not responsive and on a ventilator. Early this morning, things began turning around. It's truly a miracle that Eric's alive. He's so strong and fighting so hard. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. I know he'll be coming home soon. (Read below)
Karen continues below.....
A quick update for all of you. First, thank you so very much for your prayers!!! God is showing his power and love! I now have a little better understanding of what happened last night that I can share. A blood clot separated from the surgery site in the brain stem area, allowing blood to flow from that area and into the brain. He lost consciousness almost immediately after they recognized that something was wrong and EMS took him to Duke’s ED. They drained the blood and put in a shunt. He was admitted to the IDU. The initial report was that he either would make it, or he wouldn’t, and that we’d have to wait until this morning to see if he could come off the ventilator.
During the night he made amazing progress in terms of consciousness/awareness and motor ability. This afternoon, they extubated him (took out the tube connecting him to the ventilator) and he is breathing on his own. He had his usual fun spirit even with the tube in – flirtatiously giving Rhonda that double eye-brow raise when she kissed him. Rhonda and Eric’s mom, Carol, finally went home at 2 p.m. today for showers and to talk with the kids, who are missing their parents and no doubt have question . When Rhonda told him she’d be back at 5 p.m., he responded that he’d be there “with bells on”!
Once again with Eric, the doctors are amazed, and we are giving God all the credit!! We still need lots of prayer. His speech is slurred more than after the initial surgery. The area affected controls the senses. The doctors said Sunday night that if he came though it there would not be a quick recovery. There has been no discussion yet of next steps or what may lie ahead. But we are exceedingly encouraged by his determination and good spirits, as well as by the surprise on the part of the docs!!
Please pray for continued and steady progress, for sufficient attentiveness on the part of his caregivers (they’ve been great!), for God-inspired decision-making, and for God to be glorified in all this. Please also pray for strength and peace for Rhonda, Carol, the kids (Garrett and Erica) and Eric’s dad and sister (Tom and Autumn, who just drove back here from Indiana last night after being here for the surgery last Thursday).
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