Thursday, October 6, 2011
My Sweet, Sweet Brother
I set up this blog one night in the hospital after Ben had his accident. My hope was to document our journey through this nightmare. Well, as good intentions go, I didn't follow through with posting anything. I don't know if I can make up for lost time, but I think I will try to go into Skipper's Facebook profile and paste her updates on here. She has done a good job of updating everyone.
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August 25, 2011
ReplyDeleteJUST LETTING YOU ALL KNOW. BEN IS IN HOSPITAL. POSSIBLE HEART ATTACK. DON'T KNOW WHEN I WILL BE BACK ON. PRAYERS APPRECIATED
FB Post by Skip
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ReplyDeleteBen Update Sunday 28
ReplyDeleteby Lois Miller on Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 3:20pm
They want him kept very quiet today. When we are in the room he gets over stiumlated and starts moving around and causing his "numbers" to get too high. Very frustrating. Maybe I can clean house until I go back tonight. :D I truly appreciate all the the prayers and warm thoughts from all of you. It has meant a lot to me and to the family too. He is making progress. They want him to be able to do certain things on command before they start taking away meds and tubes. I am so proud of him and his progress. Yahoo!
Yes Jamie always have hugs for you, silly fella :D Hope you can make it down to see us soon.
Again thank you ALL! Ben's boss and co worker visited yesterday and today. That means so m uch to know they are there for support. The kids are there 24/7 for Ben and for me. It is great.
Ben Update August 29 2011
ReplyDeleteby Lois Miller on Monday, August 29, 2011 at 11:31pm
They did another CT scan of Ben's brain today. No changes which I was told is good. Wanted to straigten things out. He did NOT have a heart attack as I first thought. When he fell from the work van on to the ground and hit his head so badly, it caused a cardiac arrest. that is pretty common I guess,per doctors. He is finally resting tonight. They really had their work cut outo for them yesterday and last night. HE was quite restless and not an easy patient by any means. Today they found the magic bullet drug that is keeping his blood pressure down.. YAY! I have total faith that he will pull out of this and do just great. Prayers and good thoughts are always appreciated. I can't tell you how much it has meant to thet family to have such awesome support. One of the kids I "adopted" came over to day and mowed the lawn. I really appreciated that. I pick good kids. :D Sara is doing a great job handling the insurance and paperwork for me. I am very thankful as right now I can listen to someone andn completely understand the important thing I need to know. HOwever, 15 minutes later I have forgotten half of it. This tells me how stressed I am without realizing. G'nite all need rest to watch Master Colton tomorrow morning. Love you all and thank you so very much.
Daily Changes with Ben and Lilfe in General.
ReplyDeleteby Lois Miller on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 2:01pm
Have some errands to run then will go to MCR. I am so thankful he went there. I would have asked them to take him there anyway. Lots of phone calls and prayers for Ben. He is well liked and trusted by everyone so they are all hopeing for good news as we are. Keep the prayers going up so the blessings will come down. We are to meet with one of the insurance people today. I pray all goes well and the insurance folks don't do the catch me if you can dance. So far they have been great. Love you all and will keep you updated as we go. Post later this evening when I get home.
8-31-2011 Ben and blessings.
ReplyDeleteby Lois Miller on Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at 11:43pm
Went to see Ben. I talk with him when I see him and hold his hand. We all keep hoping he will squeeze back with HIS hand. He let them know without a doubt that he dislikes being made to move his feet, hands, head, open his eyes. But they keep on with him. He has such awesome care at MCR. All of the nurses I have met have made a good impression on me. I am sure before this is over we will ALL be on a first name basis. My brother cannot come her for another two weeks due to dr. changing HIS medication. Brother in law had knee surgery. This getting older is really beginning to tick me off! :D Seriously, Ben and I are so blessed. We have so many things to be thankful for I cannot begin to count them. Right now I am going to go to bed and start a new day tomorrow. As a co worker used to say, "One foot in front of the uthah!" Take care, God bless, sleep sweet.
Ben September 01, 2011
ReplyDeleteby Lois Miller on Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 9:01pm
Just got home a few ago. Yes, Ben has a skull fracture. Greenstick type. His frontal lobe and temporal lobe is where the bruising/bleeding are. Still on ventilator. Nurse said they want to intubate him through his trachea instead of his mouth. Food-stomach. Don't know exactly what happened. All we know right now is someone found him lying on his back, bleeding from mouth and nose. Turned him on his side. Nurse said regardless of how it happened his head "met with something substantial." He has hypertension for certain. That is the main thing keeping him from progressing at this point. No stimulation at all! Period. Too long to explain why on here. Anyway, you keep talking to God and so will we. He is an awesome person, loved by many. Needs ALL your prayers. Right now I am feeling a bit ovewhelmed, but I am also tired. Awful easy to bawl like a two year old when you are in that situation. Folks have been so kind and loving towards us. It humbles me before God. Thank you all. Take care, sleep sweet and Good night. Love ya all! P. S. Thanks for the supportive phone calls from overseas ((())) and emails.
Ben update 9-02-2011
ReplyDeleteby Lois Miller on Friday, September 2, 2011 at 10:41pm
Just got home from MCR. Ben didn't have a good day, but didn't have a bad day, either. He maintained. That is awesome. His ICP levels were steady as was his BP. Yippee! He is coming round the hard part. But if he is taken off the drug that keeps him under then his bp starts to climb as does the icp. Quite the quandry. Otherwise he is looking better. I snuggled as close as I could. Rested my head on the bedrail and cat napped. It was nice. Tomorrow I am going to try and be at MCR for morning rounds. Want the doctors' input, also. Again I want to thank you all for your prayers and emails stating your care and concern. The cards are nice. Will put them in Ben's room. The prayers are working. don't give up. Love you all. G'nite and sleep sweet.
by Lois Miller on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 10:23pm
ReplyDeleteWell I was at MCR for almost 12 hours today. Went early to catch doctors doing rounds. Saw Neuro. Surg, but not cardiologist. Got the rundown from the nurse, Kevin, who is awesome. The whole flippin crew is awesome. Ben is maintainiing which is very good. Everyone was happy to see this. GEtting response from both feet and left hand. Much better than before. They shaved him today. Still looks off without his beard. He has had it since I med him over 25 yrs. ago. Gosh was it really that long ago? Anyway, thank you ALL again for your many prayers and kindnesses towards us. Don't know what we ever did to acquire such friends and family. Even Jamie, although he can't figure out a watering wand. But he is awwesome at picking up the correct "spleen" of yarn, first try. It was nice being together with family today. I needed that. I know Ben could hear us talking and he probably needed it, too.
Ben update September 5 2011
ReplyDeleteby Lois Miller on Monday, September 5, 2011 at 5:37pm
I was feeling under the weather today so didn't go to MCR to visit Ben. I called the nurse just a bit ago. The new meds they are using are working great. They are giving him less sedative and using pain meds instead. The nurse, Hope, said that he is moving his arms, legs, hands and opening his eyes when he is asked. ISn't this just wonderful! God answers prayers. Had to tell you all and get the word out. Don't quit praying. We have a long way to go. Thank you for your prayers and concern, hugs and everything. I am so elated. I feel like dancin in the living room with joy!
by Lois Miller on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 8:33pm
ReplyDeleteBen is doing better. The cranium probe was removed today. Tomorrow they are going to put the breathing tube in his trachea instead of down his throat to make him miserable and sore. Also putting feeding port in his side. It will be a busy day. He was being difficult today. His heart would not keep a normal rhythm. They got ready to "shock" him and the nurse interrupted his explanation to me to say that Ben's heart had done its own sinus rhythm. He was walking out the door shaking his head. Ben is opening his eyes but still not quite able to focus. But he looks better and has more room in his bigger bed. I know he will rest well tonight. I hope I can do the same. I want you all to know that I appreciate the kind thoughts and prayers you all are lifting up for us. We need them and are quite thankful. Keep up the good work. :D He will be in ICU until he is off the ventilator. At least two more weeks. I think with the moving of the tubes he will do much better at a somewhat better rate of speed. If he doesn't then he doesn't but yours truly is thinking positive. God is awesome! Ben's employers came in to see him and check on us again. They are so sweet and truly good people. I am thankful for them, too. We had to laugh as Ben had won the safety award for the month. :D Love you all. G'nite