We need to GTFO of here!

Hey folks - I am absolutely cooked tonight so this one will be short. Tyler’s gut saw some movement for the first time in a week and we all rejoiced. 💩🎉 His lungs, according to the SICU attending look “AMAZING!” meaning, they are clearing up. Turns out he just had

Putting the “dude” in extubated

Putting the “dude” in extubated - @Tim Lynch in the WhatsApp Shoutouts I got the notification around 4:30 that Tyler had been placed on spontaneous breathing and was handling it well. This was the step we’ve been waiting for!   By 8:55am, he was extubated and demanding justice

10 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes.

Today was slightly up from last night, but not a lot of change. I was up early again to join morning rounds. Each day is a reset, so the docs start with a summary of new or resolved issues from the previous 24 hours, his vitals, and his pain management.

The intubation continues

I attended rounds this morning and he has a new neurosurgery team this week and they're fantastic. The big issue at the time was of course, his GI and the ileus. Unfortunately, the ileus didn't improve overnight and so the draining and resting continued. Despite being

No news is good news

Tyler is still intubated, but he was alert and able to give yes/no answers, thumbs up, and has a really strong grip. He’s also able to smile, though challenging with the tube. I told him the story from the previous evening that involved a young raccoon and our

Always bring a towel

Quiet day, but he's doing okay today. Tyler is still intubated, but after talking with the docs and getting consult from one Ralph Mitchell, PA-C (♥️, my Dad), I have a better understanding of Tyler’s status. GI issues are incredibly common for patients with traumatic spinal cord injuries

Tough day

Tyler’s GI is having movement trouble which is causing a backup and lots of bloat. All of this backup and bloat is pushing up against his diaphragm and making it hard for him to breathe. When I arrived, his oxygen levels dropped to 80% he required a full oxygen

He who farts longest farts best

I arrived early and Tyler was on his side and said he thought he might be setting a record for farting 😂 He had a lot more sensation in his legs -- think pins and needles when you've sat on the toilet too long. The PM&R (Physical

Progress to the chair

Tyler was in a seated position this morning for 30 minutes. This helps with keeping his lungs clear and also working on his upper, upper body strength. I arrived at the hospital around 9:30 and he was in significant pain, and this is a great thing! You see, he

Ketamine dreams

K-hole Day! Tyler woke up totally exhausted. He didn’t sleep well and his pain management needed an adjustment. See, he has a broken rib, and some minor contusions in his chest, so coughing is difficult. But he NEEDS to cough. This is because fluid can build up in his