Jodi had a better night last night than the night before and today has been a bit better as well, but fundamentally the headaches continue and she still can't get up and around without the headaches spiking. Jodi has asked me if I would ask you for some special and extra prayers. She so wants to go home, but knows she can't while she is still feeling this way.
As has always been the case, your faith and prayers, and your comments on the blog are providing her with the strength she needs to make it through this. She looks forward to being connected with you in this way. You are her connection to the outside world and a more normal life.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
We have hope
Jodi had a very long night, her worst so far, and a long day with the severe spinal headaches. She said the pain was more intense than the pain of having a baby. The purpose of the lumbar drain was to reduce the pressure of the CSF (purposely allowing it to leak out – like a pressure relief valve) to give the packing in the brain time to heal. At about 4:30pm this afternoon a doctor removed the lumbar drain and instructed Jodi to remain flat on her back for three hours and then slowly elevate her head as she could tolerate it. Because of the nausea Jodi hasn’t had much to eat or drink all day so they hooked her up to an IV again to prevent dehydration and to help her body regenerate CSF. If the leak in her head does not reoccur and there is no leaking from the location where the lumbar drain was inserted Jodi should start feeling better soon and could go home as soon as tomorrow afternoon. That’s what we’re hoping for.
Tolan
Tolan
Jodi's Worst Night Yet - Some Family Fun
Late last night after some special visitors departed Jodi experienced the worst spinal headache yet! It lasted the entire night! Despite the diligent efforts of the night nurse, the pain medication just didn't do the trick. She was also nauseated and vomited for two hours before some medication got that under control. Jodi said this was simply the worst night she's experienced through this entire ordeal. Tolan stayed with Jodi through much of this difficult and painful night.
She hasn't been able to eat, because she can't sit up at all. She is lying flat and keeping her head completely still.
Right now she is trying to rest as best she can given the circumstances.
We're hoping this is a temporary condition that Jodi will get through quickly so she can still get out of the hospital soon.
They did remove Jodi's bandages this morning. You can see a picture below of her incision with the new staples. It doesn't look quite so bad as the first surgery. They only shaved her head right around the actual incision itself rather than taking a wide swath across her head as they did before. That's good!
Jodi did want you to know that there were some members of her family having fun yesterday. Below are pictures of Jodi's children from their outing with their cousins (Tami's kids) and Grandma Orgill. They all went to McDonalds for breakfast and then for a walk up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls. They had a lot of fun! Jodi is looking forward to getting out of the hospital and having some fun adventures like this with her kids once again!
Jodi's new incision and staples. Note this time they put a couple of the staples right through her ear. We don't know why.
Grandma Orgill and the cousins getting started on their walk to Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Arriving at the Falls.
Trenden and Lindi hiking up the bottom part of Bridal Veil Falls with cousins Taylor, Trent, and Jaida.
Casen thinking the water is really cold!
Casen and Daven enjoying sitting on the branch of a big tree in the park leading to Bridal Veil Falls.
She hasn't been able to eat, because she can't sit up at all. She is lying flat and keeping her head completely still.
Right now she is trying to rest as best she can given the circumstances.
We're hoping this is a temporary condition that Jodi will get through quickly so she can still get out of the hospital soon.
They did remove Jodi's bandages this morning. You can see a picture below of her incision with the new staples. It doesn't look quite so bad as the first surgery. They only shaved her head right around the actual incision itself rather than taking a wide swath across her head as they did before. That's good!
Jodi did want you to know that there were some members of her family having fun yesterday. Below are pictures of Jodi's children from their outing with their cousins (Tami's kids) and Grandma Orgill. They all went to McDonalds for breakfast and then for a walk up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls. They had a lot of fun! Jodi is looking forward to getting out of the hospital and having some fun adventures like this with her kids once again!
Jodi's new incision and staples. Note this time they put a couple of the staples right through her ear. We don't know why.
Grandma Orgill and the cousins getting started on their walk to Bridal Veil Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Arriving at the Falls.
Trenden and Lindi hiking up the bottom part of Bridal Veil Falls with cousins Taylor, Trent, and Jaida.
Casen thinking the water is really cold!
Casen and Daven enjoying sitting on the branch of a big tree in the park leading to Bridal Veil Falls.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Brain Surgery Hurts!
Jodi has decided that brain surgery is painful. For some reason the nurses in the ICU couldn’t get orders for the pain medication to come through the system so they kept Jodi waiting for pain meds for four hours last night after her surgery, and she wasn’t too happy about that. She didn’t get much sleep last night due to the pain and also due to the fact that her week old IV closed up and they kept blowing the veins trying to insert a new one. Finally, Jodi just insisted they leave her alone so they gave up on the new IV. Another factor contributing to the lack of sleep was the man down the hall screaming for hours at a time about the pain he was in. The nurse mentioned that it is motorcycle season and they have been especially busy since the weather warmed up. She said in the last few days the hospital has had a bunch of head trauma injuries.
Jodi got up this morning to use the bathroom and got another sever spinal headache but the doctors explained that is to be expected due to the CSF loss associated with the surgery. Overall Jodi is doing pretty well. This morning they moved her from the ICU back to the Neuro Acute Care unit (now room #1) where she slept most of the day. She was also feeling good enough to get up and walk around a bit this afternoon. We spoke with Dr. Shelton this evening and he suggested we may want to have a gold bar inserted into Jodi’s right eye lid to help it close. That is something we will consider. He also explained what the next steps would be if the CSF leak reoccurs. Later, Dr. Couldwell stopped by and he mentioned that if Jodi continues to do well he will remove the lumbar drain tomorrow and Jodi may be able to go home Thursday. That’s what we are hoping for!
Jodi got up this morning to use the bathroom and got another sever spinal headache but the doctors explained that is to be expected due to the CSF loss associated with the surgery. Overall Jodi is doing pretty well. This morning they moved her from the ICU back to the Neuro Acute Care unit (now room #1) where she slept most of the day. She was also feeling good enough to get up and walk around a bit this afternoon. We spoke with Dr. Shelton this evening and he suggested we may want to have a gold bar inserted into Jodi’s right eye lid to help it close. That is something we will consider. He also explained what the next steps would be if the CSF leak reoccurs. Later, Dr. Couldwell stopped by and he mentioned that if Jodi continues to do well he will remove the lumbar drain tomorrow and Jodi may be able to go home Thursday. That’s what we are hoping for!
Pictures from Surgery Day #2
Tolan and Jodi just before Jodi went into the operating room.
One of the doctors getting things ready.
After surgery...a close-up of the incision area...second time around.
After surgery in the Neuro Critical Care Unit.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Jodi is doing fine
I was just in the ICU with Jodi and she’s doing very well considering she just had her second craniotomy in three weeks. She’s alert and seems to be doing well but keeps mumbling something about her head hurting…
They reopened her original incision and according to the doctor they believe the leak was occurring in some “air pockets” around the scull base which they sealed with “bone wax”, some fat taken from Jodi’s hip and some special glue. Because of the location they ended up not needing to use muscle from Jodi’s leg, which is good since we were warned that would be the worst part of the recovery. They have inserted a lumbar drain again but won’t use it unless they need to.
The plan is for Jodi to stay in the ICU until sometime tomorrow and if she is doing well then move her back to her original room in the Neuro Acute Care unit. If they have indeed stopped the leak and all looks good Jodi may be able to come home as soon as Friday. For some reason they don’t allow visitors in the ICU between 7pm and 8:30pm and despite my efforts to hide in Jodi’s room a big burly female nurse found me hiding behind the curtains and kicked me out. So... I’m typing this post from Starbucks and will go back in at 8:30pm to check on her again.
Tolan
They reopened her original incision and according to the doctor they believe the leak was occurring in some “air pockets” around the scull base which they sealed with “bone wax”, some fat taken from Jodi’s hip and some special glue. Because of the location they ended up not needing to use muscle from Jodi’s leg, which is good since we were warned that would be the worst part of the recovery. They have inserted a lumbar drain again but won’t use it unless they need to.
The plan is for Jodi to stay in the ICU until sometime tomorrow and if she is doing well then move her back to her original room in the Neuro Acute Care unit. If they have indeed stopped the leak and all looks good Jodi may be able to come home as soon as Friday. For some reason they don’t allow visitors in the ICU between 7pm and 8:30pm and despite my efforts to hide in Jodi’s room a big burly female nurse found me hiding behind the curtains and kicked me out. So... I’m typing this post from Starbucks and will go back in at 8:30pm to check on her again.
Tolan
Surgery Update - Leak Found & Plugged
The operating nurse just called and said they were able to find the leak quickly. They filled it and everything looks good. They are now "closing up" and Jodi should be in the recovery room in about 30 minutes. This is good news!
Surgery Update - Just Started at 3:11 p.m.
While Jodi was taken into the operating room to be prepared early, surgery didn't actually begin until 3:11 p.m. So we are still in waiting mode. It should take 1-2 hours.
Prep for Surgery
It is 1:00 p.m. and we were just told that Dr. Couldwell finished with his other patients early. They will pick Jodi up to prep her for surgery in about 15 minutes.
Hospital Stay - Day 20 - Surgery #2
Right now Jodi is scheduled for surgery at 3:30 p.m. today, however, Dr. Couldwell's schedule is such that as soon as he has finished meeting with some other patients on his calendar, he will move forward with Jodi's surgery, so it could go be sooner than 3:30 p.m.
We will keep you posted as soon as there is information to share.
We continue to appreciate your prayers and we know that many fasted yesterday and many more are fasting today for Jodi. We know your prayers, fasting and faith are helping in ways that nothing else could. We continue to express our love and appreciation to each of you!
Just to let you know, Jodi had a good Sunday with a number of visitors, a good number of calls, and four short walks --- one with the nurse, one with her dad, one with her family, one with Tolan. She did get a spinal headache after the 2nd one, but the rest went well.
Below are a few pictures from yesterday.
Going for a walk with Tolan and the kids.
Daven (Baby D) cuddled up with Mom.
Trenden showing nurse, Lori, his terrfic report card.
We will keep you posted as soon as there is information to share.
We continue to appreciate your prayers and we know that many fasted yesterday and many more are fasting today for Jodi. We know your prayers, fasting and faith are helping in ways that nothing else could. We continue to express our love and appreciation to each of you!
Just to let you know, Jodi had a good Sunday with a number of visitors, a good number of calls, and four short walks --- one with the nurse, one with her dad, one with her family, one with Tolan. She did get a spinal headache after the 2nd one, but the rest went well.
Below are a few pictures from yesterday.
Going for a walk with Tolan and the kids.
Daven (Baby D) cuddled up with Mom.
Trenden showing nurse, Lori, his terrfic report card.
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