When H was admitted to the ICU on Tuesday (or was it Wednesday?), we were told there would be good days and bad, and even days where things will go up and down during the same day. Today has been a day of tremendous progress, with some hard parts as well.
In the best news at all, H was taken off the ventilator; he is now breathing on his own! They thought they might have to give him a tracheotomy, but they did not. He is on extra oxyen as needed, but no ventilator tube is down is throat any longer. He is also off of total chemical sedation. They take his sedation up and down as needed to let him rest and his brain swelling to continue to improve, but we are weaning him from the sedation to try to begin getting a sense of his cognitive function.
And as far as that goes, we’ve also had some great progress today. He sometimes opens his eyes a bit, although focus isn’t there yet. He definitely grimaces in pain, which is hard for me to see, but a good indicator of his brain function. He is not yet really responding to commands, but I sense very strongly that he is trying. I think he seems happy when I am with him and displeased when I leave, but I may just be doing some mama-projecting.
The ENT discovered today that he has a broken jaw, and one ear is still so filled with blood that she is not yet able to assess how his hearing may be in that ear from the blow that broke the bone. She thinks his other ear is likely okay. He is still in a neck brace and has a feeding tube, as well as several IVs.
He is beginning to experience physical withdrawals from the drugs that caused his overdose. This is VERY hard for me to see, and I experience a range of emotions observing the symptoms – from frustration and anger to an overwhelming desire to just make it all stop for him – just make my baby feel better.
The neurology consult this afternoon was a bit of a downer, for me anyway. The neurologist told us that we should be “optimistic but realistic” regarding H’s prognosis for full neurological recovery. The injury to his brain was significant, and unfortunately, only time will tell us what outcome we are going to see. Of course, I assume the best but have terror of the other possibilities.
Once again, thanks SO MUCH to EVERY SINGLE PERSON who has let us know they are thinking of our H and his recovery. You really just have no idea what the messages of support and love mean to all of us. It’s really lifting me up during this, the most horrifying experience of my life, bar none.
xoxo,
Katie
41 Responses to “A day of ups and downs”
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Sounds like there are a lot of positives and much reason for hope. With you on his side, I’m sure he will make the best recovery he possibly can given his injuries. I will pray that it’s a total recovery.
Waiting to find out his outlook for recovery must be very difficult for everyone in your family. Praying for healing for all of you.
Katie, this is very similar to something a friend of mine was going through a couple of months ago only in that case a car accident but with severe drug withdrawal and some very scary times. (My friend broke his neck — fortunately there is no paralysis.) I want you to know that he’s doing ok now. It’s been a long road and there’s still work ahead but he is doing well and prognosis for him is very good. I’m telling you this so you can fix in your mind someone who (older and much longer time spent abusing his body and so in less good health) has overcome a great many odds that are similar to Henry’s. I just saw him the other day and he was talking and laughing about his glasses getting broken in the car wreck. He’s home and eating and sleeping well and I am sure that this will be Henry, too. He has too many people rooting for him and loving him.
Thinking of you all.
Love you guys.
So grateful for the progress! Sending up prayers and sending love to you, your boy, and your family. He’s gonna surprise the doctors by how beautifully he heals in time, I just know it! Hugs to you, you wonderful mama!
That is wonderful news!
Have been thinking of y’all today, wondering how he was doing. I am so glad to see that H is making progress. The doctor is right. Caution is advisable. Bad days will not seem quite as much of a setback if you are cautious. The good days will be just that much better. I am praying that you will continue to receive positive news every day and that H continues to get better every day.
Keeping y’all in my thoughts and prayers.
Katie-
I’m a neuropsychologist who works in a subacute neurorehabilitation center (for patients with brain injuries and spinal cord injuries). H sounds like a lot of our patients, so if he does end up in a neurorehab unit at some point, please let me know if you have any questions or need guidance through that process. I’m a Facebook friend of yours, and also follow your blog. Wishing you some degree of peace and relaxation through this process (please take 20 minutes a day to devote just to resting and breathing deeply), please continue to eat regularly. Thinking of you and your family.
I am so unbelievably grateful to hear the progress. He’s so strong he always has been. Praying for him and your family, always.
I’m still sending out positive thoughts and thinking of you and your family. Thanks for taking the time to update us at a difficult time.
Katie, My heart is just aching for you! I am so sorry. Please know that although I am not there, I am in heart. I will continue to pray for your sweet h.
I have this overwhelming vision of myself walking into the hospital, finding you standing outside of H’s room, and giving you a big hug. Here’s a virtual hug: (Katie).
I’ve been thinking of your family daily and willing positive things. You’re a wonderful mother and no doubt an enormous source of strength for everyone… take care of yourself and the baby!
I glanced at your blog this morning and saw the Facebook badge said excellent progress today and was so relieved to read that, I felt like I’d been holding my breath for two days. While I know all of this in the update is not all great and is hard and you all still have a rough road ahead, things just sound so much more positive and hopeful than they did two days ago and I will just continue to be praying and hoping that will continue and get better and better. Many positive thoughts & karma & prayers especially for H., but for all the HickJu clan and H.’s dad and family as well. I’m kinda with Anonymous above in thinking he’s probably going to end up surprising and shocking his doctors by doing much better than they expect. In any case, hang in there, Katie.
I’ve been reading your blog for about two years and have commented just a few times. But now I find myself thinking of you and your family daily and saying silent prayers for you often. Love from PA.
Lisa
Katie,
I will keep you and your family in my prayers.
I am glad to hear things are looking a little better. I think about you and H all the time. You’re a great lady Katie and I hope he makes a full recovery!
Katie, I so appreciate the updates. I wonder if there is any progress on finding out who did this to your dear Henry?
I’m so relieved to hear that he is off the ventilator. You have been in my thoughts throughout the day, and I have been anxious to get online and check in. I am sure Henry is grateful to have you there by his side, even if he can’t tell you yet. I cannot imagine all of the feelings you are having. I give my own dear girl a stern talking to every time I read one of your updates (with love of course!).
Continue to be held up by all the people who care for you.
Sounds like things may be looking up, and I’m praying every day that he’ll turn a big corner. My best friend throughout many trying medical times with my husband was Ensure, yep, the nutrition drink. It was often the only thing I could stomach through the worry. I hope you’re taking care of yourself as well.
my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Katie, I saw these lyrics this evening from a Sara Groves song (actually they were posted on a wall at the Coffe and Chocolate place near Market Square). they resonated with me, and of course, given the circumstances, made me thik of you. So I’m saying prayers for Hope for all of you.
“It Might Be Hope”
You do your work the best that you can
you put one foot in front of the other
life comes in waves and makes *its* demands
you hold on as well as *you’re* able
You’ve been here for a long long time
Hope has a way of turning *its* face to you
just when you least expect it
you walk in a room
you look out a window
and something there leaves you breathless
you say to yourself
it’s been a while since I felt this
but it feels like it might be hope
Find More lyrics at http://www.sweetslyrics.com
It’s hard to recall what blew out the flame
it’s been dark since you can remember
you talk it all through to find it a name
as days go on by without number
You’ve been here for a long long time
Hope has a way of turning *its* face to you
just when you least expect it
you walk in a room
you look out a window
and something there leaves you breathless
you say to yourself
it’s been a while since I felt this
but it feels like it might be hope
Friends in Maryville are going through their beautiful little girl having cancer and mom was pregnant and gave birth recently. I worried about that mom dealing with so much and I think of you at this time also. Please take care of yourself as much as possible at this time. Blessings for the best possible outcomes for all.
I want you to know that I am reading here every single day. I feel like I know you from reading you for all these years. You changed my life 9 years ago at a LLL conference in Orlando. You had planned to speak but something came up and your session was cancelled so I bought your book, _Attachment Parenting_. Never has the written word touched my present life so much. I want to thank you for that. I still have it and the pages are all curled and the margins are full of notes from essays of yours I read later on.
I light a candle every night for Henry. I know he is going to pull through this and I also know that he will be fine. You all will. Call it “mama gut”. There are just too many people pulling for this awesome young man.
So much love and light to you and yours tonight, Katie.
“I think he seems happy when I am with him and displeased when I leave, but I may just be doing some mama-projecting.”
no you’re not. you’re right on the money. i know it.
continue to exert strength that’s tempered with love–there’s nothing love can’t overcome.
all of ours to Henry, you, and your entire family.
xoxo john
Katie, Prayers of a first time reader are with you, your son and your family. It sure sounds like today was positive. I hope they continue to get better.
Katie,
You and your family have been in my thoughts today, yesterday, days before. Our son had open heart surgery six months ago yesterday. He was 13 weeks old. Doctors tell you what they know about parents’ presence and kids’ pain. Mamas know what is going on on a deeper level. Seeing my child intubated and under heavy sedation, then listening to his cries when he was waking is one of the most desperate feelings I will ever know. The experience is one I would not wish on my worst enemy. I have H in my waking and sleeping thoughts. My continued prayers to you and all your babies. Our daughter was not quite three during our son’s surgery. It was amazing what she understood. Thinking of C and baby Georgia too.
I’ve been reading your blog for about 8 years now but only occasionally comment. Please know that your words have touched me many times. Although you don’t know me, I feel as though I know your family. My heart aches for what you are going through, just being a mother connects you to people you will never meet. I will pray for your son and you!
Best wishes to you and yours. I am praying for your entire family, and I am glad you keep us posted.
Katie
Although we have never met, I understood through your writing that you were a wonderful thoughtful person.
Having no children yet in my life I have always enjoyed hearing about your children.
My advice is to Move.
This is very good news, though the climb has only begun. It is amazing how quickly H. has healed from the most life-threatening of his injuries. I am sorry for his pain as he heals, and I wish you much strength as you help hime.
Hi Katie,
I haven’t been on Facebook much this week and just found out about this. As the mother of a beautiful 14 month old son, I can’t imagine what you’re going through. I’m crying just thinking about it. I will be thinking about your family. As others have said, please try to eat, rest, and take care of yourself and baby Georgia. I can’t imagine the struggle of trying to make decisions for and care about your nearly-grown child in this terrible situation, while you also have an unborn child to think about. But you are amazing and I know you will pull through.
That sounds like great progress. Like Joe, I too know someone who has been through something extremely similar (and also like Joe, my loved one’s injuries were from a car wreck, not an assault) and is now fine. And don’t doubt your gut for a minute. I’m sure he knows you’re there and can’t wait till he tells you about it sooner than you’ll know.
Do rest and care for yourself. You have to. Be well.
my prayers continue to be with you all.
Katie, we’ve known each other for 30 years now, and even though at times there’ve been many years between seeing each other and oceans separating us, you’ve always been in my heart. Seeing the outpouring of so much love to you and your family and so many prayers from so many people at this difficult time helps me feel somewhat less helpless for not being closer to you and being able to help in person. Know we are with you and your family. Know we love you. Know this will always be true.
I know you savor each and every minute improvement! H. knows his Mommy is with him and watching over him; a part of him is still a little boy. We will continue prayers as H. recovers and surprises the medical community.
Katie,
Strength and patience to you, sister mama. Trust your heart; H does know.
Upholding you in prayer…
Jane
Hi Katie, I am a long-time fan of yours, and I am so, so sorry that you, H, and your family are going through this. I am checking your blog for updates every day, and I am holding your family in the light.
Wow. Tears at reading that H. just said Hi Mama.
Here’s to the power of love!
Excellent news on the “Hi Mama.” As Bill Murray said: “baby steps.” Each one gets you closer to the end goal.
K
All my thoughts are with you during this time. I’m so sorry, but happy that he woke up.
Thank you for sharing this. I am so sorry, and praying for you. Love from DC.