steady improvement and a favor....

Barb asked me to update the blog tonight. When I stopped by to see Craig this evening, they had obviously decreased his sedation. His eyes were open when I walked in the room and he was alert for minutes at a time. He couldn't stay awake long because he is still fairly sedated, but there was no question that he knew I was there and he could nod a bit if I asked him a direct question, etc. He even sort of waved his hand goodbye when I told him I was leaving. So, things are going slow, but they are steadily improving. There is no plans for any future OR trips and so they are hoping to be able to take out the breathing tube in the next couple of days.

Now for the favor. The nurse had asked him earlier if he wanted to watch TV, but he had nodded his head no. I think he is still way to sedated to be able to watch a show. However, I asked him if I should bring in some of his music and he seemed to like that idea. Does anyone have an inexpensive, small CD player they wouldn't mind leaving in the hospital for a while? I picked up some of his CDs at his house and thought I could have some music for him if he wanted it. I just don't have anything like that. Thanks!
Tiffany

Brief Update

I called the hospital at 6:00 pm after work and will do that everyday. Craig is still stable and sedated. This will go on for a few more days, maybe till Friday. They want to be absolutely sure he is finished going to the OR before removing the breathing tube. So the waiting game continues and I'm ready to return if need be. This is it for tonight. Take care!

Barb 

Back in Canada

Chris and I arrived home today, Sunday, at around 5:00 pm. It was so nice to hug Laura (Alex was at an X Box competition with his friends so that hug comes later). My last update with the hospital was at 6:00 pm and Craig was "stable" and Tiffany was visiting with him. It is all the support of Craig's friends and the excellent care at Duke that has enabled me to return home for a while. Thanks for that! I will continue to update the Blog daily post my Duke "check-in" but this is going to be a looooooong journey. Talk to you soon!

HEADING HOME!

It's Saturday night and I have met with the surgical team at Duke. Craig will still be heavily sedated for a minimum of five days still while they work out all his varying health issues, as a result I have decide to return to Canada while he is the excellent care of the MICU staff. I will return to NC when he starts to wake up in a week or two. It is with a heavy heart that I leave him but I can't stay here for a month straight. I know his friends will rotate visits to see him and for that I'm truly grateful! I'll still be in touch daily with Duke and if need be I can be back within 16 hours. As Peter (the most amazing guy in the world) his nurse says...he won't remember any of this, I hope he is right! I will keep updating the blog daily post my calls to MICU. Thanks for continuing on this journey with us!

Barb

Final OR Trip???

Craig emerged from surgery at approximately 6:00 pm. They closed the wound above the knee as they thought it would be best, considering he had a knee replacement anyway. I haven't had a chance to talk directly with the surgeon but the nurse filled me in and the surgeon would have called me if there were any impending complications. At least the surgeries are over (I am assuming), the infection is under control, and now they can work on his kidneys. They also will start bringing him "back to life" and removing the breathing tube. We will see what the weekend will bring. My thoughts are very troubled at having to explain to him the events of the past week and his reaction but on the brighter side...thank goodness I CAN tell him!

Good night and I'll update you tomorrow,

Barb  

Another Day at Duke

4th surgery scheduled for 1:00 pm tomorrow. Today was spent trying to find a spot to put the catheter to start dialysis again, won't know till tomorrow if it worked. Craig still is sleeping through this all...I hope, with some very brief moments of acknowledgement. I want to believe he knows we're there but until I can ask him I won't know for sure. Wish him luck for tomorrow!

Barb 

Update for Wednesday, June 24/09

As mentioned in my last posting, today thankfully ends as a "coasting" day. No further issues reared their ugly heads and Craig is resting somewhat peacefully. We can tell he doesn't like the breathing tube and is fighting it a little. This is a good thing as it means he is ready to get rid of it but this cannot happen until the final trip to the OR is over which is either tomorrow or Friday. We will know that early tomorrow. We talk to him and he opens and closes his eyes so I think he can hear us at times but hopefully he won't remember much of this. I am more hopeful today that Craig can get through this but the infection is still circulating in his bloodstream and until it clears out 100% the risks are obviously high. Keep the comments/emails coming as it provides great comfort to us and more importantly support for Craig! 

Bye for now, Barb

Current Situation

The outcome of the recent OR trip shows no further infection in the other leg and that was the only news that we needed at this time. He has hopefully only one more trip back to the OR to ensure the other wound is infection free, prior to closing. they have restarted the dialysis to now work on his kidneys. All other tests, i.e., on his heart, show that the infection is not spreading so if he, along with the broad spectrum antibiotics, can maintain this status, things are looking a little brighter tonight. I feel somewhat relieved for the first time in days but also know that he is no where near a safe zone yet so I can't let my guard down. Tomorrow is a coasting day as they are not planning to go back to the OR until Thursday. Once again, thanks for all the kind words of support and I'm off to get a much needed full night sleep, hopefully!

Barb

Still Waiting

Currently it's 6:25 pm on Tuesday night and we are still waiting for Craig to come from the OR to see how his legs are. I was talking to him today and he knows I was there with him but he is greatly sedated. We're hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Barb

MRI Results

At 7:30 Monday night the latest MRI results are in and although the right leg has some infection, the severity is not enough, at this time, to do anything so they will monitor through the night. In cases like this hours, not days, make a difference and so we wait...and we wait...and then we wait some more. There are many other health problems surrounding this issue but as the surgeon said tonight, it's only the infection that needs to be controlled. The others are secondary. I want to say thanks to everyone for all the love and support I have received from Canada and especially all my new North Carolina friends (Craig's old ones). I have come to realize why he is so happy here!!

Talk to you soon, Barb

Some quick background and a recent update

Last Tuesday, June 16th, Craig called me and asked me to come over to help him with his dogs.  He said that he was having some trouble getting around.  I will spare you the details, but after a long, difficult day, I got him to his doctor's office and from there he ended up being admitted to Duke University Hospital.  Apparently, he had a severe infection in his left foot.  By the time he got admitted to the hospital, he was in septic shock and his kidneys had failed.  Unfortunately, they were unable to save the leg and they had to remove it late Friday night/early Saturday morning.  Things seemed to go well over the weekend, but now there is some concern that the infection has spread to his other leg.  He has been in for another MRI today and the doctors are monitoring him very closely.  We aren't sure yet what the consensus is on whether or not the infection has spread.  We will update you as soon as we know.

Craig's Status

This is a blog that Barb has created with the assistance of Tiffany to update on Craig's status.  It won't be fancy; we are just trying to keep you updated.  Barb, Tiffany, and Tammy will be updating when they have new news.  Thanks for checking in with us and for all the assistance you have given Craig over the past few days.

Tiffany