Weekend Update

We were told that Paul would be groggy through most of Saturday, so we did not go to the hospital until early afternoon on Saturday. When we came into his room, he was very wide awake and we were told that he had actually been sitting up in the wheelchair for 3 hours. We were so disappointed to find out that we had missed this. The physical therapist had even come in and worked with him during that time.
My oldest son Jon brought a guitar and played for Paul for awhile. Then Jon held the guitar for Paul and asked Paul to play with his right hand and Jon would play the part of the left hand. Paul played a little bit and it appeared that he knew the song Jon had asked him to play. Paul's right hand had enough strength to play just a little bit, but his arm is still very weak. He cannot keep is arm lifted up. He can reach up to scratch his head, but it is a slow movement. The one thing that Paul did understand very well was when Jon mentioned that he looked cool with his shaved head. Unfortunately, I had not told anyone yet to NOT mention anything to Paul about his personal appearance. He is aware enough that something happened to cause him to be in the hospital, but his dad and I never go into detail other than to tell him that his coughing is due to the injury to his lungs and that we know the coughing is very painful. We encourage him to stay patient, everything is healing very well. We also encourage him to move his arms and legs, and have explained that he will be able to leave the hospital sooner if he can work to get strength back in his arms and legs. We concentrate on the areas that he can help himself improve. So when it was said out loud that his hair had been shaved, Paul seemed to become concerned about it. He wasn't interacting as well as before, and then he finally made the connection and he raised his arm slowly to his head and started to feel it, to make sense of what he had heard. We had to redirect his hand so he would not take the bandage off. They had a bandage over the large cut done across the top of his head. Later, the doctor came in and he checked the stitches, told us Paul was doing very well and he removed the bandaging. Again, Paul seemed very focused about what was going on with his head and continued to try to touch his head. I was so disappointed that anything had been mentioned, because Paul was now fixated with figuring out what happened to his head. He finally did reach up and he touched the front part of his head and felt that it was shaved. He then reached to the back of his head and felt that his hair that had not been shaved. I then tried to explain that he had a cut on his head that the doctor fixed and that they had to cut his hair. I focused on how it it will be so much easier to keep his hair clean if it is shorter. Of course, we don't know what is really going on in Paul's mind, but it is so important to help him focus on what he personally can be doing to help himself than confuse him with things that may even scare him. When we left, his heart rate was up to 152, and this is way too high. He had had too much exertion and activity. We did not go back to the hospital until Sunday at 1:00 pm. His heart rate was still around 145. He tries so hard to stay awake, and we stayed about an hour. Jon played the guitar softly and we kept it a low key visit. Last night, Jon and I went back up to the hospital and sat with him, did not talk much, just let him know we wanted to be with him for awhile. He actually started to watch the TV. It has been on in his room before, but he was not able to stay focused on it. Last night, he seemed to stay watching it for longer periods. Of course, we again do not know how much he comprehends. He knows his family and he remembers so much about music. That will be a key area that therapists will be able to help him recover motor skills and other various skills. He can read things we write on the Magna Doodle.
When we left, his heart rate was back down to 138. He is running a fever still, but his coughing was not as bad last night. The respiratory therapist said that he should be off the ventilator soon - again, that is a relative term and in hospital language, could mean a week! We have learned that anything short of a year for most of Paul's recovery will be awesome!

We have been asked about when people can visit. At this time, it is important to remember that Paul is recovering from a serious brain injury. The things he has accomplished seem monumental, but it takes hours of waiting to get a few great responses from Paul. He is also very weak and can catch anything from visitors. We will make sure to post a good time to start visiting Paul, but at this time, he is restricted to immediate family only. Please write him notes, as we read the comments on the blog to him. He stays intent on watching the computer when I sit by him and read these to him. I have also read the cards we have received to him. If you want to send pictures you think he will enjoy, please mail them to us or send it by email to fider0@mindspring.com. We always share this with Paul. The pictures can also be used by the therapists in helping him remember events and people. They will use it in physical therapy also. He will need to learn to do everything for himself again.

God bless to you and keep praying for Paul. we are now at WEEK 4, so give thanks to God for his wonderful ways and mercy.

I will update this blog later this afternoon after I have been able to get with the case manager for an over view of what will be coming next. I would imagine Paul will be moving out of ICU sometime in this week or beginning of next.

Love to you,
Jon and Rebecca Fidero