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It’s crazy to think this is day 5 already.

Last night around 11pm, ICP went up and sedation was increased. One step forward yesterday, one step back today.

3 am – 4 people here to put him on lift sheets for the CT scan.

3:30 am – Seth didn’t like having the CT done. His ICP went up to 32 (bad) so sedation, Versed was given. ICP settled down.

CT is unchanged. Not better but not worse.

6:50 am – ICP 16 CCP 57 PB has been fluctuating 92/60 PO2 32 HR 84. Given electrolytes, lung still being suctioned.

7:32 am – Drs from neurosurgery came in. Since last nights spike in pressure, they need to change some things to avoid surgical intervention. This would include adding a paralytic to paralyze him which would give the brain complete rest for the swelling to come down. Fentanyl and Propofal are at it’s highest. It’s reiterated to limit stimulation so some of the neurological checks are on hold.

8:19 am Dr used ultrasound to look at the big vessel that goes to his heart. Xray looks like lungs are holding a lot of fluid. Because he’s on so many drips, the fluid has accumulated around the lung. They will give diuretic to help draw it out.

8:39 am PO2 ICP 15 CPP 61

8:40 am Dr from Neurocritical team came in, this is max swelling time but he is meeting benchmarks and no sign of seizures. It is touch and go for the next few days. The CT scan shows generalized swelling and no specific area of injury. There are a few teams of doctors that need to consult with each other on the plan of the day.

9:27 am Neurocritical team has decided to NOT do a paralytic. Mostly because it stays in the system a long time and can’t be adjusted quickly.

9:39 am An order was put in to switch Propofol to continuous Versed. Propofol is made out of fat so it’s not helping his triglyceride level.

10:10 am ICP 23 CPP 64 PO2 24 HR 92 Vent 60%

Attached are some pictures of what Seth is hooked up to and the monitor that we are getting numbers off of. There is also a picture of the chair that I recline when I stay overnight. I’ve received some wonderful messages this morning. Thank you to those that are asking how they can help, or bring desserts from a ladies tea, or giving me a song, prayer or thoughtful message for the day. Please know that if I don’t respond right away or forget to respond, I have seen your messages and appreciate you reaching out. You all help us stay positive and uplifted. I’d like to share one this morning from a friend.

Continued thoughts and prayers for you all. At church we were reminded by Pastor Jeff…1 John 4:16: So we know and rely on the love of God for us. His love is so different than our human love which is inconsistent. His love is reliable, his love is fierce, his love is perfect. We can rely on his fierce, perfect and reliable love for Seth.

Today was a positive day!

For those following his numbers: ICP 11 CPP 64 BP 112/63 HR 88 (yay!) PO2 15 (yay!) ventilator 60% (he was at 100% this morning and 40% is the goal)

They were able to decrease his sedation while his cranial pressures stayed within range. They were able to suction and turn him which he tolerated on the lower sedation.

His left chest tube was taken out and is doing well. He still has the right chest tube in. No fever so he seems to be responding to breathing treatments and antibiotics.

CT scan is tomorrow at 4 am (prayers needed from those that are early risers!) This will be the first CT scan since the morning he came in.

Some awesome acts of love today was a prayer circle at Crosswalk and a prayer vigil put on by the ladies at Emmanuel and Lamb of God Lutheran Churches. The picture below shows some of us watching the live stream in the hospital courtyard. Note the many handprints of well wishes from 24 Crosswalk kids! We love the personal artistry of them and they are hanging in his room right now. It was truly touching and we constantly feel the wave of love pouring over us.

We again had friends and family support us by visiting the hospital bringing food, gift cards and other generous gifts, fun activities, a super soft blanket, and a book of poems written by friend, Emma Indahl who actually works here at this hospital.

Today we ask everyone to pray for a few specific things.

1) ICP numbers to go down

2) Sodium levels to go down

3) PO2 numbers to go up

4) A much improved CT Scan!

Love you all!

PS, Pix attached of his meal today.

These are the numbers that Seth’s doctors wants him to hit. You can keep these in mind when you read the updates.

ICP (intercranial pressure): <20

CPP (cerebral perfusion pressure): 60-70

P02 (oxygen to brain): >20

Heart rate: 60-70 bpm

Sodium: 145-155

The Neuro ICU DR came in and did an ultrasound of his heart. It’s pumping good.

He was however concerned about the CPP being low. They sat him up which helped drain fluid and the CPP changed a bit. Seth is still in the holding phase but has a bad pneumonia. Plan of the day is to back off on sedation to see how his numbers go. Currently ICP:4 CPP:59 HR:130 PO2:4

Yesterday, moments of silence and prayers were made at a kickball tournament and wrestling banquet. The outpouring of love is tremendous and keeps us staying positive. I know all of your fervent prayers are being heard.

I slept for 7 hours in Seth’s room and when I woke up I found out he had a bath during the night, sheets changed, and neurosurgeon and other doctors came in to see him. The neuro critical team will do their rounds later and asses what the plan of the day is.

Sodium level is 155 and they’ve increased water flushes again. X-ray of lung show about the same as yesterday but very slightly better. Prelims show bacterial growth so a broad range antibiotic is being given and when the lab results come back conclusive they will adjust as necessary. Because he’s not moving, they started him on a prophylaxis to prevent blood clots. For those that are keeping close eyes on numbers like we are: ICP 19, CPP 60, PO2 6, BP 120/55 HR 129. He’s being given more potassium and magnesium and increased tube feedings. Pupil reactions are good.

Nurse practitioner, Ashley, says the good news is that the oxygenation status is better so they just decreased the ventilator from 100% to 90% and hope to taper it down more.

Ive already received a couple prayers this morning and hearing of more prayer chains he’s on. Please also pray for 2 other people whose families we’ve met here. Trey came in with TBI after his horse fell on him and Danita has major internal injuries after a motorcycle accident.

Boots were ordered to keep him from getting “foot drop”- basically to keep his foot in a flexed position to keep his muscles stretched.

Yesterday we were given a devotion book and a “Giving Bag” by my sister’s church’s women’s group. Attached is a fitting devotion from the day before about the hope we have in all of this.

We made it through day 3! The neuro doctor said that his ICP: Intracranial Pressure numbers (fluctuating today between 10-17) were most important and those have been within range (less than 20), so that is comforting. His heart rate is still high 134, PO2: Partial Pressure of Oxygen is 4 (needs to be greater than 20). There are a lot of other numbers on the monitors that I’m glad the nurses and doctors are watching over. Sodium level was 158 at 4pm and unchanged at 10 pm, which are of concern. Water flushes have been increased to try and draw out the increased sodium in the blood. Potassium levels are low, so he’s being given more. He has high triglycerides due to the increase in pain meds, so balancing all of the meds is complicated. Lab results from the lung will come within 48 hours. He’s given a nebulizer every 6 hours to help break up the mucus in his lungs.

For those that are health professionals, I give you much respect in knowing all of this. For me, I’m just in awe of how God made the body to work the way it does. So amazing!

We have been sent so many personal and reply messages with prayers, songs and devotions and are so thankful for each and every one. They really do lift our hearts even more to the Lord when our thoughts are filled with monitor numbers and waiting for the next good (or bad) update.

I also wanted to thank those that have stopped by to give us hugs, snacks, pictures of Seth, money and gift cards for food and other items to make our time a little easier here. His friend Anika even went to his apartment on campus to bring some of his favorite items and decor. It fills our hearts to receive these from those we know and not even know! Just wow!

The attached picture is of Seth’s phone that was found buried in the dirt at the scene of the accident (Thank you, Jeff and Sarah). He has an app on his phone that gives a Bible Verse of the Day and today’s verse is Ex 33:14: The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

What an awesome verse to end Day 3 with!

-Darcy

PS, For those that noticed Duo Lingo on the screen, his cousin Aubrey is maintaining his streak 🙂

This morning, the nurses told us that they would be performing a procedure to remove the fluid that has collected in his lungs.

The nurse updated us that Seth’s lungs were holding a lot of mucus. They removed what they could, and are submitting to the lab to see what it grows.

The procedure carries a risk that O2 would go down, which it did, and so they had to stop. His periphoral gas finger monitor went down to 77 (Target is above 92).

They were able to clear the larger passage ways but not the smaller passage ways. This means they weren’t able to clear the parts that would make the most impact.

They are giving him Mucinex for him to break it up/cough up.

Please remember that Day 3 is critical for brain swelling, and we continue to ask for prayers. Visitation is still limited to family only.

Some numbers we have been monitoring are doing good and others not too good.

Intracranial pressure (ICR): fluctuating between 13-16 (Drs want less than 20)

Cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP): 62 (needs to be between 60-70)

PBTO2 (on the monitor is UAP and is the oxygen level taken off the bolt in his head): 7 (needs to be greater than 20)

Sodium (Na+): 156 (needs to be 145-155) even 156 is critically high, which means the brain is not doing well. They started free water flushes which means they put water down his OG tube and let it sit there for about 20 minutes. Then it’s suctioned out to see if it draws out any sodium.

Heart rate: 135 (needs to be 60-70) It started going up last night from 80 and spiked to 140. The nurse said 140 was equivalent to running a marathon. He was given more pain reliever and a liter of water.

The neuro trama tream and neurosurgeon will be coming this morning to determine the plan of the day.

Day 3 is critical, please keep praying that we get thru day 3.

There will be no visitors other than immediate family.

We have wonderful nurses that are taking wonderful care of Seth and to answer lots of our questions. We know that God is here with us and sees Seth.

When I grew up, this prayer was said every night before bed. Hannah, Ben and Seth said it too. Today these words are even more meaningful. Because we can’t stimulate Seth by talking or touching him, I whispered this prayer he was taught to pray:

Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen

Looking forward to a new day and better vitals tomorrow.

Darcy

Seth is stable with improved cranial pressures with increased sedation and pain meds. Days 2 and 3 are the worst for brain swelling and this is day 2. Visits are limited to family only. Please keep praying! We thank everyone who has stopped by, sent texts, and emails. We are humbled by all your acts of love.