ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Inquiries => Topic started by: Emcee on December 08, 2008, 09:06:02 pm
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Hi Everyone:
We thought we would provide you a brief update on Ken's translab surgery today. The surgery lasted 8 hours. Our daughter and I visited with Ken
shortly after he was brought to the ICU. He talked to us the whole hour we were there. He said that his jaw and neck were quite sore, possibly due to the position during surgery. He's blinking and smiling ;) and is his usual witty self.
Thank you all for your kind words and well wishes.
Talk to you soon.
Michelle
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Michelle -
excellent news!
Please give our best to Ken and welcome him to the world of "posties".
Thanks for the update; now get some rest.
Jan
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Michelle~
What a GREAT report! Remember that it is still a long road...don't let Ken overdo it!!
Continued good healing!
K
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Michelle,
Excellent!!! We like good news around here.
Syl
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Credit where credit is due - the magic scarf strikes again (even if it hasn't arrived yet)!
Thanks for the update, Michelle, give Ken our best. We look forward to more of his humor when he gets back on the forum shortly - and some pics. :D
Steve
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Great report, Michelle! Thanks for the update and so glad to hear he was doing so well while still in ICU (I couldn't come out from under my washcloth to look at anyone or speak to anyone). Steve's right, the Magic Scarf is doing wonders! Hope he continues to so well! Do let him know we're thinking of him,
Cindy
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From one Canucky to another - - CONGRATS on such an awesome outcome! But be sure to take it easy!
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Here's hoping Ken's Day Two passes with relative comfort and ease. Hugs and cheers coming your way...!
Debbi
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Thanks, Michelle. That's great news. Please give Ken our best -- and by all means, whenever that scarf shows -- please get a picture.
Hmm, I'm wondering if we should start a Scarf Hall of Fame.
David
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Hi, Michelle:
Thanks for the update on Ken and let him know we're very pleased with what appears to be a good outcome. Prayers were answered - and a magical scarf probably didn't hurt, either. ;)
Jim
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<Michelle
AWESOME AWESOME NEWS....
JO
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Hi Michelle!
Great news about Ken!! ;D ;D ;D Please give him my best wishes for a speedy, eveventful reocvery. I look forward to hearing about his progress.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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Michelle,
Thanks for the update! So glad to hear Ken's over the hurdle and can work on recovering now! You folks from Canada are tough! ;)
Lori
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Hello Everyone:
Thank you all for your kind wishes. I printed off your messages and read them to Ken last night. We are still awaiting the arrival of the magic scarf.
Ken was disconnected from the IV yesterday morning and was moved from ICU to a ward room late afternoon. He was definitely is definately feeling like he was hit by the proverbial bus. He is experiencing heightened sensitivety to light and sound.
I visiited with Ken this morning for a couple hours. When I arrived, I noticed that he was hooked up to the IV again. When I asked about it, Ken said that he had a seisure last night while they were trying to move him to another floor in a wheelchair. It was caused by dehydration.
While I was there an ENT and his neurosurgeon dropped by for visits. They did a a facial movement test and Ken scored a 2 out of 6, which is pretty good. He has slight palsy on the AN side which may or may not go away. His neurosurgeon confirmed that a small amount of the tumour was left to preserve the facial nerve.
Today they are going to disconnect the cathedra and try to get him up and walking a bit.
That's all for now.
Michelle.
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Michelle:
I'm sorry to learn about Ken's dehydration-caused seizure and his palsy which I hope and will pray eventually resolves. Even so, if he is being disconnected from the catheter and encouraged to walk around a bit, that is definite progress! I trust this improvement will continue and Ken will soon be home and on the road to a full recovery. :)
Jim
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BRAVO! Glad it's over for you and now begins the healing process. As you know from roaming around this site people see improvements with their facial palsies in time and I pray the same for you. I'm sure it must be difficult right now coping with this and coping with balance, hearing, eyes, fatigue and hopefully not too much pain. Make sure you close your eyes to rest a little in order to "quiet" the vestibular system that works overtime for you, practice does make perfect when it comes to rehab exercises and please be patient not only with yourself, but those around you too. They cannot "see" what you feel and don't understand what you are going through. They see you looking well, but in reality you are not feeling well so this is a difficult time when people continue to tell you how well you look. Inside you feel chaos and sometimes see the world through Picasso's eyes, this too will pass the more you challenge your vestibular system.
Rest is "key" and accepting your "new" normal will make life easier.
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Sending more good wishes to Ken (and virtual scarf magic, too!). And, several gallons of water to help him stay hydrated. This is one of those times to "drink up."
I think the whole sensory overload is pretty common - as it was explained to me, the brain is confused and traumatized and doesn't like a lot of noise, color or anything else. Quiet moments are essential. I spent a lot of time those first few days with my eyes closed (well, one was taped shut, but whatever ;)) because the visual stimulation was just too much for me.
Grade two on the facial scale is pretty good! I'm still not there yet, so it's easy for me to say that 2 is good. Two is obvisoulsy not good when it's your face. :) The palsy sounds mild enough, though, to hope for a quick and full recovery. I'll be sending you some extra good energy and prayers on that.
Hopefully today is a little better - that's usually the way it goes, slow but steady progress from one day to the next. Any idea when he'll be "sprung" from the hospital?
Debbi
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Hello All,
Photo's of the surgical site. Not extremely flattering, but it is me!
(http://i418.photobucket.com/albums/pp263/kccollett/IMG_4441.jpg)
It has been 8 days since the operation, I'm at home now, and things are moving along. A bit of a flat day today. Cannot have all the excitement and challenges over so soon or it would be back to work for me! Being pampered at home is much better!
Cheers!
Ken
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Not too bad at all.
Your incision is nice and close to your ear. My incision kind of stuck out like this < behind my ear.
Jan
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Nice! I bet all the other guys will be jealous! Seriously, your surgeons did a nice job - nice and close to the ear.
Continue healing - and take lots of naps...
Debbi