11/4/2019:
Taken 11/3: Caleb and Joshua enjoying the cards sent to Caleb.
Caleb arrived home late yesterday afternoon! All of his siblings were at home waiting for him when he arrived. I had his requested meal of Mama Asbell's Lasagna and three each of two different pies waiting. It was a happy reunion followed by a celebratory feast!
Caleb has a ways to go, but his surgeon said he is doing better than average! His lung and chest cavity are still inflamed and bleeding which was the goal as the two knit together. His body can absorb the fluid at this point. He can not have any anti-inflammatories.
Most patients are on hydrocodone and tramadol for a month after leaving the hospital which is why doctors do not let them drive or return to work. We were told to expect him to be on heavy pain killer for up to a month while needing pain relief for 2-3 months total.
Caleb has Rxs for both hydrocodone and tramadol but has not filled them. His pain level is 0 which has to be God answering prayers for his pain to be diminished. The surgeon and nurses could not believe the sudden change in his pain level that came after I asked everyone to pray. Thank you all again!
He is already at work on his college this morning!
He is having problems regulating his body temperature which could be from the blood loss or the weight loss from the events of the past month that put his BMI too low. His lung collapsed three times in October. The third time was right before his surgery.
Caleb has to get an x-ray of his lungs later this week. He can do that locally. Next Monday, he goes back to the hospital in Norfolk to see his surgeon. We are asking for prayers for a good report.
4:20 p.m. Caleb was allowed to take his bandage off and get his FIRST SHOWER since Sunday night! He said it felt "pretty good!" There is a concern with his incision sites. When I removed his bandage, it looked like he is developing a SSI (surgical site infection). I asked friends who are nursing professionals (one a wound care specialist), and they said it does look like an infection is trying to get started. We have cleaned and treated them with the Rx ointment given to us. We will use wound cleaner again later tonight. Clint, Caleb, and I will assess it in the morning and take action if necessary.
11/5 12:38 p.m. Caleb's incisions looked a little better this a.m. It's still "iffy." There is redness and two areas that look like infection. He is not running a fever, there are no streaks, the skin is just a tad warmer than the surrounding area, and he has no pain in that area. We will continue treating it as we are and assessing it frequently. Being on the surface isn't too much of a concern. Because an SSI could go into the muscle and then into his chest cavity, we have to keep a close eye on it.
Joshua is going to take Caleb to Williamsburg Sentara Hospital on Thursday for a post surgery x-ray that has been ordered. We were told by the surgeon we could have it done in Gloucester, but we have not been able to find a facility that will do it for him.
Starting later today or tomorrow, Caleb will travel with me locally until we have coverage for him at home. Thanks to helping friends, I have a lighter schedule but still have to do certain things. I can monitor his progress, which is quite good, and help him with the things he can't do for himself.
Caleb returns to the hospital Monday, November 11. He will be seeing his surgeon for a post cardiac thoracic surgery follow up. They will review the x-ray and give us information then. Please pray the aggressive mechanical pleurodesis surgery is successful so Caleb does not have to endure all of this again.
11/8 9:27 a.m.: Caleb had his x-rays done at Williamsburg Sentara yesterday morning. The experience was friendly, fast, and flawless! I wish other hospitals could operate as smoothly! After that, he and Joshua went out shopping and to a restaurant together. Later they visited CFA. Caleb was able to see his boss and co-workers. CFA is going to do a fundraiser to help our family with medical expenses which is very nice of them. Monday is the big day to get x-ray results, surgery outcome, and further instructions!
11/11 9:55 a.m. Caleb and Clint are on their way home from the appointment with the surgeon. They ran into dear friends from our hometown while leaving. The surgeon said the surgery was a SUCCESS!!! Praise God! His lung x-ray looked just like it should have! Because Caleb has not used any pain meds since he left the hospital and didn't get his Rxs filled, his surgeon has released him to drive and work. However, there is an issue. The nurses in the cardiothoracic hospital were not able to remove Caleb's stitches. Several tried many times. The skin has healed too thickly over top of them. The nurses were able to cut one, but they could not pull it out. They accidentally cut the tail ends off the other. There is no way to grab the knot to lift it and snip. They sent home antiseptic and a few other things to help up pull the stitches out at home. Please pray we can remove them at home. If not, he will have to be cut so they can remove them. He will have to have more stitches (not as deep) for that procedure. That will open him to another risk of infection and more scarring.
6:51 p.m. We tried some tips our sweet nursing friends gave us, but the one stitch that has been clipped will not budge. It pulls the skin on the other side (see: "hole" on image) inward. The harder we tug, (we didn't pull very hard) the further that hole is pulled inward. We think the knot is in there. Caleb said it is very painful which is not normal when removing stitches. Because the surgeon's incisions went through nerves, we are concerned we will cause nerve damage if we continue. The stitch that is intact is so buried in skin, it will be very painful for us to even try to lift it to snip one side. As much as we hate for him to have to be cut and then stitched back up again, we will make an appointment for him to have them removed.
7:09 p.m. The thoracic oncology nurse practitioner Caleb saw today said in an email we don't HAVE to get them cut out. She said his body will most likely push them out eventually, but we should get them checked locally if we can find someone to take him. The problem we've been having is that the competing hospital system in our county does not want to see him because he's been going to the other hospital. Then, because his charts say he is a cardiothoracic patient, none of the smaller doctor's offices will see him. They tell us to go back to Norfolk which is over 3 hours round trip. That's why we can't find anyone local to see him. The closest place is Williamsburg IF they will see him. Please pray for the Lord to lead us to what is best for Caleb.
11/12 6:27 p.m. Caleb told us he preferred we remove them if at all possible. We attempted, but the stitches are buried in skin. Clint called all of the local places again. They will not see him. Williamsburg Sentara just told us to call Norfolk. Norfolk wants it scheduled for next week. Clint is fed up. He is taking Caleb to Williamsburg Sentara's ER and plans to convince them to remove the stitches.
7:53 p.m. Finally!! After getting refused at some places and a run around at others, we found someone to take Caleb's stitches out in the Williamsburg Sentara ER! The PA there was able to take them out. Because the nurses in Norfolk did not understand the type of stitch used, they thought the stitches were too overgrown to be removed and would have to be cut out. This excellent PA explained their confusion to us and got the stitches out quickly without cutting Caleb! Thank you Lord for leading us to this knowledgeable man in the ER!
Chickfila is doing a fundraiser night and window jar for our family to help us cover our expenses. I will try to post when that will be.
Caleb has a ways to go, but his surgeon said he is doing better than average! His lung and chest cavity are still inflamed and bleeding which was the goal as the two knit together. His body can absorb the fluid at this point. He can not have any anti-inflammatories.
Most patients are on hydrocodone and tramadol for a month after leaving the hospital which is why doctors do not let them drive or return to work. We were told to expect him to be on heavy pain killer for up to a month while needing pain relief for 2-3 months total.
Caleb has Rxs for both hydrocodone and tramadol but has not filled them. His pain level is 0 which has to be God answering prayers for his pain to be diminished. The surgeon and nurses could not believe the sudden change in his pain level that came after I asked everyone to pray. Thank you all again!
He is already at work on his college this morning!
He is having problems regulating his body temperature which could be from the blood loss or the weight loss from the events of the past month that put his BMI too low. His lung collapsed three times in October. The third time was right before his surgery.
Caleb has to get an x-ray of his lungs later this week. He can do that locally. Next Monday, he goes back to the hospital in Norfolk to see his surgeon. We are asking for prayers for a good report.
4:20 p.m. Caleb was allowed to take his bandage off and get his FIRST SHOWER since Sunday night! He said it felt "pretty good!" There is a concern with his incision sites. When I removed his bandage, it looked like he is developing a SSI (surgical site infection). I asked friends who are nursing professionals (one a wound care specialist), and they said it does look like an infection is trying to get started. We have cleaned and treated them with the Rx ointment given to us. We will use wound cleaner again later tonight. Clint, Caleb, and I will assess it in the morning and take action if necessary.
11/5 12:38 p.m. Caleb's incisions looked a little better this a.m. It's still "iffy." There is redness and two areas that look like infection. He is not running a fever, there are no streaks, the skin is just a tad warmer than the surrounding area, and he has no pain in that area. We will continue treating it as we are and assessing it frequently. Being on the surface isn't too much of a concern. Because an SSI could go into the muscle and then into his chest cavity, we have to keep a close eye on it.
Joshua is going to take Caleb to Williamsburg Sentara Hospital on Thursday for a post surgery x-ray that has been ordered. We were told by the surgeon we could have it done in Gloucester, but we have not been able to find a facility that will do it for him.
Starting later today or tomorrow, Caleb will travel with me locally until we have coverage for him at home. Thanks to helping friends, I have a lighter schedule but still have to do certain things. I can monitor his progress, which is quite good, and help him with the things he can't do for himself.
Caleb returns to the hospital Monday, November 11. He will be seeing his surgeon for a post cardiac thoracic surgery follow up. They will review the x-ray and give us information then. Please pray the aggressive mechanical pleurodesis surgery is successful so Caleb does not have to endure all of this again.
11/8 9:27 a.m.: Caleb had his x-rays done at Williamsburg Sentara yesterday morning. The experience was friendly, fast, and flawless! I wish other hospitals could operate as smoothly! After that, he and Joshua went out shopping and to a restaurant together. Later they visited CFA. Caleb was able to see his boss and co-workers. CFA is going to do a fundraiser to help our family with medical expenses which is very nice of them. Monday is the big day to get x-ray results, surgery outcome, and further instructions!
11/11 9:55 a.m. Caleb and Clint are on their way home from the appointment with the surgeon. They ran into dear friends from our hometown while leaving. The surgeon said the surgery was a SUCCESS!!! Praise God! His lung x-ray looked just like it should have! Because Caleb has not used any pain meds since he left the hospital and didn't get his Rxs filled, his surgeon has released him to drive and work. However, there is an issue. The nurses in the cardiothoracic hospital were not able to remove Caleb's stitches. Several tried many times. The skin has healed too thickly over top of them. The nurses were able to cut one, but they could not pull it out. They accidentally cut the tail ends off the other. There is no way to grab the knot to lift it and snip. They sent home antiseptic and a few other things to help up pull the stitches out at home. Please pray we can remove them at home. If not, he will have to be cut so they can remove them. He will have to have more stitches (not as deep) for that procedure. That will open him to another risk of infection and more scarring.
6:51 p.m. We tried some tips our sweet nursing friends gave us, but the one stitch that has been clipped will not budge. It pulls the skin on the other side (see: "hole" on image) inward. The harder we tug, (we didn't pull very hard) the further that hole is pulled inward. We think the knot is in there. Caleb said it is very painful which is not normal when removing stitches. Because the surgeon's incisions went through nerves, we are concerned we will cause nerve damage if we continue. The stitch that is intact is so buried in skin, it will be very painful for us to even try to lift it to snip one side. As much as we hate for him to have to be cut and then stitched back up again, we will make an appointment for him to have them removed.
7:09 p.m. The thoracic oncology nurse practitioner Caleb saw today said in an email we don't HAVE to get them cut out. She said his body will most likely push them out eventually, but we should get them checked locally if we can find someone to take him. The problem we've been having is that the competing hospital system in our county does not want to see him because he's been going to the other hospital. Then, because his charts say he is a cardiothoracic patient, none of the smaller doctor's offices will see him. They tell us to go back to Norfolk which is over 3 hours round trip. That's why we can't find anyone local to see him. The closest place is Williamsburg IF they will see him. Please pray for the Lord to lead us to what is best for Caleb.
11/12 6:27 p.m. Caleb told us he preferred we remove them if at all possible. We attempted, but the stitches are buried in skin. Clint called all of the local places again. They will not see him. Williamsburg Sentara just told us to call Norfolk. Norfolk wants it scheduled for next week. Clint is fed up. He is taking Caleb to Williamsburg Sentara's ER and plans to convince them to remove the stitches.
7:53 p.m. Finally!! After getting refused at some places and a run around at others, we found someone to take Caleb's stitches out in the Williamsburg Sentara ER! The PA there was able to take them out. Because the nurses in Norfolk did not understand the type of stitch used, they thought the stitches were too overgrown to be removed and would have to be cut out. This excellent PA explained their confusion to us and got the stitches out quickly without cutting Caleb! Thank you Lord for leading us to this knowledgeable man in the ER!
Chickfila is doing a fundraiser night and window jar for our family to help us cover our expenses. I will try to post when that will be.
Thank you to everyone who has prayed for, reached out to, and helped our family through this! We are very appreciative and return the love to each and every one of you!
