Matt is now at Stage 5 of TBI. This stage includes the following:
-Agitation due to external sources of stress.
-Behavioral responses are random and fragmented, unless he has continual structure.
-Is distracted easily and constantly has to be re-directed toward accomplishing goals.
-Can respond to simple commands fairly consistently.
-Can not initiate functional tasks on his own.
-Memory is severly impaired: there is confusion between the past and present.
-Able to converse on social automatic level, but only with structure. The content of what is said is inappropriate and fictitious.
Colorado Eagles
Ryan Tobler, Grandma, Matt, Greg Pankewicz
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Matt is improving a little bit every day...
Matt is swallowing better on his own, so he no longer needs nutrition through an IV, nor will he need the PEG procedure done.
Rick was able to talk with Matt a bit more today. Matt told Rick that he would like to go to college to make something of himself. Rick was impressed!!
Grandma Leona, cousin Liz, and Matt's friend Scotty all flew in today to visit Matthew.
Thank you to everyone who has posted comments. We appreciate your support!!
Matt is swallowing better on his own, so he no longer needs nutrition through an IV, nor will he need the PEG procedure done.
Rick was able to talk with Matt a bit more today. Matt told Rick that he would like to go to college to make something of himself. Rick was impressed!!
Grandma Leona, cousin Liz, and Matt's friend Scotty all flew in today to visit Matthew.
Thank you to everyone who has posted comments. We appreciate your support!!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
There was a family consultation at the hospital today, where we learned several things:
1) Matt will be receiving speech therapy (which also includes swallow therapy), physical therapy, and occupational therapy (getting dressed, brushing your teeth, etc) every day.
2) He still is not swallowing very well on his own, so he is getting his nutrients through an IV. However, if his swallowing has not improved in the next couple of days, then a method, known as PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrotomy) will be performed. This is a non-painful, very low-risk surgical procedure, where a feeding tube is placed into his stomach. This method will be better for Matt, because it will give the stomach more activity, and help maintain appropriate weight levels and nutritional requirements.
3) The brain is so complex that the doctors can't really predict how long this process will take. Every person and every brain is completely different. However, they are very optimistic because Matt is improving a little bit everyday.
The MRI results finally came in, and it was reported that:
-Matt has a mild diffuse axonal injury, which means that the damage occured over a more
widespread area of the brain, rather than in just one specific area.
-There were no skull fractures.
-His spine and neck showed no damage.
-The 2 main blood vessels in his neck are still feeding blood to his brain.
During Matt's physical therapy session, he took a few steps, with the assistance of a walker and a nurse. He did, however, put on a shirt completely on his own!
Matt is still at stage 4. He gets agitated easily, is still confused and disoriented.
On a humorous note: Matt is swearing periodically (bring your earplugs Grandma), and when a doctor came in to visit him (she helped take care of him in ICU), she asked Matt how his brain was doing. And Matt replied, "My brain is full of poop!"
FYI- Only immediate family members are allowed to see Matt at this time. This is to help keep Matt's brain stimuli down to a minimum, for healing purposes. And, please, no cell phones!
Feel free to ask us any questions you may have, under the "comments" section.
1) Matt will be receiving speech therapy (which also includes swallow therapy), physical therapy, and occupational therapy (getting dressed, brushing your teeth, etc) every day.
2) He still is not swallowing very well on his own, so he is getting his nutrients through an IV. However, if his swallowing has not improved in the next couple of days, then a method, known as PEG (percutaneous endoscopic gastrotomy) will be performed. This is a non-painful, very low-risk surgical procedure, where a feeding tube is placed into his stomach. This method will be better for Matt, because it will give the stomach more activity, and help maintain appropriate weight levels and nutritional requirements.
3) The brain is so complex that the doctors can't really predict how long this process will take. Every person and every brain is completely different. However, they are very optimistic because Matt is improving a little bit everyday.
The MRI results finally came in, and it was reported that:
-Matt has a mild diffuse axonal injury, which means that the damage occured over a more
widespread area of the brain, rather than in just one specific area.
-There were no skull fractures.
-His spine and neck showed no damage.
-The 2 main blood vessels in his neck are still feeding blood to his brain.
During Matt's physical therapy session, he took a few steps, with the assistance of a walker and a nurse. He did, however, put on a shirt completely on his own!
Matt is still at stage 4. He gets agitated easily, is still confused and disoriented.
On a humorous note: Matt is swearing periodically (bring your earplugs Grandma), and when a doctor came in to visit him (she helped take care of him in ICU), she asked Matt how his brain was doing. And Matt replied, "My brain is full of poop!"
FYI- Only immediate family members are allowed to see Matt at this time. This is to help keep Matt's brain stimuli down to a minimum, for healing purposes. And, please, no cell phones!
Feel free to ask us any questions you may have, under the "comments" section.
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