I have decided to post a running update on Colton's condition as so many of you are inquiring. Thank you so much for your support!
October 28, 2008
Colton headed back to hospital
The hospital called today and changed our plans for Thursday - not for the better. The surgeon decieded he wanted to use this stuff called Intergra. It is some kind of special dressing thing that causes increased tissue growth which will help with comfort when he gets his prostetics. The problem with this is that he will havve to have it on his knees for two weeks before they can do the grafts. And we have to be in the hospital to monitor it. So, our overnight stay just became a 2-3 week stay. Colton doesn't know yet. He is going to be ANGRY!! I keep trying to tell myself this isn't a setback, just a change in plans. But it still stinks!
Michelle
October 23, 2008
We had another appointment today. Things are looking good. The surgeon (who is our main doctor) saw Colton today. He said it looks pretty good that with a small amount of reconstruction ("pulling down a flap of skin") he will be able to reverse the colostomy eventually. I did not ask for a time frame on that - doesn't really matter when - just that there is a "when." The skin grafts on his bottom and left thigh are healed and looking good. The donor sites on his back are healing and looking good. His right knee is healing and now only needs dressing changes once every three days instead of every day. His left knee is healing, just not as fast. We will have surgery again next Thursday. The plan of the doctors is to shave the R fibula and stitch up as much of the knee as possible and do a small amount of grafting on it. Then remove the L fibula, stitch up what they can and do some grafting (more than on the R). They will also be removing the fixator rod from his right thigh. Hopefully all of that will result in everything getting healed up. Cross your fingers and say an extra prayer!! Colton is in good spirits still. We went to visit with the First Responders that were at the scene last night. That went really well. They were glad to see how wonderful my miracle child is doing and Colton thought the ambulance was pretty neat - he remembered being in it but did not have any apparent anxiety about it. Well, Grandma just called and he is ready to come home. He has been playing at her house since 6:30 and it is now 8:00!
Thank you for everything and all the prayers. They are definatley working!
Michelle
October 13, 2008
We have made it through our first days at home. If you thought I was a schedule fanatic before, you should see me now. Our day is filled with teatments, meds and therapy. And then, of course, Carter and his schedule! But Colton seems to be doing pretty good. Dad made him a little scooter board he can lay on and push himself around. And Steve took the wagon that hooks to the riding mower and filled it with blankets and pillows and pulls him around outside. His donor sites are pretty healed and the lotion doesn't even bother him any more. Most of the grafts on his bottom are healed and so is most of his left thigh. The knees are different story. They look pretty yucky still. I just hope they don't have to be regrafted. We start with appointments tomorrow. So far, it looks like we will have appointments at the hospital on Mondays and Thursday, but that could change as time goes on. One thing I know that hasn't changed is Colton's zest for life. After all that he has been through, he is the same loving, smart, silly little guy he has always been. Thanks for everything you guys have done and for all the prayers. I know we wouldn't be this far without them!!
Michelle
October 7, 2008
Well, they are saying we are going home Thursday. We had to sit in on the wound cleaning today so we can attmept it on our own tomorrow. Kind of scary! But Mommies have to do what Mommies have to do! He will have all his IVs out on Thursday and we will just be on oral meds. We are all looking forward to getting out of here and getting home for some peace and quiet. THen next week the chaos begins as we schedule all of our clinic appointments (burn clinic, ortho clinic, pain management clinic, etc.). Hopefully we can get them all on the same day. THat is about all I know for now. THank you to everyone for all you have done to get us through this difficult time.
Michelle
October 3, 2008
He had a good day today. We were able to lay him in a wagon and wander around the hospital. There are a lot of fun things to see. Colton LOVED it!! It really lifted his spirits. He is completely off his IVs - no pain meds. Well, he has to hook up long enough to get his antibiotics, but that is all. He is taking all meds via mouth now and eating a little more than yesterday. Tomorrow they are going to change his bandages and take the staples out of the grafts. The docs say there is one spot on his left knee that they don't know how it is doing but that one spot won't stop us from going home. It can either be regrafted later or it may just seal itself up as the skin regenerates. We'll know more tomorrow. He has been fever free all day!! Once the skin is going good, we need to figure out the therapy process. Hopefully will figure that out next week.
Well, better get back in there. Will let you guys know tomorrow how it went when they changed the bandages.
Michelle
October 1, 2008
First I want to thank everyone who has responded so posiively to helping the Newman family. I received this e-mail from Colton's mom and with her permission I am passing this news on to everyone. Again thank you for all your help!
"Cross your fingers and keep those prayers moving!! The docs said all the skin grafts look good and all the donor sites look good. They will do a dressing change on Friday again. But, they say we MAY (I am hoping but not counting on it) be able to go home as soon as the end of next week!!! THey will be able to say more for sure after Friday. We still have to figure where the fevers are coming from. They don't know because the wounds don't appear to have infection and the cultures all come back negative. Sometimes it is just from too many meds but there is no way to test for that. He has to be taking all medication by mouth (we are working on that), eating enough food and off the morphine. They showed us the pictures today of the graft sites (YUCK!!) but the damaged areas were not as extensive as I was expecting them to be. When he gets up from his nap this evening they are going to put him in a reclining wheel chair with some extra padding and we are going to be able to get him out of the room for a while - maybe even outside for some fresh air!!
So, my miracle child is still amazing everyone. I know he is as amazing as he is because of the many, many prayers he is getting. We wouldn't be this far without them. Thank you to everyone. We couldn't do it without you!
Cautiously Optimistic,
Michelle Newman"
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