BajaNomad

Update on my son in law

thebajarunner - 6-2-2012 at 03:40 PM

Since I sort of ambushed another thread yesterday in my angst over the near fatal surgery on my son in law, and got so many nice responses (thanks Nomads) here is a brief update on the entire, nearly tragic, set of events.
We just returned from visiting him in ICU at Pleasanton, and the outlook is guarded but optimistic....

The bottom line, he is in ICU, heavily sedated, outlook is optimistic, the pulmonary issue is in debate (3 docs = 3 opinions)(They were trying to determine the cause of a pear size mass on his lung)
But, in the exploratory surgery yesterday the thoracic surgeon poked a hole in his heart and it all went down hill, and fast, from there.
The anesthesiologist called out a rapid decline in b.p., and they rolled him over to try and determine the problem and discovered the wound, as well as massive blood loss. In the end it was two stitches in the heart, a manual manipulation of the heart, then a series of cardiac shocks, followed by 7 pints of transfusion. This caused some severe edemic reaction, and so it went.

From a simple one inch exploratory incision with one surgeon they ended up with two cardiac surgeons, a cardiologist, two general surgeons and three anesthesiologists, all frantically working to bring him back. Code Blue to the max!!

He recognized us today, he is quite lucid in the sedation fog- they have given him heavy antibiotics to try and work on the lung mass, and that is all I know.
His mom is a retired nurse, she is happy with the care he is getting but feels that the level of indecision on the docs is going to necessitate a move to Stanford to find out the basic underlying problem.

Too young, at 40, to undergo all of this.

That is all I know for now- it appears the crisis was nearly fatal, now it appears recovery is likely.

Again, thanks Nomads for the encouragement, prayers and positive thoughts.

[Edited on 6-2-2012 by thebajarunner]

brother in law

captkw - 6-2-2012 at 03:53 PM

even through I dont know him..I'm glad you updated us and that he is gonna make it !!!!! K & T :cool: PS..no worrys about yesterday..more than understandable.:bounce:

desertcpl - 6-2-2012 at 04:06 PM

WOW want an ordeal,, yes he is way to young for all of this

glad he is improving, I agree with his mother he needs to go to Standford as soon as he is able to move

keep us informed

DENNIS - 6-2-2012 at 04:27 PM

Thanks, Dick, for the update. I wish you all well in this ordeal. I'll pray a bit too.

David K - 6-2-2012 at 04:41 PM

Praying for the best of outcomes!

Skipjack Joe - 6-2-2012 at 04:48 PM

Positive thoughts for your son in law. Hope that the mass in the lungs doesn't prove to be anything of importance. Stanford Hospital is a crapshoot IMO. I've had good experiences (Dr Dillingham) and bad experiences (ACL repair and prostatitis).

woody with a view - 6-2-2012 at 05:34 PM

WOW! all good thoughts here!

A huge thank you to all you Nomads

thebajarunner - 6-2-2012 at 06:55 PM

Sometimes you wonder if hanging out at this place is worthwhile,
then you get in a bad situation and Nomads come to your side with lots of encouragement and empathy.

Hey, we even got "D" and "D" to agree on this one.

Thanks again, he had a restful day, gaining, but slowly,
guess when you are that full of dope the day goes mellow, but it is a hard way to mellow out.

You all rock!!!!!

bajarunner

captkw - 6-2-2012 at 09:20 PM

as a youngin (51) and have been in baja 32-34 winters I stand by the FACT that almost all vagabundo's,nomad's, gringo's that spend a BIG part of their time down in baja are GOOD folks..I'm sorta new to the board..maybe two years..if that..and we are, in my opinion are a different breed..and a good breed at that.life is a short run and the people on baja nomads all have the simple fact that we all love spending time in baja !! we all, in some way,are part of this long island called baja.and trying to explain this to anyone that hasnt spent time down here is like peeing in the wind....wishing,hopeing,praying the best for what your family is going through..K & T

[Edited on 6-3-2012 by captkw]

Ateo - 6-2-2012 at 09:34 PM

Sounds like he's in the best of hands. Good luck. I wish you and your family the best!

bajarunner

captkw - 6-2-2012 at 09:38 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by captkw
as a youngin (51) and have been in baja 32-34 winters I stand by the FACT that almost all vagabundo's,nomad's, gringo's that spend a BIG part of their time down in baja are GOOD folks..I'm sorta new to the board..maybe two years..if that..and we are, in my opinion are a different breed..and a good breed at that.life is a short run and the people on baja nomads all have the simple fact that we all love spending time in baja !! we all, in some way,are part of this long island called baja.and trying to explain this to anyone that hasnt spent time down here is like ******* in the wind....wishing,hopeing,praying the best for what your family is going through..K & T

[Edited on 6-3-2012 by captkw]

brother in law

captkw - 6-3-2012 at 08:31 PM

HOPE WE GET SOME GOOD NEWS FROM YA ??? K & T

Nothing new

thebajarunner - 6-3-2012 at 09:42 PM

Had a restful day, still in ICU, still heavily sedated, on heavy anti-biotics while the medicos argue over what to do next.

Looks like he is pretty much out of danger,
but sure wish we could see faster recovery

Thanks mucho, for asking,
I will post if change,
also update in a day or two.

capt. mike - 6-4-2012 at 08:33 AM

Hang in there Bajarunner!
i am in same deal.

what peees me off is i am getting mixed signals from doctors - why can't they all agree? i thot is was science.
maybe not....

vgabndo - 6-4-2012 at 04:50 PM

Hey Capt. too bad people aren't like old trucks. A guy told me once to stop worrying about a noise my rig was making that I couldn't identify, no body could identify. He said, when you HAVE to fix it, it'll tell you exactly what's wrong. Afraid that isn't going to do you much good! Hang in.

DENNIS - 6-4-2012 at 05:34 PM

Anything new, Dick? Let us know.....please.

DanO - 6-4-2012 at 05:35 PM

Runner, I don't know you but I was distressed to hear about your son-in-law. I know the fear and anguish of having a loved one suffer a devastating injury and getting no clear guidance from the caregivers (not their fault, just the limits of their science). My 16-year old son had a traumatic brain injury in a bicycling accident in January. He was in the ICU for 9 days, the first three in a medically-induced coma, and spent another two and a half weeks in the acute rehab unit. After months of physical and cognitive therapy he's back in school part time and eagerly looking forward to our first trip down south since his accident. We can smile now, but that first few days, when the doctors couldn't pinpoint how bad the injury was or whether he would fully recover, were a living hell that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. My best wishes for your son-in-law's full and rapid recovery.

Quick update

thebajarunner - 6-4-2012 at 06:16 PM

Thanks for all the encouragement, and the questions.

I had to go to the Bay Area today so stopped by to see Alec.
Still in ICU.
He is still on "life-support' His ventilator is giving 60% of his respiration, but improving.
He is responsive, but still really sedated
His mom, the nurse, was smiling and assured me that the numbers are "improving"

Tomorrow we may (or may not) find out what the underlying problem is.... remember, they were trying to find his pulmonary problem when the surgeon sliced open his heart and caused all this subsequent trauma.

Stay tuned, and thanks again...

Off the ventilator

thebajarunner - 6-5-2012 at 07:16 PM

Breathing on his own,
extremely uncomfortable,
thinks it is Friday

DENNIS - 6-5-2012 at 07:18 PM

Great news, Dick. Thanks.

Final report

thebajarunner - 6-12-2012 at 03:40 PM

Alec is home, at last, just minutes ago.
Got out of ICU just yesterday after 10 long days (six on life support)
Still no clue as to the underlying issues that started this mess.
On to Stanford when he is a bit stronger for some answers.
(My nephew did his post-doc work there, and is still connected through his research grants- so we have strong allies for getting good help and diagnosis)

Thanks to all who asked, cheered for us, and yes, prayed for his ability to walk out of the hospital.

DianaT - 6-12-2012 at 03:53 PM

Very good news that he is home----now for even better news when he is fully healed. :yes:

desertcpl - 6-12-2012 at 03:54 PM

this is great news,, I am sure you and your family
are really relieved

David K - 6-12-2012 at 05:46 PM

Great!

Ken Bondy - 6-12-2012 at 05:53 PM

Wonderful news bajarunner! Hope the recovery continues to go well!! I have a brother-in-law who is about to start a bone marrow transplant at Stanford and he says very good things about the docs and the facilities. Muy buena suerte!