Day 6

This morning, Dad called and gave me a very positive update.

The physical therapists were in and got him out of bed. The two therapists told him he had to keep his eyes open while he was up and Dad said he kept them open for the most part. They had him stand by his bed and then walk in place to help him get his balance. He didn't have any problem there, so they had him walking around the halls, dad following with his IV. This wasn't a hunched over or dragging walk, but a walk standing-up straight without incident.

Todd's sense of humor appears to be coming back more and more. As they were washing him in preparation for his walk, one of the nurses said, "I'm washing your back now." Then when finished there said, "I'm going to be washing your bum now." Whereupon Todd said, "Hmmm, this is great, I'm going to have to come here more often."

Another time he didn't recognize Amy, and after being told it was Amy, the nurse asked Todd if he knew who she was. He said, "That's the first one I married."

While walking, the therapists were having him do all kinds of tests to check his physical level and ability. One of them told Todd to squeeze her hand. When he did, she said, "Geez, I said squeeze it not break it. I want you to gently squeeze the other hand now." Dad also made sure Todd knew that his two therapists were rather small and if he fell, he would take the therapists with him.

Apparently all of the doctors, nurses, and therapists working with Todd have agreed that once they can get Todd off from all the drugs, he should be able to start talking and thinking more clearly. Right now he still slips between dream-state and reality in his conversations. While this is a little fun from an older-brother point of view, especially when he decides to start singing, I'd rather have him lucid.

Tonight, Mom said that she talked with Todd and could understand most of what he said. She also reported that he ate a plate of mac & cheese, some yogurt, and drank a glass of juice and milk. My dad said that they will evaluate his eating progress after breakfast tomorrow and if things are staying in his stomach, they will take the feeding tube out of his nose.

After dinner, my dad reported that he and Todd watched Oceans 11. Watched? That's right, today my dad said he kept his eyes open 80-90% of the time. I can't wait until tomorrow when Alex and I go for a visit.

Day 5 - Update from Mom

As of 8:10 Sat. night MDT Amy told me that Todd is tolerating the food well that he's receiving in his feeding tube. It will be a constant drip. It started at 20 cc and every couple hours they increase it. After a struggle with Todd pulling the tube out the first time, his dad explained to him today the importance of it, and so far Todd is not fighting the tube this time. The heart monitor is off him, and he only has one IV.

Thanks every one for your prayers and your love for each of us.

Sue

Day 5

I just finished a phone call with Todd. Alicia took Maddie and Alex to go walk in the Pioneer Day parade downtown while I watched Oliver until Amy came to freshen-up. So I haven't seen him today and I probably won't. Tomorrow I will check before I go in since Sunday is the day a lot of people try to visit. It is a tiny half-room and a lot of people visiting make it difficult.

I talked with Todd on the phone because he was talking to Dad and told him that he was going to kick my butt (well, it was stronger word than that) because I hadn't called him back yet. So my dad called me up and had me talk to him. His first words were, "What's your problem?" When I told him I didn't know what he was talking about, he informed me that I haven't taken care of the 500 humanoids yet. I told him I was busy lately with Oliver, but I would get right on it.

We then had a pretty good conversation where some of it was dream-state and some of it was very real. At the end he expressed how upset he was because he knew this wasn't only hurting him, it hurt many people and they were crying, saying they didn't know what to do. I assured him that no matter what we feel, we were there for him, would take care of things, and it was more important that he forget about how we feel and focus on getting better. He said he understood. Of course he also gripped about the doctors.

From my perspective, the doctors have been fabulous. It could be easy to treat patients like pieces of meat, especially after they have had strokes and are not all that responsive. However, these doctors and nurses take the time not only to talk to Amy and whoever else is there and explain what is going on, but they address Todd and talk him through what is happening, even if he seems to be asleep. These are even more reasons the University of Utah Medical Center is listed in US News and World Report's list of best hospitals in 2007 (link).

By the way, while I was looking at the link to US News and World Report, I ran across and article that lists music as medicine for the brain, especially for stroke victims and for those who have involuntary tremors. Todd has been asking for music and today was listening to some. The link to the article is here.

I think the only negative thing I have heard so far is my dad fear that Todd's convulsion episodes are getting more pronounced and frequent. The explanation I remember for the episodes is that the phantom pain from the pain centers induce a kind of circadian rhythm. This is similar to when some people tap their fingers or hands onto something when they have a headache or feel nausiated. This kind of rhythm helps us cope with the pain. These are just big circadian rhythm patterns.

Day 4

I hope no one views this little bit of footage as me making fun of my brother. Much of my family lives far away from here and while news and talking on the phone is good, some images and even video may be a way to keep from going crazy wondering what is really happening.

Today I saw Todd as clear and animated as I have seen him yet. In this verbal exchange, he even initiated conversation. The thing to keep in mind is that the doctors have Todd on some pretty heavy drugs for the phantom mental pain (two of the strokes hit pain centers of his brain; this has caused his brain to believe there is pain where no injury exists).

The video is a small except of a larger conversation which really was more of a protracted interaction with one of his dreams. He was asking us for a set of tiny, tiny, tiny, tiny keys that secured some music in a car. He didn't feel we would take care of it properly. At the end of this segment he is talking about not wanting a scary woman to come back. We're not sure if this was a nurse, or someone else from the dream state he was in. Overall we were all glad to hear his voice pretty clearly again. Both Dad and I think it sounds like Todd when he was about eight. Amy said this is his sleep-talking voice.

The other good story from today came from an instance when Amy asked Todd for a kiss. When Todd gave Amy a little kiss, she said she wanted a "real" kiss. Todd then put his arms around her and gave her a long kiss.

Todd still isn't opening his eyes much. He has for doctors and upon request most of the time. He is also sleeping a lot (which again is very good - see post on 5/15 for details and a link).

The problem today is that Todd needs to get real food into his body. The doctors said they have studies that show the earlier they get real food into a patient's body, the faster they recover. Todd can't eat on his own, so they tried a feeding tube in the morning. That didn't last long. Soon after they put it in, Todd sat up and when he raised his arms, his thumb caught the tube and yanked it right out. They were going to try again tonight or tomorrow afternoon. If that doesn't work, they may put a surgical feeding tube in his side that heads straight to his stomach.

By the way, in case anyone out there has forgotten or doesn't know, family, friends, and any who wish are fasting for Todd from dinner Saturday night to dinner Sunday night (don't eat dinner Saturday and don't eat until dinner Sunday night). Remember that the power of fasting comes along with the prayer and faith exercised during the fasting.

Amy also wanted to let those who wish to help know that the two things that would help the most right now are 1) freezer meals that they can use over the coming months and 2) donations at any Mountain American Credit Union (they have set-up a fund in Todd's name, just ask for the Todd Thelin fund). By the way, if you go to the web site, recognize that what you see is Todd's handiwork.

Day 3

I didn't make it to the hospital today. Mainly because I didn't leave work until 7pm and I needed to get some sleep.

I found out from Amy and my dad that Todd opened his eyes today. Not for very long, but both my dad and Amy asked Todd to open his eyes for them and he did. He was also able to focus on them for a few seconds and said he could see them.

There were also some conversations. Todd talked over the phone to his mom and some siblings. He didn't initiate thoughts from what I understand, but he did respond to words and questions and even added some of his sense of humor. While still slurred, his words were not random or parroted.

Day 2

The stroke team at the Univeristy of Utah Medical Center has determined that Todd has had three strokes. Each of them in a very critical area of his brain. The good news is that these strokes were not very deep into his brain. This team has run their own CT scans, MRIs, chest x-rays, and now EEGs. This is Todd hooked up to the EEG machine.

Todd has again been sleeping most of the time. While he still hasn't opened his eyes, he has said a few words with a little bit of slur still lingering in his voice. He has also been able to make his body do what has been asked of him. He can raise and lower limbs, move around, or perform other motor control functions. Just as important to me, there isn't a paralysis of one side of his body. For some reason this seems like a very good sign.

Day 1

On Tuesday, July 15th, Todd experienced a stroke. We understand that in the morning at work, his co-workers heard him vomit at his desk. When they arrived, they saw him sitting with his head in his hands. He was unresponsive to any questions, but was breathing normally. They called 911 immediately and he was rushed to the Jordan Valley Hospital.

At the hospital, he was responsive, but had slurred speech and would not open his eyes. His mouth drooped to one side for a little while and he talked about taking care of his work responsibilities. He also had convulsions where his arms and legs flailed in the air, but were not full-body seizures (his tongue was not out of his mouth, it was only certain parts of his body, and he seemed to keep some degree of control).

They ran a bevy of tests including a CT scan, chest x-rays, an EKG, and an MRI. After all but the MRI they ruled out a stroke and from x-rays and a doctor listening to his lungs, diagnosed him with pneumonia. The admitting doctor said that pneumonia had commonality with things like meningitis and could cause brain injury symptoms. This didn't make sense to us and we said as much and continued to emphasize our opinion that it was a stroke and the reasons why we thought it was a stroke (slurred speech, drooped side of lip, and obvious mental impairment). I even asked the emergency room doctor after looking they looked at the CT scan if they were sure this was not a stroke. They said they were sure it was not a stroke, especially after looking at the CT scan which she said was "clean."

The next morning, they finally agreed with us (probably after the MRI showed some indications) and wisely determined they would send him to the University of Utah Medical Center where they have a stroke center and a stroke team.

The biggest problem in my mind is that along with the large number of drugs they pumped into him during the first two hours he was there to combat viral, bacterial, and other possible problems, they did not administer any stroke medications, despite our constant admonitions that we believed he had a stroke. Therefore, the vital three hours passed without the key help he needed despite being in an emergency room.

Todd has been sleeping most of the time. I have learned that this is good. Jill Taylor, a neuroanatomist was recently on Fresh Air on NPR and talked about what it was like to have a stroke and map its progress as it was happening, but more importantly, what key elements are most important for recovery. Instead of keeping the brain engaged as much as possible, Dr. Taylor argues that sleep allows the brain to heal more fully. A link to the site so you can listen is here.