Dear Friends, We want to STRESS how important it is for Angela not to be overwhelmed with visitors at this point in her recovery. My wife and I are both critical care nurses and we want to speak from our experience.
This is a critical time in Angela's recovery. She is going to need rest so that she has energy for the physical therapy that will allow her to regain her strength and her mind. Please, Please, Please try to keep your visits short and be mindful of her energy level. There will be times when she will need to rest during the day. With her move to a different unit the nurses will not be able to regulate the visitors as closely as was possible while she was in intensive care. With cold and flu season upon us we want to reinforce some simple principles. Please DO NOT visit if you have a cough, fever, runny nose, sneezing, or any flu-like symptoms. Please ALWAYS remember to wash your hands before entering the room. This is one of the most simple and most powerful ways you can protect Angela from infection.
With love for Angela and Troy, Chris and DeAnn Springer
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
*Update as of 3:22pm*
Hello Everyone,
Theresa called me with the following news and updates. This post will have some important information on it for everyone.
*The medical team removed the catheter that was draining the fluid from Angela's brain. Her body is now functioning by draining the fluids on it's own.
* Her doctor took her off of the blood pressure medication, as the spasms in the brain have pretty much subsided and the blood doesn't need to be pushed through the vains as a safety precaution any longer.
*Her morning CAT scan was very positive
* The medical team has moved Angela OUT OF INTENSIVE CARE!!!! Whoohooo!!!!!!!!!!
***IMPORTANT NOTES***
- Updates - From here on out updates may not be on a daily basis, depending on the importance of news to share. The blog will still be available and important information will be posted as soon as possible. Comments are still and always welcome so Angela will have lots and lots of wonderful things to read from you. Please also feel free to share prayer requests and praises.
The following information in is regards to Angela's new room and visitation. We need every one's help to be sure that during visits she is able to rest as much as possible. This is vital to her recovery.
- Please limit visits to 10-15 minutes until she is more stabilized.
- Friends - Please consider 1 visit per week per person/family to avoid a large influx of people on the medical staff and immediate family members until she is more stabilized. This will change over the course of her recovery as she becomes stronger.
** Troy wants me to go ahead and post her room information:
University of Nebraska Med. Center
Clarkson Tower
Room #6854
Finally and most importantly please join with me in a prayer of thanksgiving:
Lord God Almighty,
We praise You and thank You Lord for what You have done and are continuing to do for Angela, and for our family & friends. Lord, we thank You for Your love and mercy in letting us have Angela here with us to enjoy and cherish and that You have saved her life twice. Lord, we are priviledged to have this blog to be able to share with her, her family, and her friends and to testify of You and Your work in her life. Lord You deserve ALL of the honor, glory, and credit for the great thing You have done. Draw us even closer to Yourself Lord and may we never forget what You have done here and for all of us. Yeshua, You are Lord over all things! In Your name we pray, amen.
Theresa called me with the following news and updates. This post will have some important information on it for everyone.
*The medical team removed the catheter that was draining the fluid from Angela's brain. Her body is now functioning by draining the fluids on it's own.
* Her doctor took her off of the blood pressure medication, as the spasms in the brain have pretty much subsided and the blood doesn't need to be pushed through the vains as a safety precaution any longer.
*Her morning CAT scan was very positive
* The medical team has moved Angela OUT OF INTENSIVE CARE!!!! Whoohooo!!!!!!!!!!
***IMPORTANT NOTES***
- Updates - From here on out updates may not be on a daily basis, depending on the importance of news to share. The blog will still be available and important information will be posted as soon as possible. Comments are still and always welcome so Angela will have lots and lots of wonderful things to read from you. Please also feel free to share prayer requests and praises.
The following information in is regards to Angela's new room and visitation. We need every one's help to be sure that during visits she is able to rest as much as possible. This is vital to her recovery.
- Please limit visits to 10-15 minutes until she is more stabilized.
- Friends - Please consider 1 visit per week per person/family to avoid a large influx of people on the medical staff and immediate family members until she is more stabilized. This will change over the course of her recovery as she becomes stronger.
** Troy wants me to go ahead and post her room information:
University of Nebraska Med. Center
Clarkson Tower
Room #6854
Finally and most importantly please join with me in a prayer of thanksgiving:
Lord God Almighty,
We praise You and thank You Lord for what You have done and are continuing to do for Angela, and for our family & friends. Lord, we thank You for Your love and mercy in letting us have Angela here with us to enjoy and cherish and that You have saved her life twice. Lord, we are priviledged to have this blog to be able to share with her, her family, and her friends and to testify of You and Your work in her life. Lord You deserve ALL of the honor, glory, and credit for the great thing You have done. Draw us even closer to Yourself Lord and may we never forget what You have done here and for all of us. Yeshua, You are Lord over all things! In Your name we pray, amen.
No News Yet Today
Hi Everyone,
No news yet today on Angela's progress, but you know I'll post any updates as soon as they come in : )
*Please keep Don in your prayers, he is in an extreme amount of pain in his hand.
No news yet today on Angela's progress, but you know I'll post any updates as soon as they come in : )
*Please keep Don in your prayers, he is in an extreme amount of pain in his hand.
Monday, January 22, 2007
*Update - As of 2:25pm*
Troy called with the following AWESOME news: Look at what The Lord is doing today!!
*Angela had her first physical and speech therapy sessions today. She did very well. Her speech is somewhat hampered, but we are praying for her full recovery.
* The readings regarding the vasospasms in the brain are way, way down and so she is pretty much out of the woods as far as that stage of healing goes.
*She was able to eat a little applesauce today.
*The fluid drain may be able to be taken out tomorrow. AND..... she may be able to be moved out of intesive care tomorrow too!!!! : )
***Troy asked for prayer for Angela's ability to process information and peace of mind. She still has a little bit of trouble with dilusions at times and he is praying for her complete mental recovery. This is a normal part of the healing process for the brain, and so he is not scared. He asked if we would pray with him too.
*Angela had her first physical and speech therapy sessions today. She did very well. Her speech is somewhat hampered, but we are praying for her full recovery.
* The readings regarding the vasospasms in the brain are way, way down and so she is pretty much out of the woods as far as that stage of healing goes.
*She was able to eat a little applesauce today.
*The fluid drain may be able to be taken out tomorrow. AND..... she may be able to be moved out of intesive care tomorrow too!!!! : )
***Troy asked for prayer for Angela's ability to process information and peace of mind. She still has a little bit of trouble with dilusions at times and he is praying for her complete mental recovery. This is a normal part of the healing process for the brain, and so he is not scared. He asked if we would pray with him too.
Notes
Hello Everyone,
WhooHoo!!! We are rejoicing over The Lord's work in Angela's life!!!! I'm excited to hear what new news there will be today!!
Some notes until then:
**Please continue lifting Troy and Angela in prayer. Their insurance is 90/10 and Troy is expecting a hefty amount of medical bills. He is confident in The Lord's provision, so let's join in prayer and thankfulness with him knowing that God will release those funds into Troy's hands at just the right times. Please continue to pray for physical & emotional comfort for Angela while she recovers.
**Note from Tracy: **Reminder, Avon Fundraiser for Angela and Troy. Please log onto www.youravon.com/tnickell or attend an open house on February 3rd. See entries on January 17th for more information. All profits will go to benefit the family. We have received a lot of interest. Lets pull together and make this a great success. Thank you, Tracy Nickell
**Dad Kohls will be having a follow up doctor's appt. His doctor will be determining at that time, if they will have to amputate his middle finger down to the knuckle. The family is praying that The Lord will restore his hand so that he can still use it, but we all remain confident that whatever happens Dad is safely in The Lord's hands.
WhooHoo!!! We are rejoicing over The Lord's work in Angela's life!!!! I'm excited to hear what new news there will be today!!
Some notes until then:
**Please continue lifting Troy and Angela in prayer. Their insurance is 90/10 and Troy is expecting a hefty amount of medical bills. He is confident in The Lord's provision, so let's join in prayer and thankfulness with him knowing that God will release those funds into Troy's hands at just the right times. Please continue to pray for physical & emotional comfort for Angela while she recovers.
**Note from Tracy: **Reminder, Avon Fundraiser for Angela and Troy. Please log onto www.youravon.com/tnickell or attend an open house on February 3rd. See entries on January 17th for more information. All profits will go to benefit the family. We have received a lot of interest. Lets pull together and make this a great success. Thank you, Tracy Nickell
**Dad Kohls will be having a follow up doctor's appt. His doctor will be determining at that time, if they will have to amputate his middle finger down to the knuckle. The family is praying that The Lord will restore his hand so that he can still use it, but we all remain confident that whatever happens Dad is safely in The Lord's hands.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
** As of 7:01pm **
Greg just emailed me with the following information about Angela. It's GREAT news!!
Theresa and I were up seeing Angela this evening, here's what we heard:
**Speech therapist will be coming in tomorrow to assess her swallowing to determine if she can take foods orally and have the feeding tube removed.
**Occupational therapist will be in also to help her start working on her motor skills.
**They have elevated the brain drain to see if her body will handle the fluid that is there. If so, they'll look at a timeline to possibly remove the drain. If her body does not handle/absorb the fluids, they'll start the process again to see if can get the result they're looking for - i.e. removing the drain. The nurse indicating that Dr. Thorell does not like to move his patients out of ICU until the drain issue is addressed - either the body is handling the fluids and there is no need for a drain, or they may look at a more long-term drain solution. She is having some headaches as a result of the drain being raised, but the nurses are providing pain-relief.
**She still has some fever fluctuation, but it could be tied to the pneumonia not being completely out of her system yet.
**She is moving quit a bit - which is normal for neurological patients. She's also opening her eyes pretty regularly - and is recognizing people and having some limited conversations.
**The vasospams appear to have passed.
Theresa and I were up seeing Angela this evening, here's what we heard:
**Speech therapist will be coming in tomorrow to assess her swallowing to determine if she can take foods orally and have the feeding tube removed.
**Occupational therapist will be in also to help her start working on her motor skills.
**They have elevated the brain drain to see if her body will handle the fluid that is there. If so, they'll look at a timeline to possibly remove the drain. If her body does not handle/absorb the fluids, they'll start the process again to see if can get the result they're looking for - i.e. removing the drain. The nurse indicating that Dr. Thorell does not like to move his patients out of ICU until the drain issue is addressed - either the body is handling the fluids and there is no need for a drain, or they may look at a more long-term drain solution. She is having some headaches as a result of the drain being raised, but the nurses are providing pain-relief.
**She still has some fever fluctuation, but it could be tied to the pneumonia not being completely out of her system yet.
**She is moving quit a bit - which is normal for neurological patients. She's also opening her eyes pretty regularly - and is recognizing people and having some limited conversations.
**The vasospams appear to have passed.
*Update - Angela & also Don*
I haven't heard from the family today. It's been a little busy with everything going on. However, our cousin Jennifer called my husband saying she had been to both hospitals to see Angela and also our dad. She said the following things:
** Angela is doing remarkable. She recognizes everyone and knows who they are and she is moving around alot. She is not comfortable in the bed too much so she is trying to move into more comfortable positions.
**Dad Kohls is out of surgery and his doctor was able to re-attach his fingers. It was his index finger and middle finger on the right hand. He will need more tests in a few days to discover more information about the use of his fingers at that point.
Thank you Lord for everything You've done today... all of the details big and small.
** Angela is doing remarkable. She recognizes everyone and knows who they are and she is moving around alot. She is not comfortable in the bed too much so she is trying to move into more comfortable positions.
**Dad Kohls is out of surgery and his doctor was able to re-attach his fingers. It was his index finger and middle finger on the right hand. He will need more tests in a few days to discover more information about the use of his fingers at that point.
Thank you Lord for everything You've done today... all of the details big and small.
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