June 4-3 1810

At last report, Tyler has a slight temp, and the staff is still working on controlling his BP. It seems the level and quality of care Tyler is currently receiving pales in comparison to the ICU, yet we are told attention given him is fine. We are going in early tomorrow to straighten out any inconsistencies, then we're touring a few rehab hospitals. Tyler's continued care is concern number one.



“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your common sense.”
~Gautama Buddha

June 4-2 1250

Ty is doing OK in his new room. He tries to speak, but still can only say simple words. The care is quite different here than in ICU, and even though this is a sign of progress, it will take some getting used to. Tyler's BP is a bit high, which the staff is treating, other than that all his numbers are stable.


We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are.
~Anais Nin

Update

Tyler's new location
North 9
922 Bed 2

June 4-1 0615

Tyler did well in his new digs, sleeping through the night. All his vital signs remain stable, and we've started redecorating.



Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.
~Kahlil Gibran

June 3-4 2120

Tyler was well enough to be moved to a step down room on North 9, details will follow, and we will be glad to schedule visitors. Patience, as always is required.


In raising my children, I have lost my mind but found my soul.
~Lisa T. Shepherd

June 3-4 1700

When asked, the nurse said he was doing beautifully. They're waiting for a room to open on another floor, and Ty will move on.


There is no agony like bearing an untold story inside of you.
~Maya Angelou

June 3-3 1500

Tyler returned from his small procedure, and as soon as the staff gets the order, they will begin feeding him again. The nurse said this was the quickest and best procedure of this type she had ever seen (45 minutes). All Ty's numbers continue to be good.




The God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
-Psalm 18:32-34

June 3-2 1000

Most of the wonderful Frisbee staff.

The physical therapist was in to evaluate Ty for future therapy. She feels the prospects are very good, but will take time and effort (like we didn't know that). Rabbi Lazowski stopped in. I love that man. There is such a peaceful countenance about him that makes me sure all will be well.

Update 2

I got to pose with some of the masterminds of the event.

Most of you know there were 2 fund raisers for Tyler last Saturday. The morning Pancake Breakfast, and an afternoon Frisbee Tournament. I want to begin posting pics of the tourney since I was just able to access them. (The hospital network is glacially slow and inefficient)


Tyler continues to react and respond well. He speaks one word at a time very softly.

Update

Tyler is much more aware than before. He was wide awake, and seemed bored silly. I asked if he wanted to watch some TV, and he gave me a hearty thumbs up. Baby steps.

June 3-1 0530

Another restful night, and all is well with the vitals. Ty has the final procedure scheduled for sometime this AM to complete the PEG (stomach feeding tube), and they can commence filling him full of calories, and testing his own feeding reflexes. The neurosurgeon looked at his latest CAT scan and decided to hold off replacing the section of Tyler's skull. The brain swelling is down, but there is some residual fluid that the MD would like Ty's body to reabsorb. Since the skull section replacement procedure isn't an emergency, it's better to be safe than sorry.


He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.
-Revelation 21:7

June 2-3 1700

Tyler had the nasal feeding tube removed, and a procedure was conducted to allow supplemental feeding through a small tube through the skin and into the stomach. This will make him more comfortable, allow him to eat normally when he's able, and permit his admittance to a rehab hospital when appropriate.
We have taken down all the cards and artwork in preparation for his pending move to a step down room. We're still not sure when that will be. Currently the nurse tells us Tyler is doing excellent, he's a bit more alert, and all his vitals are good.
He's busy watching the Discover Channel.


To be nobody-but-yourself -- in a world which is doing its best night and day, to make you everybody else--means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.
~E. E. Cummings

June 2-2 0810

Tyler is resting comfortably. I called Larry Fiddler (of the Lakota Nation), all the wonderful folks in South Dakota are still praying for Ty, and Larry assures me, Tyler will be just fine.

May 2-1 0600

Once again Tyler had a restful night. He continues to follow commands, and enjoys smiling at the nurses. Tyler will be moved to another room in the near future, but we're unsure exactly what day.


Life is a pure flame,and we live by an invisible sun within us.
-Sir Thomas Brown

June 1-3 2000

Tyler is getting a cleaning before bed. All things remain status quot. We are going to look at follow on rehab facilities on Sunday.
We're exhausted, and just saw a little girl with a dog fly by in a house (severe storms here), so I guess it's bed time.



When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.
~Thomas Jefferson

P.S.

The staff is talking about moving him to a different room (step down) in the next day or so. The MD wants to meet in the next week or 10 days regarding reconstructing his skull.

June 1-2 1230

Much is happening. Tyler seems far more aware, and the nurse says he threw a ball to her earlier. The Doppler exam testing for blood clots was negative, and all the other numbers look good. Hopefully, the next step is to examine his swallow reflex as a precursor to giving Ty real food.

June 1-1 0630

Puppy Diva, and her 2 humans.

Tyler slept comfy for several hours, tried brushing his own teeth, and was able relate the facts that he was in Hartford Hospital, and the year was 2011. Absolutely amazing... We're not sure Tyler knew the year before the accident.

May 31 -3 1900

The speech therapist ask him his name and he said in a quiet voice, "Tyler". Fewer sounds could be sweeter to the ear. All other vitals are good.



“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.”
-Og Mandino

May 31-2 1315

Tyler is sitting in an upright chair for the 3rd time. The nurse asked if he wanted to watch TV and he verbally said yes. With periodic plateaus, we expect him to make little strides. We established a bank account for Tyler:

Windsor Federal Savings
c/o The Tyler Pollock Support Fund
P.O. Box 250
Windsor, CT 06095

Blog Note

Proud to announce we just reached 150 official blog followers. Thank to all for the love and support.
Below are the locations showing where the blog views are originating. (For the life of me, I can't think of who we know in India), but all are welcome.


Pageviews by Countries
United States
8,600
Netherlands
23
India
12
United Kingdom
7
Germany
6
Canada
5
Russia
5
Malaysia
4
Denmark
2
Australia
1

May 31-1 0540

The Earth is slow, but the river is patient.

Ty had a good night as he slept for the majority of it. The process of fine tuning and balancing the meds seems to be working. All his vital signs remain constant and within expected limits.


You must not for one instant give up the effort to build new lives for yourselves. Creativity means to push open the heavy, groaning doorway to life. This is not an easy struggle. Indeed, it may be the most difficult task in the world, for opening the door to your own life is, in the end, more difficult than opening the doors to the mysteries of the universe.
~Daisaku Ikeda

May 30-3 1720

The place it all happened, The First Congregational Church. Over 300 served.

Spencer, the brains behind operation "Pancakes for Tyler".

This continues to be a fine tuning day for Ty. The trick is to balance the meds so he gets the maximum awareness with the least agitation. It seems when TBI patients start becoming aware, the electrons don't always fire efficiently, leading to an agitated state. As tough as that is to see, it's a positive sign, and a part of the long healing process. The MD said he was very pleased with Tyler's progress to date.

May 30-2 1230

Tyler is resting easier with the new meds. His vitals are good and he is sleeping a lot more. Hopefully a quiet, restful, healing day.

May 30-1 0700

Ty's room. An unreal testament of love for Granby's son.

Tyler was given some medication to calm him down, and he slept through the night. At 4:00, the staff woke him and he was responsive with a normal temp.

“When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hold on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.”
- Harriet Beecher Stowe

May 29-4 2330

Two of our intrepid and dedicated kitchen staff.

Tyler continues to fight agitation and higher than normal BP, but we are still taking steps forward, occasionally they may be slow.

May 29-3 1610

Tyler, overall is doing OK. His brain and his bodily systems are still trying to realign after the trauma. Bottom line, this is a challenging time for him, with occasionally fluctuating vitals, but none of these reactions are atypical. We are viewing this as progress, Ty's recovery in no way will be a simple linear progression. It will be fraught with challenges to overcome..



As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world…as in being able to remake ourselves. ~Mahatma Gandhi

Head Scan

Up above is the head scan that's going to be used to help make Tyler's protective helmet.

May 29-2 1100

Overall Ty is doing well. His BP fluctuates, but the other numbers are good. As is typical with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI), they typically can get very agitated when off sedation or pain meds. Apparently that results from the neural network in the brain rebooting, to borrow a phrase from the IT world.


I'm not going to be able to add quotes from the hospital due to technical difficulties (most likely operator error). I'll consult the IT pros here at Tyler International asap.

May 29-1 0820

Tyler had a good and restful night. All numbers and vitals remain constant. If Ty continues on his present course, we have crossed the first of many major hurtles. The nurse is going to sit him up in the chair soon. More to follow.



But those that wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
-Isaiah 40:13