Moving our of ICU

Hi Everybody!
Were you missing the latest and greatest update yesterday?  HA!  Yesterday seemed to be a busy day and I just didn’t seem to get around to publishing the latest episode of this soap opera, so thought I’d pop in and fill you in today!

Yesterday, Sam’s head dressings were removed.  Jere said he opened his eyes and ate a half of a waffle stick and a few dried Frosted Flakes.  Glad his appetite choices haven’t been effected from the surgery!  He then felt sick to his tummy and took a little rest.  Nausea has been a HUGE issue with little Sam.  As you know, the tumor was sitting in the spot responsible for the feeling of nausea/vomiting so the combination of surgery in that spot along with the heavy doses of meds that make you feel sick anyway, really messes with his tummy.  They did begin him on Tylenol 3 w/codeine and when he can keep it down (more than half the time) it really seems to help alleviate some of the pain.  From the picture I sent out yesterday of Sam after the dressing was removed, you saw that he does have a drain inserted in the top of his head to drain off spinal fluid. This seems to be going well and they don’t foresee Sam having a permanent drain inserted.  Hooray!  That would mean back to surgery.  The plan for now is to maybe clamp it off (the drain) and watch how it does over the next day or two, making sure his body can control the pressure levels in his brain on his own.  If it looks like it can, doctors will remove the drain at his bedside and then numb him up and give him a stitch or two (bedside) to close the little wound there.  This might happen Sunday or Monday.  Sam seems most comfy with his head turned to the side and now that the dressings have been removed, I was able for the first time to peek at the back of this head.  He has about an 8 inch incision running north to south right in the lower, middle back of his head, like right above his neck. Doctors said the wound looks great and no sign of infection.  The hairdo they have given him, however, has left a lot to be desired!  As my friend Julie said, doctors are not hairstylists!

Yesterday afternoon he was taken down for an MRI to check to see if there was any residual tumor left from the surgery.  The process of moving him from his bed into the MRI machine was painful to watch and hear.  But he was such a trooper and laid perfectly still for the 35 minute procedure.  One of the resident neurologists stopped by after the MRI and said he took a peek at the film and from what he can see…..they got it all.  :)  AHHHHH!  Made me teary eyed-with joy and made me wanna kiss Dr. Boaz on the lips.  He said we still have to wait for the final read from the radiologist today, but he thought it looked good.  Still waiting for the pathology report-maybe by the end of the week.  During the surgery, they did take a quick peek of a tumor tissue sample and a first glance at it did reveal that it is one of two types of something that would require additional treatment.  I’m dancing around the word here you all know needs to be used, because I just can’t bring myself to type it.  But we are SO HOPEFUL, especially since they think they got it all and we know so many people everywhere are praying for Sam.  It’s been incredible and everything has been going so smooth, so “as well as can be expected” so we know that God is listening to those prayers.

We felt it necessary to call Jack back from “camp” to spend some time with him and to give him a bit of his “normal” back at home.  We also didn’t want him getting use to being entertained 24/7!  HA!  My cousins and friends have really stepped up to the plate and have taken such great care of him, taking him to practices, out to dinner, movies, slumber parties, etc.  He’s been spoiled!   I spent some time with him yesterday morning and then Jere went home and spent the night with him last night.  Jere thinks he really liked being back in his own little domain, playing with his own toys and sleeping in his own bed.  Tonight it will be my turn while Jere stays here with Sam. It will be hard to leave, as I’m sure it was for Jere-although I know he was really looking forward to sleeping in a laying down position finally as we have been chair sleepers for the past couple days.  :)

While Jere was home with Jack, I had two great visits with two different groups of people.  Two of my teacher friends came and spoiled us with an insane amount of food.  I mean, it looks like I’m getting ready to host a picnic over here!  Loaves (yes, that is plural!) of yummy bread from Panera, as well as lunch meat, fruit, salads, cheese slices, cheese cubes (seriously, did that size bag come from Costco?), all the fixins for a sandwich (like lettuce and stuff) all wrapped in (and this is my favorite part) Debbie Meyer Green Bags!!!  Hilarious!   Also stashed in the bag was some cookie dough and a few small bottles of wine.  HA!  You all know me too well.  Once I feel up to it, I’ll definitely be having a smorgasbord!  Thank you!  Then my cousins came along, yummy fresh salad from Charleston’s in hand, and talked with me for a bit. It was so nice having them here when we got the call that Sam would be moving rooms-from the ICU back up the fourth floor where we were before the surgery.  They were wonderful…helping me transfer all of the thoughtful goodies you all have sent our way-up to our new room.  It was so fun moving him together.  Once in the room they took care of organizing all of our things, positioning the balloons just so, organizing a fruit basket, etc.  They got a little carried away!  And then…..I saw it!  A couch that pulled out into a small bed!  I think I heard angels singing! Our new room is very nice and it will be a nice place to relax in while Sam recovers.

Sam now has what’s called a “sitter” in his room-a person who sits and watches to be sure that he doesn’t pull out his head drain.  They have a person watching him 24 hrs a day until he gets his drain out.  Last night, his first sitter was “Carlatta” and it would take another email to tell you about my evening with her.  Funny!

A nurse gave him a sponge bath today as well as changed his sheets and although he was a bit uncomfortable, I think he feels tons better now.

Okay, I think that’s it for now.  I’ve been working on this email since 10:15am and it’s now 3:38pm….lots of things to do.  I’m exhausted  :)  Thank you again for ALL OF YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS!  Love you all!
Ery & Jere & Jack & Sam

My cousin Lori giving the thumbs up…”Go Sam!  Go!”

Lori holding the sign his cousins made for Sam.