Monday, September 8, 2008

Monday update

Terry is still in step-down, waiting the ok to start rehab. We are currently waiting on some pain control issues. He is having some sporatic episodes of 'nerve pain' which causes severe chest pain, much like a heart attack. The doctor believes that the nerves where the ribs were spread for the heart surgery are sometimes emitting electric type impulses that shoot across his chest wall, causing the severe pain. The doctor has prescribed some neuropressors to see if that will control these, as well as some topical lydocain patches (evidently the morphine does not do much for nerve pain). I never heard Terry complain much about his pain before, but these attacks are really hard on him, so I hope the new meds take effect soon.
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What Happened?

On Saturday, August 2, at approximately 11:30 a.m. Terry McDowell was involved in a head-on collision on Ormond Road in White Lake Township, MI.

An unknown young-adult fell asleep at the wheel, crossed over into the opposite lane, and struck Terry's van head-on. Police are still investigating.

Paramedics rushed Terry via helicopter to Beaumont Medical Center's Trauma Unit. He is in stable, but critical, condition and is currently in the Intensive Care Unit.

From what we know, there is no damage to the spinal cord or brain. He will undergo more X-rays and scans today to determine if there are further injuries. His injuries, as of Sunday, Aug 3 at 10:00 a.m. include:
> Broken right femur
> A compound fracture in his left femur
> A broken tibia
> A shattered ankle
> Slight cut to his liver
> Dissected aorta
> Fractured pelvis
> Unknown back injury
> Three broken ribs

Terry underwent 11 hours of surgery on Saturday evening. The first surgery was cardiac surgery to repair the damage to his torn, or dissected, aorta. They performed non-invasive heart surgery and used a stent to repair the aorta. The surgery was completed without complications.

The second surgery was orthopedic surgery to repair his broken bones. He came out of surgery strong, but remains in critical condition due to the complications that could arise from heart surgery and a compound fracture of the Femur.

He is expected to remain in the ICU for at least 48 hours.