Monday, September 15, 2008

Off to Rehab!

Terry is scheduled to move to the Physical Rehab floor today (Monday). He says that he plans to break all records (he is already lifting weights) and will be home soon. He is off of all IV's, which means that he can wheel around free of lines and tubes. The plastic surgeon anticipates that the right leg faciotomy will be closed up the end of this week...Terry's last surgery. So as soon as he gains his strength back and can move himself from bed to wheelchair to the comode, he should be ready for discharge. If renovation of his home is ready for handicap access, then the discharge will be to his house.
I will update this blog with new room number/phone information as soon as known. What a great day!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy to hear you are making great progress Terry. Keep up the hard work. We think of you every day!

Chris B.

Anonymous said...

Awesome. I knew Terry had alot of fight in him, but this is just freakin' awesome!

Anonymous said...

WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO

Kooz!

:)

ken said...

get er dunn terry and youll be home soon good to hear your doing so well.....god bless

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.