After evening visit

Things went well tonight. I shaved my brother's face and he tried to help me. Mike would pull his upper lip tight and I would say like this and he would say uh-huh. He enjoyed the shave. Also his best childhood friend called, Mike Osbourn. They have kept in touch through the years. I put the phone to his ear and Mikey said, "Hey Mike". Mike Os. was so excited. He laughed so hard when he heard I was shaving Mikey. He knows I really didn't know what I was doing. So Mike stayed awake most of the evening. Mother was slipping him ice chips which Mike would chew and swallow but the nurse wants us to hold off on the chips until his swallowing test tomorrow. Then all Mike would say is, "ice chips, ice chips, or chips, chips". We hope to hear more on Mike's rehab tomorrow. Again, thank everyone for all of your prayers, messages, and donations that will help Mike and his family on his rehabilitation.

A Day In Step-Down A-K-A Step-Up

So far it has been a good day for Mike. Last night he kept pulling his nasal cannula oxygen off so the nurse just took it off. He has now remained on room air through out the night and today. Sometimes he is totally out of it, just staring into space and not responding to anything. Then all of a sudden he'll become aware of his surroundings and surprise you with a great big smile and call your name. He wasn't responding at all and I was talking to my daughter, Nicole. I decided to put the phone to his ear and she said, "Hello Mikey". To my surprise Mike said, "Hello Nicole". What joy! He continued to speak... like, I love you, miss you, and bye Nicole. Later on I did the same with his son, Jesse and his wife, Rochelle. They were so excited too. You have to talk slow and give him time to respond. But it is just great. They didn't do the cat scan today. But they have scheduled it for tomorrow. Will continue with comments after tonight's visit.

Gray skies are slowly clearing up

Mike was more awake today. He recognized a good friend today, Paul, and spoke his name when asked. Mike appeared to stay awake most of he day and this evening was dozing a lot and sleeping. He still needs to be reminded each day of where he is and why. He gave us all kisses and even blew his mother a kiss when he saw her. We were so surprised this evening at our 8 pm visit. Thirty minutes after we arrived they came and started gathering all of his medical supplies including him and his bed and started moving Mike down the hall. So great news! Mike has been moved to "Step-Down" which is really a step up for him. His condition is now ICU-Shock Trauma Intermediate Care stable but guarded condition. Prayers are working. A giant baby step in his recovery. Tomorrow morning, another cat scan will be done to see if there is a build up of blood or fluid and to compare with the last scan . This will determine if a shunt needs to be inserted into the brain to drain excess fluids. Sorry I was misinformed that it was going to be the Acute Care Unit by someone. So the visiting hours are the same: 12 noon till 6:30 pm, and 8 pm till 10 pm. Mike is now on 4 North-Room 8. Will post again after the cat scan report. We will all sleep better tonight.

Taking An Opportunity To Thank You

I am at the hospital and Mike is sleeping peacefully after a meeting with his speech and physical therapists (they gave him an "A" on progress!). It occurred to me that I have not taken the opportunity to thank the people who are helping me with this blog, distribution of flyers and organization of the Ford Mustang raffle: Check this out!

Alex Brown - thank you for sharing your expertise and making my very fundamental blog easier to read and locate! Sheilagh Barndollar and Scott Zelt - for coming up with and organizing the raffle, Kevin Titter for your incredible artwork with the poster! Sherene Bracho - thank you for your hardwork in the distribution of "who knows how many" flyers around the many race tracks to help Mike's friends and loved ones stay informed! Last, but not least, a huge thank you to Sally Goswell of Fair Hill. Without your gracious donation of time and energy acting as a collection location and central information gathering spot, I doubt we all could be pulling this together! Thank you to the Maryland, Delaware, Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Horsemen's Associations for your help and thank you too for the trainers who are posting a link to Mike's blog on their personal websites spreading the word of Mike's accident and our efforts to help.

The pride I have always had in my brother has grown twofold (if possible) since his accident. I once was told during a crisis in my life that I was actually fortunate because I was being placed in a position where I would find out who my true friends really where. It was a true statement! And Mike is now in such a position. His family are overwhelmed at the incredible number of Mike's true friends who are stepping forward on his behalf. One day soon, I know Mike will be overwhelmed too.....and for this I am forever grateful!

Nancy Rehm

Update on Mike's Recovery Process

Good morning to everyone around the world that has called and/or emailed my sister Nancy regarding Mike's condition. I just want to clarify a statement I posted in an earlier blog. A neurosurgeon told us when Mike was first admitted that he should or could make a full recovery baring any unforeseen complications. In medical terms, this means a long and uneventful time of rehabilitation in a brain injury rehabilitation center once he is released from the University Hospital. We believe in the power of God and prayer and believe that my brother wouldn't even be here right now if it hadn't been for God and everyone's prayer. We also believe that he is in God's hands and He is healing Mike, watching over him and will continue to do so. Apparently my earlier remark led some to believe my brother is fine and will soon "get up and walk out" of Shock Trauma ICU. Unfortunately, this is just not going to happen. He remains in critical guarded condition and still has to go to the "Step Down Acute Care Shock Trauma Unit" and then to a "Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center".I would also like everyone to know they may visit my brother from 12 noon to 6:30 pm and from 8 pm to 10 pm daily at the University of Maryland Medical Center-Shock Trauma Unit. He may not always know you are there, but is beginning to recognize visitors other than family members. He is in 4 South-Room 15. Thank everyone again for the thoughts and prayers. Will post more tonight.

Hello everyone. Today was an okay day. It has been raining here in Baltimore for several days. So the sky is dreary and the atmosphere around you. Mike is doing well. He has opened his eyes several times today and has mumbled. Mother thinks since I have done pediatrics for so long that the way I talk to him gets him to communicate the best. I act up silly playing peek a boo with his eyes which makes him open them and sing," love to love you baby", which makes him say I love you too Cathy. So....................blame it on my pediatric training. I'm loving it and hearing it. The case manager is thinking way ahead and working on finding a rehabilitation center for him. Of course we want the best brain injury one they can find. Mike still though is in the Shock Trauma Unit in guarded critical care. The fevers continue and so does the oxygen, tube feedings, and IV antibiotics. Tonight after the fever dropped Mike became aware of us being there and started mumbling again but you could make out a lot of it. He knows he is in the hospital, our full names, and when I tell him to look at the pretty nurse, he'll look towards them. Tonight he asked us to pray for him and then to pray with him. Of course we did and when he appears to be at ease his heart rate will go to normal and his respirations also. All is good tonight and God is good. Good night.

Mondays update

Mike remains in the Shock Trauma ICU in critical guarded condition. The days are beginning to run all together. The roller coaster ride of emotions seems never ending. Yes, we are all very exhausted but will not leave Mike's side until he is better. The nurses told us today that this is normal. Yesterday was a good day, today uneventful. Mike continues to open his eyes sometimes looking right at you, but other times right through you. He has not mumbled today. Through the night last night he was grabbing at every tube he could so now they have what looks like white boxing gloves on his hands. He remains on mask oxygen at 50%. Tube feedings continue also. The good news is there have been no steps back but also no steps forward. Most importantly he seems to rest peacefully and rest is always something he's needed. Please keep your prayers coming. Good night to all.

What a busy day

Mike had a very good day. He will open his eyes when he hears you walk in and if he knows you , a big smile appears on his face. Ask him and he will say your name also. You have to listen good at times to understand. God is good. A lot of family members came to see Mike today so now he is all tired out. They did find a source of a small infection. Probably from the urinary catheter. But he still tends to run fevers on and off during the day. Mike continues to breath on his own but remains on oxygen by mask. Coughing way better and getting rid of his mucus. Nancy increased the guestbook message size, so feel free to leave a message for Mikey.

June 24 2006-Just returned from hospital

Well it has been another one of those days. Mike was still on the pressure oxygen mask but it just wasn't doing its job. He went back on just the oxygen mask. Everything is good as long as he would cough and get rid of his mucus. The nurses have to do chest PTA constantly and suction him a lot to get his oxygen levels up high enough. But he will open his eyes and is mumbling. It is very hard to make out what he is saying. Sometimes you don't want to know what he is saying. He said to me, "it's bad isn't it"? Or feel my legs. We (mother, Nancy and I) constantly reassure him that the doctor said he will make a full recovery and not to worry everything is being taken care of. Thank you for your messages and prayers. Good night.

Mike and his family

Rochelle, Matthew, Jesse, Mike, Hunter and Gracie

Bringing you up to date

Today is the first day we have been able to let you know about Mike's condition. Thanks to our sister Nancy for preparing this blog site so I am able to update you.
It was a very scary experience to hear on June 16th your only baby brother had fallen off a horse and had to be air lifted to a trauma hospital. Victor, an emergency room nurse kept us informed until he was placed in the ICU Shock Trauma Unit. Mike had to be placed on a ventilator and have a tube inserted deep into the brain to drain the bleed that occurred with the fall. My mother (Shirley) and I(Cathy) arrived in Baltimore that evening. Mike did squeeze our hand and it appeared that he knew we were there.
By the next day, June 17th he was fighting the ventilator tube trying to cough it out and chew it in two. To everyone's surprise they removed the breathing tube. When you have one in you are unable to talk so the first thing we did was ask Mike, "Do you know who this is?" He said Cathy. Then mother tried and he said Momma. We were so excited. The Shock Trauma Unit has very strict visiting hour rules and we were told we had to leave that evening.
We are told that you can take two steps forward and then four steps back. Recovery is a day to day process and Mike will have good days and bad days. The next couple of days were not so good. Mike continues to respond to painful stimuli and becomes unresponsive to voice commands. He never did slip into a coma but is unresponsive at times. Especially when he runs a temperature up to 104 degrees. There is no infection that they can find yet. They culture everything almost every day.
Today June 23rd Mike did the two steps forward and the four steps back. They had removed an artery line, the drainage tube from his head, the feeding tube from his nose to the stomach, and was on nasal cannula oxygen. They placed another feeding tube through the abdomen just for now until he is awake enough to swallow better. The problem is that he is not strong enough nor awake enough to breath deep and cough. He needs to do this to exchange oxygen within his lungs and cough up mucus. So now he is on a pressure mask with oxygen. This pushes the oxygen deep into his lungs for proper exchange. Tonight he has another fever and when this happens he becomes unresponsive. The Critical Care doctors think that the high fevers and high blood pressures are coming from the brain injury. All of the nurses are so very nice and try to keep us calm. I will update you more later. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.