Hi everyone. Just a quick update. There was a little confusion with how I wrote the last post. Unfortunately Britney hasn't talked yet. I said hi to her and she looked at me. She has made sounds but hasn't talked yet. She has been much more responsive though. Her curtains were opened up a few days ago and she opened her eyes and looked all around the room like she was figuring out where she was. When people talk to her she looks at them. Her therapy is going better since she got her baclofen pump.

Britney is waking up more

Hi everyone,
Thanks for your patience between posts. I was able to go to Colorado last week after being up post call and flew home the next day. It was amazing to see Britney, and to be with our kids. Britney woke up when I came in her room and said hi and looked right at me. A few days ago she was stretching her arms and head. She has been more awake and looking at people when they talk to her. She has made some sounds but hasn't said anything yet. She is still at Kindred because we are not able to find a skilled nursing facility that will take her because of insurance issues. We are working with a lawyer to help her qualify for social security disability for nursing home care and to work with our insurance to cover her at Kindred until she can find a skilled nursing place that will accept her. In the mean time she has continued to get great physical therapy and become more responsive the past few weeks. She will be at Kindred until we get this figured out. We will post as soon as she goes to a new hospital with directions for all of you wanting to visit. Thank you for all of your support and prayers and birthday messages for Britney.

Happy Birthday Britney

Britney is 28 today. She was really sleepy this whole last week but has been awake a lot of the morning. I got to tell Her happy birthday and she blinked a lot when I was talking to her. I miss her so bad today. Lots of her friends have been wishing her happy birthday on her facebook account. Vera was sick last night and can't make it to the hospital to tell her mom happy birthday. Jonas is going to come with Casey. We may have to do a cake another day. Even though her recovery is slow she is recovering. Every time I get discouraged I get a really strong peaceful feeling she will make a full recovery, that she wants to come back and will. She isn't suffering in pain anymore because of the baclofen pump which is such a great blessing. A great birthday present to not be in pain, and to be awake to know her family loves her.

I had a great time with Jonas, Vera, and Jessah last weekend. They went back Wednesday morning. Britney is very very comfortable. She has been more sleepy with fentanyl patches for pain after her surgery. I'm not sure if the Baclofen pump is helping her wake up but she has been very relaxed. It is much much better than watching her suffer in pain. She has been lifting her legs off the bed more and more the the last few days and smiled today. I got to tell to her hi on the phone tonight. I really miss her. It was great having the kids here but I miss her really bad. I was really depressed that she hasn't been waking up more since she got her baclofen pump but every time I worry I get a really peaceful feeling like she will come back. I can't describe it but I have always had it everytime I doubt. It's what keeps us all going. Britney's sister Mckenzie got married yesterday and Vera woke her up that morning to tell her it was her day to be a princess. Vera is obsessed with princess movies. She has talked about the wedding non stop for the past two weeks and couldn't stop talking about it tonight. I couldn't make it cause of work. My call schedule got changed around. I will have a hard time getting back to Denver the next 7 weeks because of my hard rotations Trauma and Orthopedics. I get one day off a week and if I get to fly out I can only stay for less than 1 day after being up for 30+ Hours and coming back to work 12 hour days. I have already done 3 weeks like this. After this I will get to go back more. We are trying to have Jonas and Vera come back with someone else in a few weeks so they don't go too long without seeing me. We talk on the web cam a lot and it helps.

very comfortable

Britney has been much more relaxed since she got her pump. They increased her dose 2 days ago. She has much less pain. Her heart rate is much lower and her face looks relaxed and she has been able to sleep much better. Dr. Yager and many of her nurses think that she has progressed a lot since getting the pump and has been a lot more aware. I called a few days ago to have the nurse tell her I love her and she woke up and looked at the phone when she heard my name. Jonas, Vera, and Jessah are coming to Tucson tomorrow for 4 days. I can't wait to see them.

Back at Kindred

Britney did very very well today. She was uncomfortable for a few hours this morning but her pain got under control and she slept most of the day. She came back to Kindred tonight and is breathing very well and has a normal heart rate for the first time in a few weeks. She will be monitored in the ICU at Kindred for a day or two until she gets used to the pump so they are sure the dose she is on is not too much because Baclofen can affect her breathing.

Pump is in

Casey just called and he just finished talking to the NeuroSurgeon who is very happy with the surgery and the pump placement. The catheter that goes in her spine can stay in for a long time and the actual pump lasts for 3 years. It is under the skin in the abdomen, and can be changed out easily. They did extra infection precautions because she is colonized with MRSA and are continuing her antibiotics as a precaution. 30%+ of all people have MRSA in their noses, and it is a common problem for people who have trach's to have their trachea's colonized because of routine trach care by heath care workers who are colonized. It's good they are taking extra precautions. She will stay at Sweedish hospital for 12-23 hours to monitor the function of the pump. After that she may go back to Kindred or stay at Sweedish Rehab floor to be monitored for a few more days after that. Please call the Fosters before you visit so you can be sure to visit the right place. I will put up a post when we know where she will be going. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers today.
John