1st Clinic Follow Up Visit

1st Clinic meeting was today - For lengthening turns Matthew has been doing, 4 RFemur, 4 LFemur, 6 RTibia and 3 LTibia - since the problem with the locking nut dropping out - but as the tibias are now caught up Dr. Standard wants us to do 4 all around for 2 more weeks - then to go in for next clinic appt. on the 9th, (I'm thinking I'll have Matthew take extra calcium to help build bone) - then we will see if we can speed up - Dr. advised that if we go too fast, the new bone may end up being weaker and thinner/narrowed, and we don't want that happening, so will see how he is doing first. He is still getting 90º on knee bends, his ankles are flexing well and everything looks good. He has reached 15 mm on femurs and 8 mm on tibias so far, so we are doing well. Monday is Yom Kippur, so the hospital is closed, which means we have a long weekend from therapy coming up. At the cafeteria today they were playing bingo for employee appreciation day. We thought it was just for employees, but Matthew played along for fun anyway. Turns out anyone can win - so he did just that! - On the final game it was to 'cover the board', and he tied for winning with an employee - they got $25 each! - Too funny! - He wants to go to the mall tomorrow! For those of you that like to write - he'd love to get a card or two - they can be sent to: Hackerman-Patz House, 2434 W. Belvedere Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21215 Attn: Matthew Drake, rm. 101. Well, have a good weekend everyone, talk to you soon, take care!

All goes well.

Finally got an appt. for ENT - at 2pm today. Hope everything can be fixed up. Therapy is going well - still able to get to 90º. Therapist says he is going very well - no problems. After therapy had quick lunch with Marlo and Lois, then left for appt, downtown. Was given prescriptions for decongestant, antibiotic and nasal spray - hopefully these will do the trick. They want him back at the end of Oct. to do a hearing test - so we'll see then if it all makes any difference. On the ride there and back, Matthew got himself into the front seat with his knees slightly bent resting on cushions. Much prefers riding forwards instead of sideways, and doesn't give him any pain, so I think that's what he'll be doing from now on. It's movie night at the house tonite, so that should be fun, Talk to you all tomorrow. Take care.


Therapy Video

ENT appt. coming up.

Woke late today - had to rush to therapy for 11 - then we went up to clinic for the exray to make sure the right leg was ok as a locking bolt on top part of fixator dropped off last week. It seems that we weren't gaining when we were doing the turns for a couple of days, so we now have to double the turns on his right shin to catch up to the left one by Friday. We have a complete follow up then for both full legs, so hopefully it will be good news. Got hold of extended benefits today too to organize coverage for emergency visit to ENT DR for Matthew - he is now nearly deaf at the moment! I don't want to leave him like this for 3 months so thought I'd see if we can get it looked at. We will get an appt. on Friday (hopefully) and see then. We were also told today that the pool is going to be out of operation for 2-3 months! They are trying to see if they can send us elsewhere. So, until then, we'll see how it goes with the showers instead. Talk to you later.

Ear troubles...

Today we went to Arundel mall, thought we'd catch a matinee and a good dinner. It took about 40 mins to get there as the rain was so heavy, everyone on the freeway was only going 40mph. Once we were there tho - the rain had stopped - which was lucky for us! Saw Gridiron Gang - was pretty good, then picked up what we needed, had a quick dinner and headed back. We got home just before 10. So we managed to 'waste' the day pretty easily! Tomorrow we have to get an exray done to be sure the lengthening is going ok, then therapy at 11. We sure are getting fed up of micro meals! - Bought Matthew multi-vitamins today as we aren't doing too well with nutrition! Big concern with him is his ears - they are so full of fluid he can hardly hear me two feet away. It is really bad. I've trying to find a natural remedy but haven't had any luck. I'm concerned that leaving it til we return will damage his hearing....If anyone has any great ideas, please send them along! - We'll talk to you tomorrow. take care.

Pool's Out!

Well, we went to therapy on Thursday only to find that they had a pipe break in the ceiling above the pool and it has been closed down! - If that wasn't bad enough, it was a sewage pipe!! - Eeewww!! So - we got up early for nothing! - land therapy wasn't until 11 so we had a couple of hours to kill. Still everything is going well still in that area. We had a group donate dinner again - pasta and salads, so that was nice, and afterwards we went out to see 'Snakes on a Plane'! It made for a late nite, but we didn't have to get up early. On Friday we were told that the pool will probably be down for at least 2 weeks!!! - It is such an important part of therapy too - it helps limber him up before land therapy and keeps all the pin sites clean and clear of infection. We are going to have to rely on showers for a while, so hopefully, we will do ok. There is an outdoor concert happening today (Sat.) and it is so close, we can hear it form here. We were told there are several bands playing all day so it will be interesting. We will probably go out for a while today too - just to break the monotony. So, we'll talk to you later! - Have a good day!

First Day of Pool Therapy

First day of pool therapy today - had to be there for 9 am! - first early morning in long time! Once there - took a bit to get ready - had to remove all gauze - rather gross, then rinse off - the exercises in the pool were pretty easy, but Matt said he sure felt that he'd been doing them later. Land went well - after we finally figured out who was doing it and where - got to 90º still. The shower after pool therapy was annoying - they have a new system - made a therapy cubicle into a 4 head shower - but only one patient in a wheelchair can fit at a time! - then, there's no where to put anything down where it won't get wet -- we eventually moved into one of the old shower rooms to finish up and get dressed - we'll work out a system quick enough, but I'm beginning to think we'll probably do real showers in the house. Had dinner supplied by hospital tonite - had turkey, and all the fixin's! - nice surprise. After dinner we had Marlo and Lois over for a movie. We'll call it a nite now as we have pool therapy early til the end of the month. Ciao!

Day 2

Land therapy today with Mary at 11:00 - took a tylenol 3 at 10:45 to help with knee bends. - All went just fine - again 85 & 90º on bends - therapist sd - as get more length will get harder to do, so we have to make sure we do extra bends at night to try to keep on top of it. Inside Edition is here today taping another patient - Matthew doesn't want anything to do with it! - can't help but wonder why?... things get very boring here - only so many times u can play scrabble, Trying to get hold of Wawanesa - extended benefits - see what they have to offer for out of country coverage. Another family was able to get assistance with accom. and travel now that surgery is covered - so I thought I'd see what they will do for us... Matthew finally found someone to do playstation with - think he's leaving this week tho' - just his luck. Well, we have our first pool therapy tomorrow - so we'll see how that goes - talk to you later!

First Day of Turning!

We start turning today! - 4 turns for femur and 3 turns for tibia - We were up early - I couldn't sleep - kept thinking about all we have to do. Matt did his breakfast turn about 10:30 this morn., we had breakfast then went to the hospital to find where we were supposed to be for therapy. He did his lunch turn just before his land therapy evaluation with Lauren - Matt did well, but the knee bends killed him as they did before - although he did get 85 and 90º on them - it must have taken 2 months before we got that last time! After therapy we went to 'TropiCool' for a smoothie, then went to exchange the van for the one with rear air again ... oh yeah! We got back home and as I was putting the chair back together again, the belt broke that holds the base board in place on the wheelchair! Without it his legs drop down - we have to get a new one or Matthew will flip out!! After we got in from changing the van, his legs were still very sore/tender so he took 2 tylenol 3's - and they made him konk out for about 45mins. When he woke, he did his dinner time turns then we went to Walmart for a few supplies with Marlo and her family and got an icecream on the way home. He did the final night-time turn on his femur around 11pm then we called it a day. - See you tomorrow!

Lazy Sunday

Well, we had a really lazy day! - Got up around 11 !! - had quick brekky, then were both on computers through the early afternoon. As was good day - sunny - we went out for a walk around the hospital. Matthew didn't have any meds all day! - Cooked complete meal in microwave! - then back on computers til 8:30 for Amazing Race. Afterwards we did his exercise program - no problems with any of them. That was it - our day was done. Have to get up early ( :o ) for 1pm therapy evaluation tomorrow. We'll let you know how it goes when we're done.

Good Day Eh! (9/16)

Wow - I can't believe how much easier it is this time! (knock on wood) - Matthew only took 1 tylenol #3 all day yesterday, then 1 before bed. We did exercises, and as he lay back from the edge of the bed, he bent his legs back to touch the bed! - It took him a month or two to do this last time !?! Had uneventful sleep - woke around 8:30 and took 1 pill. When I got up around 10:30 ( :) ) I helped him turn on his stomach. We initially didn't think he'd be able to as he has 2 pins coming out of the front of his leg just below the knee, but it works and he says he'd prefer to sleep that way. So, we'll see how that goes. - I am going to see what kind of a knee bend he can get in this position - the therapists are going to be shooting for 90º. - Talk to you later today. ...Well - he managed about 60º on one leg and about 50 or so on the other - not too bad at all - I think we started last time with about 5º! - It's been a good day - we went out for the first time in the van with our new ramps and transfer board. - Was actually pretty easy - just a lot of work - once we get our initial van back (sent it back as ABS/Brake lights kept staying on) I think I'll take out the back seat, then I can drive the chair in without taking it apart - it will be much easier then. Matthew had a good day - again only tylenol 3, and has been eating much better. Tonite's plan is to change his gauze, do a little exercise and watch movies. Night all!

Friday the 15th...

Woke thru night at 3am then around 7:30- but Matthew didn't take any meds - pain only 1-2 out of 10!! - as his stomach's still very queasy. - got up around 10:30 - he had some apple juice and brought it all back - then stomach finally started settling down. I had to run up to hospital cafeteria to get milk, bananas a few other items as we have no food! - Matthew rested in house. - Getting better by the hour - still no meds all day - took a trip out into house few times, caught up on laundry - Matt moved onto couch in room to watch tv, and have a banana - ordered pizza around 7 and he ate about 1/2 slice - I even had trouble eating 2, but he kept it down. Watched a little more tv, got onto the bed had a chat with Al and then did all his exercises, I can't believe how well he is doing! : We came home from hospital early, he is having next to no meds. all day - and his exercises are proving to be no problem. On Monday we have our first land therapy evaluation and it will be interesting to see how he rates.

2 Days after surgery

Had a good night - slept quite well - only woke up when nurses came in to take vitals etc. Matthew was sleeping longer between med. pumps - up 8 ish - did a few exercises on our own ordered breakfast - Dr.'s aid came in to change all bandages - took quite a while, but was nice to get all cleaned up - finished around 10:30 - pancakes arrived - Matthew only had a little - started keeping food down tho. - PA also switched him to oral drugs - removing intravenous - thinking making blood level low (diluting) - so now is off PCPump and on oral - Percocet (oxycodone/acetaminophen) - but still makes him itch and have weird dreams - doesn't like it. - I had to race back to house to switch all belongings into room 101 - that Heidi had vacated. - then back to hospital - Matthew ate 1/4 sandwich and 1/2 cookie - had another pain pill - downgraded to only 1 (not 2) - but still making him itch - think we'll try tylenol#3 - he wants to leave tonite... have to see what PA says when comes in this pm - PA gave prescription for meds needed over weekend for discharge, but Dr. Standard came by and said it's too early (after I rushed to get meds) - but, when we called him back and he realized we had requested to leave not that hospital was rushing us out - he said OK! - Matthew just set new record for leaving early! - and for level of pain meds. - so we left the hospital and got to the HPatz house about 6-45pm. - Matthew rested in chair while I raced around tidying up the room as all I had time for earlier was to drop and run. - finally cleared everything away tho - Matthew still feeling effects of drugs - little nauseous - still having trouble keeping anything down - tho - watched tv and used computers in eve, had a shower then called it a nite.

Day after Surgery - 13th

Went to house to pick up wheelchair - quickly change - Matthew slept uneventfully thru night - commented few times on how little he hurts compared to last time. - So Glad! - When got back with chair - we did few exercises before therapy girls came by to practice - asked if we could get in chair by selves - therapist wanted to observe and offer help if needed. - Matt did it with no problems! - amazing compared to first surgery. I am so proud of him. Drugs are keeping him very sleepy - hasn't been able to keep anything down yet - but not really using pain pump either - so things are ok - Paley came by to check - advised turning routing, therapy on Monday, pool in about week, see Standard on 29th (he's away) - said he doesn't have to lie on stomach! - Matthew's happy about that one! Therapist came back to do few exercises - legs up and down, out to side, then pulling heel in to bend knee - he did really well with it all!.

Surgery Day

Matthew was taken into surgery at 11:00 - advised 6 - 8 hrs. - I sat in waiting room all day - left to get quick salad - played scrabble, read and waited and waited - he finally came thru to recovery at 7pm! - basically all looks the same apparatus except for his right leg as Dr.P broke the bone higher to fix straightening problem. He was in and out of alertness all night - could hardly keep eyes open. Plan to stay at hospital with him til we can go back to HPatz house.

September 10, 2006

Hi there! Friends from New Jersey arrived today - Marlo, her Mom and Dad. - Marlo is having surgery the same day as me. She just graduated too. We met them when I had my first surgery. It will be nice to have someone I know around that is my age. We went shopping this morning with Britt and Heidi, then met up with Marlo and family for dinner. Tomorrow we have to be up early to go to our Pre-Op appointment and talk to Bill the house manager to see if we can change to Heidi's room when they leave later in the week. - It is a little bigger and brighter which would be nice as we're here for so long, and it also is more accessible for my wheelchair, so hopefully we'll be able to make the move. When we went shopping today, I bought myself a pair of Oakley sunglasses - and I look hot! We've been up quite late since we arrived, but as we were up early today to go shopping Mom hopes we've broken that habit and will be able to get better sleeps, as Tuesday (surgery) night will be a hard one. So, talk to you later - we'll fill you in on what happens at the Pre-Op. TTYL! Matt and Pam.

We Made It!

We finally made our 7hr and 50min trip to Baltimore! We landed at 6:00am (Vancouver time) 9:00 Baltimore time. After going through the airport we located all our bags - which took a while to get all of it together, and we struggled to get it all to the side of the curb. We then had to wait 15min for the rental van (that we rented) to pick us up. we spent about an hour doing all the paperwork for the rental, and we finally got out of there around 10:30am (B.T.)

We eventually got to the Hackerman Patz house around 11:30 after we drove around a little. We unloaded then mom put everything away. I passed out on the bed in the middle of it all - I was so tired. Once we had a nap, we went over to the hospital to check things out, then went out for groceries. Such a fun day!

Well - gotta go - I'll fill you in tomorrow.

Hours Away...

It just hours away until we take off in the plane, I'm a little nervous and excited. Bringing everything I need including my playstation 2 and my DVD collection. Hopefully our bags aren't too heavy LOL. Well everyone I will miss you lots, and kids good luck on the new school year! I'll be back in three months so don't forget about me. I'll post when I'm in Baltimore. Bye!

The Plan

We leave for Baltimore September 6, 2006 around 10:00pm. We should be gone for about two to three months. The point of this part is to finish off the final leg surgery, which will give me another 4 - 6 inches of new bone, and that will leave me standing around 5 feet.