Here's another Dad email. He mentions it, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm making a website dedicated to Natalie's recovery. It'll be a place to see how she's doing and find out how you can help; as many of you have expressed the desire to do. There's pictures and info on Natalie too. I'm hoping to be finished by this afternoon. I'll let you know the address as soon as it's ready! Thanks.
Until then, enjoy my dad's email:
To Our Dear Family & Friends…..As of Thursday night 10 am…January 16, 2009…..Yesterday (Thursday 15th Jan) was another long day…. however additional glimmers of hope have emerged. Despite the facts that she is still technically in a coma, and has pneumonia in both lungs, Natalie’s events are (in the balance) more positive and hopeful.
Yesterday, Natalie was taken off the forced breathing ventilation (attached via her tracheostomy) at mid-day, and has been breathing completely on her own all night since then (12-20 breaths / min), and taking some quite strong deep breaths. She occasionally needs to be suctioned for the infectious buildup in her lungs, and the antibiotics she is receiving are specific to the organisms infecting her bronchioles and she is about to beat the pneumonia into submission. Even the fluid around her lungs (in the Pleural space) is rapidly slowing and will likely mean her chest tube could possibly come out next week.
She also opened her eyes with a bit more squinting-lucidity when hearing us talk to her, and today she has her eyes both just slightly opened, and seems to be trying to come back to this world and accept consciousness. She is moving around quite a bit more and actually pulled her oxygen away from her throat, so they had to restrain her again. Additionally, her pain medications were changed (stepped down—also her sedatives were stopped completely), and all her vitals are looking better. Emily & I both feel that she tried to squeeze our hand when prompted, but that could be coincidental, but we are pleased with ANY progress.
It is hard to believe but more than a week has passed since the accident and time seems to have stopped, as one day blends into another with family, friends doctors and nurses coming and going and we also continue to carry on our other aspects of our lives the best we can. I am fortunate to have a highly skilled and dedicated assistant who has born the bulk of my office details, (which this month includes providing communications, internet and other technical support for the inaugural events involving the Obama family at The Blair House and several visiting heads-of-state and foreign media/press centers AND the same type support for a major day-time television talk show/celebrity and production of TWO shows).
To make our lives even more interesting, my mother Helen Baird (aged 88) had a major heart valve procedure performed yesterday at Washington Hospital, DC, and is doing quite well, excluding a bout with gout which developed since she entered the hospital last week. And then there is my son’s new marriage (Dec 27th) which is blossoming, despite their relative status in student poverty. We also have another marriage coming soon (April 10th 2009) for our Daughter Beth, who will marry Michael Braecklein Jr (Member of USAir Force) in the LDS Temple in Las Vegas. Sorry for going off on the tangent but my mind is keeping several plates in the air at all times (which is my usual/crazy mindset).
Back to Natalie……hopefully her consciousness will continue to progress and her swelling (head, body and brain) will continue to subside. The doctors plan on opening her mouth in about two weeks to ensure she does not lose her range of motion in her jaw (especially in the left temporal mandibular joint). These things simply take some time, but just to see her eyes open and hear her speak again is my deepest prayer, and hope, and confidence in God.
It will now be a wait and see game as we wait for her to come out of the coma. However the good news is that Natalie’s attending medical staff seems even more positive and hopeful for her recovery, to the point that they are now considering (barring any setbacks) moving her to another section of intensive care outside of the trauma unit, due to her progress. This may happen as soon as next week
One other good news item is that Natalie’s employer (“Original Steak House” in Woodbridge, VA on Old Bridge Road) will soon (date TBD, but it will likely be on a Tuesday evening) hold a fund raiser to help us with Natalie’s medical expenses. They are doing this in conjunction with and leadership of the Woodbridge HS Cheerleaders & Coaches, whose idea it is, who have also cheered her on with their love, faith and prayers. What incredibly compassionate people we have the privilege to associate with.
My daughter Laura is putting together a Web Page regarding Natalie so folks can access it more widely. At this point she has created a temporary Blog -- www.nataliesrecovery.blogspot.
Once again….Thank you for your patience and love. I will try to keep people informed as time permits, or her condition changes. Generally I will write only as things change or something noteworthy occurs. If you’d rather not receive this info please let me know and I will take you off the list.
We are most sincerely grateful for all your loving words and prayers and countless expressions of support. Since she is in the Trauma Unit ICU of Fairfax Hospital, (http://www.inova.org/patient-
Skip & Emily & all the Baird Family
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