I would like to start by saying WTF LAKERS! Get it together! Lenny needs some wins here! Maybe the gnome is pissed I took him away from home? LOL!
Well today was a slow day. Not much change (and in this situation no change is not a bad thing). For our morning and afternoon visit Lenny was sleeping. He is going steady with the vent trials, they take him off for one to one and a half hours then put him back on for three hours. Hopefully that will progress some more tomorrow. They let me do the full bathing today at the morning visit and bring him some deodorant. I am trying to keep him really clean and cool, cause he keeps pulling off the gown cause he is so hot. Typical Lenny.
This afternoon my high school friend, Melisa, brought me a DVD/VCR Combo and a bunch of movies to watch. The TV in the hotel here sucks, so it will be nice to watch a movie. I am at a loss without my DVR, it is like we are in a technology time warp. Who watches commercials anymore anyways?
At the evening visit I arrived to find him in the "chair" type of bed again. It sits him up more with his legs down low which is good for his lungs. He hates that chair but seemed better today then yesterday. He was still sleepy and out of it so no communication, just hand holding. I love it when he squeezes my hand.
For dinner close friends of Lenny's that I had met once before, George & Kym, were so kind to come and take me out to dinner. It was so wonderful to get out of the hotel and try to function normal. I guess one of the weirdest feelings about all of this is that it seems like life is going on around you, and you are just standing still. You see people going to work, grocery shopping, just going about their life, and all I can think about is when my next visit with Lenny is. It is just a weird feeling that is hard to explain.
At the night visit Lenny was back in bed and awake a little bit. He wanted to know what day it was, when he was going to be able to have a drink of water, how long he was going to be here, pretty much the same questions we have answered almost every day. He was getting a little anxious and coughing a lot which is hard for him to do, so they gave him some Ativan and Benadryl. Then it was time for pain medicine and he was out once again.
The goal is to get him out the trauma ward by the end of the week. Once that happens I can stay from 9am to 9pm and that will make me a very happy girl.
So another day down, and another day of your support and comments. I know when I can finally read Lenny your comments he will be so grateful as am I. I also appreciate the Get Well cards that have been coming. Now if we can just get those Lakers to win....I have decided that if and when he finally asks about the game I am just going to tell him they are winning until he is awake to understand. No added stress needs to be on him until he can understand (thanks for the advice George)!
Gary, Yiyi's husband, had to go home today to go back to work, and it will be weird not having him here. He has been controlling zombie me and taking care of everything, so now it is time to kick it into gear. We will miss ya Gary.
Tomorrow is a new day, and I am slowly getting out of my haze and trying to focus. One step at a time.
Please keep the prayers coming, and thank you for the comments, I cannot tell you how much it helps me.
Love, Nanc
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Week Two - Saturday
Today was a good day. A lot of progress made for everyone. It seemed to be just good news after good news today.
When we arrived at the hospital for the morning visit, he was already 20 minutes into a vent trial. He had been successfully getting enough oxygen for 20 MINUTES! It was fantastic news. As soon as he can get off that ventilator he can be moved into a regular ICU room so I can stay with him all day. He was doing well at the morning visit, he is still really groggy and out of it, but that is to be expected from the type of facial and leg trauma he has experienced.
After the morning visit I was in desperate need to do laundry so we hit the laundry mat here at the hotel. While we were there I got the best call of my life. I saw that Mother (Jakie's Mom) was calling, when I answered I heard the best 3 little words ever "What up dork", it was Jakie. I melted. He was quiet of course but it was him. We spoke briefly and I was glad to have been able to hear from him. One of the hardest things about all of this was being secluded from seeing Jakie, so it was uplifting to hear from him. I believe he will start some rehabilitation there at the hospital before they talk about sending him home.
At the afternoon visit we got there and they had moved Lenny into this type of chair that had his legs lower that was good for his lungs and circulation. We were so excited when we saw he was moved we gasped, and everyone looked at us. Then we figured out that Lenny hated the chair, he kept falling/sliding down and was making him miserable. We told him it was helping but he was really frustrated which always makes it hard. This visit was the worst one for me as far as him not wanting to let me leave. Yiyi had to pull me out, it was hard. I guess you develop this overwhelming fear once an accident like this happens that if you let them out of your site it could happen again. That is something I will have to find a way to deal with, that I am sure will get easier in time, but for now I want to be with him every waking minute, which isn't possible because I need all those wonderful doctors and nurses to make him better. The vent trials that they are doing today are 1 hour off and 3 hours on, so he had another 1 hour trial since our morning visit which is fantastic news.
When I got to the evening visit he was back on his bed and sleeping. He woke up a little when I came in and said hello and he peeked open that left eye a little bit again and when I asked if he could see me he gave me the "little bit" hand signal. After that he fell asleep and I just stood over him watching him sleep holding his hand. Those are the moments of reflection that I stand there and thank God he is alive, that they all are. That in this time of such pain and sorrow I also feel such luck and thanks that he is still here. Staring at him and all those tubes and machines is when you get lost in the haze of "this can't be real".
We received more get well cards today, it is overwhelming the kindness that you all are showing, and words can never express how grateful I am. I am very excited for the day that I can read Lenny all his Get Well Cards, right now he is so sleepy that he wouldn't even remember, so I am keeping them all in an envelope for him.
I went to Wal-Mart and decided to make some baskets of cookies and muffins for the nurses and doctors, it was nice to feel like I could try to give back just a little for all their hard work and kindness. So when we showed up for the night visit it put a smile on their faces. To see what they go through with all these trauma patients is just amazing. The patience they display is unlike anything I have ever seen before. I have seen patients be awful to them and the families be awful to them, and it just makes you want to cry for them, but they are invincible and keep on doing what they do best.
At the night visit he looked comfortable, but he was really hot, so we got some cool wash cloths and cooled him down. They have to cover him up during visiting times so he is always pulling on that stupid gown when we are in there, but I lift it up and keep him cool with the fan they are so kind to let him have. After I cooled him down he went back to sleep and again looked peaceful. I decided to go ahead and leave before he woke up again and then we would have a repeat performance of the afternoon.
His constant complaint today was the catheter. He kept saying he had to pee and we kept explaining that he was and that it was just the pressure from the catheter, but he is having a hard time with it. I asked him quietly to try not to focus on it and try to rest.
All in all it was a progressive day, and I look forward to more of those. Tomorrow they will try longer vent trials to see how he does.
Thank you all again for all your kind words for Lenny and I. I value you all and your comments give me the strength to get through each day. I slept better last night, but I still feel exhausted and a bit like a zombie just going through the motions of the day, but that will pass as I adjust to this new way of life. I miss work, as I really love my job, and I really took for granted how simple life was when we just went through our daily routines. One day we will be back there, and I long for that day. Until then, I will feed off all your strength and energy to get my Lenny home.
Love you all,
Nancy
When we arrived at the hospital for the morning visit, he was already 20 minutes into a vent trial. He had been successfully getting enough oxygen for 20 MINUTES! It was fantastic news. As soon as he can get off that ventilator he can be moved into a regular ICU room so I can stay with him all day. He was doing well at the morning visit, he is still really groggy and out of it, but that is to be expected from the type of facial and leg trauma he has experienced.
After the morning visit I was in desperate need to do laundry so we hit the laundry mat here at the hotel. While we were there I got the best call of my life. I saw that Mother (Jakie's Mom) was calling, when I answered I heard the best 3 little words ever "What up dork", it was Jakie. I melted. He was quiet of course but it was him. We spoke briefly and I was glad to have been able to hear from him. One of the hardest things about all of this was being secluded from seeing Jakie, so it was uplifting to hear from him. I believe he will start some rehabilitation there at the hospital before they talk about sending him home.
At the afternoon visit we got there and they had moved Lenny into this type of chair that had his legs lower that was good for his lungs and circulation. We were so excited when we saw he was moved we gasped, and everyone looked at us. Then we figured out that Lenny hated the chair, he kept falling/sliding down and was making him miserable. We told him it was helping but he was really frustrated which always makes it hard. This visit was the worst one for me as far as him not wanting to let me leave. Yiyi had to pull me out, it was hard. I guess you develop this overwhelming fear once an accident like this happens that if you let them out of your site it could happen again. That is something I will have to find a way to deal with, that I am sure will get easier in time, but for now I want to be with him every waking minute, which isn't possible because I need all those wonderful doctors and nurses to make him better. The vent trials that they are doing today are 1 hour off and 3 hours on, so he had another 1 hour trial since our morning visit which is fantastic news.
When I got to the evening visit he was back on his bed and sleeping. He woke up a little when I came in and said hello and he peeked open that left eye a little bit again and when I asked if he could see me he gave me the "little bit" hand signal. After that he fell asleep and I just stood over him watching him sleep holding his hand. Those are the moments of reflection that I stand there and thank God he is alive, that they all are. That in this time of such pain and sorrow I also feel such luck and thanks that he is still here. Staring at him and all those tubes and machines is when you get lost in the haze of "this can't be real".
We received more get well cards today, it is overwhelming the kindness that you all are showing, and words can never express how grateful I am. I am very excited for the day that I can read Lenny all his Get Well Cards, right now he is so sleepy that he wouldn't even remember, so I am keeping them all in an envelope for him.
I went to Wal-Mart and decided to make some baskets of cookies and muffins for the nurses and doctors, it was nice to feel like I could try to give back just a little for all their hard work and kindness. So when we showed up for the night visit it put a smile on their faces. To see what they go through with all these trauma patients is just amazing. The patience they display is unlike anything I have ever seen before. I have seen patients be awful to them and the families be awful to them, and it just makes you want to cry for them, but they are invincible and keep on doing what they do best.
At the night visit he looked comfortable, but he was really hot, so we got some cool wash cloths and cooled him down. They have to cover him up during visiting times so he is always pulling on that stupid gown when we are in there, but I lift it up and keep him cool with the fan they are so kind to let him have. After I cooled him down he went back to sleep and again looked peaceful. I decided to go ahead and leave before he woke up again and then we would have a repeat performance of the afternoon.
His constant complaint today was the catheter. He kept saying he had to pee and we kept explaining that he was and that it was just the pressure from the catheter, but he is having a hard time with it. I asked him quietly to try not to focus on it and try to rest.
All in all it was a progressive day, and I look forward to more of those. Tomorrow they will try longer vent trials to see how he does.
Thank you all again for all your kind words for Lenny and I. I value you all and your comments give me the strength to get through each day. I slept better last night, but I still feel exhausted and a bit like a zombie just going through the motions of the day, but that will pass as I adjust to this new way of life. I miss work, as I really love my job, and I really took for granted how simple life was when we just went through our daily routines. One day we will be back there, and I long for that day. Until then, I will feed off all your strength and energy to get my Lenny home.
Love you all,
Nancy
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday
So we have officially survived one week since the accident. The week is such a blur it feels like I was just on a plane this morning. Every 24 hours that goes by without any complications is a good 24 hours, hard, but good.
This morning when we arrived he was semi awake, and just as lovey as he was last night. Still trying to tell me something that I cannot figure out, but I just keep telling him it can wait. He had a new nurse today and she was very nice. She even let us stay until rounds which gave me an extra half an hour with him, I WAS SO HAPPY. We played Lenny Charades, and the way we play is he makes the same darn hand gestures over and over and I ask he yes or no questions to try and figure it out. Well at one point my question to him was "do you need me to do something for you", the answer was yes, I said "what" (like he was going to answer) and he smiled. I said "you want me to smile" and he said yes. It was very sweet. When the doctors came through for rounds they told us that they were going to try the vent trials again, so I would wait until next visit to find out how they went. The doctors told us Lenny was their best patient, which was great news.
The afternoon visit resulted in finding out that he did not make it through the vent trials. So we will have to wait for another day. One of his legs are swollen so he was going to be having a special test done to ensure he did not have any blood clots. They also took him completely off the pain medicine where you push the button. He is just not ready to do that. You have to yell at him to get him to push the button and then he can't even push it hard enough.
In the afternoon when I got back to the room I had received a package from home with Lenny's Laker Gnome in it. He can't have it just yet, but he will be glad when he is in a room and out of the trauma center. I also received some get well cards for Lenny and donations from friends, family, and strangers (new friends). Words cannot express how grateful I am for your donations. We have a long road ahead of us and with Lenny out of work for who knows how long, his co-pays, items not covered by insurance, medications, therapy, supplies, it just goes on and on. I feel so much warmth in my heart for your generosity, and it will not go unappreciated.
At the evening visit we learned that the blood clot test looked good, so it doesn't look like there is a blood clot, but those are not the "official" results. We were lucky and one of the members of the plastic surgery team came in while we are there to check on his eyes. They loosened the eye stitches that are pulling his eyes upward for cosmetic reasons so he was able to barely poke open the left eye to see me. Hopefully it gave him some comfort. They are just monitoring his facial repair, and we don't have any timelines or anything on how soon he will fully be able to open his eyes or how long until he will be more alert. We can't get him out of the Trauma section of the ICU until he is off the vent, then he can be moved into regular ICU where I can stay with him all day.
When we arrived at his night visit he was extremely distraught and frustrated. They asked us to help calm him, so we went to work on figuring out what was wrong. He was really uncomfortable so we got him moved around in his bed, and then he wanted him manly parts washed again and only wants me to do it. For those of you that know Lenny you know that he takes a minimum of 2 showers per day, sometimes 3. He has to be clean and cool. He keeps our AC so low that people come over in the middle of the summer in sweatshirts cause we keep it so cold. I used to bitch at him all the time when we first moved in together 12 years ago, but eventually he converted me to an Eskimo as well, and now I have to be cold all the time to. So on the cold factor, they have made a HUGE exception and gave Lenny a fan, which is so against policy, but because he is so cooperative they have been so great to him. They gave him some pain medicine right before they moved him and I bathed him, so by the time we got done with that he was sleeping peacefully.
I don't know if I explained to you how the trauma unit he is in looks, but it is a big room with lots of curtains. I feel for the other families in there going through the same thing. The poor guy next to us is so combative, he keeps hurting himself and the nurses. We are so blessed that Lenny is not feeling that way. After being in that trauma ward you will never find me skydiving or on a motorcycle, and of course not in a boat.
Today I feel a little more alive, maybe it was all the love I have felt from him in the past two days. I want to be with him so much longer then the time I am allowed, but I know he needs to get better. Lenny and I have never been really mushy and lovey, but after what has happened I will never let another day go by like that again, and I can tell he is feeling the same way. We have let so many days go by just being happy and normal to recognize how precious life is. Please believe me when I beg you all to get up from the computer right now and tell someone you love them, family, friend, or love. If you are arguing or fighting over something stupid, IT IS NOT WORTH IT. Don't get a call at 2am like me and your whole life have changed and you can't take anything back. I thank God that I had talked to Lenny just before the accident. I heard his voice, and I keep hearing it in my head. If only I had said something to stop him from getting on that boat.....
This morning when we arrived he was semi awake, and just as lovey as he was last night. Still trying to tell me something that I cannot figure out, but I just keep telling him it can wait. He had a new nurse today and she was very nice. She even let us stay until rounds which gave me an extra half an hour with him, I WAS SO HAPPY. We played Lenny Charades, and the way we play is he makes the same darn hand gestures over and over and I ask he yes or no questions to try and figure it out. Well at one point my question to him was "do you need me to do something for you", the answer was yes, I said "what" (like he was going to answer) and he smiled. I said "you want me to smile" and he said yes. It was very sweet. When the doctors came through for rounds they told us that they were going to try the vent trials again, so I would wait until next visit to find out how they went. The doctors told us Lenny was their best patient, which was great news.
The afternoon visit resulted in finding out that he did not make it through the vent trials. So we will have to wait for another day. One of his legs are swollen so he was going to be having a special test done to ensure he did not have any blood clots. They also took him completely off the pain medicine where you push the button. He is just not ready to do that. You have to yell at him to get him to push the button and then he can't even push it hard enough.
In the afternoon when I got back to the room I had received a package from home with Lenny's Laker Gnome in it. He can't have it just yet, but he will be glad when he is in a room and out of the trauma center. I also received some get well cards for Lenny and donations from friends, family, and strangers (new friends). Words cannot express how grateful I am for your donations. We have a long road ahead of us and with Lenny out of work for who knows how long, his co-pays, items not covered by insurance, medications, therapy, supplies, it just goes on and on. I feel so much warmth in my heart for your generosity, and it will not go unappreciated.
At the evening visit we learned that the blood clot test looked good, so it doesn't look like there is a blood clot, but those are not the "official" results. We were lucky and one of the members of the plastic surgery team came in while we are there to check on his eyes. They loosened the eye stitches that are pulling his eyes upward for cosmetic reasons so he was able to barely poke open the left eye to see me. Hopefully it gave him some comfort. They are just monitoring his facial repair, and we don't have any timelines or anything on how soon he will fully be able to open his eyes or how long until he will be more alert. We can't get him out of the Trauma section of the ICU until he is off the vent, then he can be moved into regular ICU where I can stay with him all day.
When we arrived at his night visit he was extremely distraught and frustrated. They asked us to help calm him, so we went to work on figuring out what was wrong. He was really uncomfortable so we got him moved around in his bed, and then he wanted him manly parts washed again and only wants me to do it. For those of you that know Lenny you know that he takes a minimum of 2 showers per day, sometimes 3. He has to be clean and cool. He keeps our AC so low that people come over in the middle of the summer in sweatshirts cause we keep it so cold. I used to bitch at him all the time when we first moved in together 12 years ago, but eventually he converted me to an Eskimo as well, and now I have to be cold all the time to. So on the cold factor, they have made a HUGE exception and gave Lenny a fan, which is so against policy, but because he is so cooperative they have been so great to him. They gave him some pain medicine right before they moved him and I bathed him, so by the time we got done with that he was sleeping peacefully.
I don't know if I explained to you how the trauma unit he is in looks, but it is a big room with lots of curtains. I feel for the other families in there going through the same thing. The poor guy next to us is so combative, he keeps hurting himself and the nurses. We are so blessed that Lenny is not feeling that way. After being in that trauma ward you will never find me skydiving or on a motorcycle, and of course not in a boat.
Today I feel a little more alive, maybe it was all the love I have felt from him in the past two days. I want to be with him so much longer then the time I am allowed, but I know he needs to get better. Lenny and I have never been really mushy and lovey, but after what has happened I will never let another day go by like that again, and I can tell he is feeling the same way. We have let so many days go by just being happy and normal to recognize how precious life is. Please believe me when I beg you all to get up from the computer right now and tell someone you love them, family, friend, or love. If you are arguing or fighting over something stupid, IT IS NOT WORTH IT. Don't get a call at 2am like me and your whole life have changed and you can't take anything back. I thank God that I had talked to Lenny just before the accident. I heard his voice, and I keep hearing it in my head. If only I had said something to stop him from getting on that boat.....
Update on other boat occupants
I have seen some questions on the conditions of the other occupants in the boat. The only one that I know 100% concrete information is Jakie, and the others I only know what I have heard about them, not their exact injuries, so I cannot update on them specifics.
Jakie - Still in ICU in Las Vegas on a ventilator for his damaged lung. His injuries included a skull fracture, 9 broken ribs, collapsed lung(s), shattered right hand. He underwent surgery for his right hand, and has a chest tube and is on the ventilator for the lungs. Jakie is doing well, yesterday he stood up, he is communicating well and is very alert, and today they removed his catheter, and tomorrow they are going to try to remove the ventilator which is great news. He will require some rehabilitation in the hospital before they talk about releasing him.
Other occupants are all home and recuperating from various injuries including broken bones, stitches and staples, and bad bumps and bruises. As I sure they are all suffering from this horrible ordeal, we are so fortunate that they are home with their families and recuperating. I wish them all a speedy recovery as I am sure they are doing for Lenny and Jakie. If any of you are out there reading this, please post a comment as there are people out there wondering how you are.
I could never say enough how lucky we all are that all 6 of them are alive. This could have been much worse, and some of these guys have children that could have lost their fathers. All I have to say to all of you is that I hope you cherish that you are all alive, and that you need to enjoy every minute of every day for what it is. As much as I am hurting now, I could be hurting worse if we had lost any of you.
Until tonight, I love you all!
Nancy
Jakie - Still in ICU in Las Vegas on a ventilator for his damaged lung. His injuries included a skull fracture, 9 broken ribs, collapsed lung(s), shattered right hand. He underwent surgery for his right hand, and has a chest tube and is on the ventilator for the lungs. Jakie is doing well, yesterday he stood up, he is communicating well and is very alert, and today they removed his catheter, and tomorrow they are going to try to remove the ventilator which is great news. He will require some rehabilitation in the hospital before they talk about releasing him.
Other occupants are all home and recuperating from various injuries including broken bones, stitches and staples, and bad bumps and bruises. As I sure they are all suffering from this horrible ordeal, we are so fortunate that they are home with their families and recuperating. I wish them all a speedy recovery as I am sure they are doing for Lenny and Jakie. If any of you are out there reading this, please post a comment as there are people out there wondering how you are.
I could never say enough how lucky we all are that all 6 of them are alive. This could have been much worse, and some of these guys have children that could have lost their fathers. All I have to say to all of you is that I hope you cherish that you are all alive, and that you need to enjoy every minute of every day for what it is. As much as I am hurting now, I could be hurting worse if we had lost any of you.
Until tonight, I love you all!
Nancy
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Thursday
So as usual I will start with thanking you all for your comments. I cannot even tell you how many hours I spend staring at the blog, reading and re-reading all of your comments. Even those of you who do not know us send your love and prayers which is the best medicine. I cannot believe it has almost been a week since the accident. The time has just been a blur.
You will remember that yesterday I told you they were going to try Lenny on trials to get him off of the ventilator. They were going to take him off the vent at 10pm for up to two hours depending on how he did. I called at midnight to see how he did, the nurse told me he failed. He didn't even make it a minute. He just wasn't ready yet. I just couldn't get it out of my head so I barely slept. All I can do is think about what the next day will bring for Lenny and I.
At the morning visit he was sleeping, and we met his new nurse. She was wonderful. Really paid attention to his needs and wants and communicated with him well. He now has a little button he can push when he has pain, but I guess he is never really pushing it. I think he is so out of it he forgets it is there, so she called the doctor to get him back on pain meds that are given to him on a time line. It was nice to see her thinking of what is best for him. She told us that they would not try the vent trials again for a few days to give him more time to recover.
By the afternoon visit he was still sleepy, so we only stayed a few minutes. They changed all his bed sheets and moved him around in the bed and you could tell he was a little more comfortable. We asked the nurse to check with the doctor on how soon his eyes will be unstitched so he can see us again, and she is supposed to get back to us.
The evening visit was great. He was more awake and excited to see us. When we arrived we had to wait a few minutes into our visiting time because they were changing the bandages on his legs. It was nice to see his legs, and the wounds. I guess the more things you can finally see and understand the better you feel about it, the unknown is always hard to understand. He has tons of staples of course from the surgeries, and the lower left leg is messed up pretty bad from the severity of the compound fracture. He also was receiving another round of red blood for the second day in a row. The open wound on his leg and the facial oozing is causing him to need blood. ANOTHER REASON WHY WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER TO GIVE BLOOD. They were also getting the TV set up for him to listen to the Laker Game, he is so spoiled. I had the LAKER GNOME mailed to me today so I will hopefully have it in a day or so (for those of you who don't know what that is, he has a Laker Collection that includes a Laker Gnome, he puts the gnome out for each game to watch it with him for luck). I think it will pick up his spirits to know it is here.
For the second time an old friend from high school, Melisa, brought us a home cooked meal. She has been wonderful. She picked me up from the airport and took me to the hospital, brought us a home cooked meal on Sunday at the hospital, and then again tonight. I haven't even seen her in like 15 years but it feels like it was just yesterday. She doesn't even ask, she just does. She is an amazing person. It is amazing to me the hospitality we humans have. The way we can bind together in time of tragedy, even to strangers. I received a $40 donation from a total stranger yesterday. I was without words, engrossed with emotion that someone would do something like this for me. So I thank you. The connection I feel with people I have not even met is amazing, and I could not ask for better support. I have a hard time asking anyone for anything, because I have this controlling type of personality that just thinks I can handle anything and make anything work, so I wish I could think of things I need to take you all up on your offers....but my mind just goes blank. I can barely think at all and when I do it is just of Lenny, so please don't think I am ignoring your offers, I just don't know what to ask for.
The night visit was the first time I have broken down with Lenny. I could not help myself. I made the visit by myself because YiYi was not feeling good. When I got there he heard me come in and was waving me over. He was so happy to know I was there. The first thing I do when I get there is make sure he doesn't need anything. He needed to be moved in the bed a little, because he was sliding down, but for the most part he was ok. He has never held my hand as tight as he did tonight, and he actually pulled it up to his lips and kissed my hand repeatedly. I could not control myself and I started sobbing. He then held both my hands so tight against his stomach and we started to play "Lenny Charades" as he wanted to tell me something. He kept motioning "me and you" and after many questions I got to the fact that he didn't want me to leave. I tried to explain to him that they wouldn't let me stay, but that if he just went to sleep I would be back in the morning. I told him over and over that I would not leave him here, that I would stay in Phoenix as long as he is here and that he didn't have to worry. That I would never miss a single visit as long as they let me in. My heart was breaking just when I thought there was nothing left in there to break that I couldn't stay with him. I told him as soon as we got him in a normal ICU room I would be able to be with him all day. I asked the nurse to give him something to help him sleep because I knew the anxiety would be coming because he would not let go of me. I was sobbing, but couldn't let him know it. I just stood there bent over with him clutching me to his chest. I would have done anything to stay there with him, but I know I had to go right on time so I didn't violate the visiting rules. I have held myself to the visiting rules "TO THE LETTER" as I don't want to be that family member you have to kick out everyday or is difficult. I want them to make My Lenny better, and if that means I only get to see him for 30 minutes four times a day so be it. Maybe once I can be with him all day and help take care of him I will start to move forward, but until then I feel lost and unstable.
I am sure as time progresses these blogs will be more upbeat, and I apologize for venting off on here, I know you are here to know about Lenny's progress, but frankly, all of you are all I got. Our family, our friends, and those that are becoming our family and friends. Every message I receive from you gives me that moment of strength that I pull from you, that gets me through one more day, one more minute, one more second, reminds me to take that next breath. Please know that I could never say enough how much I value all of you. How I long to hug each and every one of you, how I long for this to just be over and Lenny and I be home with our kitties. I love you all.
You will remember that yesterday I told you they were going to try Lenny on trials to get him off of the ventilator. They were going to take him off the vent at 10pm for up to two hours depending on how he did. I called at midnight to see how he did, the nurse told me he failed. He didn't even make it a minute. He just wasn't ready yet. I just couldn't get it out of my head so I barely slept. All I can do is think about what the next day will bring for Lenny and I.
At the morning visit he was sleeping, and we met his new nurse. She was wonderful. Really paid attention to his needs and wants and communicated with him well. He now has a little button he can push when he has pain, but I guess he is never really pushing it. I think he is so out of it he forgets it is there, so she called the doctor to get him back on pain meds that are given to him on a time line. It was nice to see her thinking of what is best for him. She told us that they would not try the vent trials again for a few days to give him more time to recover.
By the afternoon visit he was still sleepy, so we only stayed a few minutes. They changed all his bed sheets and moved him around in the bed and you could tell he was a little more comfortable. We asked the nurse to check with the doctor on how soon his eyes will be unstitched so he can see us again, and she is supposed to get back to us.
The evening visit was great. He was more awake and excited to see us. When we arrived we had to wait a few minutes into our visiting time because they were changing the bandages on his legs. It was nice to see his legs, and the wounds. I guess the more things you can finally see and understand the better you feel about it, the unknown is always hard to understand. He has tons of staples of course from the surgeries, and the lower left leg is messed up pretty bad from the severity of the compound fracture. He also was receiving another round of red blood for the second day in a row. The open wound on his leg and the facial oozing is causing him to need blood. ANOTHER REASON WHY WE ALL NEED TO REMEMBER TO GIVE BLOOD. They were also getting the TV set up for him to listen to the Laker Game, he is so spoiled. I had the LAKER GNOME mailed to me today so I will hopefully have it in a day or so (for those of you who don't know what that is, he has a Laker Collection that includes a Laker Gnome, he puts the gnome out for each game to watch it with him for luck). I think it will pick up his spirits to know it is here.
For the second time an old friend from high school, Melisa, brought us a home cooked meal. She has been wonderful. She picked me up from the airport and took me to the hospital, brought us a home cooked meal on Sunday at the hospital, and then again tonight. I haven't even seen her in like 15 years but it feels like it was just yesterday. She doesn't even ask, she just does. She is an amazing person. It is amazing to me the hospitality we humans have. The way we can bind together in time of tragedy, even to strangers. I received a $40 donation from a total stranger yesterday. I was without words, engrossed with emotion that someone would do something like this for me. So I thank you. The connection I feel with people I have not even met is amazing, and I could not ask for better support. I have a hard time asking anyone for anything, because I have this controlling type of personality that just thinks I can handle anything and make anything work, so I wish I could think of things I need to take you all up on your offers....but my mind just goes blank. I can barely think at all and when I do it is just of Lenny, so please don't think I am ignoring your offers, I just don't know what to ask for.
The night visit was the first time I have broken down with Lenny. I could not help myself. I made the visit by myself because YiYi was not feeling good. When I got there he heard me come in and was waving me over. He was so happy to know I was there. The first thing I do when I get there is make sure he doesn't need anything. He needed to be moved in the bed a little, because he was sliding down, but for the most part he was ok. He has never held my hand as tight as he did tonight, and he actually pulled it up to his lips and kissed my hand repeatedly. I could not control myself and I started sobbing. He then held both my hands so tight against his stomach and we started to play "Lenny Charades" as he wanted to tell me something. He kept motioning "me and you" and after many questions I got to the fact that he didn't want me to leave. I tried to explain to him that they wouldn't let me stay, but that if he just went to sleep I would be back in the morning. I told him over and over that I would not leave him here, that I would stay in Phoenix as long as he is here and that he didn't have to worry. That I would never miss a single visit as long as they let me in. My heart was breaking just when I thought there was nothing left in there to break that I couldn't stay with him. I told him as soon as we got him in a normal ICU room I would be able to be with him all day. I asked the nurse to give him something to help him sleep because I knew the anxiety would be coming because he would not let go of me. I was sobbing, but couldn't let him know it. I just stood there bent over with him clutching me to his chest. I would have done anything to stay there with him, but I know I had to go right on time so I didn't violate the visiting rules. I have held myself to the visiting rules "TO THE LETTER" as I don't want to be that family member you have to kick out everyday or is difficult. I want them to make My Lenny better, and if that means I only get to see him for 30 minutes four times a day so be it. Maybe once I can be with him all day and help take care of him I will start to move forward, but until then I feel lost and unstable.
I am sure as time progresses these blogs will be more upbeat, and I apologize for venting off on here, I know you are here to know about Lenny's progress, but frankly, all of you are all I got. Our family, our friends, and those that are becoming our family and friends. Every message I receive from you gives me that moment of strength that I pull from you, that gets me through one more day, one more minute, one more second, reminds me to take that next breath. Please know that I could never say enough how much I value all of you. How I long to hug each and every one of you, how I long for this to just be over and Lenny and I be home with our kitties. I love you all.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday
I am so thankful for the amount of support coming through. Words cannot express how thankful I am, and how much I appreciate it. So many of you are asking if I need anything, and I am so grateful. I have always tried to help others, and always felt I can do it on my own and make it work, which makes me have a hard time asking anyone for help. So to all of you, again, thank you.
My mind is a total haze, everything that I do feels like I am going through the motions but am not quite there. Sleeping is hard because every time I wake up I think that this is all a dream. That I can just get up and go to work like normal, and Lenny and I will be having breakfast while the cats drink out of his milk glass. Then I realize it did happen, and my haze of a day starts all over again. I feel like a walking zombie and everything I do makes me think of Lenny. Today in the grocery his favorite donuts were right there staring at me. I wanted to bring him one because all day he has been complaining of being hungry.
This morning I got a call from the hospital at I think around 7am, by this time of the night things get a little fuzzy, telling me that Lenny was getting anxious and was asking for me. I asked them if I could come over there because my first visiting session was not for 2 hours. They said I could, but just for a minutes. When I got there they let me in and I got to stay for 5 minutes. He seemed ok, maybe just needed some comfort.
We headed over for the morning session visit and he was pretty asleep. I think they sedated him a little from the anxiety he was feeling. No news updates because the trauma nurses were really busy with another patient.
Jen arrived to be with me Monday, because Mel who came with me, had to leave on Tuesday unfortunately to get home to Kodie and Kelly. Well Jen had to leave today at noon to get home to the kids, and I hated to see her leave. I just want to thank them and tell them how much I love them for taking time out of their lives to come here with me. They took care of zombie me, got me clothes, told me to eat, and just sat there with me in silence knowing there was nothing any of us could do to change this.
At the afternoon session he was still really sleepy, but tried to communicate with us a little, but not much. Still no news on any changes, he was just fighting along.
At the evening visit he was awake pretty much, groggy but awake. It took us about 15 minutes to figure out he was hungry and his mouth was dry, but we got it. Then he again went to wanting me to bath him. We talked to the nurses and they let me do a little for him so I was glad to do something for him. (Plus no one should be touching those parts but me anyways! Giggle) I feel so helpless watching him lay there, in one breath thinking how lucky he is to be alive, and in another breath wondering how this could be happening, it is like something out of a movie or TV show that doesn't happen to real people right? How many times do you see or read about tragedies like this one, and it never crosses your mind that this could happen to you. I didn't even get to see him before he left, I had to go to work and he wasn't home yet. I think about the fact that I talked to him on the phone less than an hour before they crashed, that I should have said something different, that I should have stopped them somehow. I remember talking to Jakie, he says to me every time, and I mean every time, he gets on the phone with me "what up dork". I thought about going with them, maybe I would have stopped them, maybe I could have prevented this, but that is all a mute point now. Anyways, guess I have gotten off on a rant, but my mind does not focus good to stay on track, so on to the night visit.
The night visit was very short. When we got there they told us that he was being sedated due to the anxiety, so I only got to say goodnight and I love you. I love that he gives me the I Love You symbol in sign language, it is priceless. We had a new night nurse, as Barry only works 3 days. Her name is Angie and she was very nice. She explained to us that they will start doing 'trach trials" tonight. That means that they will turn off the vent for up to 2 hours to see how his breathing does. All his breaths are his own, so it will hopefully go well. They will alternate this every two hours as long as he does well. Then tomorrow they will do it for longer intervals until eventually he is off the vent, which is great news.
It is a little after 10pm and this time every night I get somber thinking about them all lying out there being searched for. I read on a forum today that a firefighter that was out there said he was surprised Lenny was alive, and that it took them over an hour to cut him out of the boat. All I have to say is thank you rescue, police, firefighters, emt's, the dispatcher who helped me find him, Julie, the social worker at the hospital who told me about Lenny's injuries, and anyone else I should be thanking. It would be my life's dream to meet you all and give you a hug. I have no one to thank more then you for saving them all. If you are out there, please let me know. I also would like to thank the Deputy that calls me to check on Lenny and his progress. Without you all he would not be here. Words cannot express how much love I have for you all in my heart.
As I sit here staring at the screen every minute that ticks by seems like an eternity, and I just keep convincing my brain to keep going, my body to keep walking, and my heart to stop hurting. I have never felt the heaviness in my heart that I feel now. I beg all of you to share my story with everyone you know, because let me tell you, THIS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU! If I never see another drop of alcohol or a boat again in my entire life it is to soon. I am sure many of you can think of a time when you pushed the limit, in a boat, in a car, anytime. Someone posted somewhere, to take a look around, look at your passengers, and decide if you are willing to risk them. If you are willing to risk their lives and their families lives. I beg you to not do it.
Love, Nancy
My mind is a total haze, everything that I do feels like I am going through the motions but am not quite there. Sleeping is hard because every time I wake up I think that this is all a dream. That I can just get up and go to work like normal, and Lenny and I will be having breakfast while the cats drink out of his milk glass. Then I realize it did happen, and my haze of a day starts all over again. I feel like a walking zombie and everything I do makes me think of Lenny. Today in the grocery his favorite donuts were right there staring at me. I wanted to bring him one because all day he has been complaining of being hungry.
This morning I got a call from the hospital at I think around 7am, by this time of the night things get a little fuzzy, telling me that Lenny was getting anxious and was asking for me. I asked them if I could come over there because my first visiting session was not for 2 hours. They said I could, but just for a minutes. When I got there they let me in and I got to stay for 5 minutes. He seemed ok, maybe just needed some comfort.
We headed over for the morning session visit and he was pretty asleep. I think they sedated him a little from the anxiety he was feeling. No news updates because the trauma nurses were really busy with another patient.
Jen arrived to be with me Monday, because Mel who came with me, had to leave on Tuesday unfortunately to get home to Kodie and Kelly. Well Jen had to leave today at noon to get home to the kids, and I hated to see her leave. I just want to thank them and tell them how much I love them for taking time out of their lives to come here with me. They took care of zombie me, got me clothes, told me to eat, and just sat there with me in silence knowing there was nothing any of us could do to change this.
At the afternoon session he was still really sleepy, but tried to communicate with us a little, but not much. Still no news on any changes, he was just fighting along.
At the evening visit he was awake pretty much, groggy but awake. It took us about 15 minutes to figure out he was hungry and his mouth was dry, but we got it. Then he again went to wanting me to bath him. We talked to the nurses and they let me do a little for him so I was glad to do something for him. (Plus no one should be touching those parts but me anyways! Giggle) I feel so helpless watching him lay there, in one breath thinking how lucky he is to be alive, and in another breath wondering how this could be happening, it is like something out of a movie or TV show that doesn't happen to real people right? How many times do you see or read about tragedies like this one, and it never crosses your mind that this could happen to you. I didn't even get to see him before he left, I had to go to work and he wasn't home yet. I think about the fact that I talked to him on the phone less than an hour before they crashed, that I should have said something different, that I should have stopped them somehow. I remember talking to Jakie, he says to me every time, and I mean every time, he gets on the phone with me "what up dork". I thought about going with them, maybe I would have stopped them, maybe I could have prevented this, but that is all a mute point now. Anyways, guess I have gotten off on a rant, but my mind does not focus good to stay on track, so on to the night visit.
The night visit was very short. When we got there they told us that he was being sedated due to the anxiety, so I only got to say goodnight and I love you. I love that he gives me the I Love You symbol in sign language, it is priceless. We had a new night nurse, as Barry only works 3 days. Her name is Angie and she was very nice. She explained to us that they will start doing 'trach trials" tonight. That means that they will turn off the vent for up to 2 hours to see how his breathing does. All his breaths are his own, so it will hopefully go well. They will alternate this every two hours as long as he does well. Then tomorrow they will do it for longer intervals until eventually he is off the vent, which is great news.
It is a little after 10pm and this time every night I get somber thinking about them all lying out there being searched for. I read on a forum today that a firefighter that was out there said he was surprised Lenny was alive, and that it took them over an hour to cut him out of the boat. All I have to say is thank you rescue, police, firefighters, emt's, the dispatcher who helped me find him, Julie, the social worker at the hospital who told me about Lenny's injuries, and anyone else I should be thanking. It would be my life's dream to meet you all and give you a hug. I have no one to thank more then you for saving them all. If you are out there, please let me know. I also would like to thank the Deputy that calls me to check on Lenny and his progress. Without you all he would not be here. Words cannot express how much love I have for you all in my heart.
As I sit here staring at the screen every minute that ticks by seems like an eternity, and I just keep convincing my brain to keep going, my body to keep walking, and my heart to stop hurting. I have never felt the heaviness in my heart that I feel now. I beg all of you to share my story with everyone you know, because let me tell you, THIS CAN HAPPEN TO YOU! If I never see another drop of alcohol or a boat again in my entire life it is to soon. I am sure many of you can think of a time when you pushed the limit, in a boat, in a car, anytime. Someone posted somewhere, to take a look around, look at your passengers, and decide if you are willing to risk them. If you are willing to risk their lives and their families lives. I beg you to not do it.
Love, Nancy
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Tuesday
First of all I would like to thank all of you for your kind words. I didn't know how much it would really help to know that so many people take the time to support us.
I slept a few hours last night which is an improvement. I decided this morning to actually comb my hair and try to put myself together more. I went to see Lenny for the morning visit and he was awake, barely. He is of course being treated for pain because of the extensive surgery. I learned this morning that there was a complication with his feeding tube but that it was an easy fix. We had a nice visit but he slept most of the time.
By the afternoon visit he was just a little more awake so it took me a little longer to understand what he was trying to tell me. He kept taking my hand and Yiyi was able to understand that he was making a "W" and then he was rubbing my hand on his stomach, and Yiyi figured out he wanted a bath. He was glad when we figured out what it was, but then he only wanted me to do it. We explained that the nurses had to do it for his safety.
Great news, he will not have to have neck surgery. He will be in the brace for at least six weeks, maybe longer, but the more times we can keep him out of surgery the sooner he can start focusing on recovery. Every time he goes into surgery the worse we have to worry about him making it out, so the least amount of necessary surgeries, the better.
The evening visit brought Lenny asking about "Fat Boy"(Jakie) once I figured it out what he was trying to tell me by pointing to his belly. I finally got Fat, but it took me a minute to get Boy. So now the code gesture for Fat Boy is giggling the belly with his hand. I told him how Jakie was doing and he gave his "awesome" hand gesture. Next he moved on to wanting to know about "TD" I could for the life of me not figure out what "TD" stood for. I felt horrible. The visit was over and I couldn't tell him what he was looking for. Well sure as you know it as soon as I got back to the room I figure it out "The Dog". For those of you who don't know us that is one of our cats, the one that loves Lenny the MOST! Lenny and I have 4 cats, yes, I said 4 cats. Lenny cannot help but save those stray cats he finds at his work, the first two we wanted, the last two he rescued. The Dog is Lenny's baby, and it is obvious he is missing him.
I was so excited to get to the night visit to tell him I figured out he wanted to know about The Dog, but when we got there he was out for the count. Usually he will wake up just a little, but not tonight, he was resting peacefully. Now for the funny part, when we walked in the SICU nurses had found a TV for Lenny and rolled it next to his bed. Anyone want to guess what they had on for him to listen to, yes you guessed it, Laker Game. It is to bad that he is so knocked out that he doesn't know, but I hope he can still hear it. The nurses here are so wonderful, and Lenny has Barry again tonight which we love. They still haven't bathed him but will be tonight.
Today was an awful day for me, I was a zombie not knowing whether to cry, vomit, or scream, and I still don't know how I will get through this, but I don't have a choice. I will never understand why this has happened to us, and why our families were the ones chosen to endure this tragedy. What were they all thinking? Will any of us ever know? It doesn't even matter. Nothing does anymore. All that matters now is Lenny and Jakie, and my two guys getting through this. One day at a time, one minute at a time really, because that is all I feel like I can get through sometime. It is going to be a long road for our guys, and one of the most painful things is I cannot be with Jakie. He is our best friend and has been for so long. Lenny and Jakie have the bond more like brothers then friends, they call each other daily, several times, just to say nothing to each other. It is amazing. I just want to hug Jakie, see him, know he is ok, but I have to focus on Lenny, just as Mother and Wendy have to focus on Jakie. The pain for each of our families is so intensified because we are separated and doing this without each other. I imagine the pain I feel for Jakie is the same pain they are feeling for Lenny. Both our families have to endure this times 2, not just one of our guys, but both of them. I imagine it is the same for you all that know us, because if you know us, you know Jakie.
Lenny has always told me so many times that when times have been rough for us in this down turned market we would "make it work". That is what I will have to do now, make it work. For our survival, not just health wise, but life wise. I will figure out a way to make this work, I have to. I am a manager, that is what I do, so I have to manage.
Thank you again to all of you out there. Please spread the word as high and far as you can. Our guys need you, as do I.
I love you all, Nanc
I slept a few hours last night which is an improvement. I decided this morning to actually comb my hair and try to put myself together more. I went to see Lenny for the morning visit and he was awake, barely. He is of course being treated for pain because of the extensive surgery. I learned this morning that there was a complication with his feeding tube but that it was an easy fix. We had a nice visit but he slept most of the time.
By the afternoon visit he was just a little more awake so it took me a little longer to understand what he was trying to tell me. He kept taking my hand and Yiyi was able to understand that he was making a "W" and then he was rubbing my hand on his stomach, and Yiyi figured out he wanted a bath. He was glad when we figured out what it was, but then he only wanted me to do it. We explained that the nurses had to do it for his safety.
Great news, he will not have to have neck surgery. He will be in the brace for at least six weeks, maybe longer, but the more times we can keep him out of surgery the sooner he can start focusing on recovery. Every time he goes into surgery the worse we have to worry about him making it out, so the least amount of necessary surgeries, the better.
The evening visit brought Lenny asking about "Fat Boy"(Jakie) once I figured it out what he was trying to tell me by pointing to his belly. I finally got Fat, but it took me a minute to get Boy. So now the code gesture for Fat Boy is giggling the belly with his hand. I told him how Jakie was doing and he gave his "awesome" hand gesture. Next he moved on to wanting to know about "TD" I could for the life of me not figure out what "TD" stood for. I felt horrible. The visit was over and I couldn't tell him what he was looking for. Well sure as you know it as soon as I got back to the room I figure it out "The Dog". For those of you who don't know us that is one of our cats, the one that loves Lenny the MOST! Lenny and I have 4 cats, yes, I said 4 cats. Lenny cannot help but save those stray cats he finds at his work, the first two we wanted, the last two he rescued. The Dog is Lenny's baby, and it is obvious he is missing him.
I was so excited to get to the night visit to tell him I figured out he wanted to know about The Dog, but when we got there he was out for the count. Usually he will wake up just a little, but not tonight, he was resting peacefully. Now for the funny part, when we walked in the SICU nurses had found a TV for Lenny and rolled it next to his bed. Anyone want to guess what they had on for him to listen to, yes you guessed it, Laker Game. It is to bad that he is so knocked out that he doesn't know, but I hope he can still hear it. The nurses here are so wonderful, and Lenny has Barry again tonight which we love. They still haven't bathed him but will be tonight.
Today was an awful day for me, I was a zombie not knowing whether to cry, vomit, or scream, and I still don't know how I will get through this, but I don't have a choice. I will never understand why this has happened to us, and why our families were the ones chosen to endure this tragedy. What were they all thinking? Will any of us ever know? It doesn't even matter. Nothing does anymore. All that matters now is Lenny and Jakie, and my two guys getting through this. One day at a time, one minute at a time really, because that is all I feel like I can get through sometime. It is going to be a long road for our guys, and one of the most painful things is I cannot be with Jakie. He is our best friend and has been for so long. Lenny and Jakie have the bond more like brothers then friends, they call each other daily, several times, just to say nothing to each other. It is amazing. I just want to hug Jakie, see him, know he is ok, but I have to focus on Lenny, just as Mother and Wendy have to focus on Jakie. The pain for each of our families is so intensified because we are separated and doing this without each other. I imagine the pain I feel for Jakie is the same pain they are feeling for Lenny. Both our families have to endure this times 2, not just one of our guys, but both of them. I imagine it is the same for you all that know us, because if you know us, you know Jakie.
Lenny has always told me so many times that when times have been rough for us in this down turned market we would "make it work". That is what I will have to do now, make it work. For our survival, not just health wise, but life wise. I will figure out a way to make this work, I have to. I am a manager, that is what I do, so I have to manage.
Thank you again to all of you out there. Please spread the word as high and far as you can. Our guys need you, as do I.
I love you all, Nanc
For those of you who want to help
Hello Everyone. This is Lenny's sister Mishell.
As you all know Lenny is still in the hospital and he will continue to be there at least for the next few weeks. As you can imagine, afterwards he will need to be transferred to a partial or total care facility for an undisclosed period of time. We will know more when that time nears. That obviously means Lenny will be out of work for a very long time. First to heal then followed by much physical therapy.
Needless to say this is and will continue to be an extreme financial hardship on Lenny & especially Nancy, who will be trying to keep everything going & help Lenny through this at the same time. It was suggested to me that because there are so many of you offering help, the help needed most by Lenny & Nancy at this time is financial.
So I implore those of you who have been inquiring as to how you can help please consider whatever you can afford. Anything you can send will be a great blessing. Any of you who know Nancy, know that no matter the situation she will never be able to ask for help. And I know how much she really needs it.
My husband & I are doing whatever we can for them both, but we are only 2 people with one income.
You can send checks in any amount to her at the hotel.
Please make checks payable to Nancy Martin
Please address them to: Nancy Martin
I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support.
Gratefully,
Mishell (Yiyi)
At the request of some helpful friends & to make things easier for some of you who have a paypal account, you can also transfer funds to Nancy & Lenny via my paypal account. It is very simple if you have a paypal account just click on the "send money" tab, type in the email address glbacct@gmail.com, enter an amount, click on the personal tab, choose gift, then continue.
As you all know Lenny is still in the hospital and he will continue to be there at least for the next few weeks. As you can imagine, afterwards he will need to be transferred to a partial or total care facility for an undisclosed period of time. We will know more when that time nears. That obviously means Lenny will be out of work for a very long time. First to heal then followed by much physical therapy.
Needless to say this is and will continue to be an extreme financial hardship on Lenny & especially Nancy, who will be trying to keep everything going & help Lenny through this at the same time. It was suggested to me that because there are so many of you offering help, the help needed most by Lenny & Nancy at this time is financial.
So I implore those of you who have been inquiring as to how you can help please consider whatever you can afford. Anything you can send will be a great blessing. Any of you who know Nancy, know that no matter the situation she will never be able to ask for help. And I know how much she really needs it.
My husband & I are doing whatever we can for them both, but we are only 2 people with one income.
You can send checks in any amount to her at the hotel.
Please make checks payable to Nancy Martin
Please address them to: Nancy Martin
I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support.
Gratefully,
Mishell (Yiyi)
At the request of some helpful friends & to make things easier for some of you who have a paypal account, you can also transfer funds to Nancy & Lenny via my paypal account. It is very simple if you have a paypal account just click on the "send money" tab, type in the email address glbacct@gmail.com, enter an amount, click on the personal tab, choose gift, then continue.
Monday
I only slept about 2 hours, I just couldn't stop thinking about the surgery. I was so scared to make it through this day. I called the hospital at 7am and asked them to tell Lenny I loved him before he went into surgery.
I attempted to eat breakfast, yeah right, like I have even barely taken many bites of anything at this point. We went right over to the hospital to begin our long wait. We checked in and they told us he was scheduled for 7 hours of surgery. This was so far the worst day for me. I broke down on several occasions and never thought I was going to make it through this day. I had a lot of support and somehow I made it through. The doctors updated us a few times, and 12 HOURS LATER he was out of surgery and in recovery.
The facial reconstruction went as planned, with the exception of it was way worse then they expected, which is why it took so long. There are 3 sections that you can fracture that would remove your face from the skull, and Lenny broke 2 of them. We were lucky that he still had one left, as that was a guide for them to put it back. They gave him a tracheotomy because he needs the ventilator, and they had to wire his jaw shut for it to heal correctly. His jaw will remain wired shut for 2 weeks. There is a lot more details to this, but I will spare you all that pain.
He had a CT Scan today of his neck, as that will be his next challenge. They will allow him some recovery time from today's surgery and the neurosurgeon's will be reviewing the CT Scan and we will find out if they want to due surgery on his broken neck or not.
They let us see him at the night visit and he was still sleeping from the surgery. I held his hand and talked to him a little. I don't know if he heard me, but Barry said it helps anyway.
It is midnight, and I can't even think about sleeping, but I know I need to. I just called the hospital to see if he had woken up, and Barry said he came to a little bit and was feeling OK, but weird from the surgery. Pain wasn't too bad so far, so that is good.
We have a long road ahead of us, and we don't know all the details just yet, but there may be more surgery on the eye sockets, neck surgery, and of course then the rehabilitation. There is no time line or plan set forth at this time. Right now we are living day to day because that is all we can do.
We are very optimistic that Lenny will make a full recovery faster then the doctors expect, he is tough and healthy and a fighter.
I will be here with him the whole time, and we will take him home to a Rehab Center in California when he can go. Right now we have an estimated 3 weeks MINIMUM.
I know a lot of you want to send your love, and right now the best way to do that for Lenny is to pray, post comments on here to him, and help us get through this day by day. Lenny and I need you more then you know. I keep telling myself we will get through this, and I keep a strong face for Lenny, but inside I am losing it and I don't know how I am going to do it, but I will, somehow.
I am staying in an Extended Stay Studio Motel for the next month (it was a way better rate then the hotel I was in the first two nights), so if you would like to mail anything to us let me know. He can't have anything in the room just yet, but I will collect them for when he is ready in the next weeks to come.
So just remember that the best way to help Lenny now is prayer and support.
Love Nancy
I attempted to eat breakfast, yeah right, like I have even barely taken many bites of anything at this point. We went right over to the hospital to begin our long wait. We checked in and they told us he was scheduled for 7 hours of surgery. This was so far the worst day for me. I broke down on several occasions and never thought I was going to make it through this day. I had a lot of support and somehow I made it through. The doctors updated us a few times, and 12 HOURS LATER he was out of surgery and in recovery.
The facial reconstruction went as planned, with the exception of it was way worse then they expected, which is why it took so long. There are 3 sections that you can fracture that would remove your face from the skull, and Lenny broke 2 of them. We were lucky that he still had one left, as that was a guide for them to put it back. They gave him a tracheotomy because he needs the ventilator, and they had to wire his jaw shut for it to heal correctly. His jaw will remain wired shut for 2 weeks. There is a lot more details to this, but I will spare you all that pain.
He had a CT Scan today of his neck, as that will be his next challenge. They will allow him some recovery time from today's surgery and the neurosurgeon's will be reviewing the CT Scan and we will find out if they want to due surgery on his broken neck or not.
They let us see him at the night visit and he was still sleeping from the surgery. I held his hand and talked to him a little. I don't know if he heard me, but Barry said it helps anyway.
It is midnight, and I can't even think about sleeping, but I know I need to. I just called the hospital to see if he had woken up, and Barry said he came to a little bit and was feeling OK, but weird from the surgery. Pain wasn't too bad so far, so that is good.
We have a long road ahead of us, and we don't know all the details just yet, but there may be more surgery on the eye sockets, neck surgery, and of course then the rehabilitation. There is no time line or plan set forth at this time. Right now we are living day to day because that is all we can do.
We are very optimistic that Lenny will make a full recovery faster then the doctors expect, he is tough and healthy and a fighter.
I will be here with him the whole time, and we will take him home to a Rehab Center in California when he can go. Right now we have an estimated 3 weeks MINIMUM.
I know a lot of you want to send your love, and right now the best way to do that for Lenny is to pray, post comments on here to him, and help us get through this day by day. Lenny and I need you more then you know. I keep telling myself we will get through this, and I keep a strong face for Lenny, but inside I am losing it and I don't know how I am going to do it, but I will, somehow.
I am staying in an Extended Stay Studio Motel for the next month (it was a way better rate then the hotel I was in the first two nights), so if you would like to mail anything to us let me know. He can't have anything in the room just yet, but I will collect them for when he is ready in the next weeks to come.
So just remember that the best way to help Lenny now is prayer and support.
Love Nancy
Monday, April 19, 2010
Sunday
I was actually able to sleep after seeing him the night before and watching those toes wiggle. We headed over to the hospital for our morning visit.
As soon as I came in he starting motioning to his leg, and I got the nurse to give him his pain medicine. After that he was sleeping so we just sat with him.
We headed out to buy some clothes and toiletry items as I was a mess. Then we headed back to the hospital. A very old friend cooked us lunch and brought it to the hospital it was great.
Our afternoon visit was good, but he was really groggy so we did not stay long. We met with doctors in the afternoon to do the consent forms for Lenny to have his facial reconstruction surgery. Hearing all the risks was so scary, but all we cared about was helping Lenny.
Our evening visit he was awake again, and you will never believe what happened next! He started to motion to know what time it is, and when he did that I knew exactly what he wanted......."Who won the Laker Game"....it was the only time I had felt some relief that my Lenny was in there. I read him the play by play of the game and he gave us his "awesome" hand gesture. They are calling me the "Lenny Whisperer", it seems I am the only one that has been able to figure out most of his hand gestures. I guess after being together for so long you don't even have to talk to know what someone is telling you.
At our night visit he was a little out of it, and we had a new nurse. His name is Barry and he is fantastic! He gave us an explanation of every machine that is hooked up to Lenny (and there is a lot of them). I was glad to get so much information and I think Lenny was too. He learned so much as did we.
I was a bit of a mess when we left because of the surgery the next morning.
As soon as I came in he starting motioning to his leg, and I got the nurse to give him his pain medicine. After that he was sleeping so we just sat with him.
We headed out to buy some clothes and toiletry items as I was a mess. Then we headed back to the hospital. A very old friend cooked us lunch and brought it to the hospital it was great.
Our afternoon visit was good, but he was really groggy so we did not stay long. We met with doctors in the afternoon to do the consent forms for Lenny to have his facial reconstruction surgery. Hearing all the risks was so scary, but all we cared about was helping Lenny.
Our evening visit he was awake again, and you will never believe what happened next! He started to motion to know what time it is, and when he did that I knew exactly what he wanted......."Who won the Laker Game"....it was the only time I had felt some relief that my Lenny was in there. I read him the play by play of the game and he gave us his "awesome" hand gesture. They are calling me the "Lenny Whisperer", it seems I am the only one that has been able to figure out most of his hand gestures. I guess after being together for so long you don't even have to talk to know what someone is telling you.
At our night visit he was a little out of it, and we had a new nurse. His name is Barry and he is fantastic! He gave us an explanation of every machine that is hooked up to Lenny (and there is a lot of them). I was glad to get so much information and I think Lenny was too. He learned so much as did we.
I was a bit of a mess when we left because of the surgery the next morning.
Saturday
I arrived in Phoenix by plane at 8am and headed straight to the hospital. Lenny was already in surgery for his legs. They had to get right to it, to save his legs. He had a right broken femur (thigh bone) and compound fractures (broken bones that have come through the skin) of both legs below the knee. At the time, I did not know he was found pinned in the boat, so now that I know, we can see why they were do bad. Lenny got out of surgery in the early afternoon, and the plastic surgery team went right to work on repairing his nose which was severely damaged from the impact into the glove compartment area. Finally, after they were finished, they let us in for 5 minutes. It was wonderful to see him and for the first time I think I took a breath. He was there, he was alive. His nose looked great, they did a great job.
Lenny is in a SICU (Surgical Intensive Care Unit). There is a nurse at the foot of his bed at a desk watching him constantly and we are only allowed to see him for 15-30 minutes 4 times a day. I hate it. I just want to sit there and hold his had.
At our evening visit we were able to be in there for 15 minutes. He was awake, but his face was all swollen and he could not open his eyes, but he knew we were there. He was having a hard time with the ventilator, the doctors say it is very uncomfortable, so the visit was hard.
At our night visit he was much more comfortable, and started with hand jesters to communicate. He opened one of his eyes just a sliver and gave me a tiny smile. I was so happy. We were able to be in there for 30 minutes, he wiggled his toes for me, and my heart almost burst out of my chest.
Lenny is in a SICU (Surgical Intensive Care Unit). There is a nurse at the foot of his bed at a desk watching him constantly and we are only allowed to see him for 15-30 minutes 4 times a day. I hate it. I just want to sit there and hold his had.
At our evening visit we were able to be in there for 15 minutes. He was awake, but his face was all swollen and he could not open his eyes, but he knew we were there. He was having a hard time with the ventilator, the doctors say it is very uncomfortable, so the visit was hard.
At our night visit he was much more comfortable, and started with hand jesters to communicate. He opened one of his eyes just a sliver and gave me a tiny smile. I was so happy. We were able to be in there for 30 minutes, he wiggled his toes for me, and my heart almost burst out of my chest.
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