Three weeks tomorrow, and the marathon continues!
He is still on antibiotics to fight his infections, and his vitals have remained stable.
Mark is getting more responsive every day. He has so much he wants to say. In the past few days he has been shaking his head "yes" and "no," and is mouthing words, though with his current trach he is unable to speak. Some things are still understandable, while others are not. On Tuesday when mom came into his room and told him hello, he looked at her and mouthed "Hi mom." And when she told him she loved him, he mouthed "I love you." Even the nurse in his room recognized what he was saying. Then when mom told him it was time for her to go, he squeezed her hand and shook his head no.
Keep up the fight Mark! One day at a time. We are all here for you and can't wait until we can hear all that you want to tell us!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Mark's Passion..Article from Knox News October 2007
Home beer brewer blends a pinch of vocation and a dash of passion
MIKE BLACKERBYnews@knews.comFriday, October 12, 2007
Amy Smotherman Burgess
Home brewer Mark Moynihan explains his process for creating beer in his garage on Thursday in West Knoxville. Moynihan will be a volunteer at the East Tennessee Brewers' Jam on Saturday.
"Home Beer Brewer Blends a Pinch of Vocation and a Dash of Passion"
Much like one of his batches of brew, Mark Moynihan is an amalgam of the classic, the stereotypical and the modern home brewer.
The Knoxville resident said the home-brewing process isn’t just a mad rush to guzzle the end product; rather, it’s all about the journey.
Basic beer-making isn’t real complicated. It’s just a concoction of water, hops, malted barley and yeast.
Therein lies the mad scientist aspect of home brewing — vary those four ingredients and the cooking methodology to get the flavor you want. That’s when it gets complicated.
While he doesn’t brew in the catacombs of his basement, Moynihan said his hobby “forces me to have to park in the driveway instead of the garage.”
The 38-year-old Moynihan — a self-avowed “hop head” (connoisseur of pale ales) — will join several thousand beer lovers 1-7 p.m. Saturday at World’s Fair Park for the 11th annual Knoxville Brewers’ Jam.
The event benefits Community Shares of Tennessee and is regarded as one of the South’s premier craft beer and musical festivals.
Attendees can enjoy unlimited samples of more than 100 hand-crafted beers from 30-plus breweries. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on Saturday.
Kris Lutz, Brewers’ Jam coordinator, said the event is a huge fundraiser for Community Shares, which raises money for 53 non-profit agencies across the state of Tennessee.
“We raised $70,000 during the Brewers’ Jam last year for our local Community Shares operation,” said Lutz, who expects about 5,000 attendees Saturday.
Moynihan, along with his brewing brethren at the Tennessee Valley Brewers Association, will be among them. An engineering student at the University of Tennessee, Moynihan has melded his avocation — welding — with his passion for home brewing, starting about a decade ago.
“I was doing a lot of stainless steel welding and was doing a project for a microbrewery in Tempe, Ariz.,” he said. “Through that I discovered how brewers make beer. I started making beer on the stovetop and said, ‘You know, I have the ability to make some really nice brew.’”
From those humble hops beginnings, Moynihan has gone high tech. His Heat Exchanged Recirculation Mash System is hardly your father’s home-brewing setup of years gone by.
“There’s a lot of engineering involved in it,” he said. “It’s 99.9-percent stainless steel, with three 18-inch tanks, a heat-exchanger I made myself and 20 to 30 feet of tubing. I picked a lot of brains when I was making this.”
Moynihan said his system is probably worth “around $5,000 to $6,000.”
By contrast, a basic home-brewing kit can be purchased for less than $100.
Moynihan said it typically takes about six hours to complete the actual brewing process. Then it’s another two weeks (ales) to six weeks (lagers) before the final product is ready to be tapped for consumption.
“A big misconception is some people want to try the beer the day you make it. When steam is rolling out of my garage, people in my neighborhood know they can come by in a couple of weeks and get a sample.”
Rally Of Support for Mark in Knoxville
Rally of support for burned welder Friday
By News Sentinel staffOriginally published 04:10 p.m., April 30, 2009Updated 04:10 p.m.
KNOXVILLE - Friends of a welder critically burned earlier this month in a mishap at a Calhoun's restaurant are planning a rally of support for the man.
Mark Moynihan, 40, is in serious condition at the Vanderbilt Medical Center Burn Unit. He was burned April 10 when flames erupted inside a tank he was welding at Calhoun's Bar-B-Q & Brew, 6515 Kingston Pike.
Lee Cantrell, a friend of Moynihan, said a rally will be held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the pond at Pellissippi State Technical Community College as a show of support for the recovering man.
Cantrell said Moynihan is a student at Pellissippi State who was slated to graduate next month with a degree in mechanical engineering.
The informal gathering for the married Moynihan will allow friends and co-workers to say a few words in support of the burned man. Cantrell said Moynihan faces mulitple skin graft surgeries and at least nine months of recovery from his injuries.
Moynihan was featured in a 2007 News Sentinel story about his passion for brewing beer in his garage.
By News Sentinel staffOriginally published 04:10 p.m., April 30, 2009Updated 04:10 p.m.
KNOXVILLE - Friends of a welder critically burned earlier this month in a mishap at a Calhoun's restaurant are planning a rally of support for the man.
Mark Moynihan, 40, is in serious condition at the Vanderbilt Medical Center Burn Unit. He was burned April 10 when flames erupted inside a tank he was welding at Calhoun's Bar-B-Q & Brew, 6515 Kingston Pike.
Lee Cantrell, a friend of Moynihan, said a rally will be held Friday from 6-8 p.m. at the pond at Pellissippi State Technical Community College as a show of support for the recovering man.
Cantrell said Moynihan is a student at Pellissippi State who was slated to graduate next month with a degree in mechanical engineering.
The informal gathering for the married Moynihan will allow friends and co-workers to say a few words in support of the burned man. Cantrell said Moynihan faces mulitple skin graft surgeries and at least nine months of recovery from his injuries.
Moynihan was featured in a 2007 News Sentinel story about his passion for brewing beer in his garage.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Blog On Hold
Thanks to all of you who have followed this blog daily. To Mark's many friends and family members, this has been a place for you to track Mark's progress and reach out with your thoughts, well wishes, and most importantly your prayers. This is typically the time of evening I would post the news of the day. Sadly however, I am now unable to provide you with updates on his status. Because I know how important this link has been to all of you, I feel obliged to explain to you that this is NOT by my choice. There are unfortunate decisions that have been made that no medical information is to be released to anyone, including Mark's family. Any information we are able to gain from our brief 30 minutes per day with Mark we will continue to pass on to you. I can tell you that as of this mornings visit, Mark was very responsive and trying to communicate. Vitals were all within normal ranges.
I pray that the realization is made soon that the actions playing out are only going to tear Mark down. I also pray that God will open eyes and allow Mark's needs to be placed first. Anyone who knows Mark knows what a large, loving family he has. We are all here for him, and it is incredibly important for his healing to be surrounded with the love of his family and positive thoughts.
PLEASE do not stop leaving encouraging comments for Mark, and continue to keep him in your prayers. (He needs them now more than ever) And when Mark is able to speak for himself, it will be important for him to know that we were all here in support of him.
As upsetting as this will be to many of you, I ask that you all PLEASE KEEP THIS BLOG POSITIVE. This blog was created to provide a source of information for those concerned about Mark and a place to leave encouraging words for him. That is how I want it to continue.
My direct email for anyone wishing to contact me off of the blog is andies75@yahoo.com.
I pray that the realization is made soon that the actions playing out are only going to tear Mark down. I also pray that God will open eyes and allow Mark's needs to be placed first. Anyone who knows Mark knows what a large, loving family he has. We are all here for him, and it is incredibly important for his healing to be surrounded with the love of his family and positive thoughts.
PLEASE do not stop leaving encouraging comments for Mark, and continue to keep him in your prayers. (He needs them now more than ever) And when Mark is able to speak for himself, it will be important for him to know that we were all here in support of him.
As upsetting as this will be to many of you, I ask that you all PLEASE KEEP THIS BLOG POSITIVE. This blog was created to provide a source of information for those concerned about Mark and a place to leave encouraging words for him. That is how I want it to continue.
My direct email for anyone wishing to contact me off of the blog is andies75@yahoo.com.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Another Day Down
Today has been a relatively uneventful day. (uneventful=good) There have been some fluctuations in his vitals, and they restarted the meds to increase his blood pressure. His temperature has been a little low, (36.1 Celsius) but not to the point that they have placed him under the heat lamps.
He is increasingly responsive, and is now moving his lips trying to talk. It is great to have him look at us and respond, and to know that he understands what we say to him. But it's also frustrating for him that he can't communicate what he wants to say to us. That will come in time, and I'm sure he will have much to say.
He is increasingly responsive, and is now moving his lips trying to talk. It is great to have him look at us and respond, and to know that he understands what we say to him. But it's also frustrating for him that he can't communicate what he wants to say to us. That will come in time, and I'm sure he will have much to say.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Two Weeks!!!
Mark's surgery went smoothly today. He went in at 2:00pm and it took about 2 hours. They were able to replace some of the cadaver skin that wasn't taking, and Dr Guy says he is pleased with the results. His temp has been down since he came back from surgery, (It was 37.4 Celsius this evening.) and they have the heat lamps on him. His blood pressure is also down a bit this evening, but doesn't seem to be of concern to his doctors at this point.
Earlier in the day, the physical therapist began working with Mark's legs. Mark was alert, aware, and responding during the session. He was answering questions by blinking once for yes, and twice for no.
Dr Guy is now giving a projected time frame for placing the cultured skin in about 3 weeks. (If Mark behaves himself.)
It has been two weeks today since the accident, and Mark has come a long way already. There are a lot of miles left in this marathon, but he is on the right path and keeping a great pace.
Earlier in the day, the physical therapist began working with Mark's legs. Mark was alert, aware, and responding during the session. He was answering questions by blinking once for yes, and twice for no.
Dr Guy is now giving a projected time frame for placing the cultured skin in about 3 weeks. (If Mark behaves himself.)
It has been two weeks today since the accident, and Mark has come a long way already. There are a lot of miles left in this marathon, but he is on the right path and keeping a great pace.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
April 23, 2009
Mark was a little more alert and responsive today. He was opening his eyes again, this time focusing on people, and following activity in the room. While mom talked to him, he looked at her and his eyes followed her movement. Then when the nurse came in, he looked toward her. He is clearly aware of the people around him. When he was told how good his face and lips looked, he ran his tongue along both his top and bottom lip, as if to feel for himself.
More hydro therapy for him today, and tomorrow he is still on for surgery. The surgical schedule will not be made until sometime later tonight in order to assess the priority of the other surgeries to be done tomorrow.
His vitals have all remained stable today, with only a slight fever this evening. No new blood culture results yet, but the lung cultures are negative.
Overall, today has been a positive day. Keep 'em coming Mark!
More hydro therapy for him today, and tomorrow he is still on for surgery. The surgical schedule will not be made until sometime later tonight in order to assess the priority of the other surgeries to be done tomorrow.
His vitals have all remained stable today, with only a slight fever this evening. No new blood culture results yet, but the lung cultures are negative.
Overall, today has been a positive day. Keep 'em coming Mark!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
More Hurdles...
Mark's blood culture revealed that he is septic. (his blood infection is back.) They still have him on antibiotics, and they increased his sedation to help his body rest. They also put him back on the ventilator for the same reason. The less his body has to work to function, the more at rest it is and can better fight his infections. They are keeping his lungs suctioned due to increased secretions. (Another culture of that was done today)
His blood pressure dipped down a bit again early this afternoon, but it was easily stabilized with increased IV fluids.
Also today, he was taken for hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy uses warm, running water to help the healing process of a burn injury. It is used to clean the wounds, reduce the chance of infection, soften and slough off dead skin debris, and to assess the healing process.
With another day of the marathon behind him, Mark is still moving on.
His blood pressure dipped down a bit again early this afternoon, but it was easily stabilized with increased IV fluids.
Also today, he was taken for hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy uses warm, running water to help the healing process of a burn injury. It is used to clean the wounds, reduce the chance of infection, soften and slough off dead skin debris, and to assess the healing process.
With another day of the marathon behind him, Mark is still moving on.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Vanderbilt Address
Anyone wishing to send Mark get well wishes via mail may send cards/letters to:
Patient, Mark D Moynihan
Vanderbilt University Hospital
Burn Center, Room 11225
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37231
Patient, Mark D Moynihan
Vanderbilt University Hospital
Burn Center, Room 11225
1161 21st Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37231
Even More Good News!!!
This morning Mark's doctors took him temporarily off of all sedation. (For about 2 hours) They called it a "sedation holiday." Their goal is to let him come off of the meds and monitor at what level he starts to react. They then step back up the meds until they reach a threshold where he is receiving enough to make him comfortable without over sedating him. They will do this every couple of days as they step him down gradually from the meds to ensure his neurological function is still up to par.
During this morning's visitation, with his mother on the right side of his bed and Kim on the left, Mark again raised his right arm up off of the bed. As they both held his hands, the nurse ask him to squeeze their hand if he could. And he did!!! They also asked him to move his foot, and he did. No doubt about it, he heard them and responded upon command.
His fever is still coming and going, and they have taken additional cultures today.
They have set his next surgery for this Friday, but a time has not been set as of yet. It will basically be a "cleaning up" of sorts. They will be checking the cadaver skin and adding to/replacing any areas that need to be. Dr Guy has been in touch with the lab in Boston, and the skin cultures are progressing very well. The first of the grafts using the cloned skin will be in 2 weeks. Once Dr Guy sets the date, everything will have to be orchestrated perfectly. He used the analogy of "threading a needle." From the shipment of the skin from Boston, to Mark being ready to receive it, the timing will have to be impeccable.
And finally, Mark is growing a beard! Which wouldn't ordinarily be earth shaking news, but hair growth means the skin underneath is good. Another sign that his face will have minimal residual damage. So he will still have his same charming good looks!
During this morning's visitation, with his mother on the right side of his bed and Kim on the left, Mark again raised his right arm up off of the bed. As they both held his hands, the nurse ask him to squeeze their hand if he could. And he did!!! They also asked him to move his foot, and he did. No doubt about it, he heard them and responded upon command.
His fever is still coming and going, and they have taken additional cultures today.
They have set his next surgery for this Friday, but a time has not been set as of yet. It will basically be a "cleaning up" of sorts. They will be checking the cadaver skin and adding to/replacing any areas that need to be. Dr Guy has been in touch with the lab in Boston, and the skin cultures are progressing very well. The first of the grafts using the cloned skin will be in 2 weeks. Once Dr Guy sets the date, everything will have to be orchestrated perfectly. He used the analogy of "threading a needle." From the shipment of the skin from Boston, to Mark being ready to receive it, the timing will have to be impeccable.
And finally, Mark is growing a beard! Which wouldn't ordinarily be earth shaking news, but hair growth means the skin underneath is good. Another sign that his face will have minimal residual damage. So he will still have his same charming good looks!
Monday, April 20, 2009
How to leave comments
There have been several people saying they are not able to post comments on this blog page, so I wanted to let everyone know how it works. It is great for us to know who is following Mark's progress, but more importantly as Mark recovers it will mean so much to him to be able to read the comments and messages of support that have been made along the way.
In order to be able to post a comment, you must first create a user ID to become a "follower" of his blog. To the left of the updates, there is a list of followers. Click on the box that says "follow," and you will be prompted through the setup process. It only takes a minute, and once you're registered there will be link after each blog entry I post for you to comment.
Thanks to all who continue to follow his progress daily and are keeping him in your prayers.
In order to be able to post a comment, you must first create a user ID to become a "follower" of his blog. To the left of the updates, there is a list of followers. Click on the box that says "follow," and you will be prompted through the setup process. It only takes a minute, and once you're registered there will be link after each blog entry I post for you to comment.
Thanks to all who continue to follow his progress daily and are keeping him in your prayers.
The Best Day Yet!
Vitals are still holding steady, and temp is down to 37.3 Celsius (99.1 Fahrenheit). He is still breathing on his own, and all vital organs are still functioning normally. They re-cultured his blood and urine for infection...both came back negative, and results from his lung cultures are still pending. The infectious disease doctor said she has no reason to believe that his infections are not under control. But most importantly...Mark has been opening his eyes today!!! The nurse was with him this afternoon and she said he opened his eyes, blinked a couple of times and closed them again. She was so excited she shed a tear. Then at the 8:00 visit this evening, he opened his eyes several times for Mom and Kim. He also raised his right arm up off of the bed. The nurse said he is doing "amazing," and his doctor came by and said he is doing "remarkable." What an awesome day!!!! Keep up the good fight Mark...you are doing incredible!!! You keep showing 'em what 3% looks like!
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Infections...GO AWAY!
Mark is still holding his own today. His BP, heart rate, respiration, and kidney function have remained stable. He still has the fever though, staying at around 39 Celsius. (102.2 Fahrenheit) We know that he is fighting infections in both his lungs and blood, and there is some concern with the fever remaining at this point that the antibiotic may not be doing it's job. However, the doctors have not expressed any major concern for now.
There are no other new developments for today. If those infections would just go away, he would be in a "happy place" for now.
There are no other new developments for today. If those infections would just go away, he would be in a "happy place" for now.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Day #8
Today Mark was started on a stronger antibiotic because of his fever. Because of the strength, it has the potential to be harmful to his kidneys, and they are watching that closely. For now, his kidney function has been great. His fluid input/output has been "perfect" in their words. As of this afternoon, his temp was down to 36 degrees Celsius. His heart rate has been great. (around 88-90) And his respirations are good as well. (Between 25-28 per minute.)
During the 1:00 visitation today he gave us a bit of a scare. His blood pressure dropped down to 78/38. Kim and I were back with him, and watched the monitors anxiously as we waited. They gave him 500mL of Albumin, infusing at the fastest rate they could, to increase his blood volume. After 10 minutes had passed, that wasn't enough, and they started him back on one of the BP meds he had previously been on. With our eyes glued to the monitor, we played the role of cheerleader as we watched the BP mean slowly go back up. It had been down near 58, and they wanted it at 70. "OK, we've got 59...can we get 60? 61? YAH! 65, 68 & 70!!! Way to go Mark!!!" Within 5 minutes of starting the meds he was back into the normal range again, and has been holding steady since. We joked with him that he stabilized because we were embarrassing him and he'd do anything to make us to stop.
He was also moving his legs during visitation today. I ask his nurse if it was involuntary movement or if he was consciously moving them. She said he was consciously moving them, that he heard us talking to him and was responding to let us know he knew we were there. (Or maybe he was running the marathon) : )
During the 1:00 visitation today he gave us a bit of a scare. His blood pressure dropped down to 78/38. Kim and I were back with him, and watched the monitors anxiously as we waited. They gave him 500mL of Albumin, infusing at the fastest rate they could, to increase his blood volume. After 10 minutes had passed, that wasn't enough, and they started him back on one of the BP meds he had previously been on. With our eyes glued to the monitor, we played the role of cheerleader as we watched the BP mean slowly go back up. It had been down near 58, and they wanted it at 70. "OK, we've got 59...can we get 60? 61? YAH! 65, 68 & 70!!! Way to go Mark!!!" Within 5 minutes of starting the meds he was back into the normal range again, and has been holding steady since. We joked with him that he stabilized because we were embarrassing him and he'd do anything to make us to stop.
He was also moving his legs during visitation today. I ask his nurse if it was involuntary movement or if he was consciously moving them. She said he was consciously moving them, that he heard us talking to him and was responding to let us know he knew we were there. (Or maybe he was running the marathon) : )
Friday, April 17, 2009
One Long Week
It has been one week today since Mark's accident. One week that seems like months.
He has developed a bit of a fever over the course of the day. It is 39 degrees Celsius tonight. (102.2 Fahrenheit) We already know though that his body is fighting an infection, and he is on antibiotics for that. So for that reason, the staff was not overly concerned about the increased temperature.
They have stepped down the Ketamine dosage a bit, and he is now breathing on his own. The ventilator is still in place, but only as backup at this point. He is doing all the work, and regulating his own respirations.
Aside from the fever, today has been another uneventful day, and we will take many more of those! Keep the prayers going!
He has developed a bit of a fever over the course of the day. It is 39 degrees Celsius tonight. (102.2 Fahrenheit) We already know though that his body is fighting an infection, and he is on antibiotics for that. So for that reason, the staff was not overly concerned about the increased temperature.
They have stepped down the Ketamine dosage a bit, and he is now breathing on his own. The ventilator is still in place, but only as backup at this point. He is doing all the work, and regulating his own respirations.
Aside from the fever, today has been another uneventful day, and we will take many more of those! Keep the prayers going!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Thank God for uneventful days!
No major changes to mention today. His vitals are a little shaky, but we are told that is to be expected from his surgery last night. His body temp is back up, so they no longer have the heat lamps on him. He is still receiving blood and plasma. In general, it has been a day of rest. That is what the goal is for the remainder of the week...rest, stability, and no more "silliness."
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Another hurdle cleared!
Mark just got back into his room. Surgery went very well...no complications. (Or as Dr Guy said, no more of Mark's "acting silly.")
They took some of the burns off of his neck, placed his trach, and removed the burns from his back. The skin on the back is thicker, so even though it was third degree burns on his back, there was still some fatty tissue he was able to leave in hopes of skin regeneration.
He said he is hopeful that the back of his scalp will be intact enough to harvest some skin for grafting onto his face if needed. His hair is growing already. I ask Dr Guy what the next step was looking ahead, and his response after a long pause, was rest. It will be next week before they plan any other surgeries. The main things they are watching now are how well the cadaver skin is maintaining, and infections.
The skin for cloning is in Boston, and they have confirmed it is being cultured now. He explained the intricate detail involved in getting the cloned skin at just the right time. He will have to shave the very top layer of the cadaver skin off and replace it with the cloned skin to "trick" his body into accepting it as his. And this will have to be timed just right, as not to wait until the body rejects the cadaver skin.
For tonight...Another hurdle behind him now! The marathon continues...
They took some of the burns off of his neck, placed his trach, and removed the burns from his back. The skin on the back is thicker, so even though it was third degree burns on his back, there was still some fatty tissue he was able to leave in hopes of skin regeneration.
He said he is hopeful that the back of his scalp will be intact enough to harvest some skin for grafting onto his face if needed. His hair is growing already. I ask Dr Guy what the next step was looking ahead, and his response after a long pause, was rest. It will be next week before they plan any other surgeries. The main things they are watching now are how well the cadaver skin is maintaining, and infections.
The skin for cloning is in Boston, and they have confirmed it is being cultured now. He explained the intricate detail involved in getting the cloned skin at just the right time. He will have to shave the very top layer of the cadaver skin off and replace it with the cloned skin to "trick" his body into accepting it as his. And this will have to be timed just right, as not to wait until the body rejects the cadaver skin.
For tonight...Another hurdle behind him now! The marathon continues...
Surgery
Mark was just taken back for his surgery 20 minutes ago (6:20pm, 5:20pm Nashville time)..please keep praying! Will update post surgery!
Surgery delayed
Mark had an uneventful night, and an uneventful night is a good night. They did delay his surgery until later this afternoon. Not because of any concerns with Mark's status, but because of a schedule change to accomodate other surgeries. They are now saying around 3:30 today. I will post as soon as we know more.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Tuesday, April 14
Another day behind us, and Mark has remained stable. (WOOHOO!!)
They took the skin samples today to be sent for cloning. The samples were on a plane by early afternoon and should be in Boston now. It will be 2-3 weeks before the first of the skin specimens are ready to be grafted.
Infectious disease is being consulted regarding the cultures that were obtained to determine what antibiotics need to given. And the catheter that was placed in his heart yesterday is showing that Mark has reasonable heart function at this point.
Mark had his first bowel movement today, (two of them actually) another milestone. His temperature has remained within normal limits, so no heat lamps have been needed. All in all, it has been a good day.
During our meeting with Dr Guy today we were able to share a lot with him about who Mark is as a person. We spoke of his interests, personality, and looked through some photos of Mark with he and some of the other staff. Dr Guy told us that he had looked up the news stories about Mark, and said how impressed he was with all of the people who cared about Mark in the community who had left comments on those stories. It meant so much that he wants to know who Mark is. He also shared some positive survival stories with us. I've said it previously, but I can't say enough how happy we all are that Mark is where he is. He has some absolutely amazing doctors and nurses on his side. They are all truly special people.
Tomorrow morning will be Mark's second surgery. They will place his trach, remove the burned skin from his back, and if status allows, will also remove some of burned skin from his neck. They will get started with their surgical schedule around 7:30 am, and Mark is first on the list. The surgery should last approximately 2 hours. Obviously this will be another huge hurdle for Mark to clear. But one leap at a time, we have faith he will get there!
They took the skin samples today to be sent for cloning. The samples were on a plane by early afternoon and should be in Boston now. It will be 2-3 weeks before the first of the skin specimens are ready to be grafted.
Infectious disease is being consulted regarding the cultures that were obtained to determine what antibiotics need to given. And the catheter that was placed in his heart yesterday is showing that Mark has reasonable heart function at this point.
Mark had his first bowel movement today, (two of them actually) another milestone. His temperature has remained within normal limits, so no heat lamps have been needed. All in all, it has been a good day.
During our meeting with Dr Guy today we were able to share a lot with him about who Mark is as a person. We spoke of his interests, personality, and looked through some photos of Mark with he and some of the other staff. Dr Guy told us that he had looked up the news stories about Mark, and said how impressed he was with all of the people who cared about Mark in the community who had left comments on those stories. It meant so much that he wants to know who Mark is. He also shared some positive survival stories with us. I've said it previously, but I can't say enough how happy we all are that Mark is where he is. He has some absolutely amazing doctors and nurses on his side. They are all truly special people.
Tomorrow morning will be Mark's second surgery. They will place his trach, remove the burned skin from his back, and if status allows, will also remove some of burned skin from his neck. They will get started with their surgical schedule around 7:30 am, and Mark is first on the list. The surgery should last approximately 2 hours. Obviously this will be another huge hurdle for Mark to clear. But one leap at a time, we have faith he will get there!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Another 24 hours
Sunday evening was a tough one. Mark kept the medical staff on their toes. They worked diligently throughout the evening to keep him stable. His blood pressure and heart rate were very erratic. One minute his blood pressure would be 70/40, and the next it would be 138/78. His heart rate was ranging from 54-120. As soon as they would adjust his meds to accommodate where his vitals were, they would change again. It was like a continuous waltz back and forth with the staff following and responding to his changes minute by minute. By early morning (around 1:00 am) he leveled out and remained stable.
Dr Guy made his rounds Monday morning and came in to give us his update. He used a word that we have never been happier to hear in our entire lives...REMARKABLE! He said that today was a better day than yesterday, and at that specific moment, where Mark is now considering his injuries is remarkable. He did go on to remind us that there will be more setbacks and obstacles ahead. The biggest of the concerns at this point is infection, though as of that moment there were no signs of that. Mark was doing well on the vent. He told us that within the next week they would be taking Mark in to surgery to remove the burned skin on his back that they were unable to remove initially, as well as placing his trach. He used an analogy of being at a track meet. There are multiple hurdles in this marathon, each one has to be cleared to finish the race. Such is the case with Mark.
Around 3:00 pm, Mark's nurse came out and requested that Kim and his mother come back with her. Another hurdle had presented itself. There were about 20 medical staff surrounding Mark's bed, working together to help stabilize him. His blood pressure had dropped in an instant to 40/20. For the next 30 minutes we all prayed, paced, cried, and waited as they worked to bring him back to normal. Trying different meds, at different levels to find what Mark's body "liked." Every member of that team had a job to do and did it very calmly and efficiently. Finally, after a very grim half hour, they stabilized him again. Dr Guy came out to speak with us about what had happened. He suspects that this is secondary to an infection that has developed. He started him on a strong antibiotic, and has sent out cultures of blood, urine, and airway to determine exactly what type of infection he is battling. It will be 2-3 days before those cultures are back, and once they are back the antibiotics will be adjusted according to what he is treating. They placed a catheter in his heart to determine more specifically the level of it's function at this point. In doing this, there also comes more risk of infection, but it is necessary at this point. At this point, all of his vital organs are functioning within normal limits. Dr Guy reminded us, as he always does, that he does not want to shake our faith or hope, but it is his responsibility to provide us with the scientific facts of what his condition is. And that his chance of survival remains slim. He referred to this as a reality check of where we truly stand. He told us that this would happen again. They were aggressive and able to bring him back this time. But with each setback, there comes the chance that they will not be able to. We remain hopeful that Mark will continue to fight and clear all of his "hurdles." With God, all things are possible.
Dr Guy made his rounds Monday morning and came in to give us his update. He used a word that we have never been happier to hear in our entire lives...REMARKABLE! He said that today was a better day than yesterday, and at that specific moment, where Mark is now considering his injuries is remarkable. He did go on to remind us that there will be more setbacks and obstacles ahead. The biggest of the concerns at this point is infection, though as of that moment there were no signs of that. Mark was doing well on the vent. He told us that within the next week they would be taking Mark in to surgery to remove the burned skin on his back that they were unable to remove initially, as well as placing his trach. He used an analogy of being at a track meet. There are multiple hurdles in this marathon, each one has to be cleared to finish the race. Such is the case with Mark.
Around 3:00 pm, Mark's nurse came out and requested that Kim and his mother come back with her. Another hurdle had presented itself. There were about 20 medical staff surrounding Mark's bed, working together to help stabilize him. His blood pressure had dropped in an instant to 40/20. For the next 30 minutes we all prayed, paced, cried, and waited as they worked to bring him back to normal. Trying different meds, at different levels to find what Mark's body "liked." Every member of that team had a job to do and did it very calmly and efficiently. Finally, after a very grim half hour, they stabilized him again. Dr Guy came out to speak with us about what had happened. He suspects that this is secondary to an infection that has developed. He started him on a strong antibiotic, and has sent out cultures of blood, urine, and airway to determine exactly what type of infection he is battling. It will be 2-3 days before those cultures are back, and once they are back the antibiotics will be adjusted according to what he is treating. They placed a catheter in his heart to determine more specifically the level of it's function at this point. In doing this, there also comes more risk of infection, but it is necessary at this point. At this point, all of his vital organs are functioning within normal limits. Dr Guy reminded us, as he always does, that he does not want to shake our faith or hope, but it is his responsibility to provide us with the scientific facts of what his condition is. And that his chance of survival remains slim. He referred to this as a reality check of where we truly stand. He told us that this would happen again. They were aggressive and able to bring him back this time. But with each setback, there comes the chance that they will not be able to. We remain hopeful that Mark will continue to fight and clear all of his "hurdles." With God, all things are possible.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The past 60 hours
Around 10:00am on Friday, April 10 2009, Mark was preparing to do a welding job inside a brewery vat at Calhoun's in Knoxville. While inside the vat he told others he was having a hard time breathing in the confined space. Someone opened a valve to pump oxygen into the cooler for him, and when Mark sparked the torch, it immediately exploded. Mark was able to climb out of the 18 inch opening where others extinguished the flames.
Mark was transported to UT Medical Center in Knoxville, where he was initially assessed and the determination was made to transport him immediately to the burn unit at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Due to severe weather, the medical helicopters were grounded and he had to be transported via ambulance. During transit, there were severe thunderstorms and 6 tornadoes touched down in the path from Knoxville to Nashville. He arrived at Vanderbilt around 2:30pm CST, with family members arriving from various directions shortly after.
Dr Guy assessed Mark upon arrival and began him on hydrotherapy preparing him for surgery. He met with us at that time and gave us the report none of us were prepared to hear. Mark has third degree burns on 98% of his body. The only areas not burned were his feet and hands, due to his shoes and gloves. He only offers a 2 or 3 percent chance of survival. Dr Guy is very direct with us about Mark's prognosis and the obstacles that lie ahead if he survives. The first step, is being aggressive and taking advantage of what he referred to as the "honeymoon" period. This is the first 24-48 hours after the injury prior to the body becoming aware of the extent of it's damage. If he survives, there will be many definite setbacks. Infections will be inevitable. It is not a matter of if they happen, it's a matter of when. Any of these setbacks can happen suddenly, and can be fatal. Preventative antibiotics are not an option, because with each infection comes, it will require a stronger and stronger antibiotic to treat. Also, overuse of antibiotics will challenge the kidneys.
At 5:00pm, we got the first glimpse of Mark as he was taken down the hall past us on the way to the OR. There were 3 surgical teams there working aggressively and simultaneously to remove as much of the damaged skin as quickly possible. After three hours in the OR, they had removed 70% of the burned skin, and replaced it with cadaver skin. (We were told this was the equivalent of 3 days of surgeries done in 3 hours.) This was key in stopping the release of toxins into his system from the damaged skin. At this point, Mark was receiving 115 cc of IV fluid per minute (more than most get in an hour), as well as blood, plasma, and meds for pain and sedation. We are assured he is not in any pain, and they plan to keep him sedated for that purpose. He is in the burn unit ICU, and there is a nurse assigned only to him who stays at his bedside 24/7 to monitor and care for him.
Dr Guy came in to see Mark at 8:00 am on Saturday, and gave us the report on his status. He had made it through the first night as best as could be expected. His swelling had increased significantly, as was expected. His blood pressure had dropped and they were decreasing the sedatives slightly in hopes of bringing it back up. He prepared us for what they were anticipating over the next 24 hours. That is how he says we have to look at things. One day at a time. It is a "marathon." As the 48 hour mark approaches, more setbacks are expected. There are predictable complications that they are proactively preparing a course of action for. He says his lung function is expected to decline around that point, and other issues will arise as his body becomes aware of the state it is in.
We are able to go in to visit with Mark only during limited visiting times due to him being in isolation and highly susceptible to infection. We believe he can hear us, though he is unable to respond.
As Sunday morning comes, Mark has survived another night. Dr Guy makes his visit and again speaks with us about his status. We are now entering into the 48 hour mark, and overnight his status has deteriorated as expected. His heart is now in a state of "shock." His heart rate is down to 50 (should be around 120 for the condition of his body) and is only functioning at around 1/3 of what it should be. Dr Guy says this was predictable, and typically will last for 48-72 hours. They also had to increase the settings on the ventilator. His body is in a state of hypothermia. (temperature has dropped to 95 degrees) and they have heat lamps on him to bring it up. The doctor says that his body is now "trying to give up." They have added some new meds to help regulate his blood pressure. They have significantly decreased his IV fluids to 150 cc per hour now, and will be giving him diuretics to start helping his body to release the retained fluid. At this point, his kidney function is good, and the cadaver skin is working. He has been started on tube feedings today as well. They will be placing a tracheostomy this week. Also, on Monday, Dr Guy will be planning for future skin grafts. A small area of skin will be obtained from Mark's foot and sent to a lab in Boston. At the lab, the skin sample will be cloned to make more of his own skin. When they reach the point that he is ready for the skin grafts, that new skin will then be shipped back here to Vanderbilt to be used.
We are in the midst of the most critical period so far. The doctors and nurses are all doing a wonderful job of anticipating complications and planning for them before they happen. He is in the best possible place for his condition. The doctors here are some of the top in the nation. They are excellent, and have also been wonderful about being very straight with us on his condition.
As each day passes and he becomes more stable, there will be many more surgeries. Possibly 3 this week, and as many as 40 over the next few months. We know that Mark is a fighter and are holding fast to our hope and faith that he will pull through this. 2-3% doesn't sound like much, but if anybody can be that 2-3%, it's Mark!!!
Mark was transported to UT Medical Center in Knoxville, where he was initially assessed and the determination was made to transport him immediately to the burn unit at Vanderbilt Medical Center. Due to severe weather, the medical helicopters were grounded and he had to be transported via ambulance. During transit, there were severe thunderstorms and 6 tornadoes touched down in the path from Knoxville to Nashville. He arrived at Vanderbilt around 2:30pm CST, with family members arriving from various directions shortly after.
Dr Guy assessed Mark upon arrival and began him on hydrotherapy preparing him for surgery. He met with us at that time and gave us the report none of us were prepared to hear. Mark has third degree burns on 98% of his body. The only areas not burned were his feet and hands, due to his shoes and gloves. He only offers a 2 or 3 percent chance of survival. Dr Guy is very direct with us about Mark's prognosis and the obstacles that lie ahead if he survives. The first step, is being aggressive and taking advantage of what he referred to as the "honeymoon" period. This is the first 24-48 hours after the injury prior to the body becoming aware of the extent of it's damage. If he survives, there will be many definite setbacks. Infections will be inevitable. It is not a matter of if they happen, it's a matter of when. Any of these setbacks can happen suddenly, and can be fatal. Preventative antibiotics are not an option, because with each infection comes, it will require a stronger and stronger antibiotic to treat. Also, overuse of antibiotics will challenge the kidneys.
At 5:00pm, we got the first glimpse of Mark as he was taken down the hall past us on the way to the OR. There were 3 surgical teams there working aggressively and simultaneously to remove as much of the damaged skin as quickly possible. After three hours in the OR, they had removed 70% of the burned skin, and replaced it with cadaver skin. (We were told this was the equivalent of 3 days of surgeries done in 3 hours.) This was key in stopping the release of toxins into his system from the damaged skin. At this point, Mark was receiving 115 cc of IV fluid per minute (more than most get in an hour), as well as blood, plasma, and meds for pain and sedation. We are assured he is not in any pain, and they plan to keep him sedated for that purpose. He is in the burn unit ICU, and there is a nurse assigned only to him who stays at his bedside 24/7 to monitor and care for him.
Dr Guy came in to see Mark at 8:00 am on Saturday, and gave us the report on his status. He had made it through the first night as best as could be expected. His swelling had increased significantly, as was expected. His blood pressure had dropped and they were decreasing the sedatives slightly in hopes of bringing it back up. He prepared us for what they were anticipating over the next 24 hours. That is how he says we have to look at things. One day at a time. It is a "marathon." As the 48 hour mark approaches, more setbacks are expected. There are predictable complications that they are proactively preparing a course of action for. He says his lung function is expected to decline around that point, and other issues will arise as his body becomes aware of the state it is in.
We are able to go in to visit with Mark only during limited visiting times due to him being in isolation and highly susceptible to infection. We believe he can hear us, though he is unable to respond.
As Sunday morning comes, Mark has survived another night. Dr Guy makes his visit and again speaks with us about his status. We are now entering into the 48 hour mark, and overnight his status has deteriorated as expected. His heart is now in a state of "shock." His heart rate is down to 50 (should be around 120 for the condition of his body) and is only functioning at around 1/3 of what it should be. Dr Guy says this was predictable, and typically will last for 48-72 hours. They also had to increase the settings on the ventilator. His body is in a state of hypothermia. (temperature has dropped to 95 degrees) and they have heat lamps on him to bring it up. The doctor says that his body is now "trying to give up." They have added some new meds to help regulate his blood pressure. They have significantly decreased his IV fluids to 150 cc per hour now, and will be giving him diuretics to start helping his body to release the retained fluid. At this point, his kidney function is good, and the cadaver skin is working. He has been started on tube feedings today as well. They will be placing a tracheostomy this week. Also, on Monday, Dr Guy will be planning for future skin grafts. A small area of skin will be obtained from Mark's foot and sent to a lab in Boston. At the lab, the skin sample will be cloned to make more of his own skin. When they reach the point that he is ready for the skin grafts, that new skin will then be shipped back here to Vanderbilt to be used.
We are in the midst of the most critical period so far. The doctors and nurses are all doing a wonderful job of anticipating complications and planning for them before they happen. He is in the best possible place for his condition. The doctors here are some of the top in the nation. They are excellent, and have also been wonderful about being very straight with us on his condition.
As each day passes and he becomes more stable, there will be many more surgeries. Possibly 3 this week, and as many as 40 over the next few months. We know that Mark is a fighter and are holding fast to our hope and faith that he will pull through this. 2-3% doesn't sound like much, but if anybody can be that 2-3%, it's Mark!!!
Mark's blog CREATED!
This blog was created for my brother-in-law Mark who was injured in an accident at work.
It was created to keep his friends and family updated on his progress....
Check back often......
John
It was created to keep his friends and family updated on his progress....
Check back often......
John
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