Mark's Marathon

Mark - 27 June 2009

2009-07-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Mark's Memorial Service at North Cleveland Church of God, Cleveland TN. June 27th, 2009

Mark's Celebration of Life Service

2009-06-25T19:37:00.001-07:00

Mark's celebration of Life service will be held this Saturday, June 27, 2009 at North Cleveland Church of God. The church is located at 335 11th Street NE Cleveland, TN 37311. Family will greet visitors from 1:00-2:00, with services beginning at 2:00. Please come and help us celebrate Mark's life. Saturday is also Mark's birthday. How fitting for us to gather on this day and remember the wonderful man he was.

There will also be a separate gathering to honor Mark in Knoxville on Sunday, June 28, between 2:00-6:00pm. It will be a casual gathering at Preservation Pub, located at 28 Market Square in downtown Knoxville. A time to get together and share memories of Mark.

June 23, 2009

2009-06-23T16:42:00.000-07:00

This is a blog entry I hoped to never have to write. After 74 days of fighting, Mark let go of life today at 11:55 A.M. CST. He went peacefully, with his loved ones by his side. We all miss Mark already more than words can ever express, but take peace in knowing he is now free of pain. And we are grateful to have had those extra weeks with him.
To Dr Guy, the nurses, therapists, and medical staff, words cannot express how grateful we are for all that you've done for Mark. You are all very special people, and we will always have a special place in our hearts for you. Many of you became like family to us over the last 10 weeks. We will never forget any of you.
You fought hard Mark. Very hard. You're marathon is over now, and we are all so proud of you. We will see you again one day. We love you, Mark!

June 22nd-Day #73

2009-06-22T11:23:00.000-07:00

Mark is going to be started on dialysis today. The high level of medications have caused his kidneys to stop functioning. Dialysis removes the toxins that we typically are rid of by passing urine. Many times dialysis is only a temporary means until the medication can be decreased or stopped. Mark's skin grafts on his arms have taken at 70% and all areas are looking as well as or better than expected. Mark's blood pressure is responding to medications and is now within acceptable limits, and he is no longer maxed out on them. The palliative care Dr and Dr Guy remind us all of scientific facts. However, they don't know our Mark. He does remains in critical hours and needs our prayers. Next Saturday is Mark's birthday and I would like to remind everyone that Kim and the whole family remain faithful and we are celebrating each day as a hurdle crossed. As Kim put it herself "It ain't over till the fat lady sings. And she AIN'T singing." Keep the faith and please continue praying.
Mark, keep fighting with all you've got. We are all behind you every step of the way through this marathon. Feel all our energy and love and may God continue to surround you with his angels.

Mark and Stewart

2009-06-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

June 21, Part 2

2009-06-21T16:01:00.000-07:00

Vitals/med levels are still the same. Right now he is maintaining. No better, no worse. They have been unable to step him down any more from the meds as they wished to. The reason this is important is that the meds at their current levels will be harmful to continue beyond a couple of days. His kidney output is down to nothing. The renal team will be coming in to consult tonight. Dialysis is likely to start soon.
C'mon Mark. We know what you're made of...let's see more of your fight!

Unchanged

2009-06-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

Mark is unchanged from last night. He is still on max amounts all three meds for his blood pressure, and his vitals are the same. BP is still low (was 87/47 this morning) His heart rate is at 107. His kidney function is still minimal, but is to be expected with all of the meds he is on.
It's up to you now, Mark...keep up the fight! We know you can clear this hurdle!

June 20th-Mark keep fighting...

2009-06-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

The last 24 hours has been a roller coaster ride for Mark. His heart rate is high and his blood pressure has been low and he is on 3 medications to try and stabilize it as well as placed on steroids. Mark is right now fighting the fight of his life. Please join the family in praying at this critical hour. The Dr says he has done all he can do and now the rest is up to Mark to continue fighting. We know that God is the master Physician. Let's lift up this crisis to God. With God all things are possible.

June 14, 2009

2009-06-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

Mark's marathon continues, and all vitals are holding steady. The past several days have been uneventful. He has been unresponsive, but this is due to him being heavily sedated.
Dr Selby has been the doctor on staff this week, and says he is pleased with Mark's status. Kidneys and lungs are both functioning well. And the skin on his chest is looking "much better than he would have expected."

Family

2009-06-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

Mark, Janet, Stewart, Darlene, Amy, Shannon, Mom (9/2003)

June 9, 2009

2009-06-09T17:54:00.000-07:00

Mark is still holding steady, all vitals stable. He does have two new infections. One is bacterial, and one is fungal. So his antibiotics are being switched around to fight these.
Mark started physical therapy again today, and the report from the therapist is that his strength and range of motion are incredible. She said he is doing "amazing!" Of course he is...that's our Mark!

Uncle Mark and Jayden

2009-06-08T20:11:00.000-07:00

June 7, 2009

2009-06-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

During this morning's visit, Mark was alert. They had just changed his line (IV) to a new location and were waiting for X-rays to confirm it's proper placement before they could resume any of his sedation or pain meds. So his blood pressure was elevated due to the pain. Otherwise his vitals have all been stable. His temperature was up a bit yesterday (38 C/100.4 F) but it is back to normal this morning.
The results of his echocardiogram were good. There is no damage to his heart from the infections.
One more day...one step closer to the finish line!

Surgery Went Well

2009-06-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

Today's surgery went well. There was actually more done in the surgery than we had originally thought. The same process Dr Guy used about a month ago to graft skin from Mark's scalp to cover his right leg was repeated using skin from the backs of his hands. Due to the process of "stretching" the donor skin, he was able to make it go a long way towards covering Mark's burns. He covered all of his right arm, about half of his left arm, his knees, and the small portions of his chest that needed repair. Mark tolerated the surgery well.
The cardiologist came later this evening to do an EKG to determine if Mark's heart has been affected by the still present infection. We are still awaiting the results of that.

Surgery Tomorrow

2009-06-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Mark is scheduled to go in for a "cleaning up" surgery tomorrow morning. Dr Guy will go in and look at the cadaver skin on his legs and replace any areas that need to be. He will also assess the grafts on his right leg. The new skin on his chest is still looking good.
He is back on one of the meds for his blood pressure, but there hasn't been any scares like last week. They also increased his pain meds tonight.
Surgery for tomorrow is tentatively scheduled for 8:00 AM, unless there is something that comes up with another patient. Just another leg of the marathon. Nothing to it, eh Mark?

New Skin Looking Good

2009-06-03T15:56:00.000-07:00

They have removed the last of the gauze and backing from the cloned skin, and it is looking good! Now Mark is now able to be in a position other than flat on his back. (It's been two weeks today since the skin was placed.)
His blood pressure was going a little low earlier today, but they were able to level it out by giving him fluids rather than having to put him back on meds for it.
He is more alert and responsive than in recent days. Back to mouthing words again...time to brush up on our lip reading skills.
Let's keep it going in a positive direction Mark...one day at a time!

June 1, 2009

2009-06-01T20:07:00.001-07:00

The last few days have been uneventful for Mark. He is off of his blood pressure meds now, and vitals have been holding steady. As with previous posts, his infection is still of great concern. The antibiotics are still having no effect.
Otherwise, there have been no major events. One day at a time, holding steady, and waiting for improvement with his infections.

2009-05-31T18:56:00.000-07:00

Holding Steady...

2009-05-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

Mark is in a "happy place" for tonight. He is still on varying levels/combinations of meds for his blood pressure, but no more scares like last night. He is more responsive and following commands again. (Squeezing the nurse's hand on command, etc)
Hopefully we will have more good news tomorrow. Keep turning it around Mark!

All It Takes....

2009-05-29T17:59:00.000-07:00

Matthew 17:20
If you have faith as small as a mustard seed... Nothing will be impossible for you.

2009-05-29T14:15:00.000-07:00

Let us all join together in an hour of prayer for Mark at 7:00 PM Central time (Nashville)/8:00 Pm Eastern time(Cleveland, Florida, Knoxville.) Please everyone pray tonight for Mark, uniting together. The Dr's say these are critical days for him. Pray or light a candle for his complete healing, that
1). infection will GO AWAY, once and for all,
2). that his kidneys and heart and all his vital organs will remain functioning normally.
3) that he will continue to amaze everyone and walk out of that hospital, smiling!
4) that comfort and peace will surround us all...Mark, Kim, the entire family and all of Mark's loyal friends and followers.

UPDATE:

2009-05-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

Mark's blood pressure and all other vitals have now stabilized. Although, doctors say this could change at any moment (which we have all witnessed). Cardiologist said his heart is "physicaly fine". The concern is his fluid input/output being out of balance. This was causing stress to his heart. During this latest hurdle, Mark was put on 3 different blood pressure medications. One has been stopped, the other is being stepped down. Goal is to only be on the original (Levo.) medication, which he has been on and off of since the beginning. So, for now..Mark has "turned it around" yet again. Continue praying away the infection, as this still remains a major concern. Thanks for all the prayers and support. God certainly is with Mark, giving him strength to clear each hurdle. What a miracle my brother is!

Time To Turn It Back Around, Mark!

2009-05-28T16:32:00.000-07:00

Mark's blood pressure has been dropping too low. Presently there has been a team working with him to bring it back up, cardiologist has been called in. Doctor's say he may not pull through this one, but we have heard this before and Mark has turned it back around. Please pray for Mark now and spread the word. He desperately needs God to help him over this new hurdle. Keep up the good fight, Mark! We love you, Brother!

Still Waiting...

2009-05-28T03:13:00.000-07:00

There is no news yet on the much awaited information regarding Mark's new skin. The removal of the packing will not happen until today now. Dr Guy describes the process as very slow and tedious. It will likely take many hours, and may even be done over two days. This is due to the still very delicate nature of the new skin.
We also still await the most recent blood culture results. As of yesterday afternoon, Dr Guy said it was still pending.
All else remains stable. Hopefully today will be a day of good news.

May 26, 2009

2009-05-26T18:01:00.000-07:00

Mark has remained unchanged for the most part over the past couple of days. His vitals are all remaining stable, and kidney function holding steady.
There were blood samples taken again this morning for cultures. All previous cultures have shown no response to any antibiotics.
Tomorrow is the one week point from the placement of the cloned skin. They have been removing the outer dressings for large portions of each day to allow it to air out, leaving just the thin layer of gauze in place. While this is occurring, Mark is in isolation. No one is allowed in or out of his room, and he can only be observed through the glass doors to his room. Dr Guy says from what he has been able to see so far, it is looking good. But tomorrow will be the big day when he takes off the packing to reveal the progression of his healing. Based on his findings, the determination will be made of how much movement will be allowed. For the last week Mark has had to remain flat on his back, with absolutely no unnecessary movement to prevent the tearing of the fragile new skin.
So let us all pray that tomorrow holds much good news. First, good acceptance of the new skin. Second, no infections. Alright Mark...let's keep 'em talking. Time to give them another reason to call you remarkable!!!

May 23, 2009

2009-05-23T16:41:00.000-07:00

Mark is holding steady. They had to start him back on the blood pressure med last night. They had tried to give him some sedation prior to doing his wound care, and that caused his blood pressure to drop. They restarted his blood pressure med and brought it back up right away, but he is still on it this afternoon. Temperature, heart rate, and kidney function all remain stable as well.
They did start him on the new antibiotic last night. He was receiving his second dose during our visit this morning. Hopefully we will have good news in the next day or so about it's effect on the infection. KEEP FIGHTIN' IT MARK!

May 22, 2009

2009-05-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

We had a great visit with Mark tonight. He is more responsive than he has been in previous days. And I think he quite enjoyed the rendition of Rocky Top Shannon and I performed for him. He is mouthing words again, he said "bye," "love you," and was asking for water. He was also nodding his head yes and no.
He is now completely off of the blood pressure meds, and vitals are holding steady. Temperature is back to normal as well. Kidney function is good.
The major concern continues to be the infections. We are still awaiting the start of the new antibiotic mixture.

2009-05-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

Six Weeks and Staying Strong!

2009-05-22T08:15:00.000-07:00

During this morning's visit, Mark remained somewhat sedated (to help healing of cloned skin grafts). He was, however, tracking our movement outside the doors and lifted his arm and was mouthing words in an effort to let us know he needed suctioning. His vitals remain stable, his temperature tends to go too low and they're still using heat lamps to warm him up. His kidney output has improved:) Use of lasix to increase output is being used and this also effects his blood pressure (decreasing it). Infection control Dr said yesterday that his status remains unchanged in regards to infection. A new mix of antibiotics was to be started, but, unsure of when. Please continue your prayers focusing on Mark kicking this infection once and for all and for his continued strength. A new line was placed last night to monitor Mark's heart funtion, as a precautionary move. Mark contines to amaze us all, he is reMARKable! Let us all band together and wish him an extraordinary recovery. Please send cards and mail...the address is on blogspot, already. Mark has been reminded of all of his faithful followers on his blogspot. He smiled when he was told the numbers! Keep showing off, Mark..you have everyone's attention!!

Miraculous Mark!!!

2009-05-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

Mark came through surgery without complications...all vitals stable. AMEN! Now we wait...

He is back in his room, and he will be kept heavily sedated for the next several days. Currently his temperature is very low. (93 F) So they have him wrapped and completely covered, even his head, with blankets.
The skin they placed today covers his chest/torso, and is extremely delicate. Paper thin. It will be crucial that he not be moved or disturbed in the coming days to increase the chances of the graft being successful. Dr Guy says that these type of grafts typically have a 50% success rate, and for the ones that have been done at Vanderbilt, they have had an 80% success rate. But Mark hasn't payed any attention to scientific numbers from the beginning anyway, now has he?
His kidney function is not well. Dialysis may be necessary in the very near future, though they will put it off as long as they can due to the increased risk of infection that the lines would present.
The infectious disease doctor says the infection is still not responding to the antibiotics. The antibiotic that should be used to treat the particular infection he has is ineffective due to the resistance his body has built against it. So they are having to use a less than ideal antibiotic in hopes of getting a response well enough to manage the infection. They are taking cultures frequently and waiting to see a response.
Dr Guy repeated what he had said last week...he had not expected Mark to make it beyond 48 hours, and with everything he has overcome thus far, he is "remarkable." He said it is his opinion that Mark has survived because he has chosen to, and because of his faith. Keep the faith Mark! You WILL beat this!

11:00 AM

2009-05-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Just got an update from the nurse...Dr Guy says surgery is going well so far...

Surgery Underway, 9:00 AM

2009-05-20T06:49:00.000-07:00

Mark was taken down to the O.R. about 8:10 am, and Dr Guy just went down about 20 minutes ago. So surgery should be underway at this time. Dr Guy has the O.R. booked until 2:00 pm, and said it may or may not take full time. I will post updates as I am made aware. Hang in there Mark...Be strong!

Surgery Day

2009-05-20T03:05:00.000-07:00

(as dictated by Amy)
Mark is not in a very happy place today. Yesterday morning around 5:30 am his heart stopped beating. They immediately started chest compressions and pushed meds to restart it. Within a matter of minutes, they were able to restore his pulse. The doctor believes that this is due to his blood infection. This is the same infection he had previously, but it was treatable with antibiotics. The infection is now resisting the antibiotics. Kidney function still remains a concern. The doctor says the surgery for today must go on as planned....even though there is great concern about the extra stress this will put on Mark's body. The surgery is scheduled for 8:00 am (Central Time), and we are told it will last several hours. The procedure was explained to us as carefully pieceing together about 54 playing card sized pieces of skin.

On a positive note the college decided to award Mark his degree in engineering based upon his outstanding efforts and grades since he was already close to completion before the accident. CONGRATULATIONS, Mark!!

Sunday, May 17

2009-05-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

Mark seemed a little tired at this mornings visit. He wasn't as responsive as he was with us yesterday. The nurses had decorated the bandages on his head with an orange UT logo...looked like he was wearing a UT beanie.
The nephrologist says that his kidneys are holding steady. Not getting any worse, not getting any better. The infectious disease doctor was also in this morning and said that they are checking his blood daily to monitor the new infection there. After checking with the nephrologist in regards the his kidney function, they have decided to put Mark on a stronger antibiotic. (Amikacin) This will be hard on his kidneys, but necessary to help him kick this infection.
The grafting that was done last week is still looking good. After that surgery, they had given him two units of blood in anticipation of him bleeding out after they removed his packing, yet when they did he bled very little.
He is still only on the ventilator at night, to allow him to rest. He is still off of the blood pressure meds, and vitals are holding steady. His temperature fluctuates, it was 35.8 C this morning. (96.4 F) He is sitting up in a chair during physical therapy for an hour or so at a time now.
He has a communication board now so he can try to point to words/letters to let us know what he wants to say, but he doesn't care much for using it. He wants to do things his way, and he wants to talk.
The surgery for the cloned skin is in 3 days. At this point, unless something changes, it will be placed on his chest only for now.
The doctors and medical staff continue to be amazed by Mark's progress and determination. Dr Guy said last week that he hadn't expected Mark to make it three days, let alone to be where he is now and accomplishing the things he has. So keep it up Mark...you keep showing off and keep 'em talking!

Five Weeks

2009-05-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

I went in to see Mark this morning, and it was a great visit! His level of communication is getting worlds better. He is still unable to produce sound because of his trach, though that doesn't stop him from trying. We were actually able to understand most of what he was telling us this visit.
The physical therapist has been getting him up into a chair, and having him stand up. Mark has even taken a couple of small steps for them!
He has been off of his blood pressure meds for 2 days now, and all is going well in relation to his vitals. His surgery is still on for this Wednesday.
Mark's progress is amazing! While visiting him this morning, I made reference to a phrase that Mark and I started at a UT football game one time..."It's time to turn it around." When I said that today he responded by very clearly mouthing the words "We are" and smiled. GO MARK!!!

May 12, 2009

2009-05-12T21:28:00.000-07:00

The past couple of days have been good overall for Mark. After having a bit of a rough day on Sunday, he is back to responding and trying to communicate. On Saturday night/Sunday morning, his temperature had dropped to 35.4 C (95.7 F) and he was placed under the heat lamps again. Also he wasn't as responsive as he had been. His blood pressure was, and continues to be a challenge to keep under control.
It appears that in spite of the "big gun" antibiotics he has been on, there is a new infection. Also, because of the amount of time he has been on the strong antibiotics already, his kidneys are starting to be affected. The course of antibiotics must continue, with the possibility of dialysis if the need arises.
So far, the skin that was grafted onto his leg on Friday appears to be doing well. All is still on track for the placement of the cloned skin next Wednesday, May 20. That's the big day!!!

Four Weeks

2009-05-08T20:08:00.000-07:00

Today makes four weeks...and how far Mark has come!!!

His surgery went successfully this morning. It took three and a half hours, and went without complications. I was however given misinformation as to the details of what was to be done today. Rather than grafting from his scalp to cover his knees and elbows, the grafted skin was used to cover the entire front of his right leg. With this placement, the percentage of his body remaining to be covered is now down to 85%. Every 3-4 weeks, after the healthy skin regenerates from the harvested areas, they will repeat this process to eventually cover all extremities. The date has also been set for the placement of the cloned skin. On May 20th the skin will be placed on his trunk. His back will be covered last, as it will be the most difficult to successfully graft.
I can't wait to see him in the morning! I will post any new developments as I know of them.

Big Day Tomorrow

2009-05-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow will make 4 weeks. Every day has been another hurdle, and another miracle.
Mark will be going into surgery again tomorrow. The time has not yet been set, but as soon as I have info I will pass it along. This round, Dr Guy will be grafting skin from Mark's scalp to cover his knees and elbows. Using grafted skin in those areas will allow for greater flexibility and range of motion.
The doctors have been taking Mark completely off of the ventilator during the day, reconnecting only to allow him to rest. His temp has remained stable, no fevers or dips in body temperature. His blood pressure has been a bit of a concern as they are trying to wean him off of the meds.
The infectious disease doctor gave word yesterday that his infections are responding to the antibiotics and "looking good."
Beyond all of the clinical details, Mark is progressing amazingly! He is more responsive every day. He wants so badly to talk, and tries to communicate the best he can. He tried to write today, but still not quite coordinated enough to form words...but at the pace he's been going, he'll be writing a novel by tomorrow!

What a Day!!

2009-05-04T18:27:00.000-07:00

Mark is progressing by leaps and bounds! During visitation this morning, the Physical Therapist came by to work with Mark. She had him sitting up in a chair today. Mom told him she was so excited she wanted to give him a big "bear hug." He then reached out with both arms towards her. Due to risk of infection, the hugs will unfortunately have to wait, so he settled for waving to her. But the even bigger news...when the therapist had him sitting on the side of the bed, he kept rocking back and forth. The therapist ask him if he was trying to stand up, and he nodded yes. Then HE DID!!! Only momentarily, but he stood! Is my brother amazing or what?!?

Twenty Days

2009-04-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

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!

Mark's Passion..Article from Knox News October 2007

2009-04-30T18:28:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-30T18:12:00.000-07:00

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.

Blog On Hold

2009-04-26T19:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Another Day Down

2009-04-25T19:26:00.000-07:00

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.

Two Weeks!!!

2009-04-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

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.

April 23, 2009

2009-04-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

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 Hurdles...

2009-04-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

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.

Vanderbilt Address

2009-04-21T20:28:00.000-07:00

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

Even More Good News!!!

2009-04-21T18:56:00.000-07:00

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!

How to leave comments

2009-04-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

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.

The Best Day Yet!

2009-04-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

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!

Infections...GO AWAY!

2009-04-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

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.

Day #8

2009-04-18T16:39:00.000-07:00

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) : )

2009-04-17T20:25:00.000-07:00

One Long Week

2009-04-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

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!

Thank God for uneventful days!

2009-04-16T18:31:00.000-07:00

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."

2009-04-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

Verses to hold close:
Isaiah 53:5- He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our sins, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by his wounds we are HEALED.

Another hurdle cleared!

2009-04-15T18:11:00.000-07:00

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...

Surgery

2009-04-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-15T07:29:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-14T17:24:00.000-07:00

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!

2009-04-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

2009-04-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

Mark and sister Shannon

Another 24 hours

2009-04-13T18:52:00.000-07:00

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.

Mark

2009-04-13T18:40:00.000-07:00

The past 60 hours

2009-04-12T18:01:00.000-07:00

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's blog CREATED!

2009-04-12T13:07:00.000-07:00

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