-On Saturday, February 14th of 2009, at 11 am Dan passed out while painting the top of the cathedral ceiling in his living room. He fell from about 15 feet and landed on his back. He was rushed via ambulance to CMC main where they did all sorts of CT scans and Xrays trying to determine what the damage was. He had 2 large blood clots on his brain, and his brain was continually swelling and hemorrhaging. He was released from trauma and into the ICU by 2:30pm the same day. The family started to breathe a little easier, thinking that he was going to be okay, and shortly. Everyone went home except for Kathy, his wife, and Katie, their oldest child. At 6pm the doctors did another CT scan that alerted us to the fact that the damage to his brain was getting worse. The swelling and hemorrhaging would not stop. They would be doing another CT scan on Sunday morning that would determine whether or not brain surgery was needed.
-At 5 am Sunday the 15th, the results of his CT scan called for emergency brain surgery. Within 5 minutes of viewing the CT scan, Dan was rushed away to be prepped for this surgery. The whole family came back to the hospital to anxiously await Dan's results. After close to 2 hours in surgery Dr. Asher came into the family waiting room to let us know that Dan had done well during his surgery. He had the largest of his 2 blood clots removed and a hole drilled into the front of his head where the Doctor placed a tube that would drain the excess fluids in Dan's brain and relieve his brain of some of the pressure it was feeling. Dr. Asher was unsure at that point if more brain surgery would be needed in the future. We all took turns going to see Dan after he was cleaned up, but found him to be unresponsive. By 9pm that night, Dan was starting to respond to us. We could shake him awake and he could answer our questions, by and large correctly. He could only stay awake for 10-15 seconds at a time, however.
-He stayed in this condition through Monday night when he was able to eat for the first time since the accident. This was great news for all of us because it meant that not only could he remember how to chew and swallow, but he could stay awake long enough to do so! We were all very encouraged.
-On Tuesday, the 17th, Dan was able to eat all by himself without any assistance. He was staying awake for a few minutes at a time to have conversations. We found that he remembered everything right up until the accident and close to everything since! His facial expressions started to come back to him and when Kathy gave him a kiss, his heart rate went up by 20 beats/ minute!
-On Wednesday, the 18th, the Doctors decided that Dan could be moved out of ICU! He spent a very tired day in his new room, where he was able to stay awake a little longer than before and communicate with his wife, children, and many friends who came to see him. Talking and eating take a lot of energy out of Dan, so he still sleeps the majority of the day, and all night.
-On Thursday, the 19th, Dan used a walker to get to the door of his room and back to bed! This was fantastic news for us because, just like with eating, we weren't sure if Dan's brain remembered how to walk. Walking took every last bit of his energy, though, and when he made it back to bed, he had trouble answering questions and didn't have the energy to swallow his drink. The Doctor thinks that Dan will be ready for in-patient rehab by Monday.
-We are all very excited for the progress that Dan has made, but nervous about the road ahead. The doctors say that it could be several months before Dan is able to leave the hospital, and 3-5 years for a full recovery. I believe that Dan is too strong and too stubborn for those numbers to be true. We know that we are in this for the long haul, but believe that Dan will improve more quickly than anyone thinks. Thank you for your visits, flowers,prayers and cards, dear friends- and keep joining us in prayer!
Love,
The Family
Dan and Kathy Murray, Katie and Colbey Hopper, Matt and Meghan Murray, Billy Murray, DJ Murray and Lacey Johnson.
-At 5 am Sunday the 15th, the results of his CT scan called for emergency brain surgery. Within 5 minutes of viewing the CT scan, Dan was rushed away to be prepped for this surgery. The whole family came back to the hospital to anxiously await Dan's results. After close to 2 hours in surgery Dr. Asher came into the family waiting room to let us know that Dan had done well during his surgery. He had the largest of his 2 blood clots removed and a hole drilled into the front of his head where the Doctor placed a tube that would drain the excess fluids in Dan's brain and relieve his brain of some of the pressure it was feeling. Dr. Asher was unsure at that point if more brain surgery would be needed in the future. We all took turns going to see Dan after he was cleaned up, but found him to be unresponsive. By 9pm that night, Dan was starting to respond to us. We could shake him awake and he could answer our questions, by and large correctly. He could only stay awake for 10-15 seconds at a time, however.
-He stayed in this condition through Monday night when he was able to eat for the first time since the accident. This was great news for all of us because it meant that not only could he remember how to chew and swallow, but he could stay awake long enough to do so! We were all very encouraged.
-On Tuesday, the 17th, Dan was able to eat all by himself without any assistance. He was staying awake for a few minutes at a time to have conversations. We found that he remembered everything right up until the accident and close to everything since! His facial expressions started to come back to him and when Kathy gave him a kiss, his heart rate went up by 20 beats/ minute!
-On Wednesday, the 18th, the Doctors decided that Dan could be moved out of ICU! He spent a very tired day in his new room, where he was able to stay awake a little longer than before and communicate with his wife, children, and many friends who came to see him. Talking and eating take a lot of energy out of Dan, so he still sleeps the majority of the day, and all night.
-On Thursday, the 19th, Dan used a walker to get to the door of his room and back to bed! This was fantastic news for us because, just like with eating, we weren't sure if Dan's brain remembered how to walk. Walking took every last bit of his energy, though, and when he made it back to bed, he had trouble answering questions and didn't have the energy to swallow his drink. The Doctor thinks that Dan will be ready for in-patient rehab by Monday.
-We are all very excited for the progress that Dan has made, but nervous about the road ahead. The doctors say that it could be several months before Dan is able to leave the hospital, and 3-5 years for a full recovery. I believe that Dan is too strong and too stubborn for those numbers to be true. We know that we are in this for the long haul, but believe that Dan will improve more quickly than anyone thinks. Thank you for your visits, flowers,prayers and cards, dear friends- and keep joining us in prayer!
Love,
The Family
Dan and Kathy Murray, Katie and Colbey Hopper, Matt and Meghan Murray, Billy Murray, DJ Murray and Lacey Johnson.
Praying for all of you. Trusting in God's faithfulness.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Karen
Kathy if there is anything we can do please don't hesitate to call. We love you both and we are believing that God will heal Dan 100%. We will always keep you in our prayers and thoughts each day. Ann & Tony
ReplyDelete