Hi Everyone,
Last night I got the bad news from Tess that her husband Craig suffered burns from a fire in a work accident.
QuoteHi everyone, hubby Craig had an accident with fuel and a fire this morning. He has 2nd degree burns to his arms, hands and cheek and may have slight burns in his throat. So they intiubated him as a precaution and have flown him by helicopter to our burns hospital in Melbourne, 4 hours drive from here.
He will be fine, this is only a precaution but we will be heading down either this afternoon or early in the morning when I know more.
Can someone mind my gallery for a day or 2 until we get him home? (Hannie is taking care of that, you take off as long as you need.)
They have knocked him out for the intubation and will keep him under until tomorrow. Then if all is ok with his lungs he will be transferred to the hospital about 1/2 hour from here then allowed to come home and have our town hospital do the dressings.
He did say he wanted a holiday, he'll be having one while the burns heal. I'm going to have a good stiff drink to calm my nerves.
And early this morning we received this email:
QuoteThanks everyone. I spoke to his nurse in ICU tonight. She sounds like a lovely bonnie Scottish lass. They are pleased with him, all stable. He won't have to have surgery on the burns, just debridement while he is asleep. They expect to let him out on Wednesday depending on the amount of pain he is in.
We are heading down in the morning and our eldest daughter flies in to Melbourne early tomorrow as well. It will be handy having her there as she can take Bethany off to the museum etc.
I can finally relax and let the guard down now Bethany has gone to bed. Was the hardest thing I've ever done holding it together all day for her.
Post your well wishes to Craig and our support to Tess and her family.
Margie
That sounds painful with the burns. Wish Craig have a speedy recovery.
BTW, Margie, you are not doing too well with your vacation.
Shujen
Margie, thanks for taking the time to post these messages.
My best wishes go to Craig, Tess and Bethany.
Hope hubby will get well soon.
Hannie
Oh, Tess. I know what you're going through. It's hard to be strong and stoic. I hope you all heal quickly and can put this tragedy behind you.
Bambi
I'm wishing all the best for you Tess, as well as a speedy and complete recovery for Craig.
Pat
Ditto . . .
Got word from Tess that Craig had a bad night in ICU and she would like your prayers.
QuoteThanks everyone. He's not doing so well today, so they decided not to wake him until tomorrow. If all goes well they can move him out of ICU on Thursday. He knew we were there though which is the main thing. He has so many tubes and wires and has had 2 bronchioscopes, they were good, a chest xray which showed he has a cold which has developed into an infection and a cardiac echo as his blood pressure is very low.
I'll let you know how he goes but would appreciate all the prayers you can spare.
We are exhausted and finally got some dinner about 8pm.
Margie
A blanket of prayers is wrapped around Craig, you, and your girls Tess.
Pat
Tess:
Truly sorry about Craig's misfortune.
I'm thinking of you and hoping for Craig's speedy and successful recovery.
Terry
Hoping the best for Craig!
Tori
Saying a prayer for you and Craig Tess...
My thoughts are with you, Tess and Craig.
Tess, I hope Craig is better today and off the intubation, hold on.
Hannie
Today will be better. :up:
Thank you all for the wishes and prayers. No change today except a little more stable. It's just a waiting game.
Tess,
We will keep the prayers coming.
Also Tess look after yourself.
:hug:
Tess,
Here's hoping Craig is closer to coming around soon and on the road to recovery. I know how hard this is on you and your family and hope with your mother flying in this will give you some much needed support.
:hug:
Margie
The prayers won't stop until Craig is completely recovered Tess. Remember taking care of you, is something you need to do for Craig, as much as for yourself.
Pat
My prayers go with you and yours, Tess. I pray for Craig's healing as well.
David Gr
Life never ceases to amaze me. You have David and my prayers!!
Thanks everyone, he is having little improvements every day and they hope to wake him on Friday.
Tess, any improvement is great to hear and hope they get his chest infection cleared up soon.
Margie
Baby steps but going in the right direction :hug:
Pat
Tess, I just got the news & I'm so sorry this has happened. My love, prayers & thoughts are with you & Craig. May he continue to improve every single day. :hug:
Woohoo, they are slowly waking him. He was lifting his arms and head this afternoon but they want to do it real slow. His blood pressure and heartbeat have normalized since they stopped half the meds to make them behave. He always did like to be different.
Looking at fully awake by Sunday and a skin graft next week. I told the nurse good luck with that. Once he is awake he will be crawling out the door if he has to. It's not a full thickness burn (close but not quite) so will just take quite a while to heal.
Mum and Dad arrive in the morning for support so things are definitely looking up.
Thank you all for your prayers and support.
What wonderful news Tess!
It will be a long road but going in the right direction now.
Hope you won't have to tie Craig to the hospital bed once he is fully awake, ;)
This is the best news today,
Hannie
:up: :up: :up:
Oh, happy day!!
Good news Tess!
Tori
Your news is so encouraging to hear. Keeping the prayers coming!
Tess, that is wonderful news! I got up this morning thinking: I hope this is the day Craig comes round. I know he has some rough days ahead, but how great to see he got over the hump and is on the road to recovery.
Margie
It's odd how you get "to know" people just by looking at the forum.
Tess, thoughts and prayers are with you. It's so hard to see someone
you love in pain.
Mary
Hot Damn! That's great news, Tess!
P.S. I hope this means you'll be able to get a little rest soon. If it's all the same to you, we'd rather you not end up in the next bed being treated for exhaustion. :)
That's great news, Tess.
I hope pretty soon Craig will be up and running.
Shujen
Good news indeed, Tess. Hope the improvements continue (and that you don't have to tie Craig down). Make him behave and take care of yourself.
Tess,
I haven't been on the forum for a few days and just learned of Craig's accident. I am glad to hear that he is making progress in his recovery that is important. I am glad to hear that there are other family there to support you. I think at times like this it is harder on the family members just sitting around waiting for results. Craig, you, and your family are in my prayers.
Johnboy
Thank you all. We are in a holding pattern until Monday when the burns team decide if he needs a sking graft. If not they will wake him, otherwise they will keep him under until after surgery Tuesday. He held my hand and nuzzled my face which was excellent.
Hopefully the skin graft won't be necessary.
Nuzzling is a very good sign Tess!
:loveit:
Hannie
Holy crow, Tess
I've been my usual unreliable poster of late and had no idea you, Craig and your family were going through this ordeal. All I can say is that the positive thoughts from your pals in OPR will go a long way toward helping with Craig's recovery. I strongly believe in the power of prayer and love and good wishes. I'm adding mine and sending angels to watch over all of you while Craig recovers. Hugs to you, and a big one for Craig when he's well enough to handle one. Please tell him he's in my heart. And be sure to get plenty of rest yourself to stay strong for him. I agree with Hannie. Nuzzling is a very good thing!
Love and hugs
GK
Tess, I agree with Hannie: "Nuzzling is a very good sign." ;) Here's hoping Craig won't need the skin grafts.
Margie
The good news tonight is they are ready to wean him off the ventilator, yay, yippee, happy dance. If I wasn't so tired and stiff I'd be doing cartwheels.
He will have his burns dressed tomorrow before they wake him up. Hopefully tomorrow night I will hear his voice for the 1st time in 9 days.
That's wonderful Tess. Maybe once you hear his voice you'll be able to relax just a bit and get some much needed rest yourself. Craig is never far from our thoughts and prayers.
Pat
Tess, that is wonderful news! Craig may sound a little hoarse at first for having the ventilator so long, but his voice will still be music to your ears. A big hug for you and the family!
:hug:
Margie
Yay! It's good news week!
Bet you can't wait till tomorrow night!
:)
Hannie
Tess, 9 days without hearing your beloved's voice... I'm sure you'll be ecstatic to hear him for the first time. It's so good to know he's getting better every day. It sounds as if he's a fighter. Sometimes that can be a royal pain, but in this case it's a wonderful thing. It means he'll work even harder to get well so he can be home with you and Bethany. Angels and hugs coming your way every day, and hopes that Craig will be home soon.
Hugs a million
GK
One day at a time. What wonderful progress has been made. :loveit:
Still on the ventilator today. I met with the head burns surgeon yesterday morning and had a good look at the burns on his arms and hand to see the areas they were concerned with.
After much talk and soul searching I agreed to allow the grafts to be done today even though I know Craig would have said no if he was awake. They are almost full thickness so he would have been months healing without the grafts and a lot longer in hospital. He is first into surgery after lunch so will be back in ICU for the night and hopefully off the vent on tomorrow.
Then he will go to the burns ward for 4 days and if all goes well and he is strong enough to go home we will be outa here.
They lightened his sedative quite a bit today so each time I spoke he would nod or shake his head. I got a definite big nod and tears from him when I asked if he'd missed me. He doesn't remember I've been there all day, every day. He wont really obey the nurses so I just ask him to do what they want lol.
Than you all for keeping us in your prayers
Thank you for keeping us informed. :loveit:
Hi Tess,
Just got in from mowing and did a quick check to see if there was an update from you.
I have no doubt you did the right thing and even though Craig will want to get the heck out of the hospital asap, having the skin graft will speed the recovery of his burns. My next door neighbor's daughter had a grease fire and ended up having part of it land on her foot and suffered severe burns. The doctor didn't think it was serious enough and she ended up in a lot of pain and a burn that was forever trying to heal. Later the doctor said that he wished then that he had advised a skin graft. You are saving Craig months of slow healing and worse pain.
I hope all goes well and you will be able to leave in four days. All of us are pulling for you and all you have to do is see that the number of hits has now reached 676 and it goes higher every day. A big hug to you, Bethany, and the rest of the family.
:hug:
P.S. I accidentally had Angela Ellis on a team email and told her what was going on and here is her reply:
Quote
Thanks for letting me know about Tess' husband. Please give them our best.
Hi Tess,
Thanks for your report. After reading Margie's story about the neighbour I feel relieved that you decided to go for the skin grafts. In regards to the procedure I can add that that I have have very good experience in my family. My mother had one done when she was close to 80 years old and the healing afterwards was remarkably fast. The discomfort from the area where they took the skin was also minimal.
Please take good care of yourself Tess, you and your family are always on our mind.
Hannie
Thanks everyone. After insisting on seeing the areas they wanted to graft I agree they needed it. Still on the ventilator as this pneumonia is being very stubborn.
He had his skin grafts today which is why he is still on the vent. His oxygen levels hate the anaesthetic so he had his 6th chest xray and bronchoscopy this afternoon. His face is nearly healed would you believe, looks like a good sunburn now. His blisters on his lips are nearly gone too.
They will try to get him off the vent tomorrow as 14 days is the absolute maximum they want someone on it. Then he can get up and move around though he will be as weak as a kitten to start with.
Moving around even when week will help those lungs clear. Xing fingers and toes for a good today and a wonderful tomorrow.
Tess, that's good news! The more you tell. the more it seems like Craig had a very close call! Look forward to hearing he is off the ventilator and up and walking around.
Margie
Tess,
Glad to hear of Craig's progress. It is never fast enough but it is better than no progress at all.
Johnboy
Tess, checking up on you and Craig to see how things are going. I think you're spot on to keep him sedated for a while longer, especially if he's having trouble with pneumonia. He needs to be watched very carefully by doctors and nurses if he had burns to his throat in addition to that complication. It must be hell to not be able to talk to him, but intense work on his burns now will be worth it if it'll save him more agony in the long run.
I hope you're taking care of yourself. I'm sending Craig more air hugs and angels, and a basket full of air chocolate and hugs to you. You're in my heart constantly. I'm so concerned about you and your whole family, but it seems that things are looking up, and the best thing is to hang on to everything positive that you can.
Hang in there, my friend. Many hugs.
GK
Tess, today is the big day that Craig will come off the vent, I hope all went well. Now Craig can breathe on his own and start clearing his lungs.
Hope you are coping OK,
Hannie
We are STILL waiting. Some drongo of a Dr came round this afternoon and said 'you know he has pneumonia'! Uh, duh!!! I said yes, I've known longer than you have. He needs to be up and around to get better. All he said was maybe tomorrow.
Physio guy came round today and even he wants him off the vent. He said he couldn't get Craig to take big breaths. I said how many do you want and tell me when. He said ok you try then. The first big one set off every alarm the machines had and I asked was that big enough? So after his lung exercises his numbers were the best they've been.
Only time I get to tell him what to do and he wont remember it
Hell, Tess, don't you know it takes a woman to get things done right??? ::)
I am not going to disagree with that.
I hope after that it won't be long before Craig is off the vent. By now word should be circulating that you don't suffer fools lightly. As far a evidence I would suggest taking some video of you giving orders to refresh his memory at a later point in time. ;)
Margie
Sure hope the doctor will change his mind now, sounds like Craig is ready to breathe on his own!
Hannie
I'm so glad to hear about Craig's progress. The story about the doctor made me laugh out loud. My thoughts are with you both.
Bambi
Give 'em hell, Tess. Sometimes doctors can be such boobs! Especially emergency physicians. I've experienced that more times than I care to remember. Good thing you're there to keep them on their toes. Just keep going onward and upward.
Let's see, we've done angels, prayers, hugs, air hugs, air chocolate - how about adding to that a huge air teddy bear for each of you. Someone has always brought me a stuffed animal when I've been in the hospital, and it's amazing how comforting they can be, even when you're no longer a kid.
Love and caring always...
GK
Hi everyone, good news. Craig is off the ventilator and talking for the first time in 12 days. First thing he said to the nurse was 'I want to go home'. He was still pretty doped up as he was seeing rats running up the walls so they lowered the sedation.
He tried bargaining with physio when they wanted 5 big breaths lol. You want 5 breaths? I want a drink of water were his words.
He will be transfered to the burns ward tomorrow and if the grafts are good when they look on Saturday we will get to take him home Monday.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, we really appreciate them.
That is so wonderful Tess! It sounds like Craig is getting pretty feisty. :mad: Good for him. You better try to get some rest and don't forget to eat well too or you soon won't be able to keep up with him. :hug:
Pat
Tess, that's great news. Feisty is good (I'm sure his nurses and doctors don't agree), but that determination will get him home and well sooner...as long as he knows not to overdo it. I suspect his body will tell him that. Hearing him talk must have been heaven for you after all that time. I'll be looking forward to the day you tell us you've been able to bring him home. Hugs a million!
GK
This is indeed great news. I know you're tired too so here's an extra :hug: Keep the faith!
Tess, this is great news and so wonderful to think Craig is close to coming home. Now is time for you to pamper yourself and get some rest.
:hug:
Margie
Excellent news Tess
Athol
Tess, I hope the grafts look good today so you can all go home on Monday!
Keeping my fingers crossed,
Hannie
he has had a life changing experience just watching him today. He got to see the burns for the first time and grafts and it was a huge shock for him. Graft all the way from his right wrist inside the arm to his elbow and 2 grafts on the left hand. looks like they have taken well though. We will know tomorrow if they will discharge him Monday.
We took him outside to see the sun and where we were and the first thing he smelt was diesel fumes. He wanted to go back in straight away.
After lunch he stayed out a bit longer and got to watch a helicopter land. So he got to see how he arrived.
It will be hard at home as he will have to wait for the burns to heal so I'm going to be nurse. If he plays up I'll lock him outside lol. Once he feels like it he can go back to work and potter around ordering parts and work schedules.
Sounding good... except the nurse part. :cool: PATIENCE!
We are keeping good thoughts for the trip home Monday.
Once he's home the waiting to heal is bound to try his patience. It would be nice if he could maybe ease back via a bit of computer work from home in the meantime. Neither of you are far from our thoughts and prayers.
Pat
Tess, I think you made the right decision with the skin grafts and I'm sure Craig will thank you for speeding up his recovery. How wonderful to have him up and about and to be able to talk---at least for now. I know Craig wanted a vacation, so I hope now he will try and relax and when he does go back to work it won't be doing what he was before.
Hope you are the rest of the family are coping. Are your parents still there?
Margie
Tess, you and your family have a long rough road ahead but thankfully it is going in the right direction.
Hope all will go well and as planned: home on Monday!
:hug:
Hannie
Margie, Mum & Dad had to go home 5 days ago unfortunately. Prior appointments that couldn't be changed. Still they video called us at the hospital yesterday and got to see and hear Craig.
I keep forgetting that I've had 2 weeks to deal with this and talk to social workers about all the emotions but Craig has only been aware of it for the last 3 days and even then he still had what they call ICU hangover from all the meds. I'm expecting many of the same reactions from him as I've already had.
Wow, Tess, those of us who haven't been through such a traumatic event don't realize that the person who's been injured doesn't have to cope with the situation until they're conscious and able to deal with what's happened to them. It must have been quite a shock for Craig. While you've been worried all this time, he's had no idea of his condition. I hope he's able to handle it and allow himself to heal before he gets too ambitious. I'm sure he'll be anxious to get home.
Will anyone be there to help you once he gets home? Will he need any special care because of the burns?
As always, prayers and angels - and today I think it'll be air ice cream heading your way.
Bless
GK
lol Glenna, we love ice cream.
I can handle most of his needs myself. There will be a shower chair waiting when we get home and a hot meal from our neighbour. Apparently the lawn has been mowed and gardening done by someone.
The local hospital less than a mile away can do the dressings, I could too but they want to keep an eye out for infections.
Once the grafts are healed he will have to have pressure bandages and physio. One step at a time.
Tess, I hope all went well today and that you're all back home!
Hannie
Well we aren't home but he is sleeping in the bed behind me here at the hotel, snoring away. I ordered a steak, chips & salad for him and he managed to eat half of it and have a couple of beers with the painkillers.
By the time the hospital finished stuffing around it was after 5pm so way too late to drive home. Rang the hotel and said, one more night please. After dinner he came outside for a few minutes but got very tired. So back to the room so I could rebandage him. The bandages were falling off literally. They dont teach the younger ones how to bandage thats for sure.
We are supposed to come back in a week for a checkup but our GP will have a word about that as not much will change, the grafts look good. He could probably do a video feed to save us a trip.
I am looking forward to snuggling up to him tonight, been too long.
Steak and chips sound like the second best medicine he could have.
Sleep well
Athol
Tess, that is the best news yet! It must have felt like heaven to Craig to get out of the hospital and to top it off with a great meal and a beer. It's great the grafts are looking good and I bet Craig will appreciate that you made that decision.
Here's hoping for a speedy recovery for Craig and some down time to relax for you. I think coming back home will be the best medicine for all of you!
Margie
Great news, Tess!
Bambi
Tess, so glad to hear the grafts look good! Hope you had a good trip back home and both of you will get some well deserved rest.
It would be a pain to have to go back to Melbourne so soon for a check up.
That would just mean more work for you having to redo the bandaging. ;)
If all goes well I'm sure your GP can handle things for a while.
Hannie
We are home finally. It is now 10pm and have just sat down for a coffee and turned the computer on. At least a neighbour arrived with a huge meat pasta bake and a potato bake, enough to feed an army, so I didn't have to cook tonight.
Craig is doing well except for where they harvested the skin from his leg, its hurting worse than the burns.
I just finished doing all the dressings as the home nurse doesn't start until he has seen our GP for the first dressings. The grafts are looking excellent and have taken well. Several glasses of red and a few very strong painkillers had him smiling through the dressings lol.
I'm exhausted. He's feeling guilty because I'm spending most of the day helping him. I said I'd much rather that than not having you at all!
Thank you all for the wishes and prayers, they worked.
Tess, what a relief it must be to be home. I know it won't be easy until Craig's heals, but everyday should bring improvements and less pain.
What a sweetheart of a neighbor!
Margie
Tess: Home at last! It has to feel so wonderful. And what an awesome neighbor you have to ply you with all that food, so you don't have to worry about that for a while. Now you can start on the road to a normal life again. Hugs to you and Craig.
GK
Nothing like a good old fashioned homecoming to make a day grand!! :up2: :up2:
It's good to learn that you are home and Craig healing so well. Be careful, it's going to be easy to overdo. Thank goodness for such wonderful neighbors!
Pat
It is so good to be home lol. I didn't need to do the dressings today as the district nurse will come to the house every morning until he doesn't need them anymore.
It was a bit more back to normal, sitting out in the winter sun together enjoying a coffee and waving to friends as they drove past.
Back to Melbourne on Sunday for the outpatient appointment Monday morning and then hopefully no more for quite a while.
Tess, I can just picture you and Craig drinking your coffee and enjoying the passers by, who would have thought that a couple of weeks ago...
Aren't district nurses the best thing ever? We have the same set up here and it can make life a lot easier.
Hannie
Tess,
So glad to here you have Craig back home. I know myself having been in the hospital 5 times since the beginning of the year that coming home feels so good. While my situation is not as critical as yours it will take a while to get back to a new normal. Patience is the key word, but it never comes fast enough. The best to both of you. Enjoy your coffee together and make the best of this bad situation.
Johnboy
Got back from Melbourne this afternoon and the news is all good. the grafts have taken beautifully, yippee.
The next checkup next week will be via video from our local hospital and then we will have to go back to Melbourne for final review in a month.
So we can rest easily for the next few weeks. :hug:
Tess, that is wonderful news!
:hug:
Margie
Spoke to Tess again this morning, all good news. :up2:
In case anyone is wondering, Craig is not allowed access to matches, lighters, fire sticks etc., anything flamable or any form of fuel for at least the next century and that may be extended at "managements" discretion.
Note to Craig
If you work this properly you should be able to get out of mowing and BBQing, perhaps even the washing up!
Athol
Tess, that is very good news, enjoy your weeks when you don't have to visit doctors/hospital!
(Athol, don't put ideas in Craig's head)
Hannie
Big sigh of relief. Couldn't be happier for the two of you Tess :up2:
Pat
Great news, Tess!
Bambi
Tess, this is all great news, but do not let Craig talk to Ethel unsupervised! :funny:
Margie
Footnote: I typed Athol but spell check liked Ethel better. Ethel does have a nice ring to it, but I know better than to try that again.
Tess,
Thinking about you and Craig with all the firework going on around here.
Shujen
Tess and Craig,
I was glad to hear that Craig is doing well. It is great to be able to have a check up via video. Sure saves on the car and gas. I understand why the "management" took away any thing that creates flame. Have to get the old boy healed up first. Then maybe he will get some of the privileges back. I am sure he will be cautious about which one he wants back. You two take care, and when Craig starts to complain about have to sit all the time let him do something.
Johnboy
lol thanks everyone. Yes he's gone for a drive out to work just to see how it all is. The healing is going in leaps and bounds now, no more painkillers required.
Margie I did laugh at the Ethel, it brought that song 'The Streak' by Ray Stevens to mind. Maybe that's Athol's alter ego??? :funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtzoUu7w-YM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtzoUu7w-YM)
Zounds!
I just thought it was an American joke (something to do with petroleum?) and now I find Margie has a faulty spell checker. :D
FYI Tess I am not a red head and streaking would frighten the dogs so there.
Good to hear he has had an outing, Craig must be on a good drop of Victorian Red judging by the results
AAAAAAAAAAAAAethol
Quote from: Tess (Tassie D) on July 04, 2012, 10:12:49 PM
lol thanks everyone. Yes he's gone for a drive out to work just to see how it all is. The healing is going in leaps and bounds now, no more painkillers required.
Margie I did laugh at the Ethel, it brought that song 'The Streak' by Ray Stevens to mind. Maybe that's Athol's alter ego??? :funny:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtzoUu7w-YM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtzoUu7w-YM)
:funny:
Tess and Athol, you both gave me a good laugh. Now I will always have that vision in my head.
I'm so happy that Craig is improving so much!
Margie
Craig & Tess,
So glad to hear you are doing well.
David Gr :)
Thanks everyone, no more bandages, yay.
The grafts are all healed and looking good. The leg where they took the skin from is healed but a terrible purple colour which will fade in time.
Probably back to work a couple of hours a day next week.
:up2: Yippee!
Great news!
Tess, I'm so happy that Craig has improved so much. With such a close call it makes you appreciate life all the more.
Margie
P.S.
I don't think I have seen a post have so many hits in such a short time--2,036 and that didn't count those with multiple postings.
Margie