Posted on 11/07/2014 3:01:52 PM PST by WhyisaTexasgirlinPA
Arrowhead (John) fell off a 20’ ladder at work, onto his head, and has a severe brain injury!
Broke all the bones in his face and skull, broke his shoulder blade and some ribs.
His last post was 10/20 in the morning. He fell about 2pm that same day and was LifeFlighted to the hospital; then, after about 6 hours of surgery, he went directly to ICU. It was touch and go for days in critical condition.
After 2 weeks in ICU he has been transferred to a Specialty Neurological Rehab center in Austin, as of 11/3.
He can move his arms and legs, so no spinal injury, but he is not cognizant. Sometimes he can respond to “can you squeeze my hand?”, sometimes not. His daughter is getting ready to go back home.
The nurses are calling them every day. Small improvements are noticed, such as he sat up for 10 seconds today, but no one has a prognosis. Brain injuries heal how they heal, when the heal, if they heal....3 to 6 months at least.
PRAY HARD, please!!!! And spread the word to your prayer lists.
Thanks for the pics Lisa and Kathy. Lisa, we all continue to pray for your family -
God Bless you, Arrowhead and your family. Continued prayers for your recovery.
Thank you!
Prayers continue
What lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Just wanted to send you another quick email update about how Dad is doing at his new rehab facility, CORE Healthcare. He has been there for a little over a month now, and the facility staff specializes in assisting patients who have brain injuries. I was down in Texas on business a couple of weeks ago, and was able to see first-hand what a fantastic facility it is.
Dad has a busy schedule every day at CORE, which includes physical therapy, speech therapy, walking practice, swallowing practice, physical conditioning (usually going to the local 24 Hour Fitness with the staff, or staying at CORE and doing yoga), bathroom breaks, feeding breaks, and more.
Monday through Friday are usually very active, busy days for Dad around CORE with all of his therapy, conditioning, and practice. In his spare time between activities, he and some of the other residents enjoy playing dominoes in the general purpose area. Dad's sister Marylin tells me that when she saw him yesterday, he had gotten much better at playing than he was a month or so ago, and is purposefully playing and understanding the gameplay and rules, scoring points, etc. Saturdays are usually "group outing" days, which include things like museums and movies in the mornings / early afternoons. The weekend that I was there, the staff took him and a few others to the Bob Bullock Texas State History museum, which he said he enjoyed. (Lots of bits and pieces of Texas History there!) I believe last weekend they all went out to a movie, which I'm thinking he was probably not as keen on... but hey, still an outing! On Sundays, there is not a lot scheduled activity, so Mom inquired about the possibility of him attending a church service. The CORE staff happily suggested that they start taking Dad to the 9:00 service at New Life Lutheran Church in Dripping Springs. We were told how much he is already enjoying it - this past weekend was the first Sunday for this.
Dad has a couple of upcoming doctors' appointments scheduled - one is this week on Thursday morning for an upcoming sleep study, as his sleep has suffered and he has had sleep apnea in the past. The other will be in the coming weeks for an MRI. I will keep you all posted about the results, and any more information that I get.
Thank you for all of the continued support.
Hi to all of Dad's FReeper FRiends, and hope you all have a wonderful week.
Cards can now be sent directly to Arrowhead. And if anyone would like to visit, give a holler and I will get your request to Lisa and she can let you know his schedule.
John Schwausch
c/o Core Health Care at Hilltop
400 Old Hwy 290
Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Thanks Everyone...please keep those prayers and cards coming.
Please add Update at Post #606 to the title.
Thank you.
Thanks for the update from Lisa, Kathy.
I was just thinking of Arrowhead1952 yesterday and wondering how he was doing.
Thanks for the new address for cards. I know he appreciates hearing from fellow Freepers.
Sounds like tremendous progress is being and that he is in a lovely facility.
Wonderful,Thanks Kathy.
Sounds like great progress. Prayers up.
I’m picturing the smile on his face when his wife or daughter visits and he can say, “Look what I got....cards”!
Praise the Lord!
Pinging for more prayers for our FRiend.
Continued prayers for Arrowhead.
Still praying for Arrowhead. Thank you for the continued updates.
Sounds like your Dad is doing much better. So glad he can get to Church services.
“God’s grace...God’s grace...God’s grace is greater than all my sins.”
Love those old timey hymns!
Happy to have the update and see that he is making progress. I will continue to hold him in my prayers.
I also had a brain injury a few months back, and still have some residual damage—like poor memory, and days when I feel a bit dizzy, so remained seated as much as I can on those days.
If you think about it, tell him hello for me.
basil (Mari)
Thank you so much for passing on the latest update, Kathy.
Thanks also for providing the direct address to send cards and letters. I’ll get one off to him this week.
Hi there.....I will pass your “Hi” to Lisa to pass to John.
Prayers for your recovery as well.
That is indeed good news!
Thanks for the update, and prayer reminder. :-)
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