A good report from the doctor!

Mitchell had his 2-week follow-up doctors appointment today. The doctor said he was doing really well. The incision looks great - he is standing straighter - the doctor was pleased with how Mitchell looked...much happier than the last time he saw him at the hospital. The doctor said that Mitchell should start taking his stronger pain medication only at night before bed and to take extra strength Tylenol during the day. He also said that Mitchell should continue to increase his activity during the day. He can go into the pool and move around there! Mitchell is not normally the most "every-ready bunny" type, so pray that he will be motivated to start moving more. His next appointment is in four weeks...on August 15. By that time, he should be able to do more things. He is still restricted as far as bending, lifting, and twisting...so no dance moves for another month.

The drive and the appointment wasn't too bad for Mitchell. We left home around 1:30 and we were home by 4:00. He was tired out but the pain was not too bad.



Once again, thanks for all your prayers and support...this will be the last post. I am grateful for the blog as a tool to get information out! Modern technology...it's the best!

Pam

A shower has been taken!

Wow! Does Mitchell smell better!! The shower went really well...I think he can do anything he puts his mind to. We took off his dressing and now he only has the steri strips covering his incision. It looks great.

He had a great night of sleep last night. He woke up around 4:00 and needed some pain medication and then I woke him up again at 9:00! That was so nice! I can tell the pain is lessening because he hasn't asked for much pain medication today! He still gets tired easily, but that is normal.

He has a follow-up appointment with his doctor in Grand Rapids on Wednesday at 2:30. This will be a little challenging as he hasn't been up longer than 1/2 hour...and if all goes well with the appointment, the drive along will take 1-1/2 hours plus the time in the doctor's office. I am a little concerned (worried) about the trip...so if you could pray for Mitchell and myself...I know God can give strength when we need it.

I got to go to church this morning...it was wonderful to see friends and talk to so many caring people...VPM is an awesome family to be a part of!

Have a good week...I probably won't post anything until after Mitchell's doctors appointment on Wednesday...so until then...

Lots of love,
Pam

Friday was a great day! Saturday...not so much

Mitchell had a great day on Friday. He was moving around really well and felt good. He slept in his bed for the first time last night (he was sleeping on the couch) and he didn't ring me until 7:00 in the morning!.

He started out the day in a lot of pain and just didn't feel very well. I think he must have overdid things yesterday and is paying for that now. He has had a hard time just finding comfort and energy. So, today was a pretty layed back day...still getting up every hour but not for a very long time. Because he didn't feel very good, his shower is post-poned until tomorrow.

Doug and I went to Crazy Horse for dinner tonight...I was craving a steak and baked potato which is exactly what I had. It was fantastic! My stomach is killing me now, but it was SO worth it! It was great to get out of the house even if it was for only an hour.

Sunday will be a new day. I hope to get to church, but we'll have to see what the morning brings.

That's all for today...

Pam

So far, Friday has been a good day!

Happy Friday everyone! I can't believe that it's Friday already...this week has gone really quickly...who would have thought that Mitchell came home on Monday. He is getting stronger each day, moving around more, and he is able to endure the pain...I think the pain is getting better...he is taking less medication each day.

Our hair washing was a cinch! He leaned over the side of the couch and I with a bucket, mixing bowl, towels and shampoo, gave him an awesome hair washing...he smells so much better. He will be able to take a shower tomorrow, and we can take the dressing off his back. I am sure that he will feel like a new man after the shower!

All is good right now...he is doing so well!

Have a great weekend!

Pam

Today was a better day!

After a rough start to the day...Mitchell slept for 5 hours straight and woke up really stiff...he was really sore...by the time it got to be about 11:00, he was feeling better. He got up every hour...just moving around helps SO much!

Our goal for tomorrow is to wash his hair...it's a good thing he had his head cut very short before surgery, but his head is getting really itchy. Washing his hair shouldn't be too bad. He's not allowed to bend so it will be a challenge...but we are up for it!

We had a couple of visitors today...my mom, and Stephanie and Jackson Hill. Mom brought homemade blueberry muffins (Mitchell's favorite) and Steph brought really good candy! It was nice to have visitors to break up the day.

If you are thinking about visiting, please call before you come...thanks!

All-in-all, it was a better day...give God praise for answers to all the prayers!

Pam

Our first full day home

After a somewhat difficult night last night (mostly it was bad because I forgot to give Mitchell his strongest medication on time and gave it to him 4 hours late...a nurse I am not), most of this day went well. Mitchell moved better today than yesterday and even has put himself on a two hour movement schedule (after a small suggestion from his loving mother). It seems like his appetite is getting better too. He didn't need to take as much pain medication today, which will help with his appetite. He also was awake a lot more today. At the end of the day (from 8:00 - 11:00) is the most difficult to keep Mitchell comfortable...I think that everything just catches up with his body...muscle spasms...tiredness (both Mitchell and myself). He gets the strongest medication around 11:00, so that helps him sleep better. Last night, he slept from 3:00 - 7:30 without waking up. We'll see how tonight goes...hopefully better with the correct medication given at the correct time.

Please pray for:
1) Continued pain relief (especially in the evening)
2) Good night of sleep, for Mitchell and mom
3) Appetite to get better
4) Pray against infections and any complications
5) Patience and encouragement for each day

What an amazing experience...God is faithful, loving, and knows and cares about what Mitchell is going through...so good to experience His comfort and strength. I have the verse of Philippians 4:13 on my ring..."I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength."...I just have to ask for it!

Pam

yo

hi, this is mitchell. this is gonna be a short post. but i am open to visitors now.call first to confirn with mom 616 399 1649.

MITCHELL IS HOME!

Yes, it is true! Mitchell is home. We saw the doctor around 9:00 this morning and he gave his OK for Mitchell to be released! We got home around 10:30. Mitchell said that the two "M"'s lives are now complete...Mitchell and Molly (our dog). I'll add another "M" - MOM! The ride home went better than I expected...we only had to stop once in Hudsonville to change positions.

It is amazing what "being home" does for a person's recovery. Mitchell was wondering why he is comfortable and feeling better. I told him that while the hospital is a nice place, you are just not as relaxed and comfortable there. When I went to drop off Mitchell's prescriptions, he asked me if I could pick up a vanilla frosty from Wendy's on my way back and he ate half of it! He is resting on the couch with Molly at his side. It is SO good to be home, even if there is laundry to be done, the house to clean, and all that stuff!

It would probably be better if Mitchell doesn't have visitors today...getting rest and settled in will be enough, I think. We'll see about tomorrow. Maybe give a call before you might think on visiting.

Thanks again!

Pam

Mitchell is coming home tomorrow!

Mitchell is doing very well. He is getting around great. He went on 4 walks between 8:00 and 11:00. He met with his physical therapist, Laura, for the last time! She did a great job "encouraging" him. I really believe we have finally turned the corner. When I got to the hospital this morning at 8:30, he was dressed in his regular clothes (t-shirt and shorts). He wasn't ready to come home yesterday morning, but he is definitely ready now! I guess our next landmark would be for him to poop! (prayer request!?!?!) Lots of gas...so that's a good sign (I guess!).

He still isn't eating very much, which isn't unusual for Mitchell. He never eats that much. When he's not walking the halls and using the bathroom, he is sleeping (resting comfortably). Which is great.

I, personally, feel like Mitchell is ready to come home...much more at peace with that than even yesterday. He doesn't like the nights here at the hospital and keeps wanting me to stay longer at night and come earlier in the morning. So, one more late night and early morning...sounds good!

He has come a long way after such a major surgery...so many better days ahead! Thanks once again for all your thoughts and prayers and support. Couldn't have done it without you and the grace and mercy and healing power of our awesome God!

I'll keep you posted about tomorrow's homecoming!

Pam

Just a quick update.

Hi everyone...Mitchell had a very "fuzzy" morning yesterday morning...too many pain medications. I think we have that under control now. He is much more alert today...and the pain is mostly being managed. He will stay here one more day so they can get him on some kind of regular pain schedule. He also is experiencing a lot of gas pain...he really needs to go poop! So, I know this is kind of a weird prayer request...but if you could pray that he would be successful in that endeavor, that would be great. He is definitely moving around very well...walking, getting out of bed, going to the bathroom...When I got here this morning, he even had clothes on! He looks so much better, more like himself.

Have a great day...the weather looks amazing!

Thanks again,
Pam

A new day!

Mitchell made it through the worst days of his recovery...and it is promised that there are better days ahead. He took several walks yesterday. Whenever he had to go to the bathroom, he had to get up and walk to the bathroom in his room and then the nurses would take him on a little stroll down the hallways. He is doing very well! He steadies himself with a walker, which seems to help him with balance and such. Just before I left last night, he was experiencing quite a bit of muscle spasms (not a happy camper). Finally, the medication started working and he rested well last night. I had a little meltdown last night...it's difficult to see your child in so much pain and going on a small amount of sleep doesn't help either.

When I got here this morning, he was sitting in a chair eating some breakfast (not because he wanted to, by any means...he would be very content just laying in bed all day...but that slows down the healing process). The doctor came in and changed his dressing. His incision looks great! Mitchell promised the doctor that he would work hard today. They will be getting him up every 3 hours and taking him for a walk and have him sit up in a chair. He will also have x-rays taken today and they will measure his height. He can be kind of stubborn, so pray for a willing spirit and patience for me as I have to find the best way to inspire him to be all that he can be. We call him "The Terminator" because he kind of sounds like Arnold Swartzenegger without the accent...drugs do strange things to the brain.

The way it looks, he will be able to come home tomorrow sometime. That will be good...challenging for us as parents...but it will be better for everyone!

Prayer requests for today and tomorrow:
1. Perseverence through the pain
2. Experience of success in the things they ask him to do
3. Patience and understanding and wisdom for Doug and I as we "encourage" him to do what he needs to do.
4. Pain (mostly the muscle spasms) to diminish.
5. The trip home and his care at home...(yikes!) It's a little scary, but he is actually quite strong, he's just afraid to try stuff because he thinks it might hurt.

Thanks again for your support! It means so much!

Pam

Happy 4th of July!

I got to the hospital at 9:00 this morning and the nurses had just put Mitchell in a chair. After sitting in the chair for about 20 minutes, they took him for a short walk. He did very well...mostly using his strength with a little guidance from the nurses. They plan on having him do the same gig again two more times today. He didn't have a very good night...not much sleep. Mitchell is still experiencing quite a bit of pain and is not at all happy about it...in fact, he is a little angry today. Dr. Cassidy came in while Mitchell was walking and said he was doing really well. Everything is progressing as expected...the only thing he would like Mitchell do is eat a little more. The doctor also said that day 2 (yesterday) and day 3 (today) are the roughest. On day 4 (tomorrow), Mitchell will wake up and feel like a new man...still some pain, but it will be a turning point day! Praise the Lord. It is hard to see you son be in so much pain and not being able to help him. The nurses are great encouragers...

I asked Mitchell if he would like visitors today, and he said that it would be ok if family came up. He asked that if his friends could wait until tomorrow (Saturday), that would be best.

Please pray today for: pain to be managed, patience and endurance and hope, get his appetite back, rest.

Thanks again and have a great holiday!

Pam

Mitchell has moved to room 7024!

Mitch's day started early this morning. At 7:00, Dr. Cassidy pulled his epiderals (I probably am spelling it wrong) from his back. These were pumping pain killers and numbing medication into his back since surgery. Well after these come out, there is a time where it gets difficult to manage the pain...so he had a time where it was pretty rough. The oral drugs they gave him finally started working...At 12:00, they got him up in a chair, but before he could sit down, he had to march 10 times in place. He is such a trooper...doing just as the nurses ask, probably because he knows he doesn't have a choice and wants to get it over as soon as possible. The nurses promised him that he could have some valium if he sat in the chair for 20 minutes. They pulled all of his IV's except the one that they are pumping fluids and antibiotics in. That feels good to get rid of all those ropes.

At 1:00 they moved him down to the 7th floor. He was talking all the way (surprise) and went to sleep when he got situated. When he woke up, he had no idea where he was or how he got there...the pain meds he is on now also help not to remember stuff, so it's good...doesn't remember all the pain...but sometimes it is kind of funny!

They sat him up in the chair again around 4:30 for about 30 minutes. He did well...lots of pain...but stuck with it. He has been able to keep fluids and medication down but isn't that hungry yet...that will come I'm sure.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July...he keeps asking what day it is...I guess when you lay around for 2 or 3 days, time gets mixed up. Hopefully, he will feel up to watching the fireworks off the river. He'll have to sit in a wheelchair to get to a window for a view (can't see it from his room now). We'll see...

Doug read him the messages that he has been getting from some of you...they are very encouraging for him and for me...keep them coming. Thanks, Steph and Matt for the email. He got it this morning! Thanks too for the cards he has received today. It is so wonderful to know that so many people care and are thinking and praying for him. Words can't describe how thankful we are for our friends!

Well, that's all for today. Happy 4th of July to all!

Pam

Mitchell's first 24 hours after surgery.

Well Mitchell had kind of a rough night last night...nuasia has been a problem. He has been having trouble keeping anything down. The anethesia didn't set good for him. Most of the day was kind of rough also. This is of course, expected after such a major surgery. The morning started out pretty good...the physical therapist got Mitchell out of bed and into a chair at 9:00 this morning. He was in a ton of pain but he did great. He sat in the chair for 20 minutes and was VERY glad to get back into his bed again. The pain was just as the doctor said, "you will feel like you got hit by a truck!"...and that was pretty much how he felt. They had him doing breathing exercises and, of course, that wasn't Mitchell's favorite thing to do, but again, he was a very good patient, and he did as he was told. They got him up again into the chair at 4:00. He was not at all happy about that, but he did really well. By the end of the night, he seemed to be feeling a little better. He was able to keep some Sprite and about a cup of ice chips in his stomach. We chatted for about an hour and a half. I left the hospital around 10:30...and when I left, he was resting comfortably. I told him that each day will get better! There are better days ahead!
Sorry it took me so long to log something onto this blog...for whatever reason, my computer won't let me post a message when I am in the hospital.
I would say that having visitors should probably wait until Friday.

Thanks,
Pam

Mitchell update.

Mitchell got to his room in PICU (pediatric intensive care unit) around 5:30. He is experiencing quite a bit of pain, so they are working on keeping him as comfortable as possible. He has been sleeping quite a bit, but when he is awake, he is very alert. He was asking how he looked...He knows what is going on around him and even asked what the score of the Tiger game was and which inning they were in. I thought he might want me to spend the night with him, but he said that he would be OK. Such a brave young man!



The doctor said the next three days, Mitchell will feel like he was hit by a truck, but usually by sometime during the third day, something clicks and they start feeling better. He will probably not be up to visitors until Thursday (maybe). I'll keep you posted.



Thanks for your thoughts and prayers today. Please pray that the pain will be bearable and that he will be a cooperative patient as the nurses and doctors start getting him up and moving.



Love you all! We give God ALL the praise!



Pam

Mitchell is out of surgery! 2:40 pm

Mitchell's surgery went very well...as well as the doctors could have thought it could have gone! Praise God...his back is almost perfectly straight. They had no complications in surgery and don't expect any now.

We will get to see him around 3:30 for a few minutes.

Thank you for your prayers. God is SO good!

Pray now that his pain is bearable and that recovery is quick.

Love you all!

Pam and Doug

Mitchell is in surgery

Mitchell went into surgery at 8:00 with surgery starting at 8:40. We had an update from the nurse at 11:00. She said Mitchell was doing well. The doctors were working on the instrumentation (rods, screws, clamps, etc).

We had a cool thing happen this morning. When we were coming into the hospital, Hugo and Sarah Vasquez were coming in at the same time. We ended up going to the pre-op room together. As Hugo said, "There are no coincidences, God planned for this to happen." He and Sarah prayed with Mitchell before he went into the operating room. How cool is that!??!?
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers.

We can feel them!

Pam