September 2011

Howdy,
Today Donnie called at 7:25AM wondering when we were coming over because he missed us.  He had a very rough day yesterday with pain and did not hardly sleep last night.  He slept off an on most of the day today and said that by afternoon he felt a lot better than he did.  Of course, the pain meds were pumped up and he was put on another antibiotic because a culture on the huge wound on his buttocks came back with bacteria in it.  Of course, with being dragged through the dirt it is to be expected.  He is getting breathing treatments 4 times a day because of his inactivity he is wheezing and coughing some.  My mother that is an RN said she would categorize his lung condition as "scary".  Now coming from my Mom that is alarming because she is an RN and is very non emotional.  Please pray that he will keep from getting pnemonia.

My sister Juile made a ton of awesome foods again today and literally filled the refrigerator and freezer with home made foods for us to eat so we don't have to eat out all the time.  Saves money and a lot of unnecessary calories.  Donnie just loves the food although the food at this hospital is exceptionally good.

The nurse today was the same as yesterday, however she seemed to be in a totally different mode...for the better.  She will not be coming back for a while as she only works 2 days at a time.  Your prayers were answered on that subject.

The X-ray from yesterday on Donnie's pelvis showed that it is fractured in several places but it is in alignment.  He is not to have any weight bearing on his feet for at least a month.  This means he cannot get out of bed at all which increases his chance of pnemonia.  He is doing his breathing exercises many times throughout the day to keep his lungs expanding.

A special wound nurse came in today and went over him very carefully and thoroughly.  Both my Mom and Donnie were very impressed with the amount of detail she went through in getting his wounds taken care of.  He had one on his left arm and one on his left leg that were "tunneling" which means they were healing on the top and not from the inside out.  They had to have special gause stuffed in them to cause them to heal from deep down and then on to the top.  My Mom said this type of gause works excellent on wounds of this type.  She also very carefully trimmed away the dead tissues from his "road rash" that really cleaned things up nicely.  His deeper wound on the back of his right heel is showing healing but it is much deeper than the rest of his wounds and is going to take more time.

Tonight they are going to give him some sleeping pill because he is so tired and he needs to get some rest.  It is weird but the hospital is not a place where you get much rest.  I wish you could bottle it up and just apply sleep like oils but it doesn't work that way.  They bother you so often it is extremely difficult to rest properly.

Tonight we left around 8PM because we had to get Julie to the airport so she could fly back to Lexington, Kentucky and get my van, some important things, and her own belongings she has there and drive my van back to Mesa, Arizona where she will pick up my Toyota Camry and with a friend of ours, drive both vehicles up here to Las Vegas so I can have my van.  This way when Donnie is ready to go home with me I will have a vehicle that he could get into and even be laid down for the trip if necessary.  Then Julie and our friend will drive my Camry back to Mesa, Arizona and build a ramp into the house and do some painting for us in preparation of Donnie's return home.  Please pray for Julie's safety and sanity as she helps us out in the many behind-the-scenes work that is so very important.

I have been asked where to send cards or flowers.  In ICU nobody can receive flowers.   With Donnie being in ICU for a month this will not be something that can be done for him.  What would be better than flowers would be like a gift card that can be used anywhere for gas or merchandise like a pre-paid VISA or a Target Card or something along these lines.  Cards can be received by patients in ICU but that is it for now.  I will have to update you when he changes to a regular room.  That will be a day of celebration, for sure.  If you would like to send cards with gift cards in lieu of flowers this would be where to send them:

Sunrise Medical Center
Tramua ICU - Don Schirr
3186 S. Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, NV 89109

If you need to send anything to Carol directly I am staying across the street from the hospital.  The address for me is:

Homestead Studio Suites - Midtown
3045 S. Maryland Parkway
Room 115 - Carol Schirr
Las Vegas, NV 39109

We thank you for your continued support in prayer and your love and concern!  Your prayers for speedy recovery are greatly appreciated.  Please keep them coming.