[Taylor7172]

Hi, my son recently suffered a huge bruise at T9 from a gun shot wound which left him a T6 Complete.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

Currently he's in ICU but things are going very bad. He's yelling, crying, taking out tubes, and have halluications all day. It's very hard on everyone right now.

What can we expect down the road? Will he be able to care for himself or will he need 24/7 care for the rest of his life?

Does anyone else have Medi-Cal via the state of California? Will they provide a wheelchair, etc?

Any tips will be appreciated.

[Trinity]

ICU messes with your brain, blame the drugs! I remember very little about my ICU stay but have been told that my behaviour was not entirely normal! I had hallucinations and very strange vivid dreams. I wasn't able to work out what was real and what wasn't, to be fair I couldn't work out if it was day or night most of the time. It all stops when you're out of the ICU though, thankfully!
Trinity x

[nomis]

Likewise, I was confused when first admitted. It does settle.
Actually, things are going to be pretty confused for the family in this early stage. But eventually, with good rehab and family support, he'll get to full independence. As a complete he'll always need the wheelchair, of course, and forever will need to learn and take care of his basics but will still be capable of a full and independent life. All the best.

This post has been edited by nomis: 18 May 2008 - 12:16 AM

[knowthill]

Wow this brings back memories or should I say night nightmare. I agree with trinity the ICU is very much a truma. For you to see your loved one with tubes coming out of orfices you may not have even knowen exsited. At least they did for me. I remember coming in and out of consousness. I was in the ICU about 2 weeks. Pulling the tubes out of my throat, trying to get more liquid, was only allowed ice chips that I remember anyway.

I wanted to get out of there as soon as possible but was tied down in a rotating bed, or the bed from hell I have referred to it. The next memory was that of losing all of my modisty with nurses checking my behind and then students from the medical school needing get my permission to look and my butt. What am I going to tell them no.

The first few days until he is stable are the worst and things get better everyday after so hang in there. Wish I could give you a magic ball but we are all different. Will be thinking about you.

[longhaul]

It's real hard to deal with the lose at first and then it gets a little more saner as the time goes by. He will start doing better when he gets into rehab and the shock of being a para starts to sink in. Right now he is in shock and the more doped up he is the better or it was for me who wants to be awake in ICU. The best thing you can do is keep a positive attitude, a can do, we will get through this kind of one. Try not to let him see you stressed or being depressed smile and laugh tell jokes it helps a lot. In the end it's totally up to him how he wants to deal with it. He can live totally independent and have a quality life if he decides that's what he wants. I live in CA. and medical will get him a chair just make sure that he gets one that is easy to use and fits him right, they should take care of that in rehab. You could look into" Supplemental Security Income" through Social Security they will provide him with money to live on. Hey good luck................and hang in there.

[Zammo]

I'm T6 complete - as I say to people that want to know what my life is like:
I get up in the morning, I have a shower, get dressed, have breakfast, drive to work, work all day, drive home, play with my daughter for a few hours, put her to bed, cook dinner, and crash in front of the TV.

[Kwag_Myers]

Taylor7172, on May 17 2008, 04:55 PM, said:

Hi, my son recently suffered a huge bruise at T9 from a gun shot wound which left him a T6 Complete.

Does anyone have any advice for me?

Currently he's in ICU but things are going very bad. He's yelling, crying, taking out tubes, and have halluications all day. It's very hard on everyone right now.

What can we expect down the road? Will he be able to care for himself or will he need 24/7 care for the rest of his life?

Does anyone else have Medi-Cal via the state of California? Will they provide a wheelchair, etc?

Any tips will be appreciated.

I'm sorry to hear about your son. I'll try to answer your questions, but I'm kind of new to this myself.

What to expect in the days to come is a difficult question to answer. The best advice is just to take it one day at a time. Don't put unnecessary pressure on him, like, "you'll be doing this or that in no time". Just be supportive.

He'll need some help early on, but eventually he'll most likely want to do as much on his own as you'll let him, so let him. Just be there in case it goes wrong.

I don't know about California, so the best thing to do is to ask your son's physical therapist when he goes to rehab.

Also, my iPod was a life saver. When he goes to rehab, they'll be waking him up in the middle of the night and the iPod is a great way to help pass the time if he can't get back to sleep.

As for you, don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions, both of the doctors and here. That's why we are all here, to help each other out.