8 replies to this topic

[krystel&john]

Hi guys..

My name is Krystel and I am writing to you today on behalf of my boyfriend John. John was accidentally shot in the back, on September 3, 2007. He was left in critical condition, and the doctors never believed he would live past 72 hours and if he did, he would never move anything from the neck down. The bullet, went in through his lower back, traveled up his spinal cord, lodged into the top of his spine and remains there today. He was diagnosed with a C-5/6 fracture. The bullet remains in his back, because the doctors fear that if they remove it, it may cause more damage. He spent three months in recovery at Miami Jackson's ICU, because he lungs were very weak and he had problems breathing on his own. He was on a ventilator for many months and also had a tracheopexy, but he refused to live like that and has struggled and now is able to breathe on his own. After spending three, almost four months in ICU, he was transferred to Miami Jackson's Rehabilitation center and remained there until February 14, 2008. While in ICU, he suffered a lot, he was only able to see his family and friends four times a day, for a few minutes at a time, or not even that and with time the nurses were no longer able to give him the care and attention he needed. Because of the neglect from the nurses and not having the opportunity for family to take care of him, he now has a bed sore, which he has been dealing with since early November. Luckily while in rehabilitation he was able to do certain exercises to help him be more mobile, but with time his bed sore has restricted him from many things, including regular physical therapy.

He was released and is now living with his family, were he is very happy. Despite his condition he is no longer taking medicine for depression and does not see a psychologist (as recommended). He is still struggling with the bed sore, but the wound nurse he has is trying her hardest to make sure it closes as soon as possible. It is extremely difficult for him, because Jackson does not allow him to come back for physical therpay until his bed sore closes and he is losing a lot of time in his recovery process. He is not suppose to be able to move his arms, but he is very mobile and despite his regulations, he does what he can as physical therapy. He has even began to regain some feeling, he knows when he is going to the bathroom and he has sensation down to the middle of his back. Aside from the bed sore, which is almost closed, he is completely healthy.

I know I have rambled, but I would really like to help John. If anyone has experienced anything similar or has any advice I would love to hear it!

Best regards,

Krystel Limonte

[dnm527]

Krystel,

I can definitely relate to your situation and I felt compelled to reply to your story since our stories are very similar. My boyfriend was shot in the neck over 12 years ago and was not expected to live as well. He is classified as a quadriplegic, but he has some movement in his arms very little in his hands. The twist to my story is that I met and fell in love with this individual after his accident. We met at a facility where he was getting rehabilitation. Like your boyfriend he too is dealing with a wound issue from lack of care in the facility. With surgeries, good doctors, my personal love and care his wound is now almost closed. I understand the venting and rambling you are just trying to see if someone else understands what you are going through. Trust me I do. I was not in his life at the beginning of his ordeal, so I can only imagine what you are feeling. He too has a bullet lodged in his neck that can't be removed. I just happened to cross this site while looking for some information regarding research. I also work in the nursing field, so I am researching my butt off..trying to find as much information as possible. The only advice can give you is to make sure he stays in therapy, continue to move his body for him as much as he can stand...he is going to gripe and complain but trust me it is worth it.

krystel&john, on Aug 18 2008, 07:18 PM, said:

Hi guys..

My name is Krystel and I am writing to you today on behalf of my boyfriend John. John was accidentally shot in the back, on September 3, 2007. He was left in critical condition, and the doctors never believed he would live past 72 hours and if he did, he would never move anything from the neck down. The bullet, went in through his lower back, traveled up his spinal cord, lodged into the top of his spine and remains there today. He was diagnosed with a C-5/6 fracture. The bullet remains in his back, because the doctors fear that if they remove it, it may cause more damage. He spent three months in recovery at Miami Jackson's ICU, because he lungs were very weak and he had problems breathing on his own. He was on a ventilator for many months and also had a tracheopexy, but he refused to live like that and has struggled and now is able to breathe on his own. After spending three, almost four months in ICU, he was transferred to Miami Jackson's Rehabilitation center and remained there until February 14, 2008. While in ICU, he suffered a lot, he was only able to see his family and friends four times a day, for a few minutes at a time, or not even that and with time the nurses were no longer able to give him the care and attention he needed. Because of the neglect from the nurses and not having the opportunity for family to take care of him, he now has a bed sore, which he has been dealing with since early November. Luckily while in rehabilitation he was able to do certain exercises to help him be more mobile, but with time his bed sore has restricted him from many things, including regular physical therapy.

He was released and is now living with his family, were he is very happy. Despite his condition he is no longer taking medicine for depression and does not see a psychologist (as recommended). He is still struggling with the bed sore, but the wound nurse he has is trying her hardest to make sure it closes as soon as possible. It is extremely difficult for him, because Jackson does not allow him to come back for physical therpay until his bed sore closes and he is losing a lot of time in his recovery process. He is not suppose to be able to move his arms, but he is very mobile and despite his regulations, he does what he can as physical therapy. He has even began to regain some feeling, he knows when he is going to the bathroom and he has sensation down to the middle of his back. Aside from the bed sore, which is almost closed, he is completely healthy.

I know I have rambled, but I would really like to help John. If anyone has experienced anything similar or has any advice I would love to hear it!

Best regards,

Krystel Limonte

[Susi]

krystel&john, on Aug 18 2008, 06:18 PM, said:

Hi guys..

My name is Krystel and I am writing to you today on behalf of my boyfriend John. John was accidentally shot in the back, on September 3, 2007. He was left in critical condition, and the doctors never believed he would live past 72 hours and if he did, he would never move anything from the neck down. The bullet, went in through his lower back, traveled up his spinal cord, lodged into the top of his spine and remains there today. He was diagnosed with a C-5/6 fracture.

Luckily while in rehabilitation he was able to do certain exercises to help him be more mobile, but with time his bed sore has restricted him from many things, including regular physical therapy.

He was released and is now living with his family, were he is very happy. Despite his condition he is no longer taking medicine for depression and does not see a psychologist (as recommended). He is still struggling with the bed sore, but the wound nurse he has is trying her hardest to make sure it closes as soon as possible. It is extremely difficult for him, because Jackson does not allow him to come back for physical therpay until his bed sore closes and he is losing a lot of time in his recovery process. He is not suppose to be able to move his arms, but he is very mobile and despite his regulations, he does what he can as physical therapy. He has even began to regain some feeling, he knows when he is going to the bathroom and he has sensation down to the middle of his back. Aside from the bed sore, which is almost closed, he is completely healthy.

Hi Krystel
My injury is also C5/C6 and throughout post-injury 5 years, I now have movement everywhere. Although hands still "clenched" and no strength in them, I can move legs, arms and feel most sensations.
Due to IBS had to stop exercises (gym) for some time now, but bowel sorted now, so will be hitting gym soon.
I can walk with assistance on crutches, but not long distances. As I cannot comment on the bullet lodged in the top of his spine, and so cannot say whether increased exercises would maybe dislodge this or not, I encourage John to do whatever mobility exercises he can. I beleive more will come back with time.
As to bedsore, over here my doctor suggested cleaning wound with warm sterile water and then placing a slice of "pawpaw" or papaya skin covering wound and fasten with plaster or bandage. I had one on heel, a while back and within 6 weeks it was healed. No scars. Most creams applied today have the extract of pawpaw in them. The only reason we tried it was that the ointments, creams are very expensive here.
Hope this helps, Good luck for you and John

[krystel&john]

Thank you soooo much for your reply!!! It is nice to know that there are other people out there that can relate. Thank you for your kind words and I will keep you and your boyfriend in my prayers. I know it has been a long time for him, but I am sure with such a great person by his side he will be just fine. Has he thought about stem cell surgery overseas? We are looking into it, but it is still a bit early for that surgery. I am worried that perhaps the bullet being lodged in their backs is what doesn't allow them to fully regain control of their lower limbs. As I am hearing that there are quite a few people that regain movement without bullets being lodged in their backs. John and I have a friend that was accidentally shot also in the same area, but the bullet went in and came out and he is already transferring himself and regaining a lot of movement. Even though in my heart I know that he will be just fine and one day he will walk again. Please keep in touch and thanks again! I wish you both the best of luck.

[krystel&john]

Hi Susie... I am so happy to hear that you are recovering so well!! Keep at it and i'm sure your hard work will pay off. As for your IBS, i'm sorry to hear that, but don't stop your exercises. IBS is minimal (or so I think), so don't let that get you down. As for John's bedsore, it is (fingers crossed) a month away from being fully healed. Thank you for all your kind words and good luck to you as well.

Take care!

[mulepower]

I was hurt on April 1st,2001 while working as a cab driver. I was shot in the back by the guy behind my seat,the bullet severed my spinal cord and lies up against my aorta to this day.Sometimes,i visualize what i could've done differently.

I had a back brace on for months until i weaned myself off of it. Rehab was a lot of work.

I had a stage 4 decabitus ulcer a few years back myself with a pelvic infection that lasted to long. The nursing home care was pathetic and not until i saw a wound care doctor did it finally heal up.It was a major dilemma in my life.

Many on here deal with neuroligical pain. I had very little until i developed a sore on the flat part of my foot and after the wound doctor cleaned it up and it healed,that pain increased to the point of having to take Neurontin(nerve blocker) and Cymbalta(helps with the pain). I hope he never has to deal with that.It can be so painful to the point of screaming.

I don't mind not being able to walk but losing your extremity function is something i still struggle to deal with. I've become much more reclusive than i used to be.


Tell John to stay as active as possible. Gaining some feeling anywhere is a blessing. I hope he gets more of his feelings back.

[Rudy]

Hello,
My paralasis was also caused by gun shot.
It happened back in 1978.
I wish I could tell you that it gets better in time, but I have found the opposite to be true.
But you are young, and you never know what the next ten years will bring in "sci" reserch

[pochyetnost11]

My friend was shot earlier this year and the bullet became lodged up in his spine, severing his C5 and C6 vertebrae. There was damage done to his phrenic nerve which helps supply the contractions of the diaphragm. He has been on a ventilator, but has worked hard to get off of it and breathe on his own. Unfortunately, he recently suffered a setback with pneumonia which has forced him back (temporarily I hope) on the ventilator. He had also been working on making sure his left arm (also shot) does not wither but since the pneumonia is too exhausted to participate in therapy. The doctors are working hard to try to give him the therapy he needs but since he was shipped back to the ICU it has been difficult. Now, if you have any advice for me and my friend I would greatly appreciate it. (And yes, I too, as a close friend of the family was told that if he lived through the night after his original injury that would be a miracle, that his chances weren't good, but he did make it but it has not been easy).

[krystel&john]

pochyetnost11, on Sep 2 2008, 09:39 PM, said:

My friend was shot earlier this year and the bullet became lodged up in his spine, severing his C5 and C6 vertebrae. There was damage done to his phrenic nerve which helps supply the contractions of the diaphragm. He has been on a ventilator, but has worked hard to get off of it and breathe on his own. Unfortunately, he recently suffered a setback with pneumonia which has forced him back (temporarily I hope) on the ventilator. He had also been working on making sure his left arm (also shot) does not wither but since the pneumonia is too exhausted to participate in therapy. The doctors are working hard to try to give him the therapy he needs but since he was shipped back to the ICU it has been difficult. Now, if you have any advice for me and my friend I would greatly appreciate it. (And yes, I too, as a close friend of the family was told that if he lived through the night after his original injury that would be a miracle, that his chances weren't good, but he did make it but it has not been easy).

Wow... I am sorry to hear about your friend, but I disagree with Rudy- things will get better with time! Keep your friend positive, he is very lucky to have a friend like you. Nothing is set in stone and if he works hard enough and believes it he will get off that ventilator. Don't let anyone tell differently because no one can predict the future.

I wish you nothing but the best, for you and your friend.

God bless!