A Rough Monday. . .

I thought Monday would be just a recuperation day for Brendan. . .Charlie. . . (Okay, maybe I better explain):

. . .When Brendan was born, Shaun and I went through our usual dilemma of picking a name we both like.  I told Shaun I wouldn't leave he hospital till we had a name on the birth certificate.  I was thinking a week in the hospital would be great.  Well, it soon became apparent that maybe I'd never go home, so home we went without a name.  While we mulled over names --remember this is our 8th child -- Shaun started referring to him as Charlie Brown, or for short, Charlie.  At the 11th hour, (which is day 10), when the Health Dept. threatens to put "Baby Boy Peck" on the birth certificate, we decided on the name Brendan.  We both like the name, and I love the name, but by then "Charlie" had stuck.  All the kids call him Charlie, his cousins call him Charlie, but his mom still calls him Brendan, and insisted he go by Brendan at school to avoid confusion (which now only causes more confusion ;). . .

So, Brendan's quiet recuperation day turned into one busy day.  First of all, it was Monday--the busiest day in the hospital.  Next,  ENT's were here by 7 a.m. (as usual) checking for sinus drainage and asking about the packing in his nose.  (I've learned to be out of bed by then!)

Nurse change is at 7 a.m. and they make the rounds and their morning assessments.  Neurosurgery came to check at 9 a.m. and we discussed Brendan's stiff neck, light sensitivity, and noise sensitivity.  Apparently these are all symptoms of meningitis, but instead of being a bacterial meningitis, the swelling of the brain lining is a chemical meningitis, and typical of this surgery.  So Brendan kept a cloth over his eyes to block the light all day and shushed us when the talking in the room got too loud.

Brendan likes it quiet and dark.

Neurosurgery also recommended that he stay down in bed until mid-week when they will clamp the drain in his back, sit him up, and make sure there is no cerebrospinal fluid leaking out his nose or down his throat.  As they were checking the lumbar drain in his back, they noticed drops of fluid on his back.  So they put numbing lotion on his back and the physician's assistant (PA) put two stitches there to stop the leak.

Monitor for the cerebrospinal fluid.  It has to be adjusted every 15 minutes to keep a continuous flow of 10 "somethings" every hour.

Up to this point after surgery, Brendan hasn't wanted to move at all.  Yesterday, the nurses and doctors knew that he had to be moving in order to prevent bedsores and blood clots.  He was rolled from his right side to his left side every few hours.  (Somehow he usually ended up on his back shortly afterwards.)  So a pump was hooked up to the bed that inflates different parts of the mattress so the pressure points are constantly changing.  Then they put cuffs on his legs that inflate and deflate to keep the blood in his legs circulating to avoid blood clots.  This really irritated Brendan.  Every time the cuffs would inflate and squeeze his legs, it hurt his head.  He complained to the nurse until she finally called the PA and she personally came in to tell him that he had to keep them on.

Oncology came in shortly after neurosurgery and we discussed radiation simulation and planning meeting times, and how chemotherapy would coordinate with that.  Nothing will be decided until the neurosurgery doctors give the all clear on his recovery from brain surgery.  He needs to heal before he starts the next battle.

Pumps for the bed and the cuffs on his legs

Ophthalmology came in the afternoon and it's a good thing Brendan loves Dr. Choi because by this time he was VERY tired of everyone shining a light in his eyes to check his responses.  (It's a part of every assessment by every doctor and nurse all day long.)  Dr. Choi checks his vision every day and measures the eye pressure to make sure his right eye is responding well post-surgery.  Everything looks good so far.  Still no sight in his left eye, but the eye itself is healthy.

Brendan's food in an IV

Eating something was the goal yesterday and will be again today.  Brendan was able to get a few swallows of a nutritional drink and swallow about 4 small pieces of pancake.  His last real meal was last Wednesday before surgery, so they have started him on a nutrient IV to help until we can get him eating food again.  Every swallow of food or drink has brought on nausea so he is less and less willing to try each time.

The good news today is that he slept really, really well last night.  A deep, comfortable (as it gets) sleep where he didn't awaken every time there was a noise or movement in the room.  His pain medicine seems to be handling his pain now, and he is taking less and less every day.  So far this morning, the light isn't bothering his eyes so much either.  So here's to a good day!