Dad passed his swallow eval today and is able to drink whatever he wants. I stayed with him during his physical therapy session and he did great. One area he needs a lot of work in is balance. They did several different activities that will help improve his levels. He does pretty good until they ask him to close his eyes and do things. But I told him I would have trouble myself at some of the things he's working on. He is still convinced he has a cabin cruiser boat and makes us laugh at some of the crazy stories he tells us. He knows all of you ask about him and is looking forward to being able to return to the gym. He told me the only thing he is happy about is the weight loss. He still has his great sense of humor and picks on everyone down there. As always Dad is leaving his stamp on everyone's heart.

Dad continues to improve. Unfortuneately he is having nightmares which he believes are real and gets frustrated when we tell him otherwise. The staff has reassured us that is normal and will improve over time. He is able to eat pureed food and drink thickened fluids although he hates it. We are hoping he can upgrade soon to thinner fluids because he really wants a coffee.
The secretions are less so the tracheostomy may be able to come out next week. He is working hard with the rehab team and is worn out by the end of the night. He can talk good and understands everything we say although needs occasional reminding once in a while.

Tuesday
Sorry its been a week but I have good news. We had a meeting with some of Dad's therapists and they are very pleased with his progress. He is walking with little to no assistance. His short term memory is coming back. He grabbed a phone book one day and managed to find his name and began to dial his number to have Mom come and pick him up. They said physically he is doing awesome. Cognitively hes doing well but it will be a much longer process. He still gets very angry and agitated but that is to be expected. He has a lot of fatigue which may be a life long issue. They are planning on sending him home on July 15th as long as he has 24 hour supervision but will not be able to do anything that could risk injury to himself which will be hard considering how active he was prior to the fall. He is able to swallow better and they are hoping to be able to remove the tracheostomy next week as long as his secretions continue to lessen and become thinner.
Once he is home Mom is going to let me know about a schedule for visitors. The doctors and therapists have told us to keep the visits brief (about 15min) and to a minimum amount of people a day. That is due to the brain healing and keeping his distractions to a minimum as well as his fatigue. He will continue to receive outpatient therapy which the staff has compared the impact on him being like us working a 16 hour day. I will try to update as things change but for now they are slow but heading in the right direction.
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Wednesday
Just came back form seeing Dad. He has the metal piece for his trahceostomy and was able to talk to us for the first time. He was excited to realize he was talking and we could hear and understand him. His main concern is a drink. He wants to drink so bad but the doctors won't let him because he keeps failing his swallow eval. He has short term memory loss but is slowing improving everday. He continues to work hard in the gym and wears himself out and then asks us to leave so he can get some sleep. Some people have asked me about visiting and I did ask Dad today but he said no. I don't think he wants anyone to see him like this. We have a meeting on Monday with the rehab team and his doctors so we will have a better idea of how long he will be at Kernan. The nurse told my uncle once he passes his swallow eval the trach can probably come out. This is the best I have seen him yet. I forgot to get the address today but will try to remember to ask while I am there tomorrow. I will update if anything new develops.

Sunday
Dad is still awake most of the day and responding appropriately. He is very tired today which I guess is to be expected after the reahb team working with him all day yesterday. The doctor's are going to reassess him Tuesday and might be able to remove his tracheostomy tube. If not this week hopefully next week. It is obvious he hates it so we are hoping it can be this week. He really wants to drink but the staff said he can't because he might aspirate it into his lungs so we moisten a small sponge and let him suck on it. Donnie took Angel to see him today which made him happy but she was scared due to the tubes. Again....I will ask him as soon as he can respond clearly if he is ready for visitors but I have been relaying the messages I receive on here.

Dad was walking around the room with assistance. The staff is amazed at his progress and said we will be surprised to see how fast he recovers. He was able to use the rowing machine and can definitely understand our commands. Unfortuneatly the piece for his trach won't be ready for a week or more so he won't be able to talk. The staff said they are going to work with him and use a device that will allow him to communicate through typing. I will try to ask him about visitors as soon as I know he can give me a clear response. I have told him how all of you are asking about him and he nods and smiles so I know he understands.

Friday June 25th 8:50am
Dad is now at Kernan for rehab. He was angry on and off last night because of the trahceostomy and not really understanding what is going on. He can't talk yet because they have to wait a few days until the site heals and they can put in a metal peice which will allow him to talk. He is alert and can understand when we tell him it is only temporary but forgets and has to be reminded. He shakes his head yes or no when we ask him questions. Mom said they gave him a pen and paper two days ago but he was unable to write. The staff at Kernan is going to do a complete assessment and meet with us next week to see where things are and how to proceed. Once he can talk I will ask him if he is up for visitors and let everyone know. I told him before I left last night that he needs to work hard and cooperate with the rehab team and when I asked him if he understood he nodded yes. The hard part starts now but for those of you who really know Dad be assured he will give it every effort and fight hard. He is such an amazing and strong person and I know he will come out of this fine. Thanks for all the support and kind words.

The doctors have decided it is best that Dad receive a feeding tube and trahceostomy because he is still losing weight and unable to swallow effectively. They are planning on sending him to Kernan within 48 hours after the surgery which will occur tonight or tomorrow morning. He has his days and night confused so only has brief moments of alertness during the day. During these short times he does squeeze our hands and says a few words. We are looking forward to Kernan to see how much progress he can make.

Hi everyone it's Mary. I stayed with John all day, when I left last night his temp was still up. The nurse told me he will have good and bad days that's just how it goes with brain injuries. I have been waiting for 3 days for him to have an MRI of his neck (still waiting) so they can take that neck brace off, he just hates it. I read and show him his cards and then I tape them to his glass wall so he can see them, I also hung pictures of our family on the wall so he can always see us even if we are not there. He will be getting another sallow test on Monday I pray he passes this one so he can eat and drink on his own if not in goes the feeding tube, and then off to Kernans. Thank you for your cards and prays. I pray he is better today when I see him.

Dad slept most of the day. He opened his eyes once looked around at everyone and smiled but went right back to sleep. By late afternoon he spiked a fever of 101.9. His chest x-ray is clear which is great but we are unsure of what is causing his fever. They drew blood cultures and are testing his sputum. They are planning on sending him to Kernan on Monday to begin rehab and then he can start receiving visitors. I will post more about that after he settles in and I know more about visiting hours.

I just talked to Dad on the phone. Mom held the phone to his ear and when he heard my voice mom said he grabbed the phone and held it himself. I was picking on him the way I always do and he laughed. He is very congested and hard to understand but he said I love you after I told him how much I love him. I told him that all of you send your love and prayers and I know he heard it. He has been upgraded to a different unit which is fantastic.

Dad has been awake the past two days and trying to talk. He is not able to swallow his secretions yet so it is hard to understand what he is saying. The doctor's are going to give him a few more days to see if his brain can connect and allow him to start swallowing. If he is unable to he will get the feeding tube and go to rehab. They are saying he will probably need to learn to talk again cause sometimes he says things that don't make sense but it will be easier to assess after he can speak more clearly.

Dad has developed a fever again and is very congested. He slept the whole time but the nurse said he will respond to commands if she really pushes him and makes him angry.

Hey everybody this is Kayla again!
Grammy and I went to see poppop today and all he did was sleep, he has lost over 30lbs and has atrophy (loss of) of most of his muscles. The doctor said he has a few days to start waking up until they will put in a feeding tube. Like mom said a feeding tube (or him waking up) means that he can get to rehab faster and start the real road to recovery. On a good note poppop was still able to give my hand a reassuring squeeze when I would start talking to him. When we loosened the restraints on his hand he still heads straight for the neck brace, which he absolutely hates. A MRI of his neck within the next couple of days will hopefully tell if poppops neck is okay, if it is then he can get that darn neck brace off.

We also got a visit from the doctor, he is disappointed that poppop is not further along than he is but these brain injuries are unpredictable.

Grammy would like to thank everyone for their prayers, concerns, and cards for poppop!

Dad didn't do much today cause he is so tired. Unfortuneately it looks like he will probably end up with a feeding tube so he can get to rehab. The doctor's have said that is where he will make the most progress. However on the other hand his cough is still strong so he will probably not end up with a trahceostomy. I can't wait to see him tomorrow and will update after my visit.

Dad is doing well. He is not talking much but is following commands and opening his eyes. He is able to produce a strong cough which is great cause he may be able to avoid the tracheostomy. The nurses are saying once his lungs are better he will probably be able to talk more. He will be going to rehab soon and the doctor said that is where he will make his greatest progress.

Hey everybody this is Kayla, I just figured I would give some more details about poppop. Although I didnt make it to the hospital Grammy told me what went on today. Poppop was removed from the ventilator and had an oxygen mask on at 50%. Poppop was able to say a couple of short sentences (that they couldnt understand since his voice is hoarse from the ventilator) and called out grammys name, raised his arms, and said get up, which shows how much he wants to get out of that darn bed. He also opened his eyes halfway (since his eyelids are swollen still) and looked at grammy, his brother, and his sister. Then the doctor came in and waved at poppop, Elaine told poppop that the doctor was waving and he responded by lifting his hand and waving a single finger.

Its so exciting that hes actually coming around! Hopefully if poppop can continue to clear his lungs by coughing we can avoid a tracheotomy (spelling?); we should know that by tomorrow.

June 11th 10:50pm
Just got a call that Dad is talking and knows who everyone is. Still has a long road but what an amazing step.

Saturday June 12th
No real changes today. The nurses told us he was responding to verbal commands this morning but by the time visiting hours began he was sleeping. The doctors are planning on taking out his intubation tube tomorrow. They said it may make it easier for him to wake up and talk. If he does develop any issues after the tube is removed the doctors will need do a tracheostomy.

Friday June 11th
GREAT NEWS!!!!
Dad opened his eyes today and is able to respond to commands. Kayla said he squeezes her hand hard and seems to know what is going on. The nurses and doctors are saying if he continues to improve over the weekend the intubation tube will probably be removed Monday and he will likely avoid the tracheostomy. Hopefully he can begin talking as soon as the intubation tube is removed. It is a wonderful day of many to come! Go Dad :)

As requested here is the address where Dad can receive cards, pictures, etc. Per hospital policy no fresh flowers are allowed. If you have any pictures he would like please make copies and send them. We would like to fill his room with them so when he wakes up he has lots of great memories with family and friends staring back at him.
University of Maryland Medical Center
Attn: John Letts 4S-19
22 S Greene St
Baltimore, MD 21201

Thursday June 10th
Dad is still intubated but the ventialtor has been turned off and he is breathing completely on his own. He is still not talking but Kayla said he squeezed her hand when she was talking to him last night. Sorry for the confusion about visitors...I will post the information as soon as visitors are allowed.

On Thursday June 3rd Dad fell off his roof and sustained two skull fractures. He was flown to shock tauma and underwent surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain. He said a few words on Friday but became restless and had to be sedated. The intubation tube was removed but his lungs began to fill with fluid. By Monday night he had developed pneumonia and began running a fever. On Tuesday they reintubated him to assist his breathing, expand his lungs, and suction out the mucus. As of today the nurses state his respiratory status is improving so they will reassess him in a few days.
His neurological status is unknown at this time. The doctor's have told us he will not be the same person he was prior to the fall but they are optimistic about his recovery. They have said he may have personality changes and his likes and dislikes may change. They told us he isn't speaking right now due to the pneumonia, fevers, not eating, and being mildly sedated. The surgery went well and the swelling in his brain has reduced since Sunday.
Once he stabilizes there is a good chance he will need a tracheostomy and a PEG (feeding tube) because he needs to go to a rehabilitation center for an unknown length of time. They have told us they will probably not be permanent but will be needed until his strength returns.
I will try to keep frequent updates on here.
Keep him in your prayers and remember how strong he his. If anyone can make a full recovery it is my Dad!