March 17-18, 2021 "Wound vac change # 13"

March 17, 2021 (Day 62 in the hospital)-

13th wound vac change

St. Patrick's Day

We sure have had a fun day today. Rayden opened the "St. Patrick's Day party in a bag" from Abby Barefoot first thing this morning. His nurse and surgeon were in here to help him enjoy the contents. It seemed like there was no bottom to the bag. Fun and exciting things just kept coming! Once we got cleaned up for the day and ate breakfast, he put on his green gear and started walking the halls. He shot the water gun at everyone he saw that didn't have on green. Doctors, surgeons, nurses, CNA's, cleaning staff,...everyone! He even got Dr. Elton and Dr. Damitz. The best part is no-one got upset. (I wouldn't let him soak anyone.) Everyone just started laughing hysterically. Honestly, he had the only St. Patrick's Day spirit on the hall. 

Today's wound vac change went super smooth. The surgeon used the spray early allowing it to sit and work while she got all the materials ready. That must have made a big difference because he didn't even cry one bit while she was removing the tape. There is literally just a sliver of the AlloDerm left. Dr. Damitz says IF the wound continues to make this much progress by Friday then she MAY remove the vac and switch to wet-to-dry dressings. They would try to line everything up with a home health agency to supply the materials at home because the wet-to-dry dressings would need to be changed twice a day. Whenever I feel comfortable with the dressing chances then she would release us. She stated the obvious...Rayden cannot return to school any time soon. I hate that, because he misses his friends and teachers. Not to mention how much education he is missing. 

March 18, 2021 (Day 63 in the hospital)

Gina gave Rayden a new student nurse to train today. Her name was Leah. He gave her, and the other student nurses, the grand tour. (He's getting very good at that!) Leah attended his hospital school session with him as they began excavating a dinosaur from an egg. She also went to the playroom with us for a little while. He enjoyed having her play with him. The playroom lady finally agreed to let Rayden go into the music room today. He has been asking religiously. He enjoyed playing with the instruments and making his own music. 

On the way back to the room we ran into the floor doctors. They assessed him right there in the hallway and began playing tag with him. I mean there were five doctors running around in circles playing tag! It was so funny! Rayden soon found Roxana, his favorite CNA. They are always trying to scare each other in the hall and laughter fills the place when she's here. He has been waiting for her to come to work today so he could do a bubble shark attack on her. Just when she leaned in thinking the shark toy was so cute, he pressed the button and bubbles flew everywhere! She, and all the nurses, busted out laughing. If laughter is the best medicine, then I guess Rayden is a great prescription!! 

After lunch, Rayden wanted to finish his dinosaur excavation. Meghan, his nurse, sat down beside him to help discover what was inside the egg. They both had to put on their safety goggles because dirt was flying everywhere! He even did an experiment with the water color changing tablets. He wanted to put that red water in his water gun and shoot people with it. I told him that may stain their clothes. We placed a white wash cloth into the red water so he could see what it would do to people's clothes. His eyes were filled with amazement when the washcloth turned pink. I just allowed him to stand in the bathroom and shoot the shower walls. He had a blast! 

Elizabeth from Child Life, had been collecting Rayden's Beads of Courage this morning. This program gives beads to children for each hard, medical experience they go through. Every time he has shown an act of courage there is a different bead to receive. There are beads for surgeries, MRI's, IV's, hospital stays, castings, procedures, etc. Rayden has been through so much already so we had quite a bit of catching up to do. Rayden, Leah, and myself strung beads for three hours! (His occupational therapist would be proud.) But when we were done I was amazed to see an actual tangible symbol of his acts of courage. 

We had to get into the hall this evening for an hour because there was a Tornado warning. Rayden and I walked up to the front sitting area so we didn't have to sit on the floor or drag a heavy chair out into the hall. Rayden was scared at first, but soon began talking to all the nurses and forgot why we were even in the hallway. We are on the very top floor so it kind of made me a little uneasy too. Thank you Lord for keeping us all safe tonight.