BJ Berkhouse - Updates on his condition

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Updates in the order I received them:
(most recent on top)

10/19/2009 A MESSAGE FROM B.J.:

Hi everyone! (This is Debbie, the webmaster here.) Sorry I hadn't posted an update in awhile. I hadn't received anything in a long time. But I heard from BJ himself today. He is still in Virginia at a very helpful rehab facility, learning how to walk again. He is working hard to get better and he wanted me to tell everyone here for him that he said Thanks! And that he will definitely be back soon.

03/05/2009 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

B.J. is doing so well. He starts out-patient therapy March 12th. I am excited about this move because he will get out of the house. I think a change of scenery will help him. He is walking with the help of a walker and is much more stable than before. His memory is so much better. He has been removed from every medication except Tylenol 3. And he only takes it when he feels like he needs it for pain after some therapy. I guess there are some questions about the lack of updates. I wish I had an answer. Maybe it's the sense of normality that has set in. I never thought that something like this could ever be normal. But somehow it has become such. Stop in and see B.J. anytime. I am sure he would like it very much. And if you haven't seen him in a while I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised!

10/22/2008 A MESSAGE FROM B.J.:

"Thanks for all your thoughts, prayers and support. I will talk to all of you soon."

When asked if he wanted to say anything else he said, "Nope, that says it all."

10/22/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I'm staying with B.J. tonight Oct. 22nd. He is ratchet jawing and keeping me up. He has a lot of questions about how he was and what the doctors did to him. (I think he likes hearing it even though I have told him before.) He is very excited about moving in with Lindsay (poor girl) and getting a dog! (poor girl) As if B.J. isn't hard enough to satisfy.

10/06/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

Hey everyone! I'm just sitting here with B.J. and watching Monday night football. B.J. is doing better and I can see a difference every week. We now have a list to sign in when you come to see him. When therapists come to see him they can refer to this list and test him (it helps his memory). I stay here a couple nights a week and help with his mobility. He is getting much sharper and even recalls some of his first thoughts from being in the hospital. When asked if he had anything to say to people who are keeping up with this web site he says, "I'm all right and I'll talk to them later. Thanks for calling and writing and all that good stuff!"

09/28/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

B.J. is gaining his weight back. His please and thank you's are coming a little less frequently. And I am proud to say that he is no longer undefeated at Wii golf. He still needs help with walking but it seems that he understands now that he will be able to do it himself (eventually). He is doing so well with his left foot. He gets very upset at me when I stay with him to help take care of him. He gets mad that I snore a little (ok a lot) and he tells me that I keep him up and that he wants me to tell Mom that I snore. So I go upstairs and wake my Mom up and tell her that I snore because if I didn't then B.J. will think that I am not listening or not caring or not obeying him. Then he tells me to write down "Chad snores" so he can remember to tell his therapist about me to get me in trouble.

Mom and Lindsay are spoiling him and he loves it. When asked if he is just going to lay there all day his reply is usually, "Mom and Lindsay will take care of me." Last night we wanted to go to bed and as Lindsay and I began to help him stand up, he demanded his wheelchair. We insisted that we would help him walk instead. His reply was, "I don't feel safe with Chad here." So I told him that I would walk outside while he is walking, but either way he is walking. He realized that it was a poor excuse and quickly grabbed my shoulder and took off walking.

09/22/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I'm sitting here with B.J. It is 12:45 am Monday morning September 22nd. B.J. is doing pretty good. He is much better with moving himself around and helping with transfers from chair to chair and standing up. Sometimes he feels sorry for himself and tells us he can't do much, but put a Nintendo Wii controller in his hand and there is no looking back! (In fact, he is undefeated at golf.)

While he is playing he forgets all about the bathroom and doesn't complain about much. But when there is nothing for him to do, then he becomes a little agitated. Most of his frustration lands on me. He gets very mad at me, tells me I'm too loud, then when I stand up to go outside then he tells me to keep walking. He doesn't like it when I make him get out of bed to eat and I guess I'm not the best "trainer" when it comes to getting him to do something for himself. He is coming around.

09/10/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

B.J. is on his way home now. He will be staying with our mother. We are looking into several facilities to send him to in order to further his physical abilities. CAMC has stated that he has improved in all areas and that it was "time" for him to go. I have a hard time understanding that he had to leave and look for a place to rehab, when they have a rehab floor in the hospital. Oh well, he will like being out of there and will probably spend most of his time enjoying Mom's cooking. Don't be bashful, you can still come and see him. Ask him about getting his g-tube removed. It seems to be his favorite story.

09/02/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I'm spending the night with B.J. tonight. I am excited about the meeting Wednesday morning with the doctors and nurses. I'm not sure as to what is going to be said as I have not been to one of these meetings yet. (I'm never up in time.) B.J. has done an amazing job with all of this. He has regained his laughter and has once again honed his skills on pleasing a crowd, even if a few people are spent in the process (Summer).

Adam was nice enough to take B.J. to the power game. B.J. stayed the whole game but was getting a little restless, so we didn't stay for the fireworks. During the game B.J. was joking around and even watched a little football while being at the game. Derek was there with Ms. Jones and he is sure to make B.J. laugh every time.

After the game we went back to the hospital and B.J. had to go number 1. But instead of just wheeling him in there Adam said, "It's gonna be tough love B.J." I liked hearing that because he needs the workout. Adam made B.J. walk to the rest room with a little help from me. B.J. felt a little sense of accomplishment and did his thing, then had to walk back. I would like to do that myself but I am the only male around a lot and after all that is a big responsibility carrying "everyone's" B.J. around without help.

He still has his G tube in and I understand it may be coming out soon if it isn't being taken out right now as I type. If you haven't came by to see B.J. in the last 2-3 weeks, then I urge you to stop in. Not only will you not believe the difference a couple of weeks make, but it also helps him as well. He loves a crowd (just like always). He needs the motivation and support from everyone! So stop by and say hello. He needs old friends, new friends, red friends, blue friends. After all, he is your B.J. too!

08/22/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I stayed with B.J. Thursday night and he was awake late. He is usually asleep when I get there at 10:30pm. I found Lindsay beside him holding his hand and rubbing his arm, as B.J. complained about not having the lights on. Lindsay gave me directions for the next morning and then left. B.J. asked if I could turn the lights on and asked if we could leave many times. I gave him a piece of his own medicine by answering him more often than he asked. He told me he didn't want to hear anymore and that he wanted me to cover him up and turn on the fan. I asked if he was cold why did he want the fan on? He told me that the noise "makes for good sleeping", then he fell asleep. I woke up the next morning and the nurses came in and got him dressed and that was my first mistake of the day. You see those directions that Lindsay gave me were to not let the nurses do that, but instead let Sarah Jackson come and do it (OT). I messed up. B.J. didn't mind though as he got up on the right side of the bed! He was quite happy about eating breakfast. I would feed him myself until he told me I got syrup on his leg and that he could do a better job.

I took him to rehab to see Sarah and I stepped back and watched him from a distance, as to not break his concentration. He did an amazing job with moving his arm. He seems to complain if we move it, but when Sarah does it then it is ok. He has everyone buffaloed (but me). We went back and ate lunch with Mom and Theresa. He ate a big lunch and then it was time for physical therapy. I was in for a treat as Carolyn asked me to walk B.J. around awhile. It is so HARD! He helps all he can but I'm not used to teaching people how to walk! I was sweating! Maybe I got a little more out of this than he did. It is amazing to watch these girls always pull and tug and lift people all day. After therapy we went back to his room and some friends came by. We asked B.J. about going to the beach with Andrew K and Jeff K, four score and seven years ago. He remembered all about it. We talked of my cousin Mike sleigh riding and getting knocked out, Turbo and I falling through the glass door and B.J. and I chasing our cousins around with a copperhead! He remembered it all, even down to the screw on the top of the refrigerator door and the stove handle! (All funny little stories about growing up in Roane County on Sundays.) Ryan was the hero of the day. He arrived with a chocolate milkshake. B.J. loved it and thanked him many many times. He told Ryan that it was really good and the next time he goes to Roane County he will buy two of them. We asked B.J., "Why two? .... One for you and one for Ryan?" he said, "No... I'll give them both to him, Ryan is good people."

08/18/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I spent the night with B.J. August 14th (if I'm not mistaken) and he was pretty good... he kept me up for about 2 hours from 3am-5am. He wanted to go home and use the bathroom. He would say "Chad, Chad, Chad, Michael Chad, Michael Chad, Michael Chad, hey brother!" I would try to ignore him so he would fall asleep. But when he said hey brother I just couldn't help myself, I had to respond. He would get angry at me because I wouldn't take him home, and he would tell me that I didn't care. It was a little hard to take. I didn't want him to think I didn't care but I wasn't going to sneak him out of the hospital either. He would tell me that it's all my fault and that I wasn't his brother anymore. But not five minutes later he would say, "Hey Chad, you're my brother right and I love you... will you take me home now?"

Today is the 18th Monday and I went to see him right before work. I could only stay for about a half hour and when I walked in everyone had smiles on their faces, even B.J. It was a breathtaking sight. B.J. hasn't smiled since 06-07-08 so it was high time he had. He told me of some Domino's that he had eaten the day before (Thanks Brian). I asked him how it was and he said it was real good. (Any other time you ask him how his food is he says "It's all right.") He has lost a bit of weight, so getting him food he likes is always a bonus. I headed off to work but I only stayed for a few hours and went right back to the hospital to see B.J. and Lindsay outside taking a stroll. He gave me a big wave with his right hand when I saw him and he asked me where I parked at so he could get a ride home. I told him that I couldn't take him because the doctor won't let him leave. Then he told me that the doctor said he could leave. I knew that this was wrong so I asked B.J. what his doctor's name is. That's when he told us...
Dr. Kevorkian.

08/10/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

B.J. was doing pretty good when I visited with him Saturday the 8th. He was ready to see the hospital. Always wanting to go here and go there and "Let's just leave." "Do you wanna go to my room?" and the ever so popular, "I gotta pee!"

We went to the lobby and watched a little Olympic girls volleyball. I asked him who was winning and he told me by reading the score on the TV and then I received a phone call (on B.J.'s phone). I didn't recognize the number so I asked B.J., "Whose number is this?" and then he told me, "It's Seth." "Seth, who?" I asked. "Woody, Seth Woody." he replied. So I answered the phone and the voice on the other end said, "Chad?" I said, "Yeah." Then he said, "This is Seth, I was just wondering when visiting hours are so I could stop by." I gave him the info and he was quick to arrive. I guess I was a little surprised to know that B.J. remembered his number. Even more shocking was the fact that Seth told me that he hardly ever called from that number.

B.J. does pretty good with names and faces and even told a story or two about hanging out with Seth and his "loud mustang" and "getting sideways". B.J. even made the vroom sound to imitate the 302ci Ford. "The red one" he said, "the red one." We all laughed and Seth said, "Man, I forgot all about that!"

B.J.'s memory is coming around a little more everyday.

08/03/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I went to see B.J. after work Saturday August 2nd. I didn't get there till about 8:30pm but B.J. was still awake when I got there. I had heard news of my Aunt Karen talking to B.J. and telling him that they would get well together. (She recently had cataract surgery.) She was telling him that once he got better they would go for a walk when B.J. is able to walk and she is able to see. B.J. then told her that was a good idea and he said, "I'll be walkin' and you can be gaulkin'. " He seems to be getting some of his wit back. He was always keen about being on top of things. Funny sayings, jokes, and word play stories. Quick to bring a smile to even the soured. He still pleases us with his one word answers and his nonstop movements that he even seems to be aware of. (It has slowed drastically.)

My family told me that they took B.J. to the top of the hospital parking building to watch a little bit of the power game. He was in his wheel chair and everyone stood around him while he told people to sit down and have a seat, as if there were plenty to go around.

When I arrived he was awake but he had settled in for the night with a belly full of food and his pain medicine and sleeping medicine. I should have let him be, but I couldn't. I talked to him for awhile about old things. He told me that Pickle was his favorite dog. And when I asked him what kind of dog Pickle was, he told me that Pickle was part spitz and part schnauzer. Sometimes B.J. says things out of the ordinary. He gets this conversation tied up with the last one and so on. But he knew what he was talking about. Pickle was a favorite of mine too!

07/31/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I stayed with B.J. last night and he was very restful. He slept all night. Even when people came to check him out (nurses) he slept right through. In the morning the nurses placed him in his wheel chair and I scooted a recliner right up beside him and we looked out in the hallway and spoke of old times and new times to come. He wants out of that place and he means it! He is always asking to leave. He was on this kick of calling people. He would ask someone to dial then hand him the phone. I have gotten a few calls from him, mostly wanting me there in a hurry. But when he calls I am at work and I can't make it and he tells me "Now!" then he hangs up on me.... (the same ol' B.J.) I asked him what was so urgent that he needed to see me when I got there and he told me that he wanted to know what I wanted for Christmas. I was later told that there was some talk earlier in the day about a Christmas in July advertisement of some sort. It seems that he takes bits and pieces of things he hears and mixes them up and puts them back in any order he sees fit.

He has came a long way. I was surprised to learn that he can "eat breakfast" and I don't mean by a tube either! Sure it's been blended and reshaped to look like eggs, French toast and the like, but I know it can't taste like it! He is a brave man eating that. He can move his fork and spoon pretty good and even cut his toast with his fork before picking it up (some got on the floor, but that's ok). He has been limited to breakfast food only, but some nurses told me that he will be getting a "lunch" also!

Rehab went pretty good too. They hooked him to a harness and pulled him up to a table that he was attached to. He stood tall and did some math problems, this time it was multiplication. Then he put some shower rings on a horizontal bar. He did that with minimal complaining then it was on to the "cone game". I remember when he first did this exercise and it was so hard for him. He didn't really focus on the task and wondered off. Then we would have to keep him at task. We would have to keep reminding him what he was doing. But not today! They just handed him the cones and with no directions at all, he went right to work with a quickness. While all along pleading to sit down. They gave him his wish and he took a breather and I wiped his head off. A few minutes later it was time for him to stand again in order to remove the rings from the bar. "One at a time B.J. one at a time!", we all told him. But it was of no use. His leg was hurting more and he just couldn't stand it any longer than he had to, so he grabbed as many as he could and put them in the box. Then he was working on the other side. It took a lot longer to put them on than to take them off. Sarah then worked around on his left shoulder and moved it all around. He doesn't like that part either. I try to hold his right hand out of the way, but he keeps grabbing at his left hand and tells me to "let go". I guess the day went pretty good. After the O.T. we all went back to 204 South (General).

07/21-22/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

July 21st I spent most of the day with B.J. and he did pretty good. His physical training went smoothly as well. He did some leg moving and arm flailing again and they also worked on stretching his neck around a bit. He has a little trouble looking to his right. I think it's because he is always looking left and he doesn't move his head much. We need to stay on his right side so he can get used to looking in our direction. He was a good sport about it and even made us laugh with some of his spur of the moment thoughts. It's hard to know what he is thinking or going to say. It seems most questions directed to him are answered with a yes. And when I ask him why he answers that way, he just says that he doesn't know. He is always looking for help to escape, someone with a knife to cut him out of his "net bed" or to cut a restraint.

He is really working hard with his occupational therapist and can open and close his left hand a little more everyday. He was working on some picture matching and throwing some bean bags into a hoop and even did a little math. And to my surprise he was even writing down the answers! As far as I know he only missed one math question. It was 6+4 and he said it was 11. He might have missed a few more but I'm not good enough at math to check all of his answers. (I'm so bad at math that I have to take my shoes off to count to 11.)

He also did some walking today as well. The therapist had a hold of him and they lifted him up. He was fighting to stand and those girls were working hard to hold him. He took one step with his good right leg. Then they helped him scoot his left foot, then B.J. would take another hop step. Then another. For three steps... that was all they could handle so they put him back in the chair. Then after B.J. caught his breath they picked him up again. And he didn't let anyone down, as he took three more steps. The latter were a lot more purposeful for B.J. and you could tell it meant a lot to him. He was ready to sit again so they gently put him back in his chair. B.J. leaned over to his right arm, and sat his head in his hand and wiped off his forehead. After a big exhale, he looked up and said, "Ok....... What's next?"

So there you go. Six steps forward and a two day set back, as we were later told that he has a blood clot in his left leg. (He had been complaining about the pain for some time now. We had credited this pain to the lack of movement and the surgery.) They are giving him some medicine to break up this clot. We were also told no more physical rehab for about 2 days. It's going to aggravate B.J. that he can't get out and move a little more.

I left the hospital for some R&R at about 4-5pm (a boat ride on the Kanawha) and came back at around 9:30-10:00pm. I spent the night with him and he slept all night. Some people came and went. They took his blood pressure, fed him, cleaned him, checked his sugar level, and rolled him around. He would wake up and mumble a bit, then fall right back asleep. Probably one of the most restful nights he has had in a while.

Today, July 22nd, we talked of movies (old school) and he even said his favorite line in that movie "chee-ee-ese!". He then told my mom that he likes it when I spend the night with him. I was glad that he felt that way, so I asked him, "B.J. ... who spent the night with you last night?" He then said, "I dunno."
Oh how soon we forget.

07/19/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I spent the night with B.J. on Wednesday and when I got there Derek Jones and his girl Carrie were just leaving. When I walked into the room I noticed that B.J. was awake and his friend Brian was right beside him. B.J. looked over to his right and he said, "That's my brother." I heard him so clearly this time.

He has came a long way. He is very funny with some of the things that he says now. He woke me up at about 5:30 Thursday morning just to ask me if I was o.k. and went back to sleep. He has even asked for my help to "bust him" out of there and go to the lake. (I don't know where he gets it from, he is a big character.) I have gone to his rehab a couple of times and he does pretty good. He can almost open his left hand a little and he can tell you what color a plastic cone is. He does have some trouble on stacking the cones with like colors, but that is probably because it wears him out. He sweats profusely and works hard the whole time. It's still a chore to hold or watch that right hand because he can really get a hold of you now! At night he can hardly keep his hands off of his neck brace. But we don't worry about that anymore. The doctor has taken it off and now B.J. can hold his head up by himself! Originally it was to stay on until the tracheotomy came out but the doctor decided it would be ok to take it off. So now B.J. doesn't grab at his brace anymore. He grabs at his tracheotomy! He yanked it out, so the doctor said, "Oh well, just leave it out too!" So come on in and say hello to him. Just don't be surprised if he thinks you're a spy!

07/15/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I went to the hospital after work today and my older brother Steve was there. He was stretched out on a recliner with his feet kicked up. (He should do that more often.) B.J. was asleep and didn't make any noise. And when a nurse came in to tend to him he didn't wake up at all. Steve and I had a long and much needed talk. Before we knew it our whispers had transformed into a boisterous conversation about family and growing up. I had forgotten all about being quiet for B.J.'s benefit. It was no matter though, B.J. never awoke and it showed me just how restful he had become. On most days that I am there B.J. is asleep or trying to get there. I don't get to interact with him much and he doesn't really react to me much anyway. It's very disheartening to me because we are so close in age and I am his brother and I feel that we should have a tight bond. I hope he doesn't think that I don't come to see him, because I get there late and he is mostly asleep. Sometimes I wonder if he even knows that I am there at all.

Sam stayed there with him last night and she had some comforting words to say such as B.J. could point out the word "hospital" or the word "home" on a sheet of paper when asked a corresponding question. Also when nurses asked him where he wanted to be/go he pointed at the word "church".

B.J. also did a little counting yesterday as well. He counted all the way to 31 ! Who knows... maybe he counted to 31 because that's how old his "big" brother is!

07/14/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

The pig roast went off without a hitch! Well, if there was one, I didn't know about it. The Samples', Greer's, and Toney's made it so easy for everyone to have a good time! It was very hot and I got sunburned on my neck, legs and arms. I drank about two gallons of water and I only won one game of horseshoes, lost two games, didn't win any of the raffled items, and I dropped a hotdog. (All in a day's work.) But it was a great success! We raised almost $10,000. That's right, I said ten thousand! I can't believe all the difference a few (hundred) friends make. The sun and heat couldn't keep us from having a good time and great conversation with people that we see every day and people that we don't see enough.

B.J. is doing better again and he has become a little chatty. He tells my family and Lindsay's family things all the time like, "I need water." and he tells Lindsay that he loves her. And he can even tell us his pain level from one to ten. Today he said it was a seven. He still scratches me and I had to ask why he did that. I didn't get an answer. But that's not surprising. Lindsay then asked B.J. if he was mad at me, and he said, "Yes". I stood there with a weird feeling in my gut. Lindsay then said, "You're not mad at Chad are you?" and then he said, "Joking."

Most of the time I can't understand him. Well actually none of us can understand him very well. If he keeps it to one word then I'm pretty good, otherwise if it's a sentence then it's kind of hard to understand. His tracheotomy is getting smaller. It was a size 8 and now it is a 6. He has missed speech classes because after they change the size of the tracheotomy, they don't have a plug for it to let him talk. I'm not sure, but I think I am going to be spending the night either Tuesday or Wednesday. I'll find out when Lindsay tells me.

07/10/2008 Evening UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I went to see B.J. after work and I was pleased to see Sam and Lindsay sitting in the room with him. I was also pleased that B.J. didn't even notice that I was there. He was asleep the whole time. I stayed there for a few hours and listened to something that I haven't heard in awhile. B.J. snoring. His battle with his days and nights had been dragging on and it came to a head. B.J. fell asleep at about 9 and was still snoring when I left his side. He has been sleeping on and off in the past, but never made a noise because of his trach being unplugged and his mouth wired shut. But now he is breathing normally, trach plugged and all! When Sam snuck out to go home I went home as well. I was ready to do some snoring of my own. (Sorry no new news but there hasn't been a lot of change in the last few days.)

07/10/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

The wires are out of B.J.'s mouth! They cut him loose at about 7 a.m. this morning. I just received a text from Lindsay giving me the news. It turns out that he has a lot to say! We just don't know what it is yet, because we can't understand much of it. But we can pick out a word here and there. I will be with him as soon as I get out of work and I'll be happy to ratchet jaw with him. I can't wait till they take off his neck brace and I'm sure he can't either.

07/08/2008 - morning 07/09/08 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

Last night I stayed with B.J. and when I got there it was awesome. He was sleeping like a baby. So calm and peaceful. I was trying to be quiet, but I was a little on the clumsy side. I made a racket! I tried to get a chair that was tangled in another chair. In the process I knocked his dry erase board off of the wall and banged stuff on the floor. It was awful. I had been there no longer than three minutes and I had already made a mockery out of the silence that had been in the room.

When I finally settled in with my chicken sandwich I noticed that B.J. didn't move a muscle. Some how through all the noise, he didn't wake up. He was out like a light. He needs his rest and it comes hard for him. Lindsay told me that he had been asleep since about 9:30 p.m. and at about 11:00 p.m. she went home. So it was me and B.J. alone. Not a lot happened. He just slept and I just sat there. A nurse entered the room at about 1am and asked me how long he had been asleep. I told her, "Since about 9:30 p.m." She then asked me, "When was the last time he was moved?" and I told her he had been moved to his left side right before he went to sleep. She hated to move him because she knew he would not sleep once we rolled him, and she was right. I helped her roll him over and clean him up a bit. And he instantly broke out in a sweat and began to kick his leg and grab and pull at everything in his reach. I believe that he is in pain. Because I could not get around him without him pinching and scratching me. I didn't bleed, but he does have some of my skin under his right fingernails. He was looking into my eyes and trying to hurt me. And he was sweating so much. I ran out and told the nurse that this was just too much for him. She said that we should leave him like that for an hour, to prevent bed sores.

So I waited for that hour to pass and I ran out and told the nurse that I wanted to roll him back. She came in and we rolled him back to the left side, where he is much more comfortable. But he didn't sleep. He did almost stop sweating though. And his leg kicking and hand grabbing did subside a bit as well. He stayed awake with me the whole time from 1 a.m. all the way until I left at about 10:30 a.m. and at that time he was taken to therapy. Poor guy, he must be so tired.

There is some good news today though. He may get his mouth unwired on Thursday! And next Friday he may be able to remove his neck brace! I hope that helps his comfort level. If he could only be a little more at ease, he may sleep a little better and relax. It can't be easy to recover when you are just fighting not to be in pain.

07/07/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

Hello everyone. B.J. had a pretty restful night. But it took some work and finagling and some sweet talk to a nurse. It all works like this. My family and Lindsay's family are there 24 hours a day non-stop. He is NEVER LEFT ALONE. (Unless he is on my watch...darn cigarettes.) Anyway, we see what he is doing. We see how he does it. We see what they give him. We see how it effects him. We see what makes him comfortable. We see what makes him angry. We see it all. And we use this info to pass on to the nurses in order to aid them. Not to tell them what do to. I'm not a doctor and I don't try to act like it. But when my brother is congested and is breathing through his nose and his mouth is wired shut, it's hard for him to breathe and to sleep! He labors to breathe and sweats the whole time. We have told the nurses that he is having a hard time breathing and they just say, "Don't worry about it. Most people with head trauma breath very deep in this stage."

When I got there Lindsay and her mother and my sister and a few other people that were in the room, requested that I go and talk to one of the nurses about it. So I did. I wasn't angry, I just stated my point. If I have a cold, I have to breathe through my mouth. And B.J. can't do that with his mouth wired shut! The nurse told me that it sounded very reasonable and came in without delay. He unplugged his trake so he can breath through that as well (he said that he could feel the pressure escape), he cleaned up his nostrils, and changed the dressing around his trake as well. While the nurse (Mr. Smith) was cleaning up his table to throw away the trash, B.J. fell into a slumber almost immediately! It is hard to rest if you are fighting for every breath you take. And it's a big job and a burden to breathe when you are stopped up.

The night was a success, so I went home when Lindsay and her mother left. We left a friend, Sam, in charge while we were gone. I understand that he had a good night's rest because he was able to breathe unrestricted. And it helped. When my sister went to see him this morning, she walked in and said "Good morning B.J." and then B.J. replied, "Morning".... That's right, B.J. it's the morning, and what a good morning it is!

07/05/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

Thursday, the third, I was fortunate enough to stay the night with B.J. His head was sweating most of the night and I was cold all night. He is really busy in his head I guess. Most of the time I believe that he is still foggy in his head and the nurses are telling me that he is experiencing what is known as neuro storms. His brain is full of activity and signals are coming and going everywhere at once. His eyes are closed but on the move! Every four hours someone comes in and gives him his "tube food" and some kind of pain medicine. That's when his leg slows down to a stop and he is able to rest. But not for long as he only sleeps for about an hour or so, then it's back to the leg kicking. I fell asleep at about 5am and then I woke up at about 6:30am Friday morning. I leaned up and checked to make sure he was ok. He was asleep and looked peaceful, so I rolled back over and fell asleep. At about 7:30 I was shook to my core by a terrific scream! It was a nurse that was on the wrong end of B.J.'s right hand. They came to weigh him and get him ready for rehab, when a nurse held his hand to comfort him and he let her have it with a mighty squeeze!

As B.J. let go, she backed up and warned the rest of the nurses, "Watch this hand... don't let him get a hold of you with his right hand!" They dressed him in a West Virginia Mountaineer shirt and some WVU shorts to go with it. We then went down to rehab down the hall, after he was loaded up on a wheelchair.

Now I know his health didn't improve when they put him in his chair, but I was shocked. I have been looking at him for 26 days on his back while he is looking at the ceiling tiles. And now he is sitting up in a chair! I was so happy to know and see that he was sitting up straight. It has to be a relief for him to get out of bed.

Rehab went pretty good I guess, as it was the first time I had seen it (it was only his second day). They had some orange cones for him to grab and hand over to the rehab nurse, Carolyn Sandridge (yeah from school). He didn't do so well as he dropped the cone. But he did grab it! There was no rehab for him today, but it will resume on Monday. See ya Sunday B.J. !

07/02/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

B.J. is in rehab and I'll be staying with him on Thursday night. I should get there at about 10:30 and I won't leave until about noon Friday. Then it's off to B.J. and Derek's 4th of July party, it's a blast. Anyway back to B.J. He is always hot and sweating and always tugging at his sheet and covers. I untied his hand and let him "play" for about 1-2 hours the other day (don't worry I didn't take my eyes off of him) and when I tied him back up he wasn't very happy with me. In fact, he flipped me the bird! Also yesterday when Lindsay's father, Kenny left he waived bye to B.J. and B.J. waived back!

B.J. tries to tell me things. All the time it's the same thing over and over but I don't get it. It is so hard for me to sit there and watch B.J. tell me something and I got nothing. I don't know what he wants or what he is trying to tell me. We have always been real close and we think a lot alike on different levels. Many times we have caught each other's glance from across the room and we are on the same page. But now I'm just a foot away and it seems as if I couldn't be farther away.

I sit up at night and wonder what could 2 mean? Why does he hold up two fingers? Does he mean he has to go #2, or is he taking up smoking? Is he wondering if he has both of his legs? That's just it, I don't know and he gets mad and angry that I don't know. This not talking stuff is hard. Is he in pain? Is he having problems breathing? Is the hospital food good? There is just so much I want to know and I can't get it out, or I can't understand. But I'm not giving up on B.J. I'll figure you out. It's just going to take awhile.

07/01/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

Saturday was a blast! The four wheeler run was a success! I loved every minute... even though we tipped my cousin's 450 Rhino on it's side getting on it! (We gave everyone a bit of a scare.) I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as me. That is just what the doctor ordered.

B.J. on the other hand is ordered for rehab Wednesday. He will be undergoing an MRI scan this evening, to see if he can loose his neck brace. This will help him be more comfortable and help him feel a little better about himself. I'm sure it isn't pleasant to wake up finding all kinds of stuff on you and in you. Also a new trake will be installed... a metal one! It should help him WHEN he is able to talk, and that is important to help get feedback from him in rehab!

B.J. is a handful when he is awake. He is always tugging and pulling at his covers. It's a tiring process. Yank then tug, yank then tug! So then I figured him out. He didn't want to be exposed, he just likes tugging on stuff. So I gave him a dummy blanket to pull on. And every once in awhile, I would take it from him and move it so he would have to find it again and pull it. Pretty smart huh? It keeps him entertained and covered. (Actually a nurse gave me the idea.) Also I want to say that I am sorry that a few days went by without updates. There just hasn't been anything to report. 5 South doesn't have anything else to offer him as far as helping his progress. Those next steps will be in rehab. I want to thank all the staff. I liked ya, but I don't want to see ya again! LOL Special thanks to Kevin in ICU, and Kenny in 505 South for making it as easy on my family and friends as possible!

06/28/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

It's 2:41 am on June 28th and I just got home. I have been bothering B.J. since I got to the hospital at about 10:30. When I got there the power game was just wrapping up and a fireworks display was just starting. I stood there and watched them for some enjoyment that I have been starved of ever since 06/07/08. Hospital-work-hospital-work-repeat kind of sucks. So this 15 minute break was actually really nice for me. I stood there alone and watched and I could see the suite that Adam Samples invites B.J. and I to (thanks Adam I love it). Then it all came back to me that I didn't come to see the fireworks. So I took the familiar stroll to room 505 and my older brother Steve was there along with Lindsay and my cousin Jeremy. We shared some conversation, then my brother Steve went home and Lindsay took refuge in a chair for a nap. Jeremy and I talked to B.J. and comforted him for quite awhile.

A nurse came in for a breathing treatment and I had heard a rumor about moving him to rehab so I asked when he was going and she told me that they would try to get him moved to rehab today! (It's already Saturday.) After the treatment a Charlie Daniels song came on the radio and I told Jeremy that B.J. liked the song. B.J. snapped his fingers a few times and we got a kick out of that. And then we noticed that he raised his eyebrows once. Jeremy asked B.J. if he liked to raise his eyebrows and he did it several times after that on command. We were elated to see this facial expression!

So there I was, stunned that he was being so receptive to his surroundings, and I wanted to take a stab at it. So I asked him if he would show me his "signature nostril flare" (melody) and as I stood there in anticipation with my knees knocking... he did it! And he didn't do it once, but several times! And as I stood there I realized... I don't need a power game to see fireworks.

06/26/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I stayed with B.J. last night, June 25th. And all went as expected. He was calm when I got there and as the night went on he became active. He shook his right leg almost nonstop (an old habit) and he even cracks his right thumb knuckle about every 3-4 hours out of habit too. He made a little mess of himself coughing, but I cleaned it up and got a little sick. I know it's just spit, but I've got a weak stomach. He doesn't sweat so much as he has been moved to a different room that is kept much colder. (Room 505, I almost froze last night.)

His nurse for most of the night was named Karen and she was very nice to B.J. and myself. Different people were in and out to give him breathing treatments and check his temp and blood pressure. Also a doctor of some sort came in and asked B.J. to open his eyes and they checked him out to see if he is ready for rehab. Also another group came in and was moving his arms and legs around to check his range of motion. The swelling in his left arm has gone down considerably. Also I was asked what his internal cranium pressures are, well we don't know because the meter that was in his head has been removed because he didn't need it anymore. It's my understanding that they are normal or maybe slightly above, but nothing to be worried about now.

As the morning came he held his eye open a lot. He looks at the ceiling and we lean over, to look him in the eye and sometimes he looks, then he closes his eye for a minute or two. Once while he held his eye open, I leaned over and told him just to relax and that he was doing good. He moved his eye and focused on my eyes. That's when he dropped his eyebrow and looked at me with a puzzled and confused look on his face, like he had no idea what or who he was looking at. Or he may have just been mad that I was wearing his shirt.

Many times during the morning I would hold his hand and rub his leg and tell him that he was ok. And I even tried to get him to squeeze my hand and give me a thumbs up... but to no avail. He didn't do anything but shake his leg with his eye open. I was then whisked away to fill out some papers for B.J. and I left my cousin in the room with him while I was filling them out. My mother arrived just as I was finishing those papers. So I walked with her back to the room. She stood by his side and she asked B.J. to snap his fingers and almost immediately he did three times. What gives?

06/25/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

There hasn't been a whole lot of change in B.J.'s condition. He sweats a lot and we try to keep his head wiped off. His blood pressure has been a little high now for a few days. He has been breathing on his own (with no help from the ventilator) for about two days now, and his heart rate has been kind of high as well (about 115-120 bpm I think). When he shakes his leg out of habit it will shake the whole bed. He has a little bit of strength in his right side of his body. His left side is not very mobile but I did get news that he squeezed a doctor's hand with his left hand on command, so that's pretty good news. He has to be suctioned out to keep spit/saliva, things like that out of him. It used to be needed about every couple of hours, but he can cough and clear his throat now. So now he just gets suctioned about 3 to 4 times in 24 hours and that's a good thing because B.J. hates it when they clean him out. Tonight is my night to stay with him again. I wonder if someone will tell me to go home and that they will stay... or maybe they will let me spend the night with my little bubby!

06/24/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

B.J. was "up" when I got there at about 10:30. I got there kind of late because of work. He seemed kind of calm, but his heart rate and blood pressure has been a little high as of late. He opens his eyes more frequently now. And they stay open later like Wendy's. He was quick to give a squeeze to my hand and had been pretty active with his right hand all day from what I've heard from Lindsay. I was supposed to spend the night at the hospital today, but my older brother Steve took charge and sent me home. I haven't really had the chance to stay the night because we all fight over staying. LOL It's good to know that many people want to help and be close to B.J. during all of this. I took a wash cloth and kept the sweat off of his forehead and scratched his belly, and gave his right foot a massage. I would have done the left, but he has a rod in his left leg and I didn't want to hurt him. I would have stayed a little longer but Steve wanted to relax and watch some TV beside of B.J. and I'm sure he and B.J. needed some rest, so I went home. My uncle Gene will stay Tuesday night and then my turn on Wednesday.

06/23/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

Today was a good day. He was breathing on his own most of the day and they are going to let him try to do that all by himself for the night. He was a little active today. He even opened his eyes a few times to squeeze a hand and to give us the "thumbs up". He looks even better today after a little bit of shaving from a nurse. He did take a choking spell and Jeff Currie took the brunt of the blow. I avoided the projectile with a matrix like move! And with a quick and hardy laugh at Jeff's expense, I noticed a big squeeze from B.J.'s hand. It appears that he might have gotten a kick out of it too, or maybe just felt comfort from the laughs in the room. Either way I was happy with what I had seen and felt. Most of the time he is calm and resting, but for a few short minutes at a time, he is with us.

06/22/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I went to the hospital today after work and Lindsay's Mom and Dad were there waiting patiently. (These people are grade A.) So I grabbed a chair and said hello to them and then I walked back to see B.J. But no excitement or fanfare, it was quite boring... no hand squeezing, no eye opening, no coughing, nothing. He just laid there breathing... but then I thought about a time not long ago when he couldn't breathe without the ventilator. He has come so far from that dreadful night that I received the bad news. Simple breaths that we take for granted used to be so hard for him. But he is strong. I heard a friend say to me today that it seems strange to know that B.J. is vulnerable now and it wasn't long ago he was on top of his game, almost impervious to what the world could throw at him. Joking and laughing and making fun of people (even me) and how this is a cruel reminder of what can happen to any one of us. These breaths that he takes are his own now and not the machine's (well 4 out of a minute aren't his), but that's fine with me now. So while Lindsay fell asleep beside him in her chair, watching 16 Candles, I stood there by his side to watch him breathe.

06/21/2008 1:35 a.m. UPDATE FROM CHAD:

HEY EVERYONE! What a glorious WV day it is!! B.J. keeps giving us a little more everyday! At about 11:45 pm I noticed that his right eye was just barely open and I kinda leaned down to check it out and it opened wide. Lindsay was in the room also and she jumped up and comforted him without delay! I was at his left side (the bad side) and Lindsay was holding his left hand, so I reached across his body to grab his right hand and he held on strong! Lindsay then turned to me and said, "Say something to him Chad!" I had no idea what to say.. I was in shock and very happy to see his eye! I then tried to give Lindsay some room by letting go of B.J.'s hand to walk around to the other side of his bed... but that was a no deal! He wouldn't let go! I told him that I wanted to go to the other side of the bed and after several long seconds of pleading with B.J. he finally released my hand. And as I walked around the bed he shut his eye and was out... but not for long! He was out for about 1-2 minutes then his eye was just barely open again! We then leaned in again and he was back! (Although I'm not real sure as to if he really knew what was going on... he just had this blank glazed stare the entire time.) I grabbed his right hand and told him to settle down and that he was ok... he was holding my hand pretty firmly. his hands were so warm and sweaty, you could tell he was fighting. While I was holding his hand I clinched it 2 times quickly and he returned the favor with 2 quick squeezes! He then got real worked up and started choking or coughing... I ran to get the nurse to clean him out... he didn't like that at all! They run this tube down his trake with a little suction action on it and he came U-N-G-L-U-E-D! Lindsay could not bare to watch... after they cleaned him out we talked to him real calmly and he was out again. I didn't want to leave, but I had to come home for work and also to tell everyone the good news! Lindsay is staying with him tonight... I am sure he is in good hands! I can't wait to see him again Saturday!

06/20/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I was at the hospital on June the 19th. Like I said earlier, he has been moved to 5 South General. The nurses have also hinted about restraining his right hand because it is going all over the place... he actually pulled his ventilator tube out of his throat! Lindsay was there and quickly stuck it back in. Also they decided to see if he can breathe on his own for awhile.... 3 hours! He did fine but when they plugged him back in, he just let the machine do all the work. A doctor came in and asked us what name he went by, Billy or Joe or BJ and we told him. He then stuck a couple fingers in BJ's right hand and yelled at BJ, "BJ squeeze my hand BJ !" then he yelled again, "BJ squeeze my hand now!" and some how BJ did ! And then the doctor yelled at BJ again to release his hand and BJ did ! The doc then told us that it was the MOST response that he has gotten out of him! If only he could wake up out of his coma.

06/19/2008 UPDATE FROM CHAD:

I spent the night with B.J. on June 18th. There isn't much difference except that he looks a lot better! He did work up quite a sweat trying to get his hands on his catheter. (That right hand is strong and fairly mobile.) I arm wrestled him for about 2 hours, then I had to leave to feed the parking meter. He is no longer on any medication except for some antibiotics for some type of chest/nasal infection. He was moved yesterday to a step down area because they needed his room in ICU. But he didn't stay long, they moved him back to ICU just a different room number (from 12 to 14). He is more active now with his facial expressions as well and he doesn't like them clearing his airways either. He can put up a big fuss and try to open his mouth. The movements seem to be more purposeful than before. I think I even noticed him scratching his right thumb with his right pointer finger. I have recently learned that he has been moved again as I am writing this... he is in 5 South at CAMC General. I will give everyone another update as soon as I get back from the hospital! Thanks for everything!