Tommy Beavers

Update from Dad (04-09-09 11:45 am)

 TEAM TOMMY,

  We are patiently waiting for the transfer to TIRR which is scheduled for 3:30 this afternoon. Tommy did not sleep much last night, so he is resting peacefully now. The pediatric team came in this morning to check on Tommy, say their goodbyes and see if we had any last minute questions. So, for now we wait.

This will be the last post for this website. A new site is set up and we will start using it today. Please keep up with Tommy at www.tommybeaversinfo.blogspot.com  Sorry for another change, but it will be painless. Love you all, Billy

Update from Dad (04-08-09 5:30pm)

TEAM TOMMY,

   Well, the much anticipated meeting with the doctors is over and questions have been answered. The neurologist said that all the test results are in and they DO NOT think Tommy has vasculitis. They think the narrowing they found in his vessels is from either scar tissue in his brain or a plaque buildup from lack of circulation. They plan to try to treat the issue with an aspirin regiment or with the prescription drug Plavix. They are still discussing the use of that medication and the pros and cons of it’s use. They all seem to think that with treatment, the vessels will function enough to keep Tommy from having future strokes. That was the good news. The bad news is that the damage to Tommy’s brain has progressed from both the strokes and the continuation of the injury to his brain. The earlier reports from the neuro team was that 60 % of Tommy’s brain had damage due to the accident. The current MRI’s show that almost 100 % of the exterior of his brain now has some type of damage, but the part of the brain controlling heart and lung function are doing fine, and it is the consent of all of the team that Tommy’s future progress will be very limited due to the amount of damage.

   The PLAN - Tommy is scheduled to be transferred back to TIRR tomorrow morning for his remaining two weeks of therapy. A TIRR representative was here today and he told us that the therapists at TIRR agree that Tommy’s progress will be limited and that they will concentrate on his range of motion and spasticity issues to try to limber him up for his transfer home in two weeks. All of Tommy’s equipment for home has been ordered and is being scheduled for delivery. Craig is working on finishing Tommy’s room and has told us that it will be ready for his homecoming.       That is about all we know. Tommy is stable for now and life goes on. Thank all of you for your continued support and prayers. God is still working on His plan for our boy and I know that He will show us the road to follow in His time, not ours. We will continue to follow that path as it is revealed to us. Love you all, Billy

Update from Mom 4/7 @ 7:30 p.m.

Good Evening TEAM TOMMY,

Well Tommy got plenty of sleep yesterday after his procedure, so guess what he did not want to sleep last night. He finally fell asleep about noon today. Craig got here around 11, so we let him sleep until 4. We then got him into his wheelchair and went for a walk in the park across the street. He really enjoyed being outside, but more so being away from the road was a nice change for him where he did hear car noise. There is a little lake with a million ducks and park benches under some shade trees, it was a nice walk. He got a little fussy at the end as it was time for his medications, so we headed back to the room. Where his wonderful nurse was there ready to give him his medications. We are about to give him his bath and get him settled in for the night..and hope and pray he will cooperate (I think he has gotten his days and nights mixed up). Linda from TIRR came by to visit when we got back and she said we would not be moving back to TIRR till Thursday morning since we did not know how late the meeting would take tomorrow afternoon. Either way I am ready to get him over there, and ready for him to get back to work.

Hopefully everything will go well tomorrow afternoon, I am not sure what to expect at this point, but I know it is in God’s hands at this point.

Please continue to pray for a successful meeting tomorrow and for Tommy to have some peace to get some rest.

We love you all,

Jill & family

Update from Mom 4/6 @ 11:30 p.m.

Good Evening TEAM TOMMY,

Hope all of you stay warm in the morning…I hear it is going to be verycold. I sure glad I don’t have to go outside…brrrrrrr !!!!

Tommy and I are settled in for the evening. He has rested all day, so there is not a lot to tell. The doctors told me I could get him into his wheelchair if I am gentle with his abdomen, but since I am here alone I decided that it was too risky to try to get him into his chair it takes a lot of sitting him up and bending his torso and was not worth the chance of causing any problems. He slept 99% of the day and really didn’t wake up until around 8 tonight, I gave him a warm bath at 9 and he was fast asleep shortly thereafter. I have been working with his muscles all day and he has given me little resistance with the exception of his right knee, for whatever reason he is not letting me bend it but just a tiny bit. The Doctors are not sure what is the cause of this, the x~rays do not show there to be any problems.

Today we had many teams of doctors come in here and checking on Tommy. They are really not saying much, saying not all the tests they have preformed are completed yet. They basically want to compile all the test results and information and share it will all 4 parents on Wednesday. I hate not knowing what they are thinking. They have shared with me that they would like to get Tommy back over to TIRR later this week, they are aiming for Thursday morning, but also said Wednesday late afternoon might be an option as well. Craig will be joining me in the morning to spend some time with Tommy. Things seem to be rolling right along with “Project Tommy”, and I for one can not wait till it is done.

As I said before I have an enormous amount of Faith in Tommy and the Good Lord to see him through this…my baby will “SHINE” again !!!!!! Please keep praying for his recovery.

We love you all,

Jill & family

Update from Mom 4/6 @ noon

Good Afternoon TEAM TOMMY,

We are back in the room after his procedure this morning and all went well. The doctors put a scope down to check out his esophagus and intestinal area (he even took pictures for me…) and everything looks great. They were able to change out the old feeding tube (G tube) with the new one (Mic~key tube) with absolutley no problems. We got back into the room and it was time for his medications and it was so easy to give them with the new tube, it did not clog up at all. I am so grateful that Dr. Gleason was willing to do it, we have been having a challenge for the last month and a half or so trying to get someone to agree to do it. I meet a new angel every day !!!  Tommy is resting very comfortably and we started his feeding back up, I have even been able to get all his range of motion done 2 times already today….he has been very tight for the last couple of days so it is great to see him let me work his limbs.

Hopefully I will be able to get him out of bed (with the doctor’s permission of course) and take him for his walk outside…I hear it is going to be getting colder out so hopefully not too late in the day.

I just wanted to let all of you know he is doing well…and your prayers worked once again as always !! I will update again tonight.

We love you all,

Jill & family

Update from Mom 4/5 @ 5 p.m.

Good Afternoon TEAM TOMMY,

I returned here yesterday at 3:25 and man I sure was glad to get back to my baby man. After getting settled in..and moving back into the hospital…lol…I got Tommy in his chair and we went for a walk outside for about an hour or so. He so loves being outside, it sure seems to settle him down when he is not feeling so well. We returned to the room and spent a little time just hanging out in the room in his chair until it was time to get him back into bed for go have a x~ray done. After that we got back into the room and gave him his night time medications and he relaxed and settled in for the night. I was expecting to have a long night, but he went right to sleep around 10 and I got all his splints, bi~valves, and AFO’s on with no problem at all. He woke up a little around 5 when the nurse and tech came in, and went right back to sleep till 10:30 when I made him wake up by brushing his teeth. He then had a visitor around noon, and we then went for a walk outside and enjoyed the wonderful breezy (or should I say VERY windy) afternoon. We walked around for almost an hour and half then came back in just now to get him some ice chips and myself something to drink. He did not seem to like the idea that we were back inside so we will now head down for round 2 of our outside adventure until he has to be back in bed around 6:15 to start his feeding back up.

Tommorrow morning he is scheduled to have his G tube replaced at 8:30 so PLEASE pray for his success during this procedure. I know my baby is tough and will be just fine.

Other than that I am very glad to be back spending time with my baby. Craig and Brandi are at home working still on Tommy’s room. Things are looking awesome, and coming along we are very close to having it all done. I have asked Craig to please STOP and take a break and spend some time with Tommy, so he finally gave in, he knows spending time with Tommy is way more important than the construction project but just wants to make sure it is done and perfect for when he gets to come home. He will be here sometime late tomorrow or Tuesday after he is able to take the opportunity to get rid of some of the debris in the Montgomery County cleanup drop off site….YEA for that !!!! Now maybe my yard will not look like Hurrican Ike just rolled through here…lol.

Everybody have a wonderful productive week, and I will update any new news as it happens.

We love you all,

Jill & family