Have you ever had one of those moments as you are waking up when you genuinely cannot determine what is real and what is a dream? Welcome to the last three days of Trent's life.
Each day since Saturday, the nurses have worked to get Trent completely off of the machine that has been helping him breathe since he got his new lungs. In order to do this, however, Coach Todd has to be completely awake and, obviously, aware of the fact that he has new lungs that will allow him to take a deep breath. Unfortunately, the last time Trent was awake (and for months before), he wasn't able to breathe deeply. And I wonder how many times over those months he dreamed that he had new lungs, only to wake up and be disappointed.
Because of this sleep/wake mix, every time the nurses try to wake him up completely and get him to breathe on his own, Coach Todd's semi-dream state makes it difficult for him to process the fact that the new lungs are real and he can breathe normally, and his anxiety over not being able to breathe makes his blood pressure go up. In spite of reassurances from Jill and the nurses, Trent hasn't been able to calm himself down, and they have had to let him go back to sleep again.
Jill is convinced that sooner rather than later, Trent will be just awake enough for it to click that he has new lungs and he can breathe again. And when that happens...well, I hope Jill gets a picture...or better yet, a video. Because chances are, he'll take two or three deep breaths, then introduce himself to his nurse and everyone else in the ICU, and Cleveland Clinic will finally get to meet the man we all know and love.
Overall, Trent is doing well, and the staff at Cleveland Clinic knows that eventually, the reality will set in, and he will finally get to appreciate his new lungs. Be praying that eventually comes quickly.
The Todds
I'll keep pushing, you keep praying!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Update #41 - Breathing!
Trent and his new lungs breathed for two hours without any help from a machine last night!
Although he is still partially asleep, Trent is also responding to yes/no questions by shaking his head. Is he in pain? Head shake yes (got pain meds for that, by the way). Can he hear Jill talking to him? Head shake yes (plus a hand squeeze). Happy that Tressel resigned as Ohio State's head coach? Lots of excited head shaking (Coach Todd is not an Ohio State fan).
Aside from pain meds and insulin, Trent is off of all medicine, and his vitals are staying exactly where the doctors want them.
Keep praying!
Although he is still partially asleep, Trent is also responding to yes/no questions by shaking his head. Is he in pain? Head shake yes (got pain meds for that, by the way). Can he hear Jill talking to him? Head shake yes (plus a hand squeeze). Happy that Tressel resigned as Ohio State's head coach? Lots of excited head shaking (Coach Todd is not an Ohio State fan).
Aside from pain meds and insulin, Trent is off of all medicine, and his vitals are staying exactly where the doctors want them.
Keep praying!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Update #40 - Wakey, Wakey!
Trent is starting to wake up! The process will be very gradual - his body is still in shock from the surgery - but he is beginning to respond to voices and small requests (he opened his mouth when the nurse asked him to). The current goal is for him to start moving his hands and feet on his own to wake them up as the rest of his body continues to come out of the fog that surgery put him in.
Trent is off of all medications except his insulin (which he was on long before the transplant) and the meds for his blood pressure, which is normal after a transplant. The nurses are very pleased with his progress, and everything is going as well as could be hoped for.
One side note: the information that I am posting is coming directly from Jill (or whoever is sitting with her at the hospital) and is being communicated exactly how she would like it to be. Trent is still a patient, and more importantly, Jill's husband, and we have to respect both patient confidentiality and Trent and Jill's personal privacy. I know we are all desperate for information, but if you have specific questions regarding anything that is posted, please get in touch with your personal contact in a private Facebook message or email. Please don't ask detailed medical or personal questions on the public Facebook forum or in the Comments section of the blog, and please do not contact Jill directly. After such a long and exhausting week, she is looking forward to the "quiet" of the ICU and some private time to sit with Trent as he wakes up with his new lungs.
Thanks, and keep praying!
Trent is off of all medications except his insulin (which he was on long before the transplant) and the meds for his blood pressure, which is normal after a transplant. The nurses are very pleased with his progress, and everything is going as well as could be hoped for.
One side note: the information that I am posting is coming directly from Jill (or whoever is sitting with her at the hospital) and is being communicated exactly how she would like it to be. Trent is still a patient, and more importantly, Jill's husband, and we have to respect both patient confidentiality and Trent and Jill's personal privacy. I know we are all desperate for information, but if you have specific questions regarding anything that is posted, please get in touch with your personal contact in a private Facebook message or email. Please don't ask detailed medical or personal questions on the public Facebook forum or in the Comments section of the blog, and please do not contact Jill directly. After such a long and exhausting week, she is looking forward to the "quiet" of the ICU and some private time to sit with Trent as he wakes up with his new lungs.
Thanks, and keep praying!
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Update #39 - Still Positive...
Trent had a very quiet night - always positive news in the ICU.
One important thing that the nurse noted last night is that Trent's new lungs are utilizing the oxygen that they are giving him very well. They are looking for a utilization number above 100, and his was near 140 - Trent may not be able to feel his new lungs working yet, but they are working!
Because he won't be able to eat on his own for a while, the doctors will be putting in a feeding tube that will make sure he is getting nutrition for the time being. Trent probably won't make it up to his football weight on the "milkshakes" they will be giving him, but yeah for calories!
Jill's "apartment" seems to be improving day by day, with the addition of a few vinyl couches for sleeping last night. Hopefully, once Trent is completely stable, she will be able to move to a real room across the street from the hospital at the Guest House provided for transplant families. The night receptionist seems to have it out for the Todd crew and their home-away-from-home, so I'm sure she won't be sorry to see them go.
One final reminder: no news is good news! We may not get many updates today, which means that Trent is stable and things are progressing well. If I do hear anything, I will certainly let you know. Keep praying!
One important thing that the nurse noted last night is that Trent's new lungs are utilizing the oxygen that they are giving him very well. They are looking for a utilization number above 100, and his was near 140 - Trent may not be able to feel his new lungs working yet, but they are working!
Because he won't be able to eat on his own for a while, the doctors will be putting in a feeding tube that will make sure he is getting nutrition for the time being. Trent probably won't make it up to his football weight on the "milkshakes" they will be giving him, but yeah for calories!
Jill's "apartment" seems to be improving day by day, with the addition of a few vinyl couches for sleeping last night. Hopefully, once Trent is completely stable, she will be able to move to a real room across the street from the hospital at the Guest House provided for transplant families. The night receptionist seems to have it out for the Todd crew and their home-away-from-home, so I'm sure she won't be sorry to see them go.
One final reminder: no news is good news! We may not get many updates today, which means that Trent is stable and things are progressing well. If I do hear anything, I will certainly let you know. Keep praying!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Update #38 - All Good
Jill and Greg got to meet with Dr. Budev, the doctor that Trent and Jill first met with at Cleveland Clinic, earlier today. Overall, she is very optimistic about Trent's progress and outlook. She described Trent's new lungs as "beautiful" and said they were the best possible donor lungs (God knew what he was doing in rejecting the first two sets). Trent's vitals are stable, and he is progressing as the doctors would hope.
In the conversation, Dr. Budev also reminded Jill that we are less than 24 hours after the transplant, a very major surgery. Trent's youth and fitness levels are definite pluses in terms of his recovery, but it will still be a long road. She stressed the element of TIME (Greg added PRAYER to that) for Trent's healing. There is a reason he was number one on the National Transplant List - he was pretty sick prior to the surgery, which impacts the time it takes to recover. Overall, however, Trent is doing well.
Jill is doing okay, and the positive reports from the doctors have definitely lifted her spirits. She and Trent's sister Jessica have set up a nice "efficiency apartment," as they call it, in their corner of the ICU waiting room, a sign that they both have a sense of humor still well intact. The waiting room is aptly named, though, for as we wait from wherever we are, Jill, Jessica and the rest of their support system sit and wait as well. Be praying for peace and patience for everyone there, and for more progress in Trent's recovery today.
In the conversation, Dr. Budev also reminded Jill that we are less than 24 hours after the transplant, a very major surgery. Trent's youth and fitness levels are definite pluses in terms of his recovery, but it will still be a long road. She stressed the element of TIME (Greg added PRAYER to that) for Trent's healing. There is a reason he was number one on the National Transplant List - he was pretty sick prior to the surgery, which impacts the time it takes to recover. Overall, however, Trent is doing well.
Jill is doing okay, and the positive reports from the doctors have definitely lifted her spirits. She and Trent's sister Jessica have set up a nice "efficiency apartment," as they call it, in their corner of the ICU waiting room, a sign that they both have a sense of humor still well intact. The waiting room is aptly named, though, for as we wait from wherever we are, Jill, Jessica and the rest of their support system sit and wait as well. Be praying for peace and patience for everyone there, and for more progress in Trent's recovery today.
Update #37 - Good Night
Trent had a good night last night. His vitals improved steadily, and the machine that is supporting his breathing was reduced (basically, he is breathing more on his own than the machine is breathing for him). Jill got to see him briefly again this morning and said he is looking good.
Just a note that Trent will stay asleep until the doctors feel he has recovered enough from surgery to wake up. Once he does wake, he will essentially need to relearn to breathe with healthy lungs since he has been breathing with scarred lungs for so long. Waking up and taking a deep breath may still be a ways off, but he is doing great, and the doctors are very pleased.
Keep praying!
Just a note that Trent will stay asleep until the doctors feel he has recovered enough from surgery to wake up. Once he does wake, he will essentially need to relearn to breathe with healthy lungs since he has been breathing with scarred lungs for so long. Waking up and taking a deep breath may still be a ways off, but he is doing great, and the doctors are very pleased.
Keep praying!
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