A big Trauma

 Nick has been playing football.  I got  call on Thursday July 30 that he was light headed after taking a big hit at practice.  I went and picked him up and talked to the trainer.  The trainer looked like he was 12...anyway he said Nick had a concussion.  So, took him home to watch.

He was in excruciating pain.  He complained of head hurting and light and noise bothering him.  He covered his head up with a black sweatshirt to keep out the light even after I hung up dark sheets over the windows.  He looked miserable.  

He was throwing up constantly.  He decided to stay in the bathroom since the tile was cold...

Well, then he tells me his left arm is numb.  We decide to go to Insta Care.  Well, driving to Instacare I change my mind and decide to go to Primary.  Instacare will probably just send us there because it was a head trauma.  So, to Primary we go.  

The docs came in to assess him and he couldn't hold up his left arm as high as his left and his grip was not as strong in the left side.  I did notice that too before we brought him in.  The doc says Thats Concerning...They rushed him to CT scan.  He was back and they said they didn't finish with the Stroke protocol because they found a Subdural Hematoma on the right side of his brain that would be causing his problems.  That is bleeding on the brain...UGH.  But not a stroke.  

He was admitted to the ICU.  Neurosurgery were the ones talking to me.  That made me a bit nervous.  They said for now we just admit him and watch him and repeat the CT scan in the am and see if it changes.  They might have to go in and drain it.  Which doesn't sound bad except the bleed is the entire right side of his brain so they have to remove the skull (at least pieces) from the back to the front.  

So, watched him, gave him morphene for pain and something else for nausea.  Plus ice packs and dark room.  He survived the night and repeated the CT scan.  It didn't change.  Which was good.  We are having visits from Neurosurgery still, Trauma, and Rehabilitation.  They are very thorough.  

He was transferred to the Neurotrauma Unit.  That sounds so serious. Neurotrauma.  He threw up and just had a headache most of the time.  His pain he said was about a 7 or 8 out of 10.  Poor kid.  He didn't eat or drink much.  

He did get finally on Tuesday take a shower.  I'm sure they suggested it because they could smell him...He looked and smelled so much better.  :)  He did get an MRI today and another CT Scan.  Both were ok.  No change in the CT scan.  which is good. 


I asked about the CT scan getting better and they said it won't get better for quite some time.  Like 6 weeks or so.  But they ruled out surgery to remove part of his skull because there was no change and they thought the bleeding had stopped.  We had Rehab, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Social Work and Education people all visit and assess him.  

This is me...we had to mask up at the hospital

Needed some tums...luckily the pharmacy could help me out

Finally Wednesday they said we could go home.  So around 5 or 6 we were discharged.  

He decided to walk to the car.  He stopped at the bench outside the hospital to wait for me to get the car.  He hasn't been up much in 6 days.  

Michelle came to the hospital and I met her outside.  There are no visitors due to covid.  She had made this poster for Nick.  Names were written on the rice krispie treats of people who love him and want him better.  It was fun to talk to her for a minute in the front of the hospital.  On a side note, her car wouldn't start so security gave her a jump.  

He came home and went straight to bed.  He slept the rest of the day.  He needs to follow up with a Rehab doctor specializing in concussions.  And have a repeat CT scan to check again.  

 He did go to football practice Thursday even.   He just stood there and watched.  I think he couldn't stand missing it anymore and being with his friends.  I hung out and watched him to make sure he was ok and if he needed to go home.  He didn't know or he would have been so mad.  I do know he is starting to feel better because he is a bit snippy with me.  However, he comes home and sleeps and puts ice and a sweatshirt on his head.  

Glad I finally took him to the hospital and he is going to survive although there is no idea what the lasting effects will be.