Resting…Healing…Chillaxin’

Taylor is doing very well recovering from his last major surgery on Tuesday.  He is still in ICU, and being very well taken care of.  All the doctors and the majority of the nursing staff know him, as well as all the therapists that come to work with him. Both occupational therapy and physical therapy were ordered right away, but Wednesday was a quiet day off – he was resting well.  Thursday, he was getting antsy and was ready for some laps around the unit, and basic stretching in his room.  Same thing Friday – he did some more laps, a few times during the day, was awake and alert, but showing signs of pain although he denied it.  His heart rate and lack of smiles were the only real clues, until when trying to apply balm to his lips he was visibly hurting.  A lot.  He still denied pain.  The nurse brought him meds anyway.

He keeps denying pain (only quietly admitting pain levels of 8-10 when asked directly) with a consistently elevated heart rate, so medical staff are now keeping ahead of the pain and administering meds every 4 hours for the next 24 hrs. Maybe longer.

The pain is radiating from where they re-broke his jaw on his left side – in two places.  That’s not including the work on the palate and the jaw hinge.  Poor kid.

He’s a toughie.  He says he hates the way the drugs make him feel.

He is sutured at the gum line above the front top teeth, and below the bottom teeth, left to right.  Those areas are healing very nicely, and the swelling is already much better.

His doctors want to stay ahead of the pain and allow Taylor some peaceful healing time, and give his heart a break.

It’s just so hard for him to sit still.  Even in times like these.

He has been ordered to sit still, and “chillax” as Taylor would say.

It looks like he’ll be in the hospital for a few more days.

Thank you for all your prayers, cheers and bountiful loving support.  He feels it.

And Sharon Rae – the smooth wooden cross you sent him never leaves his hands.