Day 69 - Aug 8, 2008

Hurray! The surgery went very well! The shunt is in place and typically when a shunt is put into a head it will start dripping immediately - well, Kevin's started FLOWING immediately! There was so much pressure in his head! The docs told me that it would take months for the swelling to go down, but we can already see a difference. I expect it will slow down, but man...is technology amazing! I can't even begin to believe that my son has a dial implanted in his head that can be turned to whatever pressure point it needs to be turned to. Now we just need to keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't falter and that no infections show up. We really need this to go smoothly.

I will say that although we are ecstatic at the surgery going well, I have never seen Kevin in so much pain. And I do mean NEVER. He very rarely is given any form of pain medication, but today I actually heard and saw my son crying while still under the influence of morphine. It was so pitiful. He was literally sobbing and it completely broke my heart. What I wouldn't have done to trade places with him today (and every other day). We have kept him heavily doped up though, so he wasn't awake at all. Not really awake anyway. I sure hope the pain is less tomorrow. Please let it be less...

To answer Kevin G's question about how Kevin's burns are healing - he is truthfully healing way better than most burn victims. We have been here 2 1/2 months and the burn docs tell us his burns look 6 months old already. I will admit though that I was saddened today. If I know this correctly - we keep his burned areas wrapped tightly in ace bandages to keep the burns from tattooing (turning purple and red). Kevin's legs have already begun turning back to his normal skin tone in some areas. But today we couldn't wrap them due to his surgery and when they took the gauze wrappings off (instead of the ace bandages) his one leg was very purple and blotchy. I am so hoping that this can go away as quickly as it has come, but I thought I heard one time that once it's there - it's there. I might be wrong on this though as it is just a buildup of blood under the burns. Maybe if they put the ace on tomorrow it will go back to normal.

Kevin also wanted to know if Kev can feel his right side - that we just don't know. Because he can't speak - we don't know much of anything.

To answer Monica's question - SSG W came back unexpectedly to visit and so did Josh B (who rode in the ambulance with Kevin when it happened) and another guy who's last name starts with E was with him. We also had a Fransisco come and today LT (I think he's a LT) G arrived. He will be here for a few days and he stayed in Kevin's room with me for hours today. I have to say - all of these guys have been just wonderful! It's nice getting to know Kevin's extended family.

Well, I am off to bed. It was an early day today.