Eric Flescher

[BKDPhillips]

Jan 6 update from Caringbridge journal entry:

Every Tuesday the team meets and they call me to update me on Eric's progress. How discouraging that I continue to get the "nothing new to report". Again, it means he has not woken from his coma and functioning is still at the brain stem level. ...

He continues to breath without the vent about 10 - 12 hours daily. The evening is much more difficult so they still put the vent on in the evenings. It is a lot of work for him so I imagine he gets tired by then. His heart rate was lower than the previous few days but it was over 100 then so I am glad to see it in the more normal range. White counts were up yesterday, so a culture will be done to be sure there is nothing new and he will get some broad spectrum antibiotics. Other than that his color remains good and he seemed to be breathing and resting more calmly.

We appreciate those who continue to wish Eric well, I know this has been a long time (5 weeks since being taken to the hospital) Where does the time go?


I'm attending meetings while I try to keep my mind off the "snow" coming. Happy Winter 2010!!

Belinda

 

[john.sibley]

Wow, what a story. Our prayers continue to go out to Eric and Belinda.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

Wow, what a story. Our prayers continue to go out to Eric and Belinda.

His wife is Sue Ellen, Belinda is BKDPhillips

 

[BKDPhillips]

Thanks Joey

Caringbridge update from Sue-Ellen via her journal:

Today it snowed and the roads were pretty slick so I wasn't able to get in to see Eric. I did call to check up on him and he has been resting comfortably today but still no sign of waking up. They have canceled school for tomorrow already so I hope the snow will have slowed down and the streets will be clear enough by then to go in to visit. ...
A stormchaser friend, Brandon, send some storm chase photos. I am including one so you can see him doing one of the activities he loves.
Well, I thought I was going to include the photo but it is too large to use on the website. I don't have photoshop on this computer, so it will have to wait. Sorry.


From Belinda: Sorry John for the confusion. Thanks Joey for the clarification. I forgot to put in the last several entries that all the updates are from his wife Sue-Ellen. I am just relaying her info via the Caringbridge. I spoke with her again tonight and she said Eric had no fever today which is good news since his white cell count was elevated slightly. She is also enjoying all the support of the Stormtrack community and reads all the positive entries to Eric.

Belinda Phillips, friend of Eric and Sue-Ellen

 

[Bob Hartig]

Belinda, your continuing to keep us regularly apprised of Eric's condition is much appreciated!

 

[BKDPhillips]

Excerpt from Eric's wife Sue-Ellen:

It was cold but the driving was not too bad getting in to see Eric today. He was resting very comfortably. His breathing is more natural and not as labored as the time I previously saw him. I rubbed his foot as I usually do and it seemed to wake him from his rest. His eyes opened (though this is still a reflexive opening and not "purposeful" yet) I heard from the tech that the OT & PT came in earlier today to do range of motion and sat him up at the side of the bed. He tolerated it well, compared to two days ago when they tried and had to lay him back down. He also stretched his fingers about three times only while I was there. He has not moved his hands at all (except maybe once his son thought he moved his hand when he first came to visit his dad) I had not seen any hand movement since the surgery until today. It may mean something and it may mean nothing, but it is a new something today.


Sue-Ellen enjoyed the pics someone sent to her from Stormtrack and continues to read from stormtrack to Eric. She also mentioned yesterday that Eric can take visitors. He is on the fourth floor of OPR in OP, KS until 01/13 then he will be at Providence in KCK. He would love to hear directly from some of you (in the KC area) if you care to come and share a few uplifting or funny weather or astronomy updates. She also appreciates how some of you are reaching out via facebook, etc but she has so much to do, she is using the caringbridge journal and other avenues such as this to communicate consistently.

Thanks Bob and no problem, I will continue to do as this as long as I can because he really enjoyed weather and this community.


Belinda

 

[BKDPhillips]

Saturday's Caringbridge entry from his wife Sue-Ellen -

Yesterday they got Eric sitting with assistance (someone to hold him up) so they could do physical therapy. It tired him out as he was pretty unresponsive the rest of the evening and seemed to be in a very deep sleep.

Today when Shira arrived at the hospital, Eric was in the chair (a special chair with support that allows him to be out of bed) and he was still there when I arrived. There was more movement today and his eyes were open from time to time but still no purposeful movement. He will grimace when he is uncomfortable, but more often resting peacefully.

We continue to talk to him, read to him, watch the Food Channel and hope.

 

[BKDPhillips]

Sue-Ellen Flescher's caringbridge journal entry on Sun 10, 2010:

Eric's daughter returned home after one last visit today. Two very special friends of mine also came to visit. Eric spent almost three hours in the chair today and seemed very comfortable. Although he cannot sit without help getting into the chair, the chair is specially designed for him to sit independently once he is placed there. It is better for his lungs and gets him out of bed for a bit of time each day.

The RT mentioned the fact that he does better on one side than the other. It is the side he slept on when he was at home, so I suppose I am not too surprised. She thought he was more alert today , but she has not worked with him too much. His eyes do open from time to time and it gives the feeling as though he is awake. He still cannot respond to a command so the Drs. do not consider it "purposeful" movement.

He had been stretching his fingers on his right hand a few times and today he had his hands in more of a fist. Even though he was not really holding my hand, it felt as though he was.

 

[Jerry Prsha]

Damn... I'm getting anxious for him to wake up. It sounds like that moment is on it's way!

I'd certainly make the four hour drive over to meet him when this happens! All of should shake his doctor's hands!

 

[BKDPhillips]

He moved into a new location and ready for visitors read Sue-Ellen's journal entry for yesterday:

AM -
The last few days have been busy ones....For Eric, it was moving week and he is now in the Providence Medical Center building in KCK. The facility is nicer and most of the Select Staff have moved with the hospital, so they know Eric and can continue with the same level of care. They moved the entire facility and made good time, taking him over two hours earlier than scheduled....
Monday, he was visited by a friend from the Astronomical Society....Eric's sister & brother-in-law returned.... to see him. In fact when Jon spoke to him on Tuesday night, he startled just a little.

Sometimes I think it is so easy to miss the tiniest movement and then wonder if you really saw it (but we all saw this) Sometimes we only see a movement a few times. This week he had stretched his fingers and curled his fingers tighter (as opposed to no movement in his right hand whatsoever for 5 weeks) This "change" comes so very slowly and the Drs. don't yet see it as significant. We might try his hearing aides to see if it makes any difference at all since all that he has been through may have affected his hearing in some way.

PM -
...Eric was more "alert" today. More time with eyes open, a little more movement than yesterday. Still no indication that he is hearing what we say. (although sometimes it seems as though he is looking at you) Yesterday he seemed so tired.

Tonight they will try to have him go through the night without the vent. He is back to breathing on his own during the day.




Sincerely posted for Eric and Sue-Ellen - Belinda

 

[Jason Persoff]

Eric and I used to share a lot of back and forth emails...

The good thing about neurologic recovery is, though it slow (and can take up to a year to know where people will settle out when it's done), it does happen.

Holding you all in my thoughts.

 

[Bill Tabor]

My contribution to helping Eric get well?... fish oil. As a matter of fact it is claimed to have saved a miner in a coma with expected brain damage and other organ failure in very high doses 30 grams/day. This was very concentrated and pure fish oil Omega Rx. Myself...I typically take 4 to 7 grams a day and it has done me wonders in many ways since I started taking it. Here is the article about the miner that was saved by using it:

http://www.omega-3-fish-oil.com/Omega-3-Fish-Oil_Contribute_to_Coal_Miners_Recovery.html

Best of luck Eric, and keep fighting,

Bill

 

[BKDPhillips]

update from his wife

Excerpts from his wife Sue-Ellen's caringbridge journal:

It has been a few days since I have written. Brian visited his Dad on Monday. If it is true that one can hear everything while in a coma, then I know that Eric has got to be thrilled that Brian will be the new tympanist for the New World Symphony. We had the opportunity to watch the Physical therapists work with Eric. It takes two people since he cannot hold himself upright. It definitely seemed to be something he likes. As they sit him on the side of the bed, he has his feet on the floor and does not fight it. They work with his arms and legs in range of motion. I give them credit for him being able to move his fingers from time to time on his own. He is able to relax as they are stretching his legs. This will make any future needed rehab easier.

Tuesday was report day when the Drs. and staff involved with Eric meet and talk about his progress. I have come to realize that until Eric wakes up, the progress will be small. This time the team recognized that Eric was able to tolerate 30 minutes of therapy in an upright position and that he has been breathing without the vent for several days now. His team includes a hospitalist (Dr. hired by the hospital), a Pulmonologist who works with the RT, the Infectious Disease Dr., a specialist in Rehabilitation who oversees the PT, OT and a Speech specialist who is trained to look for ways that Eric is possibly trying to communicate. He still does not respond to any type of command or tracks with his eyes.

I went in today to see him. He was a bit more congested this evening but seemed to try to cough on his own. The most interesting thing I have found is that when he looks uncomfortable, I can touch him on his forehead between his eyebrow area, and he will close his eyes and relax his face. Is this a way of communicating right now? Or is it just an accupressure point that is relaxing? So hard to know.....


I went to visit on MLK day and stayed over an hour. I agree with Sue-Ellen. I think he enjoys hearing all of us talking. I kept asking Brian questions which allowed Eric to hear one more time the awesome child he has. I know Eric goes all over the world in his various "chases" and interests and probably was laughing inside as I tried to explain my adventure in NYC to Brian. I hope if any of you are able to visit KC area that you could find a few minutes to visit him on the 4th floor of Providence Hospital in KCK. I know he and his wife would appreciate it. I was impressed with how well he looked and agree his breathing was good while I was there. He "relaxed" after Sue-Ellen came into the room, too. I will remind Sue-Ellen to check the thread again for your comments.

Still praying for you Eric - Belinda

 

[BKDPhillips]

update Thu

excerpts from his wife, Sue-Ellen Flescher's journal

Another quiet evening. The PICC line was taken out for now and replaced with a regular line for IV or bloodwork. When I asked about it, it was said that sometimes when a PICC line is in for a length of time, it can get infected and although Eric is still on an antibiotic, they do not want to risk infection. He is rarely being suctioned now as he is able to clear his own airway (by coughing) pretty well.

....his Mom spoke to him via speakerphone. I know that if he is taking in more than we know, he knows just how many people care about him and are thinking about him.


Keep praying for Eric and his family! His friend - Belinda

 

[Bonnie Frank]

Continue to pray for him daily. =]