Day #26 & #27

Meghan and Caitlin spent Saturday and Sunday with Shane, Terry and the girls.

Day #25

Meghan enjoyed her first full day at home. There were a few "hiccups" with the wound V.A.C. and nurse mom has had to do some troubleshooting. There was also a merry-go-round of doctors appointments and scheduling snafu's to deal with. But, at the end of the day, she had her post-op orthopedic appointment and all looks well with her left arm. Dr. W told her she should take the splint off and work on range of motion stuff with her elbow and wrist.




X-rays attached. Can you tell where the cadaver bone is???

Day #7 in LTAC

It's official! Paperwork is being signed. Doctors orders are being finalized. The case worker is scheduling appointments for Meghan to see Dr. W, Dr. F and the variety of other doctors she needs to check in with.



She's being given a portable V.A.C. that she'll be able to carry around with her. We loaded her up in the car. We drove through Atlanta's 4:30 pm traffic.







She walked from the car into the house.









Where we found cool signs from Caitlin.










She's home!!!

Day #6 in LTAC

Caitlin is spending the day with Meg. Thanks to Kristen and Derrick for visiting last night. After hyperbaric treatment, Caitlin and Meg made Christmas crafts in the occupational therapy room.

Big news today - if Meghan's wound dressing change goes well on oral pain meds at 2pm, they will plan to send Meghan home tomorrow. 

And.....it did go well!!!  Word is that she will be discharged tomorrow afternoon!!!

Day #5 in LTAC

Mom had a discussion with the Wound Care center at the hospital to find out what it would take for Meghan to get outpatient treatment there instead of being inpatient at LTAC. In summary, she would need to be able to handle her wound dressing changes on oral pain meds instead of IV pain meds. The wound care nurse thought she might need another debridement surgery after changing her dressings yesterday.

PT started working on bending Meg's leg. She went from 5 degrees to 50 degrees and has to get to 130 degree bend. PT and OT want to see her 3 to 5 times per week.

Day #4 in LTAC

Meghan had hyperbaric treatment this morning and a visit from PT. Her wound dressings were changed.

Mom and Meg met with the case manager to get a better picture of what the plan is while she is in LTAC. The primary concerns for Meghan are avoiding infection and controlling her pain during wound dressing changes. The medical team in LTAC meets on Wednesdays to discuss her case. It sounds like they are still trying to assess what her needs are (ie IV antibiotics or not, physical therapy needs, occupational therapy needs). We learned today that if she were to go home, she would not get the pain meds she needs to make it through the wound dressing changes -- or she would have pills to take but no guarantees that it would control the pain. That information alone was very motivational for Meghan to stay in LTAC as long as necessary. We discussed consulting with a different plastic surgeon while she is in LTAC since Dr. F doesn't have privedges here and the wound care doctor said that further debridement could be done here if needed.

Day #3 in LTAC

It's been a quiet day for Meghan. She had a visit from Dr. H who said they would re-evaluate her situation on Monday to determine if she needs to stay in LTAC.

Mike, Caitlin, Mom and the twins visited and walked around the facility with Meghan.