By The Numbers

As of January 6, 2012, the following is Derek's hospital stay by the numbers.....

Days in the hospital - 173 days

Days at NNMC/WRNMMC - 167 days

Surgeries - 36

Procedures - 12

CT Scans, X-rays - too many, I lost count!  Basically, he glows and his kids will be born with three arms.

Blood products - 129

Days in SICU - 53

Days on ventilator - 54

Days on oxygen - 98

Days on contact precautions - 114

Medical teams involved over course of stay - 24
     Trauma, PM&R (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation), Orthopedics,
     Endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Urology, Plastics, Nueropsyche,
     Infectious Disease, Gastrointerology, Hepatology, Nephrology,
     Oral Maxillofacial, Dental, Anesthesia, Radiology, Acupuncture,
     Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Respiratory, Wound Care,
     Dietary, Speech Pathology and Nursing.

I cannot even begin to count the number of doctors!  We went through three primary residents on the trauma team, Obi, Ben and Diego, and now two on the PM&R team.  There have been numerous interns and residents that have cycled through.  Residents change about every two months and interns every four, but that might depend on the service.  Attendings are supposed to stay the same.  We almost lost our attending from the PM&R team.  We were told she was being switched out.  We objected, and..... She's staying!  Continuity of care.  Besides the fact that we don't want a new resident and a new attending starting the same week because then neither one would be up-to-date on all of Derek's history and care, although one has been on the fringes for a while, we love Dr. Kim and don't want to lose her!

As for special visitors, I could try to count, but I would probably lose count halfway through.  We've had Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Rodney Freylinghuysen Congressman from NJ, Jack Reed Senator from RI, Kansas, Montel Williams, Kid Rock, Sgt Slaughter, Joe Westphal (Undersectary of the Army), Gen Dempsey, Gen Chiarelli (Vice Chief of Staff, Army), Gen Franks, CSM Grippe, Gen Odierno (Chief of Staff, Army), Director of NCIS, etc.

Care packages?  Cards?  Letters?  No way to count.  We really appreciate all of the love and support from the community.  Without that support, this journey would be so much more difficult. 

So, 36th surgery tomorrow.  Derek is a little nervous about it.  We all are.  But Dr. N seems to have a good handle on it.  He and his team have a plan and we have confidence in them.  So, prayers for a successful surgery and recovery of the hand.  It's frustrating to only have the use of one hand.

Good night.  God bless.  Keep climbing.  Eventually you will reach the top.  Climb to glory, baby!