Bruce’s Story

Site created on September 16, 2021

Well, we are on a journey. Bruce started with COVID symptoms on 8/22, tested on 8/25, and received the positive results on 8/27. He was actually starting to feel a little better by the time he got the results. Emmy, Mily, and I also started with symptoms on 8/26. The 4 of us just rolled with it and thought we were past the worse part of this crud. Over that weekend Bruce’s fever came back, the cough started, and he just felt not so great. After 3 days of rotating Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and cough syrup every 3-4 hours, I was fried and Bruce was over it. I brought him back to the clinic on Wednesday, Sept 1. His oxygen saturation was 86-92… but mostly on the lower end, and they did a chest X-ray, which confirmed that he progressed into a Covid pneumonia. He was admitted to LRH in Fergus that afternoon. He was on the nasal air overnight, moved to the ICU by 5am on 9/2, and changed over to BiPap by noon. That seemed to work and him being proned- they lay the patients on their stomach, which Bruce loves… however he did not have a great night. On Friday, 9/3, the doctor called and wanted to discuss moving Bruce to Fargo. Bruce was sweet enough to let me decide. I made the decision that was our best option and Fargo was/is much better equipped with staff and equipment to care for his needs. Luckily, Fargo had a bed for Bruce at Sanford. The doctors at both locations talked and agree that Bruce was ready to move to the ventilator before his transfer. As you all know, Bruce can be a tish stubborn. Bruce was still coherent and able to make the decision of going on the vent himself. He did not agree at first, but after he reminded Dana to put gas in the tractor and a few pictures/videos showing that his steers were fed, he agreed. And this is where the journal posts will pick up. It will take me a little time to get them all moved.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Jen Albjerg

Well, it’s been a bit since I have updated!  
Bruce continues to grow stronger and gain more of his old normal each day.  He has been able to hang out at the farm on a lighter duty than he likes, but at least he is there and in the midst of one of his favorite things/places! He is still slower than normal, he always has told me I walk to fast… but now, I could easily lap him, so that’s one of my favorite things to tease him about!  So far his breathing is alright with the weather cooling off and we’ll see how that goes through the winter.  He continues to have some numbness/nerve things going on after being in the hospital/ having COVID… or a combo of both!  Bruce had his PEG tube removed on Thursday and is very excited to have that out and get that last reminder healing up!  He follows up with the doctor early this week and is hopeful to get his papers signed as get back to work.  I’m hoping that the doctor will order a chest X-ray so we can have a baseline now that some healing has happened.  
Thank you all for continued prayers and support through this whole ordeal.  We can’t thank you all enough!
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