Dear Family, Friends, and Supporters,

This is Chad and my first post to the Caring Bridge forum.  I wanted to provide an update on progress as many have been calling and texting Jen and I for updates on how we’re doing.

 

I’m happy to inform that I graduated from hospital life to home with outpatient rehabilitation on Dec. 23rd and have been home for a little over a month now.  This whole chapter of life has been overwhelming, but also enlightening, to experience the outpouring of love & support from all of you towards me, Jennifer & our children.  We are eternally grateful for your support and prayers.  God is great and He definitely heard your prayers given the miracles that we experienced throughout this time from Him directly and through the medical care team.  As many know, I was air lifted to UNC in Chapel Hill, NC and received great care from dozens of doctors, nurses, and technicians throughout the 4 1/2 months I was there.

 

When I was discharged from the hospital, the “rock star” and only effective antibiotic that they had me on to clear my lungs of pseudomonas pneumonia was discontinued and they cited that my lungs were clear of the bacteria that they were targeting with the drugs. At the time, I would get very winded with physical exertion including a 25 foot walk to the bathroom, I could barely stand requiring the support of a walker, and at most during the in-patient rehab could walk 270 feet with the walker before having to rest to recover.  The process of being sedentary in the hospital bed for 4 months caused me to lose 50 lbs., mostly muscle.  Upon rehoming, I was isolated to the first floor of our home and my son graciously sacrificed his bedroom so that I could reside on the first floor until strong enough to navigate the stairs to the 2nd floor.  When school summed for the kids we elected to rehome them to friends’ homes temporarily to keep any germs that might be acquired at school outside of our house as I continue to get stronger and more capable of fighting off illness.  We’re thankful to have such good and trustworthy friends willing to look after our family in such a time as this.

 

Since then, outpatient rehab has continued and I’m continuing to get stronger.  I’m happy to inform that for the past 2 weeks I’ve been up & down the stairs multiple times per day, have moved back into our master bedroom for night sleeps, can take stand-up showers without assistance or equipment aids, have ditched the walker completely, am driving again, and even walked 0.4 mile from the house to the lake without assistance and no rest on Sunday.  I was a bit tired from the walk down and Jen had to get the car to bring me back, but it’s a start.  I’ve been eating at least two square meals a day at about 75% of what I would normally consume and either have a 3rd small meal or snack in between.  Unfortunately, packing on the weight is about as easy as losing weight on a diet and I’ve only put on 4 lbs. since being home.  However, there’s been no shortage of food thanks to the many of you who have dropped of or ordered meals for us.  Thank you so much as it is a great help to Jen and has given us a good variety to choose from.  When I woke up from the coma there was concern that my mental faculties would not be the same and generally speaking with COVID, many that have reported suffering from “brain fog” or forgetfulness and lack of concentration.  Praise the Lord that I’ve not experienced a cognitive decline of any sorts and haven’t had any brain fog...if you ask Jen she’ll also tell you I’m just as smart and stubborn as I’ve always been ;).  All of the holes in my body that were created from the various equipment and procedures have healed even the weird trach blow hole in my neck.  Unfortunately, my head continues to shed hair although it seems to be shedding less...not sure if that is healing or just a severe quantity loss LOL.

 

Thank you again for all of your support and prayers for us.  Without you, this chapter would have been much more difficult for my family and for that we are eternally grateful.  We’ll post periodic updates in time to keep folks informed.  In the meantime, please continue to pray for us for continued respiratory healing, continued physical and mental strength, protection against further COVID exposure, continued strength for our children, and for an eminent return home for our kids.

 

Attached are a couple of photos of the journey from when I was first in the ECMO ICU to now.

 

Love,

Chad