December 10, 2004
Edith was moved out of ICU on 11-27-04 and into a regular room [#5102] at St Francis.  She still isn't speaking well [raspy, whispering] and there's a bit of lip reading going on.  The feeding tube was removed on 12-3-04 and she was given her first jello and pudding on 12-4-04... and they're watching to see if that all works well.  The physical therapists are concerned that she won't be able to swallow adequately and have trouble with food entering the lungs [and subsequent pneumonia] but the ER doc wants her to eat.  Staff helped her up to get around with a walker on 12-3-04.  She was helped to sit up in a shair on 12-4-04.  It's going very slowly but the momentum is still forward.  This friday [12-10-04] it will be five weeks since the accident.

 

The largest concern had been a sleep state that Edith was going into.  The drs told the family that this sometimes happens with patients that remain in the hospital for extended time periods.  She wasn't going to be able to make any gains in that state however, and they would not consider rehabilitation therapy if she wasn't improving.  So they've been giving Edith Ridalin to keep her awake.  So far it's been working well, and they've had to reduce the dosage several times as it has been almost too effective.  But this is what has allowed them to remove the feeding tube, start solids, and get her out of bed.  Edith will be evaluated for further care options now.  Joan is trying to avoid the hospital moving her to a nursing home.. so the push is to help her progress enough that they will move her to a recovery facility where there will be hours of therapy every day.  Edith has to demonstrate sufficient strength and ability for that to work out... so that's what everyone is working toward now.

 

God-willing, Edith will be 88 years old this January.  The six broken ribs seem to be mending.  The cracks in the pelvis and hip sockets are not in weight bearing areas and the drs believe they will heal fine eventually as well.  And they are still monitoring the aortic rupture.

 

All in all the news is still somewhat positive, but I can tell you that Bill and Joan [particularly Joan who has slept at the hospital every night since the accident] are exhausted.  Bill was staying home when I called, Saturday.  He has a cold and didn't want to add to Edith's challenges.  Joan just sounded incredibly tired [noon-ish].  I know they would appreciate prayers and any cards of encouragement.

 

I was able to speak with Joan just a bit ago by phone.  Edith is still in ICU at St Francis [Peoria] but she's shocked all the doctors and continues to show steady, gradual improvement.

 

Joan says that Edith has been able to respond almost from the start, and was in fact the one that told emergency staff who she was when they lost all the information from the sheriff.  The cracked ribs caused one of her lungs to collapse initially but that has improved.  They've had her on a respirator/ventilator until very recently and that has kept her from being able to speak directly.  Almost 48 hours ago they removed the ventilator successfully [this was the second attempt] and switched her to an oxygen mask... and they were able to remove as well.  So Edith is breathing on her own, but not quite able to speak well yet.  She's been able to write messages [from time to time] for at least 3-4 days now so she's been able to communicate.  Last night she requested, in writing, that someone "make me a pumpkin pie"... which just makes us all grin. :-)  [Still on that liquid diet for now.]

 

She did develop a touch of pneumonia over the last week, and it sounds like they think her lungs are still a bit damp but that it is improving overall. 

 

She's also a bit jaundiced at present.  The doctors believe this is from all the blood from the internal bleeding being reabsorbed into her body.... just an overload of biliruben for the moment they think.

 

There was also some bacteria showing up in the urine, and that's being treated. 

 

They were keeping tabs on the ruptured aorta and had another CT Scan scheduled for this afternoon.  A blood clot had developed in the damaged area and it seems to be acting protectively for now.  The hope is that it will remain there and harden somewhat in that location.  While they believe Edith is gaining strength overall they don't think she has any reserve energy left and are still leary of surgery at this point and will continue to monitor her at very regular intervals.

 

Joan also explained a bit more about the accident.  Apparently Edith ran a red light and crossed right in front of oncoming traffic.  At this point there's no explanation for why it all happened as it did or what she thought was happening.  She still has no recollection of the accident, but that is as expected... all things considered.

 

For now everyone is very pleased with Edith's progress.  It's slow but nearly all positive so far.  She may be in ICU for a while at this rate but we thank God for His mercy and tender care of her.  In a sense she is stable, but her situation is still touch and go.  The outcome is certainly not known even now, but she's doing so much better than anyone anticipated.  And as always  your prayers are so appreciated.

Just spoke with one of Joan and Bill's sons.  He was relieved to say that Edith is doing a bit better.  She not out of the woods by any means but is showing some smalls signs of improvement.  She can respond by shaking her head and knows where she is.  Still sleeping a great deal.  She's in Cardiac-ICU but able to have visitors.  In addition to the injuries we knew before, there are also some broken ribs too.  As of today Edith's lungs are doing a bit better.  [On top of the broken pelvis and ruptured aorta.]

 

Doctors did another CT scan early this evening to monitor her heart.  Apparently two of the three layers of the aorta have been breeched with a minor injury to the outer layer.  They will continue to monitor the area for now, believing that her chances for survival will be better if they can put off the surgery and see if her body can patch itself with blood clots and scarring.  In a younger person they would have immediately repaired the damage to the heart, but they still don't have a lot of data for situations like this involving women her age [early 80s] and believe this is the best route to go for now.

 

Joan has been at the hospital since Friday evening, with only brief stops home for fresh clothes.  If anyone wishes to reach her directly and can't get her by cell phone... the phone for the ICU waiting room is 309-655-2000 and they can ask for the family of Edith Knisley.

As of this morning, Edith's condition is as it was last night.  She is somewhat responsive and can move her fingers/toes at times when requested by the nurses, but she is heavily sedated.  The doctors do not want to attempt surgery, believing her heart is too weak to survive it just yet.  [And it is unclear what exactly they want to address with the surgery.]  They will wait 48hrs and reassess her condition at that time.

 

According to Bob Lovell, Edith's car was broadsided as she was driving.  She took the brunt of the hit and was moved into the passenger area from the force of the accident.

 

Joan and Bill were on their way back to the hospital already.  We'll pass along more information as possible.  Anyone wanting to contact them can leave a message at their home phone (309) 699-4757 or try to reach Joan on her cell phone (309) 472-1810. 

November 5, 2004