Georgia combing the dreads.

Wes is getting into a routine at the rehab unit. He got to put on normal clothes for the first time today. He is still having a rough time coping with knowing his legs don't work. They wanted to put him on a mild anti-depressant, but Wes did not want that at all. I say good for him! I know he can get through this! They want him to have family with him a lot right now, I'm sure for the support because he has a lot of work to do to heal.

Via Aunt Diane

Wes was doing good today. Only needed to be suctioned a couple of times. He is off the big vent still but has oxygen on at 40% and it is attached to his trach. He slept mostly this AM but then they moved him to the sugical inpatient rehab unit rm 2601. Everyone is extremely nice and accommodating. They explained to Wes about the exercises they will be doing and what there goals are for him. It was an exciting moment but an emotional time for him at the same time. A new room, new Drs and nurses, but I think he realized how really hard and long it is going to be and he teared up and was like a little boy without a home. It was hard but all the people here were very upbeat and encouraging. His good friend Micha was with him when I left. He was trying hard to smile. Love you Wes! YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!

Update: Wes has had the vent tube off the trach since 7:30 this morning and is doing really well. He has been able to cough up all the secretions himself and not have to be suctioned. Hopefully they will hook up the voice tube in the next few days and then get transferred to the rehab unit!

Via Georgia:

Wes is still in the ICU but got to go out today in the wheelchair bed for his second time. he had us walk him all around & he got a good view of the valley. They are going to take the vent off today and try him breathing on his own. Hope it goes well.

Via Georgia

I have just returned from the hospital w Wes. He is supposed to get transfered tomorrow to a Rehab Unit! We don't know just where yet, but most likely he will have to stay in SLC at the U of U Rehab unit, since they already accepted him.
Tonight Wes felt like his neck brace was choking him, and he freaked out a lil and... pulled his neck brace off, which pulled out his breathing trachea as well. The Docs came in quick enough, and he is just fine.

I heard after Georgia posted this that Wes would not be transferred right away to rehab like we thought. He has some stuff going on in his lungs and they have put him on a couple of antibiotics to clear it up. hopefully he'll get over that soon! Georgia also mentioned that Wes doesn't really remember the Dr. telling him he won't walk again, but they want to keep it that way for a while, so that is just a little FYI for anyone thinking of visiting or sending cards and such. She also said anyone who wants to send a card or whatever can send it to Jess or herself because they go up and see him everyday.

via Georgia

I have just returned from the hospital w Wes. He is supposed to get transfered tomorrow to a Rehab Unit! We don't know just where yet, but most likely he will have to stay in SLC at the U of U Rehab unit, since they already accepted him.
Tonight Wes felt like his neck brace was choking him, and he freaked out a lil and... pulled his neck brace off, which pulled out his breathing trachea as well. The Docs came in quick enough, and he is just fine.

continue from Jeffrey Rosenbluth on Vimeo.

From Georgia:

Wes finally got to get out of his bed and into a wheel chair today! Just getting in the chair exhausted him so he hasn't had the chance to wheel around. They are going to try again later today.
I can't wait to take Wes outside for fresh air n sunshine. 15 days in the hospital same bed same room, must feel like prison.

From Aunt Diane-
Wes is doing really good with the trach so far. He still doesn't talk but we can read his lips much better now and I have finally learned "Crane" (construction sign.) He is still trying to get comfortable but that is going to take time! He has been given the call button so he can call for the nurse if we are not there with him. He still needs quite a bit of suctioning and he can do his mouth by himself but he still needs the nurse for the deep suction. Wes smiled a lot last night and wanted a big hug from me :D

Via Georgia:

Wes finally got the Trachea surgery (that we have been asking for). I got to see him late in the night he was awake n doing good. Said that it hurt to talk, so I was just reading his lips rather than hearing him....

Wes got another surgery yesterday, they finally put the Trache in that we have been asking for, for over a week now. He seems to be in good spirits, but said that it hurts to talk.When I asked him if we were bothering him by having 24/7 family care in his room w him, he smiled at me and said he liked it!The Nurses don't like us there all night long. But what Wes wants is key!

From Aunt Diane:

They had to intubate Wes again :( They sent me to the waiting room at 04:30 and I went back in a t 05:38 cause they hadn't come to get me yet and they had him intubated but were getting him settled so I am back in the waiting room. He looked calm so hopefully he can get some rest now.

I talked to my mom this morning and she said that Wes was just having such a hard time breathing. He couldn't say more than a couple words without having trouble. He accumulates a lot of fluid and junk in his lungs and he has a hard time coughing. I imagine that it hurts real bad to cough or even breath with a broken back AND a broken sternum not to mention he is severely bruised inside and out. Plus he had to be laying on his chest for 7 hrs of surgery. I don't think they even 100% know what all is damaged in his gut. He has a lot of tubes everywhere draining fluid. His blood count was low so they also gave him a couple pints of blood to bring that up. Hopefully that will give him the energy he needs for healing. When they had to intubate him again he was not happy about that, but the doctor said if they didn't do it he wouldn't be breathing at all within 2 hrs. They sent my mom out and it took them about an hour and half to get him vented and settled in again. I guess he fought them a bit. I'm sure glad he has got fight in him, he'll need it to get well! Family & friends...Wes is not out of the woods yet. Please keep praying for his recovery! Also, please keep praying for his family, it is so much harder for them than any of us realize. We want to set up a donation fund on the blog soon. Please consider helping Wes out.

from Georgia:

Finally Wes's ventilator has been removed!!!!!! His first words were "God Damn" in terms of how relieved he was to have it removed... ha ha so Wes!
His hands have been released from the restraints, and he is now taking care of him self, and oh so happy about that!
Back Surgery went great. Wes of course has a lot of pain ...from surgery. He asked Jessica and I to touch his legs and he said that he could feel us a lil' bit, so there is a great sign that he indeed will show them docs and walk again!!!!!

From Aunt Diane:
This AM a few Drs came in and introduced themselves to me and Wes and one of the surgeons asked if Wes knew about his condition and I said not that I know of and he said that he was an adult and needed to know so he informed that his spinal cord was severed and that he would not get the use of his legs back. He showed emotion about that but calmed down pretty quickly. He was scared and was trying to write something and what he wanted was a blanket! They gave him a warmed blanket and then wheeled him off. At 0732 Wes went in for his back surgery he was calm. We are praying for you Wes! It will be so much nicer when you can sit and get rid of that awful back brace. Love you

A note from Wes's Aunt Diane who has been staying with him at night so the rest of his family can get rest :


May 4, 2010 @ 2:24 AM
Wes has had an excellent night tonight. Mostly sleeping and when awake he has been calm. He is still on the ventilator but it is on support setting. He did write legibly tonight so I could read what he was trying to ask. He wants to know where his wallet is and how much for the Hospital room :) ?! I will have to ask Jessica (his sister) if she knows where his wallet is. He has been very alert when awake. He is scheduled for his back surgery at 0730 this AM and he looking forward to it and so are we cause this means he is getting better and that he won't have to have that miserable stiff back brace on anymore! They were waiting for his lungs to heal more so he could handle the surgery and, YAY, we are there! I told Wes about "TEAM WES!" and that he had over 100 followers and that you all have written well wishes for him and he smiled!! So thank you everyone! I have not been able to print them off yet so as to read them to him but i will!!!
Diane

Wes was in surgery longer than expected. They found that the vertebrae where his spinal chord was most damaged was crushed, so, they built a "cage" around it. Sorry it is such a small post. More details to come. Thank you for the love and concern for Wes!

From Georgia -

As many of you know already Wes was finally able to go in for Back Surgery today. Things are going well thus far, he has been responding well to everything.
We as the family are upset w the doctors for deciding to tell Wes before he went into surgery that he is paralyzed. We didn't want to tell Wes until he had the vent...ilator removed and he could actually talk about it, ask questions, and discuss his situation.
We want to put together a Journal of all the things that Wes can do. Which isn't ready either, so another reason why we are not happy w the Doc for bursting Wes's hope of walking again bubble w/out the family there to support him.
I wish docs were more sensitive of our emotional state!
Pray for Wes to break ground and walk again!

Wes is currently in surgery. Updates to come.

Woot!!! TEAM WES on Facebook is up to 134 members! Thanks to everyone for supporting Wes! Thanks to Otis for the pic!

Via Shelly- Wes has been more coherent as the Dr.'s have been backing off on the sedatives, but that has also meant that he seems more miserable. I think they are hoping that reducing the sedatives will help his lungs heal better because they seem to have been hindering the recovery. On Sunday the Dr.'s took out some tubes that were in Wes' chest, but that has meant that the ventilator % has been increased. In other words the higher percentage the more the ventilator is doing the work for Wes. Most of Sunday it was at 70%. Wes still has a long road ahead of him, but I have been encouraged by what I've heard of his determination. That can go a long way if he is able to channel it toward healing. I would like to remind all family and friends that Wes still needs love and prayers sent his way! He has such a long hard road ahead of him. Please don't forget his Mom, Dad, & sisters in your prayers either. They are really on an emotional roller coaster that I'm sure not many of us really know how hard it must be. If you live near them, please be mindful of their needs and struggles by helping and being there for them.

Hey everybody, Shelly here. I am just going to start off with what little info I have right now to give a small update. My mom Diane has gone up to Utah to try and give immediate fam a break from the night shift. Wes sleeps a lot. He still is on the ventilator while they wait for his lungs to get strong enough to have surgery. He can use his arms, I'm not sure how well exactly, but enough to show his stubborn side ;) He uses some signs that he knows through working in construction to communicate. We have named it "signing crane" :) He really hates being in the hospital and has maneuvered well enough in bed to scoot and try to pull things out. They put some gloves on him to keep him from pulling things out. He promised my mom that if she would take them off him he wouldn't try to pull things out. So, we can tell that Wes is certainly showing a lot of determination! Especially determined to get out of that hospital!!!! You go Wes! Keep up that determination!