Home again

Marc indeed did come home on February 15.  He's since been to long therapy sessions at the hospital, but he is home most of the time.  He's eating food, walking around, and seems to be doing well.  He still can't hear well out of one ear and has double vision.  He's also tired a lot of the time.  But, as always, progress is being made.

Marc is scheduled to come home tomorrow (Feb 15).  He's eating on his own for the most part now, but is still being given water via tube. 

Email from Monica

"Dad continues to progress.  He is eating now - a modified diet puree and soft foods and thickened liquids.  He is however still being tube fed at night to get enough calories in him.  The stuff they feed him is high in carbs and sugar so his blood sugar has been high.  He is still scheduled for discharge on Wed the 15th.  I guess he will probably come home with the tube and I will get to feed him his "formula".  He is still suffering from double vision.  This affects his ability to read and write and balance.  He has an appointment with a neuro-opthamologist on Thurs the 16th at the Moran eye center.  They say the appointment will take about 5 hours."

More progress

Marc is getting stronger.  He's in therapy for about 6 hours a day and is making good progress.  He's thinking more clearly now.  He wears an eye patch to help his double vision.  An optimistic estimate for when he could come home is February 15th, however, he has to start eating on his own first or that won't happen.  Not much new is happening, just continued progress.

Email from Monica

"Dad Moved to the Univerisity of Utah acute inpatient brain injury rehab program today. It is in the old part of University of Utah Medical Center so you just enter like you would the main hospital, then ask for directions to the inpatient medical rehab. He is in room number 2631. There is a phone in the room Phone number 801-585-8295. The visiting hours there are M-F 4-8 p.m. Sat and Sun 12 noon - 8 p.m. He will have three hours of rehab every day except Sun. and he may have one hour on Sunday also. He is still being tube fed, but on a schedule to simulate eating a meal. We hope to have him eating soon. He has made great improvement in the last few days. He walked unassisted twice around the hallway loop and back to his room yesterday. He still tires easily and too much stimulation is not recommended so visitors should limit their visits to ten min. or so. Thanks to all for your faith and prayers we feel like he is being greatly blessed and aided from on high. Thanks also to so many who continue to shower our family with help and kindnesses."

Mailing address

Marc A Clemens
c/o Rehabilitation Center
University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics
50 North Medical Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84132

Appointments and possibilities

Marc has an evaluation from the U on Monday and then an appointment with a neurologist on Tuesday. If all is well, he could be in their rehab by Wednesday. He's still not allowed to eat, but they're working on that.

A test of swallowing

Marc passed the Barium swallow test today, but it was close. Speech therapy wants to work with him some more before he gets to eat regularly again. For now, he's still hooked up to a feeding tube. His sleeping schedule is also closer to normal now, he's awake more during the day and thus more able to hold a conversation. Short visits are welcome. He's in the South Davis Community Hospital in Bountiful.

Working towards normal

Marc got his neck collar off today. They also took out his IV. He's still connected to his feeding tube, but once they make sure he'll be able to eat on his own they can get rid of that as well. This is all very good news and he continues to make progress.

Marc is off of antibiotics now and continuing to gain strength. He can't eat on his own yet, but he is breathing on his own. He can sit up without assistance (while being supervised) as well as brush his teeth, wash his face, etc. He continues to make a little bit of progress each day.

A step in the right direction

Marc had his tracheotomy incision stitched up today, which is good news. Since he's often too tired when therapists come to work with him (he's active for a good part of the night), they're going to try to get him back on a normal sleeping schedule so that he can work with them and continue to improve. He's still on antibiotics. And that's pretty much it for now.

A few bits of news

Marc is back on antibiotics because his culture test came back positive. He's off of moisturized air and just breathing regular air now. They're hoping to be able to close off the tracheotomy incision soon and have him breathe normally again. Marc fell a few days ago while attempting to walk around his room unattended. He seems to be fine though, just a bit bruised. A bed alarm is now installed so he can't get up without the nurses knowing. Marc is quite talkative at times (meaning that he can carry on a conversation), while other times he's too tired to interact much. That's where things are for now.