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| Thomas Vogt's Page |
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| 05/05/08 I've started a new blog site with updates. I will no longer be updating this site. The new site is: 04/21/08 Thomas did have the surgery a few weeks later and all went fine. He has been doing very well even though he still is not speaking. He continues to answer with head shakes yes and no. Thomas plays bingo, connect four and card games. He says he doesn't want to play but we make him any way! He wheels himself all around the nursing facility, he won't break any speed records but he gets around. He has been fairly healthy so we haven't had much to update in the last few months. I'll try to post again next week. 01/16/08 Sharp Memorial had no beds available so Thomas' surgery was canceled. The doctor's office called VLP to let them know but I guess there was a breakdown in communication because Thomas was taken to the hospital anyway! The surgery will be rescheduled for a later date. Other than that, Thomas is still doing well. His family is still trying to get him to talk but Thomas has always done things on his terms, and he'll talk when HE is ready! 01/09/08 Thomas will be going to Sharp Memorial hospital for an outpatient procedure on Tuesday, January 15th. The doctors will be inserting a suprapubic catheter and checking to see if his kidney stones have passed, if not, they will take care of them. They don't anticipate he will be spending the night. He is continuing to do well. His family is trying to help him to talk but they've not been successful so far. He still has a small opening from the trach that is possibly making it difficult for him to use his voice. 01/01/2008 Happy New Year everyone! This is going to be a wonderful year. Thomas had a very nice Christmas. He got tons of cards from the very special people at Share-A-Card. The family spent several days reading all the beautiful cards from all around the U.S. that were sent to him. We thank each and everyone one of you that sent them. The family helped Thomas open his gifts over several days since he gets tired. He is spending about 4 - 5 hours in his wheelchair every day and growing stronger. He still is not talking but responded that it is difficult to make words. He uses a travel Magna Doodle to write HI. He laughs when he writes because he hands still aren't very steady but we can read everything he does write. 12/07/07 Thomas' neurosurgeon was very impressed with his progress. He said that Thomas will be "a contributing member of society with assistance". He also said he would have never promised Thomas' family this much of an improvement! Thomas is sitting in his wheelchair on a daily basis and can propel forward (as shown in the video) and is getting better each day. He still isn't talking but can respond with head shakes, yes and no. 11/17/07 Sorry there haven't been any updates; there hasn't been much spare time to update the site. Thomas left the hospital on the 12th of October. He went back a week later for a few hours because of a fever and he was breathing very heavily, but after a breathing treatment and several hours in the hospital, he was fine. The staff at Villa Las Palmas has been wonderful with Thomas. Some of the nurses aids will come in to see him even when they don't have him as a patient. They make sure the aid that is taking care of him is doing their job! He has started physical therapy and is getting put into a wheel chair for two to three hours a day. He still isn't talking but he is able to shake his head yes and no. He is completely aware of objects in the room and will point out words and colors with no problem. We are still waiting on the green light for rehab, but Thomas has a doctor's appointment after Thanksgiving so hopefully ... 10/11/07 Thomas has been in the hospital since September 30th with pneumonia. He also had a large amount of blood in his urine so they did a scan and found out that he had several kidney stones, a small partial blockage and other issues with his bladder. They are considering inserting a suprapubic cystostomy (a catheter that goes in through the stomach into the bladder). This can be removed when he has control of his bladder. Other than him feeling bad from all the issues, he is doing very well. He still doesn't talk but is beginning to make some sounds when asked. He is able to point to objects in the room when you ask him. He can pick out colors and shapes as well. We are hoping his neurosurgeon will clear him for rehab soon. 9/5/07 The trach was removed from Thomas on Thursday and he is doing great. It will take a few weeks for his throat to heal and hopefully he will start talking soon. He has graduated from the sub-acute section and is now in the regular part of the nursing facility. He has a great semi-private room with a window that overlooks the court yard. There is a beautiful orange tree right outside his window that he loves to look at. He is learning how to use the call button to call the nurses when he needs assistance. He is also learning how to perform exercises on his arms by himself so he doesn't stiffen up. His parents got to take him outside before the heat wave hit and now that it is cooling down some, he will go out much more. 8/15/07 More small improvements for Thomas; he started laughing and when he laughs he makes sounds, which makes him laugh more! He will possibly have the trach removed next week. We are still waiting to hear if he can use the lift to be put into a chair and wheeled outside. 8/01/07 Thomas has made small improvements. The other night a nurse was talking to him about the American Idol show and explaining how her daughter was trying out. She then asked him if he could sing and Thomas shook his head no! He had a doctor's appointment today with the orthopaedic surgeon, after he reviews Thomas' x-rays, he will let us know if Thomas is ready to use the lift to get in and out of bed. 7/17/07 Not much new news. They sat Thomas up in a chair this week for about an hour and half. He seemed to enjoy sitting up but was exhausted when he got back in bed. They will continue to sit him up every few days. 7/8/07 Today was a very good day for Thomas. The respiratory therapist (RT) went in to see him early this morning and said "good morning Thomas" and in a loud and clear voice, Thomas answered "Hi"! Later that morning the nurse and RT were in the room and the nurse was commenting that she thought Thomas needed suctioning and Thomas replied "yeah"!!! Thomas continues to improve each day. He no longer needs to wear the cervical collar and he waves and gives "high-fives" to his family and the staff at VLP. 6/28/07 Thomas has been on bed rest since going back to Villa Las Palmas so he hasn't been getting to sit up. The respiratory therapist has capped off his trach so he is completely breathing on his own and is not receiving any oxygen! This means he is much closer to getting the trach reversed. Thomas is still only making small noises but he is building up the strength in his throat so it is only a matter of time. 6/22/07 Thomas was transferred back to Villa Las Palmas today; he is doing much better. He waved goodbye to the ambulance driver and his mom! 6/20/07 Thomas was admitted to Grossmont Hospital today for evaluation. His hands and arms were like ice and the doctor just wanted to make sure he was ok. At Grossmont, they discovered he had UTI and trach infection so they are going to see what different medications will work and hopefully keep the infections from going to sepsis again. 6/14/07 Today the physical therapist sat Thomas up on the side of his bed for eight minutes. Thomas seemed like he enjoyed sitting up. Each day they will sit him up increasing the time, then he will be able to sit in a wheel chair. 06/12/07 Today was a very busy day for Thomas. The respiratory therapist changed his trach to a style that will help to wean him so the trach can be removed completely. Then they put a cap inside the trach hole that limits the airflow which makes Thomas use his throat muscles to breath and allows him to begin to make sounds. The speech therapist evaluated Thomas and asked him the say the "aaaaa" sound, which he attempted to do. They say that once he realizes he can make sounds, there will be no stopping him! Then the physical therapist, Blake, evaluated Thomas. Blake will be talking with Thomas' doctor tomorrow to find out his limitations. He will then make a plan for Thomas to begin physical therapy and to get Thomas out of bed! While Jeanette and Sudie were visiting today, Thomas moved his arm up to touch the RT's hand about a foot above him! The RT said that they were using a feather to tickle Thomas' forehead and he was reaching up and scratching it! Thomas also shook his head NO when asked! Thomas is responding now and we couldn't be happer! 06/08/07 Thomas is being discharged from the hospital today. He is being transferred to Villa Las Palmas Healthcare Center in El Cajon. Because of insurance reasons, we had to find a different facility. Villa Las Palmas seems to be a very nice facility with very caring staff. Thomas is becoming more and more alert each day. He is no longer considered to be in a coma, he is in more of a minimally responsive state. Please continue to keep Thomas in your thoughts and prayers. 06/04/07 Thomas has gone back to the hospital with a UTI and possible sepsis. He was admitted on Friday evening to Sharp Grossmont but is doing much better now. 05/22/07 Sorry we haven't updated the page in a while. There hasn't been much change over the last few weeks. Thomas is still not getting any physical therapy and the center won't allow him to sit in a wheel chair until they are able to use a hoist. The orthopaedic surgeon won't allow him in the hoist for another six weeks. A girl friend of Jeanette's, Cindy Stellar, performed energy healing on Thomas while he was in the hospital. Thomas seemed to respond to it so Jeanette has asked her to come out to Chase for more sessions. Please continue to include Thomas and his family in your thoughts and prayers. 05/08/2007 Thomas was moved back to Chase Care Center yesterday. He was very alert and responding with blinks. The therapist at the center will begin some physical therapy on his upper extremities tomorrow. |
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