Two and 1/2 weeks of treatment and observations Chapter 1

 Shortly after being admitted to Stormont Vail Hospital Critical Care Unit, a Trauma 2 Care center, Matthew was stabilized, a team of Doctors and Nurses started several life care actions:

  1. An NG tube was inserted so that ventilation of his lungs could be assured, and a slurry bag feeding his stomach could begin.  Respiratory Therapists started suctioning fluid from his bronchia and lungs soon after the NG tubes were inserted.
  2. Several "ports" were installed on both sides of his neck.  These were installed to facilitate sampling blood for lab testing, to provide real time, continuous, blood pressure measurement, to measure oxygen saturation of his blood, and to provide a place for dialysis machine connections.
  3. A bladder catheter was inserted to monitor his urine output.
  4. EKG tabs were attached to monitor his heart
  5. Not long after, EEG sensors were glued to his scalp to monitor brain activity.
  6. Both CT scans, and MRIs were taken to search for internal injuries and conditions.
  7. He was kept sedated at this point to allow his body to begin recovery without pain.

Other than some liver damage, already stabilized sufficiently to not need surgery, there was no discovered organ damage.  He was producing a small amount of  urine, but clearly would need some dialysis to remove excess water and toxins from his bloodstream.

The MRI's showed significant brain damage to his left brain lobe; there was SOME brain damage to his right brain lobe as well, but in spots not extensive.  Originally, the neurologist compared the brain damage to those he had seen in stroke victims.  Subsequent readings by radiologists, including Matthew's Uncle Scott, a radiologist with The Mayo Clinic, interpreted the MRI's as brain cells being "insulted" by ischemic injury, NOT by embolic conditions.   That did not mean that everything would be "Okay", but, there MIGHT be some recovery of those insulted brain cells.

The Campbell & Porter families were immediately mobilizing to provide support to Jen, keep up regular advocacy for Matthew's care, take care of their children, take care of immediate farm maintenance needs (caring for a lot of animals) and whatever else was needed.

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