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As many of you already know, Zach fell off his skateboard on Saturday Sept. 6th. As a result of the fall, Zach suffered a traumatic, closed head injury and is listed in critical condition in the ICU at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. Zach is currently under sedation and being kept in a paralytic state to help keep his intra cranial pressure as low as possible, which will help decrease the swelling in his brain. He has been placed in a RotoProne bed, which will help his lungs combat pneumonia which recently set in. Everyone is hopeful and optimistic regarding Zach’s long-term prognosis. The Monday after the accident, Zach was able to move his legs, arms, toes and even squeezed his mother’s hand on command. He has a long journey to recovery ahead of him, but he has his youth, great caretakers and a large group of friends and loved ones rooting for him. His family will be keeping this blog in an attempt to keep all of Zach’s friends and loved ones up to date on his condition. Please check back often as we will try to provide daily updates. You may also post your own comments and please know that Zach will read them soon.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Day 34- Zach's Big Move

Today started as any other day in the ICU with visiting hours beginning at 9am. Because of Zach's agitation the night before from being over stimulated with all of his friends and family visiting we asked that he have no visitors today. Mom and I only stayed an hour this morning because we did not want to increase his aggravation and needed him to rest for his physical therapy session.

At 1pm Mom received a call that Zach got a trach collar put on and had been breathing on his own. Way to go Zach! She also said to call before 3pm visiting because they put in an order to move him down to progressive care.

At 3 we called and he was on the elevator on his way down.

For mom and I this was both joy and sorrow. Joy for Zach and the complete turn around he has made since that night of September 6th. Sorrow for leaving such a great staff of nurses behind in the ICU and the care and attention that Zach received up there.

When Zach arrived in his room mom and I we not far behind. We apparently had a reputation that came with us from ICU down to progressive via the nurse rumor mill. "Zach's Mom and Sister who are very involved in his care. His mother is a nurse. But their both really nice." I hope we live up to that because we weren't there for more than 10 minutes and started paging nurses and respiratory care. Oh Well! Love us or hate us.

At 6pm Zach got very agitated and was appearing as if all the breathing on his own was wearing him out. Mom had respiratory care paged and he was put back on the respirator. Were still impressed on how well he did for the first day off the respirator.

Though this was an emotional day for both mom and I we are so pleased about his progress and his will to want to do more.

Love,
Ang and Jo