Monday September 7, 2009

Unfortunately I have been asked to stop updating the blog for legal reasons. This really makes me sad, I have enjoyed doing this for Brenden, Mike, and Alisha. If it changes I will be back on updating all of you. For those of you who would like you are more then welcome to call/e-mail Tracie and myself for updates on Brenden. I know this was the only way for some of you to follow along and I am sorry to have to stop. PLEASE continue to pray for Brenden he needs all of your prayers. He has such a long and difficult journey a head of him he needs all the help he can get. All our lives have been and will be blessed because of Brenden. We love each of you and thank you for all that you have done, for your love, and your prayers.

Sunday September 6, 2009

Not much changed for Brenden today. Alisha said he kinda opened his eyes, puckered his chin and had tears roll out of his eyes when they talked to him. His eyes don't focus yet and he can't look to the left and his right eye wont open very well. Brenden really needs our prayers, thanks to all of you for remembering him. We love you Brenden and are so happy you are in our family.

Saturday September 5, 2009

Well Jordon and I got to go see Brenden today, he doesn't have as many tubes connected to him so that was good. My heart ached for him and Mike and Alisha because it was another rough day for Brenden. He was a little squirmy and moaning often. He called for "mom" a few times. It seems a mothers touch is magical because when Alisha touches his forehead it soothes him for the time being. Never doubt a mothers love. During the afternoon he threw up (they think it was because they switched medicines) after he was cleaned up his oxygen dropped to 50%. They bagged him to get it up and he is now breathing well. They believe his tongue slid back and blocked his oxygen but have now taken precautions for this. After all this his blood pressure is now at a good number and he is resting more peacefully. They did stop the feeding tube for a short while and then started it again at a smaller amount to watch the tube as it(the fluid) exits to see where it goes to check if this is part of why he threw up. He had another CT scan today and they found the swelling was still there in the front lobes, it was a precautionary check. He had lots of family visitors today and some friends. He seems to recognize people and gives them hand squeezes which is wonderful. During the night last night at one point he reached up and put his hand on Mike's chest as if to comfort him, what an angel. We are so thankful Brenden is with us and I know he is aware of all of us. When Derrick goes in and takes hold of Brenden's hand and talks to him Brenden gets a tear in his eye and at one point cried. Your prayers are heard and we can't thank you all enough for your continuous prayers in his behalf he has so many hard days ahead of him, he needs all of you and so do Mike and Alisha.

Friday September 4, 2009

Hello everyone. I am updating early today but will do another update later tonight if necessary.They have put him on a small amount of oxygen today. Brenden pulled out his feeding tube earlier (can you blame him) and they had to put it in again.The MRI looked okay today, no surgery for now. They are going to put the back brace on him. He hasn't been coughing a lot but what few times he has seems to be breaking up the stuff in his lungs (yeah), he is sounding better. He is not as responsive today but he is also in a lot of pain, even medicated, they are trying to address the pain. They have decided to leave him in IPCU because he still needs to be watched constantly. Your love and prayers are a gift thank you so much. I promise it means a lot to Mike, Alisha, Brenden, and the rest the family.

This was taken Yesterday September 2nd. You can see Mike, Alisha, and, Aspen in the back

Thursday September 3, 2009

Today was a big day for Brenden, Mike, and Alisha. They fit Brenden for a back brace, they took out his breathing tube this afternoon. The Dr.s decided it would be better if he could cough up the blood and gunk in his lungs to lessen the risk of pneumonia. However it is possible he will be put back on it. He was in a lot of pain after this and Mike, Alisha, and the nurse were trying to sooth and calm him down (what a trooper and so strong). At one point he opened his eyes for a few seconds and was focusing on Mike (I thought that was tender). His stats looked good for today and they are still waiting on more results from the MRI. Another day closer to going home. Continue to pray for them all we have already been given such a great blessing.

Wednesday September 2, 2009

Well another day behind him. Brenden is a fighter and we love him so much!!!
Today the doctor's took the bolt out of his head that measured the pressure which required a stitch and a band aid to cover it. They are not taking out the breathing tube because they did an MRI and found blood and gunk in his lungs and don't want to take it out and have him get pneumonia. They also don't want him coughing because of his back. His feet are swollen from the fluids and so they gave him more diuretic to help it. I talked to Alisha and she said her and Mike were doing okay but were tired. They may not have a parent room tonight so she said they might be hitting the couches but didn't care because she just wanted to be near Brenden, understandable. Thank you everyone for your prayers, we love you all.

Tuesday September 1, 2009

Today was a big day for Brenden. He had a CT scan at 10:30am which showed he had more room in his skull which probably meant the swelling was going down (YEAH!!!!) He also had an upper GI to check for fluids in his abdomen because they want to put in a feeding tube but couldn't if he had too much fluid. The results were good so they got the feeding tube in. They put in a pick line (a more permanent tube to draw blood and give medicines) So they don't have to give so many IV"s. They gave him a diuretic to reduce the fluids in his body because of all that they have been giving him.
They were going to do a breathing test by turning down the machine to see how well he could breath on his own. If he didn't breathe on his own enough the machine would kick in and help him out but he started coughing so they turned it back up. He had so much stuff in his lungs the the respiratory doctor came in and suctioned them out. They sent some of the fluids to be tested for pneumonia. Brenden is a fighter and so strong we are all so proud of him and the fight he has given so far.
Also tonight Brenden's story was on Fox 13 news, boy he is a handsome kid. We all love you and pray hourly for your recovery and your family.

Monday August 31, 2009

Well hello friends and family!!!!!! I wanted to give you updates on Brenden even thought there is not much change. They were going to wake him up out of his sedation but the swelling on his brain is worse, not terrible but the numbers are higher then Sunday so they will wait to see if tomorrow is better. They had talked about doing back surgery on him in a couple of weeks but mentioned doing a full body cast instead. He has 6 broken vertebrate and the neck fractures. As soon as I know what they decide I'll let you know as well. Mike and Alisha are hanging in there and the other kids are doing well. Thank you to all our friends and family for your prayers and concern.

Sunday August 30, 2009

So many family and friends were there again on Sunday. Thank you to everyone who came to support Mike and Alisha and show your love and concern for them, their children, and Brenden. It was amazing to see so many people care. You're prayers are being heard, thank you. We went in again to see him and he looks well, not what you would expect to see I know but he really looks good. All the damage is on the inside. The internal bleeding was slowing down at this point but not stopped yet. The kidney will be absorbed by his body. The pressure in his brain went up but they expected that and have an internal monitor measuring the pressure. It will continue to go up the first 72 hours. In the evening they had taken him off the medicine they were giving him to induce a medical coma ( so he won't move and to keep brain activity low) to do a neurological test. I failed to mention that Saturday he gave the nurse a dirty look when she suctioned his mouth (he's on a ventilator to help him breath better and take deep breaths). This made us smile. Mike and Alisha are amazing and know you care thank you again.

Brenden's accident

After talking with family we thought it would be even better to create a blog for Brenden then to put it on facebook so here it is. I am going to back track to the beginning of Brenden's accident. Brenden and Taylor were attending a Youth Conference with their ward Saturday August 29th particicipating in a ropes course. It was Brenden's turn to be pulled up the rope and then swing back down, something went wrong (their investigating this now) and he fell 40 feet. He went unconcious when he hit the ground (CPR was given). They think he landed on his right back side because that is where the most damage was done. He was taken to UVRMC and then Life Flighted to PCMC. There they discovered many injuries but said for what he went through he could have been alot worse. He has fractures in his neck, 4 in his lower back, broken ribs, a punctured lung, swelling in the brain, internal bleeding, his right kidney erupted, and fractured his pelvis and both hips. This poor kid will have a long recovery so please remember him in your prayers and his family. Brenden is loved by so many people, he had 40 people throughout the first day waiting and taking turns to see him. Sunday there was even more. It was heart breaking to see him hooked up to so many machines but he is a strong boy. This was all the news we got when we left Saturday at 10pm. Of course Mike and Alisha were given a room to stay the night with Brenden.