Tyler down in serious condition in Idaho!

[FJRONAMISSION]

AWESOME JOB EVERYONE !!!!!!!

B

 

[BikerGeek99]

Dang glad to hear that Tyler's back closer to home.

Good mojo to her escort!!

 

[Silver Penguin]

Dang glad to hear that Tyler's back closer to home.
Good mojo to her escort!!

+1000 on that. Well done escort team!

 

[rushes]

Dang glad to hear that Tyler's back closer to home.Good mojo to her escort!!

+1000 on that. Well done escort team!

Does anyone know her new address? :dntknw:

Or where's the best place to send a card?

 

[CRMH Eagle]

I pray she recovers quickly. The support for our fellow riders is incredible.

 

[zorkler]

Tyler i will be sitting for you . Sending Love , Karma and takeing some of the pain away . Love Michael .

 

[Cdogman]

Dang glad to hear that Tyler's back closer to home.Good mojo to her escort!!

+1000 on that. Well done escort team!

Does anyone know her new address? :dntknw:

Or where's the best place to send a card?

I asked her sister.. here is the answer

[SIZE=14pt]Santa Clara Valley Medical Center[/SIZE]

Patient: Tyler Risk c/o TICU

751 S. Bascom Avenue

San Jose, CA 95128

 

[rushes]

Does anyone know her new address? :dntknw:

Or where's the best place to send a card?

I asked her sister.. here is the answer

[SIZE=14pt]Santa Clara Valley Medical Center[/SIZE]

Patient: Tyler Risk c/o TICU

751 S. Bascom Avenue

San Jose, CA 95128

Got it.

Thanks!

 

[painman]

Welcome back Tyler. Prayers are working. Kudo's to the SouthBayRiders for the escort and here is another link: Tyler's Posse PM. <><

 

[Patriot]

I didn't see this one posted here, so:

from: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerrisk/journal

Tuesday, July 7, 2009 8:59 AM, PDT

"Fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy ride."

So she made it through her rock star treatment of limo (okay, well, ambulance) rides to & from the airports, and her Lear jet excursion across some beautiful country. (Low-altitude flying's pretty cool.) All of her transport staff were terrific & she got a male nurse for the airplane ride, so she was happy. (I know, shocking.) It was VERY tough to leave all the phenomenal staff at St. Al's - we knew it was necessary, and her send-off was unlike anything I've ever seen, but it was still hard to leave all the caring, nurturing souls who were so critical to her survival and recovery. We will carry them with us in our hearts always.

Speaking of rock star treatment, very definitely the highlight of yesterday was the 25+ motorcycle riders eagerly awaiting Ty at the San Jose airport, happily following her to the hospital with a lead rider who had a big ol' "Tyler's Posse" taped to his fairing. (Even our step-brother & his son came all the way down from Galt to take part.) It was one of the most moving things I've ever seen (I lost it), and Tyler was incredibly touched & overjoyed by it. She could see it all out the back window of the ambulance and it delighted her. Her beloved dog, Bart, even got to ride sweep. (Fairing, sweep, oh, I'm down with the m/c lingo now. ;-) The nurse who had been with her on the plane was so blown away he took a bunch of pictures from the back & emailed them to Ty right there thru his iPhone. (Gotta love technology.) Way to make a showing for our gal, folks - she absolutely loved it. (And to those of you who couldn't make it, she knows you were there in spirit!) [use this link for more great pics: https://www.southbayriders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80251]

The initial entry to VMC was a little bumpy to say the least - they didn't seem to be aware she was coming, thought she was a guy initially (she quickly proved that wrong ;-) and because of two traumas that had just come in, they sent a fourth-year med student to do her initial assessment. Nice kid & very earnest, but getting through to people that she needed some pain meds "stat" (I'm getting good at medical lingo, too) was a bit of an uphill battle. To say that it wasn't the same staff as at St. Al's would be an understatement, but it at least seemed they were trying their best under the circumstances. The general impression, however, was a complete lack of awareness or understanding of just what they were dealing with, which was very frustrating given that this transfer has been in the works for days now. All of that led to Ty getting pretty anxious and missing her St. Al's buddies in a big way, but she soldiered through (and the eventual dose of morphine helped with that greatly, as did finally getting to squeeze her daughter, her mom & her step-dad). Talked to her this a.m., and things were much better. She bonded with her male (see a pattern here? ;-) night nurse, and finally met with her doctors this morning (both female, which she's very pleased about - no offense to the guys, see above male nurse thing) and they sound to be really on it. They'll be taking her into surgery today to undress her legs (dun-da-da-dun-da-da-dun) and get familiar with what's going on under there. Likely they'll do some debrading & start the process for grafting, which is a relief. They DO know what they're dealing with now, and seem to be responding appropriately. Which is good, because that way I don't have to cut anyone. LOL

Please hold off on visits still for the time being. Once we get her through the intial leg treatment today, we'll be much better placed to start setting up a visitor schedule, etc. They have set visiting hours and it's limited to 2 at a time, so out of respect for Ty & the other patients, scheduling things sounds like a good idea. (But believe me, once she's ready, we would all welcome it, especially because I'll then know she's getting good juju from people besides us and I can get some laundry done. LOL)

Thanks again to all of you. Take care, have a good day & I'll continue to update as we move along this path.

-Jaime

 

[Toecutter]

"With the good must come the bad."Well, yesterday was a banner day and today....was a bit more rough. Ty has officially started to climb the very large mountain that is the treatment of her leg trauma. They took her into surgery this afternoon and reportedly did quite a number on those lovely gams of hers. They debraded quite a bit of skin, which is good & necessary, but very intense for her body. They left her on the ventilator after the surgery (bummer) because she'll be going back into surgery day after tomorrow, and due to the extreme pain of the debrading (they're basically removing skin down to the nerve endings) they've got her very heavily sedated to the point that she needs some assistance breathing. The good news is she very likely won't remember any of this (remember that better living through chemistry thing?). The sad thing is that she's back to that darned breathing tube & wrist restraints. Poor Ty - part of the journey, albeit a sucky part.

The TICU is pretty strict about visitors, and for the time being is limiting it to immediate family only, with limited visiting hours. This is motivated by their desire to keep her as relaxed & restful as possible to focus all her energy & metabolism efforts on healing & recovering from some pretty heavy duty procedures. It kills me to be the messenger on this, because I know how much you all love her & want to give her a big ol' hug & cheery words. I would love nothing more than for you all to personally engulf her in that awesome energy I felt first hand yesterday when I came out to thank the escort riders. The next best thing, I think (and VMC is gonna KILL me for this ... LOL) is to send her cards now that we know she's going to be there for quite a while. The address is as follows:

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Patient: Tyler Risk

751 S. Bascom Avenue

San Jose, CA 95128

We'll put the cards up on her long window sill so that when she is aware of her surroundings but can't yet take visitors, she'll have lots of visual reminders of the prayers & good juju coming her way. This will be especially helpful now that I can't be there as much as I was in Idaho. (That darn job thing - just cuz I'm back in the state & all, they think I should probably be back at work! So demanding! ;-) When she's alone in her room, she won't feel alone in her room. That's my goal.

As always, I promise to update with more info as soon as I get it. I'm hoping to get a sense of timelines and game plans for her when I talk to the doc(s), and that will help us better plan for non-family visitors when the time comes.

Keep the faith & keep the good stuff comin' - it's working! Take care & I'll post more later.

-Jaime

 

[Bluestreek]

Just heard the sad news

lotsa good thoughts and prayers your way and wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[Dr. Rich]

Nice to have her close by so many friends...Thanks to Jamie for keeping us all informed. Now the real work starts with trying to keep the loonies from the FJR Forum from messing with the hospital staff and Old Michael from showing everyone his scars. Welcome Home Tyler! Rich

 

[Patriot]

from"

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerrisk/journal

Wednesday, July 8, 2009 9:52 PM, PDT

It's been a bit of a day. I'm absolutely exhausted, so this is going to be short and sweet. I'll post much more tomorrow morning after a good night's sleep. Ty's continuing her fight, but definitely trudging uphill. She's stable and going in for further debrading tomorrow. I'll give you all the details over a steaming cup of coffee in the morn. Sweet dreams and take care.

-Jaime

I'll be in Lake Charles, LA 200 mi from my home all day tomorrow with the PGR at a funeral for a Marine Lance Corporal.

Leaving at 4am - 3 hour ride

Folks, keep an eye on the Caringbridge Journal and post up Jaime's latest news. I know ya'll will.

let's ride safe and be careful out there

prayers sent up daily for Tyler and her family & friends,

Mike in Nawlins'

 

[Patriot]

from"

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerrisk/journal

Thursday, July 9, 2009 7:24 AM, PDT

Ah, much better. Amazing what a few ZZZs and a good cup o'joe can do for my ability to organize my thoughts.

Paid 2 visits to Ty yesterday - one at lunch and the other after dinner. Lunchtime was more interactive - she was mildly lucid, nodding and squeezing my hand. She's still got her spirit in her, jokingly grimacing & shaking her head when I commiserated with her about having that darn breathing tube back in. During that visit, I was fortunate enough to meet the burn physical therapist, who came in to check out Ty's legs. She intro'd herself to Ty and measured her for leg splints that will be used to keep Tyler's leg from permanently splaying out like frog's legs (which they're doing right now - a natural result of such lengthy bed confinement). The splints will keep her feet flexed & her legs rolled inward. The therapist will also be coming in regularly to do PT w/Ty around flexion of her legs to prevent atrophy and freezing of her legs in certain positions. It's gonna hurt like heck and the therapist warned Ty about that, but it's absolutely necessary. Ty nodded and comprehended during all of this - she gets it, knows it's necessary, and will cooperate, I've no doubt. I really liked the therapist & I think she & Ty will be a good match.

The night visit was much more subdued as Tyler was more sedated. No nods, squeezes, etc. but I stroked her hair & spoke to her as though she was hearing me b/c I know somewhere deep in there she is. I updated her on Shannon, all of you, etc. and reminded her she is not in this alone, that we are all standing right behind her pulling for her. I told her to think of the ambulance escort and multiply that by 100 and she'd have a good visual of how many people are pulling for her and backing her up as she starts this difficult, painful part of her recovery. I also reminded her there was something much bigger than her that she could lean into at ANY time, esp. when she didn't think she could do it anymore, and that power would support her, carry her and get her forward to the next point of rest.

She's going into surgery again today for further debradement. The surgeons then hope to have a better idea of just exactly what they're dealing with and formulate a game plan. They had to cut Tuesday's debradement shorter than planned b/c her blood pressure started to drop (a preliminary sign of shock) so they shut it down to allow her to rest and stabilize. They're hoping to finish the job today. Both surgeons I talked to said it will be a matter of months before Ty can leave the hospital. It will be a very extensive, time-consuming undertaking in terms of grafting, and her injuries have even some of the most seasoned burn nurses raising their eyebrows. (When Tyler does, she does big, right?) Their goal is to get rid of that breathing tube after today's procedure. The necessary downside of that is less drugs, which equals more pain for Ty. (But the risk of pneumonia is nothing to mess with...)

Right now, the docs are happy with Tyler's stability although she's still running a bit of a fever. But the faces are grim just in the sense of what she's facing in her recovery. She's fixable but it's going to be a very long haul. I write all this not to bring everyone down ("Good morning sunshine!") but rather to reorient us all to the reality of the situation. We were all flying pretty high (me included) a couple of days ago, and those times are necessary and invaluable, but now it's back to work, if you will. The good news is we know Ty's spirit and willfulness (boy do we! ;-) and if *anyone* can make it through this, it's her. Her nurses are *wonderful* and they've already gotten to know her through me. I've warned them what a big personality she has, so to be ready, and they're looking forward to "meeting" her when she comes to. I'll be putting up some pictures of Ty in her room so they know her in "real" life. Some people are putting together a digital frame of photos from her life (thanks to CC's mom for the suggestion) so that'll be in her room for her to look at when we can't be there. Forum posters, feel free to fire up some threads to collect photos to be included - I know you all are dying to do something for Ty, and that would be a big one. Email me when you start such a thread so I'm aware of it & can get the photos in the frame.

Well, my coffee's drained & I suppose I should be getting off to work now (rolling eyes). Keep Ty in your thoughts and prayers - I suspect on that other plane she's sometimes inhabiting they get through to her just fine. Take care & keep the faith.

-Jaime

 

[Patriot]

from:

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerrisk/journal

Thursday, July 9, 2009 10:34 PM, PDT

Yay, a little uptick! They did Ty's 2nd debradement today, and it was shorter than the first because everything looked pretty healthy. That's good. They're taking her vent tube out tomorrow after her morning dressing change. That's great! Now it's a matter of waiting and watching how the exposed tissue responds and see if there's any indication of any other tissue that will need to be removed. (I don't pretend to have taken Skin Grafting 101, but the idea seems to be to make sure that the tissue that is there is completely healthy, clean and will be suitable for grafts.) It did sound like there will likely be some more debradement procedures in her future, but the first push is finished and she's stable and doing okay.

Visited her today after work, which was very uneventful - she was completely out b/c she had just gotten back from surgery an hour before I arrived. I set up her speakers and turned her iPod on again to give her some more of her favorite "new age" stuff to listen to and relax to. Maybe it'll just be really good soundtrack to an amazing head trip - who knows. Her splints are in full effect - her poor little legs were rolled completely forward to center & toes were flexed beautifully right up to the sky. (She is a dancer, after all - "point, flex, point, flex" - Marie would be proud!) I also put up a couple of pictures of Ty in "real life" so her nurses get to see Ty as she usually is. The nurse there (Jennifer, great gal w/7 years of burn nursing experience) was really receptive & enthusiastic about that & looks forward to meeting our Ty.

I'll be heading back over tomorrow at lunch to check in on the breathing tube-less lady. I'll have an update for you again after that. Thanks to all of you for all the encouragement, support and well wishes. I am indeed looking after myself as well, getting lots of sleep, eating and looking forward to some R & R this weekend. I'm no good to her (and to you) if I'm all burnt out, I know. Take care & you'll hear from me again tomorrow.

-Jaime

 

[Scarbo]

Very, very sorry to hear this. My prayers and thoughts are with Tyler and her family.

Hang in there, Tyler.

Good luck.

Al

 

[FJRONAMISSION]

LETS SWAMP THE HOSPITAL WITH CARDS NOW!!

Tylers Address for Get well cards

Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Patient: Tyler Risk c/o TICU

751 S. Bascom Avenue

San Jose, CA 95128

B...

 

[Solo]

I've not met Tyler, but I've been a forum member for several years and have appreciated and laughed at her posts. With this outpouring of love, it is apparent how, over the years, she has touched the hearts of those who have met her. I'm not a religious person and won't pray for what I need, but I will pray for Tyler. I've been reading this post from the beginning, and I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of love. Tyler, I love a strong woman, and that you seem to be. I wish you the strength to get through this tough time.

Jamie, you are an angel.

Tom

 

[Patriot]

from:

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tylerrisk/journal

Friday, July 10, 2009 10:41 PM, PDT

(Head slap!) By now, I should definitely know better than to promise something is going to happen before it has actually happened (see previous journal postings re: Ty's expected date of departure from Idaho...) While the general surgical resident told me yesterday that the breathing tube was going to be removed this morning, that information was changed by the head general surgeon, who very nicely called me and updated me on Ty's situation this afternoon. The tube stays in for the time being. The good news is that leaving Ty's ventilator tube in is not a sign of Ty doing badly, but rather a precaution b/c the sedative they're giving her for dressing changes can interfere with her own voluntary respiration (it's the same drug made so famous by Michael Jackson's death: Propofol) so they need the ventilator there to breathe for her. They were happy with what they saw when they went in for the 2nd debradement yesterday - her wounds looked "really good" and there was healthy tissue there. Some areas of necrosis went fairly deep, however, and those are the areas they're keeping a particularly close watch on. Her doctor advised me she doesn't want to continue the Ketamine with Tyler b/c she's concerned re: the long term effects it could have on her emotional well-being, and she doesn't want to continue to take her to that "dark place" when there's an alternative. Hence, the Propofol. Tyler will better be able to tolerate the dressing changes as time passes from the last surgical procedure, and as she does, the Propofol dosage will be taken down, and as that happens, she gets closer to being able to kick the breathing tube.

Soooo, our poor girl is still on that thing, but it's better than not breathing, so she'll just have to suck it up. (See what I did there? Breathing tube? Suck it up? Hee hee hee - it's late & I'm a wee bit punchy, sorry.) Overall her surgeon sounded cautiously very optimistic about the prognosis for Tyler - she's not out of the woods yet in terms of what damage may have been done by the dead tissue, but things look positive at this point. Now that the initial debradings are completed, they'll just keep a close watch on the remaining tissue and see if it responds & regenerates in a healthy way and can stay infection-free. Keep your fingers crossed, and visualize healthy pink shiny clean tissue that would heartily welcome a skin graft & make it its new BFF.

My visit with her today was again subdued. She was pretty nonresponsive with me, although I did get some slight nods when I asked her if it was okay if I stroked her hair, and if she wanted me to continue to "tickey" her arm. (Ask her later...) And a very faint hand squeeze. But other than that she was pretty far gone.

Pleasekeep in mind the importance of leaving her undisturbed at this point, out of respect both for Tyler and for her friends who are patiently (and excruciatingly) cooperating in not coming by for a visit at this time. I say this because a friend of someone who knows Ty sent a couple of representatives from his church to pray over Tyler and bless her. A very kind and thoughtful gesture that I very much appreciated, but one that would have been much better timed to a later date when we're not so worried about infection and Ty's energy levels. She is still running a fever at times, and they're still watching her blood pressure b/c of its tendencies to drop, so that needs to be the focus right now. Thank you all in advance for understanding and respecting the importance of the need for limited visitation right now.

She's got six more cards on her window sill today, and they're all wonderfully uplifting and heartfelt. I'm looking forward to showing them to her when she awakes - keep 'em coming! (Let's make her a superstar in the mailroom.

Off to bed I go. I'll be visting her again tomorrow & will post more afterwards. Take care and have a safe weekend.

-Jaime