Randy's Ride to Recovery
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Randy James and Natalie De La Torre were in a Motorcycle accident on July 30, 2015. Randy lost control of the bike and hit a hydrant. He injured his large and small intestines, and liver. Thankfully, Natalie had no injuries, except a stiff neck. Thursday morning Randy was instantly put into surgery because he had internal bleeding and his intestines were leaking. The prognosis was not well. They thought all of his intestines were going to have to be taken out, but they waited a day.
Heavily sedated, ventilator through his mouth, and a early rushed surgery was to follow on Friday morning. The surgeon decided that all of his intestines did not have to be removed. However, he had two-thirds of his small intestine removed, a good portion of his large intestine, and colon removed. Saturday was the rest day and Sunday begun with yet again another surgery to check the recovery of his intestines. He was starting the healing process, it was not close to over.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday their were some complications and trouble to arise. Randy was put through a surgery, X-Rays, CT Scans, MRIs, and to bat had aquired Pneumonia. The doctor could not take the ventilator out because his lungs had failed from the body concetrating soely on healing the intestines. So, he was getting better in one area, but another area to be fixed. A Tracheostomy surgery was performed on Wednesday to make him more comfortable and eventually talk to his family memebers. Still heavily sedated and restrained Randy was struggling, his fight was not over. Thursday and Friday, he was put into a medically induced coma because his blood pressure was way too high and he was fighting the nurses. Again, the doctor wanted his body to focus on healing. Saturday and Sunday, He was slowly waking up from the medically induced coma. Still had that infection and Pneumonia.
The third week, was still in ICU and was just starting to wake up. He woke up confused and was told the story over and over again of what had happened to him. He was frustrated and wanted to communicate, but the tracheostomy had not matured and he was not ready. His muscle's hadn't been used in three weeks, so his writings looked of those as a kindergardner. Each day, was a progression of the last. The hopes and prayers had been floating around for weeks. His strength and youth would carry him through. It was a week of hope and a sign that he was really doing better.
The Fourth week, Randy's progression took off! There had been word that he'd be taken out of ICU sometime this week. On Tuesday, he was awake even more so. Randy was getting better and writing and communicating. The doctors tested the limits, when they turned off the ventilator machine to see if he could breathe on his own. Wouldn't you know it, he could! Wednesday, was even a better day. Physical Therapy was working on moving his legs and arms. Again, it was hard at first because those muscles had been at rest for weeks, they did not want to move or had the capability to. He was able to talk with a special piece of a trach that would enable him to speak, what a relief! Thursday was the best morning of all. He was moved out of ICU and into a room on the third floor. Wanting to see the outside tremoundously, he finally could. Talking and the first day of eating actual food. His progression was astonishing. He isn't out of the woods, but he is finally stable and in recovery. He will be going home with an in house nurse. Well this is where I leave the story things are definately not over, but looking up.
Randy and Natalie are really going to need some help with their expenses for the next few months. We would really appeciate the help and are looking at a goal of 10,000. Let's make this happen so they can still have somewhere to call home. The medical expenses we are not sure of the exact price, but anything helps. He has to get a clean/sterile room set up for home. There are so many things to do for Randy's speedy recovery. He's got a second chance at life, help him thrive!
"Appreciate everyday that you're alive, somewhere in the world others are fighting to survive"
"Blessed are those who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing" -Camille Pissarro
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary destiny" -C.S. Lewis
Heavily sedated, ventilator through his mouth, and a early rushed surgery was to follow on Friday morning. The surgeon decided that all of his intestines did not have to be removed. However, he had two-thirds of his small intestine removed, a good portion of his large intestine, and colon removed. Saturday was the rest day and Sunday begun with yet again another surgery to check the recovery of his intestines. He was starting the healing process, it was not close to over.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday their were some complications and trouble to arise. Randy was put through a surgery, X-Rays, CT Scans, MRIs, and to bat had aquired Pneumonia. The doctor could not take the ventilator out because his lungs had failed from the body concetrating soely on healing the intestines. So, he was getting better in one area, but another area to be fixed. A Tracheostomy surgery was performed on Wednesday to make him more comfortable and eventually talk to his family memebers. Still heavily sedated and restrained Randy was struggling, his fight was not over. Thursday and Friday, he was put into a medically induced coma because his blood pressure was way too high and he was fighting the nurses. Again, the doctor wanted his body to focus on healing. Saturday and Sunday, He was slowly waking up from the medically induced coma. Still had that infection and Pneumonia.
The third week, was still in ICU and was just starting to wake up. He woke up confused and was told the story over and over again of what had happened to him. He was frustrated and wanted to communicate, but the tracheostomy had not matured and he was not ready. His muscle's hadn't been used in three weeks, so his writings looked of those as a kindergardner. Each day, was a progression of the last. The hopes and prayers had been floating around for weeks. His strength and youth would carry him through. It was a week of hope and a sign that he was really doing better.
The Fourth week, Randy's progression took off! There had been word that he'd be taken out of ICU sometime this week. On Tuesday, he was awake even more so. Randy was getting better and writing and communicating. The doctors tested the limits, when they turned off the ventilator machine to see if he could breathe on his own. Wouldn't you know it, he could! Wednesday, was even a better day. Physical Therapy was working on moving his legs and arms. Again, it was hard at first because those muscles had been at rest for weeks, they did not want to move or had the capability to. He was able to talk with a special piece of a trach that would enable him to speak, what a relief! Thursday was the best morning of all. He was moved out of ICU and into a room on the third floor. Wanting to see the outside tremoundously, he finally could. Talking and the first day of eating actual food. His progression was astonishing. He isn't out of the woods, but he is finally stable and in recovery. He will be going home with an in house nurse. Well this is where I leave the story things are definately not over, but looking up.
Randy and Natalie are really going to need some help with their expenses for the next few months. We would really appeciate the help and are looking at a goal of 10,000. Let's make this happen so they can still have somewhere to call home. The medical expenses we are not sure of the exact price, but anything helps. He has to get a clean/sterile room set up for home. There are so many things to do for Randy's speedy recovery. He's got a second chance at life, help him thrive!
"Appreciate everyday that you're alive, somewhere in the world others are fighting to survive"
"Blessed are those who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing" -Camille Pissarro
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for extraordinary destiny" -C.S. Lewis
Organizer
Candice James
Organizer
Simi Valley, CA