Please consider donating to help Al and his family with the daunting medical, rehabilitation and long-term care costs associated with Al’s recent Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).  Even with ample health insurance and Al’s Veteran’s benefits (from his service in the Air Force) the costs of recovery for a TBI are very lengthy and considerable.  The long-term effects and needs remain uncertain.  However, the need for continued rehabilitation, therapy and 24-hour care will be necessary for the foreseeable future.

On Tuesday 6/11/2019 at 5:14 PM EST, while visiting his son, Scott, in Lansing, Michigan on a work trip, Al collapsed and hit the back of his head on the concrete floor in their hotel room.  He was unresponsive, bleeding from his head wound and his breathing was extremely strained. Scott called 911 right away however, Al stopped breathing and Scott began CPR immediately.  Al started to breathe again just before the paramedics arrived a few moments later.

Al spent almost 2 weeks in the Neurological ICU at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing.  He had bleeding all around his brain and cracked his skull as a result of his fall.  Al was completely unresponsive for over 3 hours and due to the severity of his injury, as well as being unresponsive for so long, it was uncertain if Al would make it through the night, or the days ahead.  Scott Rodgers, Al's best friend in Ohio, drove Barb to Lansing that night, his daughter, Jennifer, was able to fly in from Connecticut on Wednesday and his lifelong friend, Mark Palmer, drove in from Connecticut on Thursday to all be there with Al during those crucial and uncertain hours/days.  Al was minimally responsive and remained on the ventilator for the first few days.  After witnessing Al’s heart stopping periodically, they discovered a heart arrhythmia which was ultimately determined to be the cause of his fall.  The bleeding in his brain was attributed solely to a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) that resulted from the fall. Al received a pacemaker on Father’s Day, 6/16/2019 as well as a tracheostomy and feeding tube in the following days.

On Friday, 6/21/2019 Al was transported back to Columbus where he would continue his recovery in a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital (LTACH).  He continued to improve over the next several days, becoming more alert, opening his eyes and responding to commands.  Al received a speaking valve in his trachea which allowed for him to speak his first words on Barb's birthday, 7/1/2019!  Al remained in LTACH until 7/18/2019 when he was transferred to the Ohio Health Rehabilitation Hospital (OHRH).  While there, Al underwent several weeks of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy helping him learn how to walk again, eat on his own, communicate, move from his bed to his wheelchair, etc. 

Al was discharged from OHRH and released to go home on 8/14/2019!  Initially, Al could not walk on his own and relied heavily on assistance and 24 hour care.  Scott Rodgers stayed with Al throughout the days during the week while Barb was at work, and Barb would care for Al in the evenings and over the weekends.  Al continued to improve in some areas physically and occupationally however, the mental impact became very clear that his recovery would be extensive.  His hard work and determination did pay off on his birthday, 9/4/2019, when he took his first unassisted steps!  Although it was great to see his motivation to move around on his own, it increased the risk of trying to do more than his body would allow.  He doesn't remember falling, cracking his skull, or that he has a TBI.  He doesn’t realize the severity of the situation and doesn't understand that he now has limitations. 

Unfortunately, this new gain led to another fall on Monday 9/9/19.  He was rushed to Grant Hospital and diagnosed with new brain bleed.  Al remained in the hospital for 2.5 weeks and was ultimately transferred back to OHRH to undergo further physical, occupational and speech therapy.  This has been a major setback in his recovery and further complicated his thoughts, manners and cognitive progress, making the future unknown.

The Traumatic Brain Injury has resulted in several major issues for Al.  He is often very confused, frustrated, angry and combative.  He has very real memories, disassociated with time, mixed in with completely fabricated thoughts.  He is often confused of where he is, forgets who is with him or who has been there to see him.  He is also an extreme fall risk and has fallen several more times while at the hospital and OHRH.  Due to his mental state, as well as his inability to move around on his own without risk, it is not possible for Al to return home again for the foreseeable future.

Through all of this, Barb at the age of 76, has continued to work full time to support them since they’ve lost Al’s income.  We are faced with the reality of the very long recovery and the need for long term care for Al.  We are certain he will never work again and uncertain if he will ever be able to come home again.  To say the least, the last 3 months have been an emotional roller coaster for all of us and the road ahead will not be easy either.  This is a hard reality for all of us to accept.

To get us through, we have asked for Prayers for our family and they are deeply appreciated.  Asking for anything beyond prayers is extremely difficult.  However, we are at a very humbling point and find ourselves in a very real need to ask for financial assistance to help support the long-term care and rehabilitation costs we are facing.  If you are able, every little bit helps and we are forever grateful for anything you are able to donate.  If you are so inclined, please share this with your friends and family.  Please continue to pray for Al, Barb and our family as we continue to focus on his recovery.

Thank you again for all of your love, support, thoughts and prayers you have extended to our family.  We are forever grateful for your generosity.  God Bless.

 

The Trahan Family