UPDATE: Please Help Tessa Eaton

Before I update you I would like to take this moment to thank everyone who donated. When I started this campaign for Tessa and her family, I was hoping for $5000. I never imagine that we would be able to raise over $42,000! I am so grateful to all that contributed and really appreciate the support. Thank you so very much! Susan♥️

Update 12/16 - Surgery 8

Tessa had her 8th surgery last night to graft skin from her right hip over the open wound on her forearm and hand. The doctor was very pleased with the result and is optimistic that it will be a success. It will take about 3 weeks before we know for sure. The organism found in her wound is being treated with a broad spectrum medication while sensitivity tests are run in the lab. It can take 7-10 days to determine sensitivity. We are hoping her current medication will do the trick since it can be taken by mouth. This would allow her to go home without a PICC line.

Tessa continues to be in good spirits. We are hoping to get her home sometime in the next few days.

Update 12/2

Tessa was able to go home on November 21st. 28 days in the hospital, 7 surgeries and two hands! Home health nurses come twice a week to change her bandages. It is a long and painful process, but we can see improvement each time.

She had her first follow up with her surgeon on Thursday. He is hoping to do a skin graft and remove the external hardware before Christmas. Tessa will be much more comfortable without the external hardware, so we are looking forward to the next surgery. The doctor is waiting on blood supply to improve in the area around her thumb and forefinger in order for the skin graft to have the best chance to take.

Tessa will be starting occupational therapy soon (hopefully this coming week) to work on movement in her fingers. Right not they are curled and stiff. They need to have passive range of motion so they have a better chance of movement once the tendons and nerves are repaired.

Tessa has good days and bad days. She is determined to be as independent as possible, which is a great motivator for her to get through the harder days. She has started to catch up on her school work at home. She would like to return to school by the start of second semester in mid-January. There are a lot of factors that will determine her ability to return, primary among them is her infection risk.

How you can be praying:

Occupational therapy would go well and improve range of motion in her fingers

The blood supply around her thumb and forefinger would improve and allow for a healthy skin graft

Emotional healing

Tessa remains infection free

Pain control

Update 11/16 Surgery 6

Last night Tessa’s surgeons were able to do more tendon repairs on a few fingers, clean out the wound, and apply a synthetic skin graft over the open areas. This will hopefully allow her to go home in a few days with a wound vac and antibiotics. The doctor anticipates a month of treatment with antibiotics and the wound vac at home before bringing her back to do a graft with her own skin. If she continues to make progress, more tendon and nerve repairs will take place sometime in early 2024.

While they doctors were not able to repair as much as they had hoped during this last surgery, they believe she is still making forward progress. Unfortunately, this will be a very long road, and Tessa is still at the beginning.

Specific prayers…

1. The antibiotics will be effective against the bacteria in her wound an no further infections develop

2. Her body responds well to the synthetic graft and wound vac, allowing for her tissue to heal

3. A positive transition home. While Tessa is excited to go home, the thought of getting into a car is understandably frightening. We will also need to assess and modify her environment to allow her independence, safety, and comfort.

4. Pain control

5. Her spirit as she continues to grieve and embrace this new reality.

Update 11/11: Surgery 5

Tessa went back in to surgery for 4 hours today. The doctor was pleased with the progress. He was able to begin the repair of tendons to three of her fingers as well as clean out more debris. He says her blood supply remains robust and all fingers are fully oxygenated. He is also beginning to see signs of healing in her tissue. The wound vac was put back on her palm and wrist.

Cultures taken during her surgery on Tuesday revealed the presence of a drug resistant organism. This was not a surprise to the doctor due to the amount of debris in her hand. Thankfully, the lab was able to identify an antibiotic that can treat this organism. IV antibiotics will be started today and an infectious disease physician will consult.

The next step is another surgery on Monday or Tuesday with the hope to continue tendon repairs and possibly do a nerve graft.

Please pray…

The antibiotics are effective against the organism in her wound. She would be free of any additional infections.

The tendon repairs heal well.

Her pain is controlled

Continued blood flow to her fingers and thumb

Thank you! ❤️

Update 5 - 11/8

Tessa’s surgery last night went really well! Dr. Hess, the surgeon leading her team, was able to salvage some of her own skin tissue to begin closing the wound on her palm. He also placed a wound vac on her wrist and upper palm. These will improve healing and reduce swelling. They were not able to repair any nerves or tendons due to infection risk. The next step is to allow her wounds to heal for a few days before performing a skin graft to completely cover the wounds. At this point we expect the next surgery to take place on Saturday. If they are able, the team will address some tendon and nerve repair then as well.

Her fingers are still cold, but blood oxygen in them is 100%. The doctor is not worried about the temperature as long as blood oxygen continues to remain high.

When I went to see Tessa in the post op area, the three nurses caring for her were the same nurses that saw her the first night she came in. They all remembered her and said they have been following her case because she made such an impact on them that first night. They all stood around her bed and prayed over her once she was alert. It was so beautiful.

We are celebrating each victory and continue to be humbled by the love and support we are receiving. It truly is keeping us going every day!

Update 4 - 11/5

The past two days Tessa has been able to tolerate bedside dressing changes. This allows for more frequent clean out and less infection risk. Previously this was only done under general anesthesia. It is painful and scary, but she has amazing strength. Her doctors are planning do another surgery on Monday to add some tissue and work on some tendon repairs.

Please pray…

- tissue can be added and not take blood flow from fingers

- wound continues to heal and stay infection free

- dressing changes are tolerated as pain meds are decreased

- wisdom as doctors strategize how to improve blood flow.

- Tessa’s emotional health as she processes grief and gratitude together.

Update 3:

Hi everyone- update time. Next surgery will be Monday or Tuesday with a goal of repairing some soft tissue and tendons. They have started daily dressings changes. Super stressful for the first one, but yesterday (2nd time) was a little less scary for Tessa.

Tessa’s grief ebbs and flows; today is a tough one. Katie welcomes visitors when Tessa is up to it, but asks that you please check in with her first so she can let you know if it’s a good time.

Keep up the positive energy/thoughts/prayers! I’ll send another update Monday or Tuesday.

Update 2 for Tessa:

The results of Tessa’s vascular scans were not as conclusive as the doctors had hoped. It appears the two arteries to her hand end at the wrist. Somehow she is getting blood to her fingers, possibly through small vessels on the top of her hand. Her fingers are all still pink and have movement. She will undergo her next surgery on Wednesday with the purpose of cleaning out more debris and investigating the arteries further. If her Palmer arch is in tact the doctor has better options for improving blood flow and transplanting tissue. If not, a transplant from another part of her body will be needed and is more complicated. Her thumb continues to be the most tenuous. That said, every day she has blood flow improves the odds of saving her fingers. Several doctors are consulting to determine the best path forward. Most likely her 4th surgery will be Friday and will include a tissue transplant and skin graft, depending on the outcome of Wednesday’s procedure.

This is all very scary and overwhelming.

We are specifically praying for…

Continued blood flow/healing of her blood vessels

That Tessa’s palm arch is intact (a big ask!)

Tessa would stay free from infection and all debris would be cleared Wednesday

Ability to process emotions as they arise

Pain control

Wisdom for the physicians

Update 1

Surgery was better than expected. The doctor said they were able to place the external fixator to align and stabilize her fingers. She still has blood supply to all her fingers (praise God, this is a miracle). Next step is to continue to watch for blood flow. Her thumb is the most at risk, but hanging in there. Possible surgery in 4-5 days to add flesh and skin graft over the palm of her hand. It feels like a positive outcome, but still tenuous. A good first step, though not out of the woods.

Next miracle we are praying for is continued blood flow to all fingers. That the vascular structure in her thumb would strengthen each day, allowing her to keep it. Protection from infection. And pain control.

Original Post:

Hello All,.

The Eaton Family needs our help. Tessa, their youngest, is a sophomore at Patrick, Henry, and a water polo player for San Diego Shores. Sadly, she was in a serious rollover crash Tuesday on her way to practice. Thankfully the driver is uninjured, and Tessa had no major brain or organ injury, but her right hand was badly crushed. She went into surgery right away with a hand surgeon and they did what they could with the remaining tissue.

A second specialist (hand surgeon) was consulted today and will assess her tomorrow. The surgeons will work together to do everything they can to save some of her hand with the goal of keeping what they can , but they made it clear that some of the hand will be lost. Of course Tessa is in complete shock/grief and they are all just beginning to process this.

Currently the surgeons think it’s best to let her hand rest for a few days, so they don’t plan to go back to the OR until Friday or Saturday. They are looking at a minimum of 6 surgeries over the next weeks/months.

In the past three years, the Eatons have endured stage four cancer and two spine surgeries. Let’s rally and help this amazing and deserving family. Any amount is appreciated.

Thank you for your support.

Susan Furtak

619-254-0452