Thursday, March 15, 2007

One Long Night/Day/Night


Hi friends & family~ We're creating this page to keep you all updated on Dad's journey from the YMCA on Monday, March 12th, to the Trauma ICU at Baylor Medical downtown Dallas where he currently resides.

This first post might be a little longer, then hopefully we'll add periodic updates as the doctors and staff monitor his condition & progress.

MONDAY NIGHT, March 12
Mark, Mom, & Dad were working out at the YMCA. After his last set of military press, Dad felt like his neck was suddenly hurting and his forehead was in immense pain. He lay down on a mat, then told Mark to call someone. We all know if Dad was asking for help, the pain must have been unbearable.

The ambulance took him to the Baylor ER at Grapevine where they waited for several hours managing his pain and waiting to do a cat scan. He got a CT scan about 12:30 a.m., which determined that there were incredible amounts of blood on his brain. (those of you in medical professions will have to excuse my lack of technical writing ability & knowledge). The original determination was that he had a brain anuerysm and needed to be transported to Baylor Medical downtown Dallas. It was too foggy to go by helicopter, so an ambulance rushed him to "Big Baylor" about 2:00 a.m. He was admitted to the ER where they scheduled a brain catheterization to relieve the pressure.

TUESDAY a.m.,March 13
Around 5 in the morning, Dr. Shaad Bidiwala (www.txneurosurgery.com) did a "procedure" that involved drilling through his skull and putting a drain deep into dad's brain to relieve pressure. Apparently, the range of normal brain pressure is between 5 and 15. Dad's measured at 65. Ouch.

Around 9, a vascular interventional neuroradiologist, Dr. Layton (http://www.americanrad.com ) angiogram. We prayed very specifically that they would find nothing other than the blood when they went in. The amazing miracle was that it didn't appear to be an anuerysm. It was either an anuerysm that had clotted itself off (very rare) or what he called a benign perimesencephalic hemorrage. Basically, they found nothing except the bleeding. God graciously answered our prayers...all glory to Him!

The doctors were and are inconclusive about what exactly happened. They may have clarity at some point, but the doctors do say it was completely unrelated to weight lifting or any specific pre-existing condition. A total mystery.

WEDNESDAY, March 14
At 6 a.m. they performed another CT scan to determine if the bleeding had continued. There was still blood (the draining process takes awhile) but there was nothing new. Yea! He was sedated through an anesthetic with more tubes & wires coming out of him than a surround sound TV. Wednesday morning, they let him try breathing on his own, which went well. He woke up very confused, with his last memory of lifting weights at the Y. He was very weak in speech, but recognized us & was able to say he was in a lot of pain. Throughout the day, he was working to piece together what happened. He was somewhat disoriented, but obviously that is normal for a brain bleed! The nurses kept telling us they have NEVER seen anyone awake the day after a brain bleed. Again, GOD IS GOOD!!!!!

Dad's first question to the doctor was "When can I go back to work?" followed quickly by, "When can I start running again?" The doctor commented that he would be tied up for quite awhile (pun intended, I believe).



15 comments:

gwynne said...

Dear Team...what a GREAT summary...and praise to the Lord. We'll keep praying for continued healing and for God's purposes in this new challenge. (I knew we needed an evanglist in the ICU) Hugs to all at Camp Galanos this morning. Love Gwynne and Don

Betty said...

Hi Chris! We are so thankful for the good report and you look pretty good even with a hole in your head! We are keeping you and your whole "team" continually in our prayers and praising God for His care for you all.
We love you all, Betty & Jim

peggygalanos said...

Chris & Fam,

Wow, what a week! Well I've changed all my passwords to your name so everytime I log in I pray for you....silly but it's working well. So it was funny to me that you remembered your passwords. :) We love you and have all our prayer warriors in Lubbock lifting you up. And yes I can confirm your brother DID get on an airplane to see you(While you were Sleeping). We'll see you this week. Praise Him for already hearing and answering our prayers for you.
((((((((((((HUGE HUGS)))))))))))))
Peggy

William Nickell said...

Hi Chris,
You and your family are in our prayers daily. We know God is in control and he is the great healer. We are confident in his will and future for you as a believer trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for all your needs and eternal life. We will continue to lift you up to him in prayer, knowing that that is his desire and direction to us. May God bless and keep you.

Niesha said...

Dear Chris,
BSF hymns "To God Be the Glory" and "The Love of God" have been on my mind for these last days and if I could click my heels together I would! One of my favorite verses is Nehemiah 8:11. What comfort it is to know the joy of the Lord gives us strength. I am praising God for you and the care you are receiving. I love you, my wonderful brother-in-law. Always in Christ, Niesha

bill crawford said...

Chris,
From the moment I heard I have not been lazy in prayer. 1 Samuel 12:23...."how can I sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you."
I miss you....I love you..I hope the best for you.
I've checked every airline everyday since I got Jim's call to see if there was anyway I could be there standing by. My heart is in Texas....which I never thought I'd say. Hundreds are praying here for you. Bill Crawford

gwynne said...

Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.
The LORD [is] my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Two great verses to hold in your heart during these more challenging days...We love you...Hugs..Gwynne and Don

Barbara Kois said...

I'm so glad about the encouraging news from the doctors and appreciate so much Nicole letting us know what's going on.

Much prayer is happening for Chris, Carla and the whole family. And I know your faith and trust are holding you up during this challenge.

I love all of you and will be praying and thinking of you.

Love, Barbara

Pic said...

Galanos you subborn Texan!

Get better real fast. We're all praying for you.

As a good Catholic boy, I lit a candle for you yesterday.

Pic

Kittie said...

Dear Chris:

Today I received an E-mail from Carol Hillman and was shocked to hear of your what is happening to you. Needless to say I will pray for you daily and request all that nurse Julie said to ask for. My prayers will also go out for your family. God be with you at this time.

KITTIE COX (Class of 63-Catherine Nazario)

Kittie said...

Dear Chris:

Today I received the news about your health crisis from Carol Hillman. My heartfelt prayers are with you. I will continue to pray daily for your recovery. Also will include your family. God be with you during this time.

Always, KITTIE COX
(Class of 63-Catherine Nazario)

NancyLK said...

Hello Chris,
I am amazed that this would happen to you, of course only you would be unique in such an event!! Thankfully so and thankfully your course of recovery seems to also be unique and VERY SUCCESSFUL. My thoughts are with you, my prayers for continued recovery and return to health. Nancy K from Crystal Lake (CIGNA)

Beth said...

Nicole and family. You are in oyr thoughts and prayers. All of the Staff at St. James is praying for a speedy recovery for you father. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do. With your permission I would like to take this to the St. James office so that thier prayer chain can also send up prayers for your family let me know. Beth

marilyn_hamner said...

Hi Chris:

I was your escrow closer at Chicago Title when you purchased your home. I thought your name looked familiar so when you came in that day I asked if you were the "famous" baseball player at Monterey H.S. We had some good laughs that day. I believe Carla was a year or two behind us (lucky girl!) Anyway I received the email to our classmates and was shocked to learn of your circumstances. I certainly wish you a quick & speedy recovery. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. GOD Bless!! Marilyn Wallace Hamner
marilynkh@juno.com

Wanda Russell Cobb said...

Hi Chris ~
It's Wanda Russell Cobb. I'm not sure if you'll remember me but you look just like I remember you in class at MHS. I know this is only a speed bump in your life journey and from what I'm reading, you have extremely strong faith in God. Our God is an awesome God and He is the Great Physician. I pray God will keep you and your family close to Him and bring you relief from the pain and restore you to good health. My favorite scripture is Jeremiah 31:3 "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee."
Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers ~
Wanda Russell Cobb