January 20, 2006

It's Friday evening about six. I'm going to try to update you since Ryan last wrote on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Ryan had a full schedule of therapy. He worked with Heather in occupational therapy and tried out his manual wheelchair using his arms to wheel him through the halls. He then had a cooking class followed by a group class where they talked about things to watch for with spinal cord injuries. Ryan then went to a group exercise class and was supposed to have occupational therapy after that but started running a high fever again.

Barry and I met with the occupational and physical therapist at our home to see what modifications needed to be done in order to bring Ryan home. Barry and I also looked at new homes in our area. We would really like to build an addition on our home for a bedroom and bathroom for Ryan in the area outside of our sliding glass door on the deck.

Whitney spent the afternoon and night with Ryan. He really enjoys having her expertise and bedside care. The fevers continued most of the night. About four in the morning, one of Ryan's favorite nurses, Chris, told him that his right leg measured larger than it has been (one of the signs of a blood clot). By five, Ryan began having chest pain and shortness of breath. They took Ryan over to Swedish Hospital to do a CT scan and found many small blood clots in his lower lungs as well as a clot under his right knee and another one from his right knee to his ankle. A few days after Ryan's accident, the doctors inserted a blood filter to catch blood clots. In about five percent of the cases, blood clots can still get through. We don't know if the clots got through because they are small or what has happened. Based on the CT scan the blood filter is positioned correctly. There are more extensive tests that can be done to check the blood filter but they would be very invasive.

Ryan said it was a scary night and he felt anxious. His nurse Chris, told him to rely on his faith and to not be afraid. Ryan said he felt much better after she talked to him. Chris has been an angel to Ryan.

Ryan is on bed rest for the next 48 to 72 hours. At Swedish, Ryan had a central line (PICC) put in his arm that goes directly to his heart. He is receiving large doses of a blood thinner (heparin) and they are also starting IV fluids tonight.

It's hard to have him be so sick. He is a strong young man and usually recovers quickly. Hopefully he will feel good enough by the beginning of next week to be back in therapy where he is working so hard to be independent.

Here’s a scripture we wanted to share from the quilt our ward made for Ryan. It is from the Eldridge family.

Mormon 9:21

“Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth.”

We love you and we appreciate your continued prayers,

Bridgette, Barry and Ryan