Month: August 2008

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

This morning Dr. Tarkin told me that during the irrigation and debridement procedure, done early this morning, he found very little muscle and tissue damage. He was very pleased with what he saw. He said that our main goal now is to combat any infection that could potentially occur. Monday he will have the procedure repeated. After that, and if all is still well, they can proceed to the next phase which is closing the wounds. Josh actually has two major open wounds on his left lower leg. The higher one is the lesser of the two. This is where the bone came through. The lower gash is where he lost most of the tissue and that will need grafting. They will still have to work on the higher wound, but it is not as complex. The shin bone doesn’t have much tissue in front of it is naturally so this is where the grafting will be necessary.

This afternoon the Plastic Surgeon and all the interns came in to talk about Joshua’s next step in treatment. The plastic surgeons said that they may do a dye test to map his vascular system and show which areas on the left leg can be used for grafting.

Josh is now taking his pain medicine in pill form, not through the I.V. He is needing it less and less. He is still in good spirits and very appreciative of the outpouring of love and care from his family and friends. He definitely feels the love!

Today Dr. Tarkin, Josua’s Orthopaedic surgeon, told us that Josua is doing well and that tomorrow he will undergo his first irrigation and debridement operation following the bone setting and rod placement yesterday.

To recap:

Joshua suffered a compound fracture of his left tibia. Orthopaedic surgeons placed a metal rod through the tibia bone and cleaned and re-attached the skin that had de-gloved around his ankle. He will have to have several follow up irrigation and debridement procedures in order to prevent deep bone infection (osteomyelitis)

He will have to have some sort of muscle flap to repair lost muscle and tissue, and a bone graft to replace a large part of bone that could not be repaired. The muscle flap will be grafted from another place on his body.

His treatments and recovery will take a considerable amount of time. He will have to remain in Pittsburgh for a very minimum of three weeks, and could be six weeks or longer depending on how fast his body repairs the damage and the absence of any infection.

At the time of this writing, he has been in the hospital for close to 24 hours and is taking strong pain medication and two different antibiotics intraveniously. He is resting well and remains in good spirits. He jokes with everyone even though he is obviously in pain. Josh is one of the finest people I have ever known, even if he is my own son.

Your prayers are much appreciated for his rapid and complete healing and recovery.

–Sheri

Josh went Rappelling in Portersville, PA and fell 50′ straight down, landing hard and bouncing up on his feet. The impact was on his left leg. He has a serious lower leg injury (a compound fracture of the tibia) and the Orthopaedic surgeon told us that he will be in the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hospital for 3 weeks minimum and possibly as many as six weeks. He will have to have a bone graft, skin graft and agressive treatment to prevent inffection. The doctor believes that he has a very good chance of keeping his leg. He also told us that had he not been brought here to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, his chances of keeping his limb would not be so good. At this time I am waiting for Josh to awaken from surgery. He had to have one bone removed and a rod placed down the length of his tibia. The Doctor told us that Josh has the healthiest legs he has ever seen and that will be a major plus for his recovery. Mike and Joe will arrive here in Pittsburgh in a few hours. Jay is with me now. Joanna and Jessica are arriving at this moment with the Mrs. Burnett.

James Burnett performed first aid, applied a tourniquet by tying his shirt around his lower leg. He kept Josh calm, went to call 911 and assisted in getting Josh out. They waited for over a half hour for help to arrive. It took 45 minutes for the rescuers to get to him. The paramedics were inexperienced and not used to handling such a situation. James helped hold the I.V. bag for them and kept holding him up. The paramedic was visibly shaking as he tried to insert the I.V. He was totally rattled. Then he finally gave Josh a pain shot. James told us that the E.M.T. was even standing on the I.V. tube. James told the guy he was standing on it then moved it where he couldn’t stand on it. James helped them get Josh into the basket to carry him out. The helicopter that lifted him out landed in a field nearby.

Here are some of the pictures that Josh’s youth pastor and friend, James Burnett, gave me.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry