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Writer's pictureJenny Terrell

Happy Memorial Day

As I sit here in the ICU with Brandon on this gloomy Memorial Day morning, I have been thinking about all the different Memorial Day's mornings I have experienced with the Terrell Family. So many different elements that we brought to that location and life moments we have dealt with on this very traditional morning. This is the first one we have missed but I know Larry and Lee would understand!


It's hard to recap the past 48 hours and the feeling we have been going through. The past 24 was scary and stressful. Spending the day with Linda and the kids while Brandon was in a 7-8 hour surgery was the best way to deal with the ups and downs of how we were feeling. The sunshine, laughing, rolling in the grass, planting flowers, looking at the ants on the peonies and picking weeds helped more than we could have imagine. Really we did everything we could to keep moving. As you know that usually isn't a problem for me. It was good to take turns to cry or just go take a deep breath. Poor Alex was so emotionally drained with another morning of Brandon being gone surprisingly he took his first 10 year old nap and felt more in control when he got up rested.


As for the surgery, since it was an emergency procedure, we didn't know what to expect. It was nice the surgeon called me before and said so so many things to prep us but in the moment it's hard to process. All day the waiting was hard but after that 4 hour mark it felt like something was sitting on our chests. Having a sun filled day really helped with that.


Details about the surgery and the successes-

Remember I am not in the medical field so bare with me!

They found the cause of the bleed which is amazing the main goal! Yahoo. It was in a branch of one (of two) arteries of the liver. They placed a stint in the artery and also stopped (embolized) the bleeding in the branch. The liver is a cool organ, I just learned it has two arteries that move blood through it and supplies it's flow. You only need one of the two which is good. They did everything with needles and small things, it wasn't an open surgery like the whipple was.


They were not able to put the stint in the bile duct from the way they did the procedure so we don't know what the next steps on that is.


I also don't know how long he will be in the ICU, he is stable and they are removing blood from his stomach still from the bleed. It's funny because when people as questions its now makes me giggle because this is science so you would think there would be answers but everything is so day by day.


They are watching for a bunch of things. The main things is how all the organs are working through things and the bile moving through. He had a good night and no additional bleeding. They are starting to remove some of the IV which is good and keep things mainly through the pic line in his arm.


It's hard to explain how mad I am at this happening to him and how sad I am watching him go through this. We just miss him so much on our daily routines. He misses it so much too.


The next round of doctors and surgeons are coming through shortly. I will see what they have to say!


Keep Brandon in your thoughts and prayers.






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5 Comments


kimclete
May 27, 2019

You are very strong, we are praying for all of you, and love you.

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devorahberman
May 27, 2019

You guys have been through so much. I'm sending love and wishes for quick healing from afar.

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vbusch
May 27, 2019

Holding you all close to my heart. Wishing you blessings for fast healing!!

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lisafix
May 27, 2019

Thank you for the update. Sending positive vibes and prayers Brandon's way. Thinking about you and your family during this time.

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ljeschkulseth
May 27, 2019

Thank you for the update, Jen. You have all been on my mind— sending more healing and positive vibes your way! You are one strong woman. 💙

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