Detailed Status Report - 11/22

Susan and Steve sat down with Shea's attending physician late Monday night for a lengthy, comprehensive review of Shea's condition. .

1. The punch line first: The doctors are more optimistic given her improvement. One doctor called Shea's case the biggest miracle he's seen in lung recovery. But she is far from out of the woods and her recovery will be long and painful and probably require multiple surgeries (more about that later). The doctor advised them to keep these thoughts in mind and prepare themselves emotionally for a series of ups and downs. At some point, still unclear, she will move to a less aggressive ventilator. However, it is possible that Shea will remain on a ventilator for another three weeks or so.

2. Shea has a number of serious facial fractures: above the bridge of the nose, below both eyes, below the nose, and three vertical fractures in the lower jaw (one in the middle and one on each side). She has a number of eggshell fractures over a wide area of the lower half of her face. Shea's two upper front teeth and possibly one or two lower teeth are broken. There is a gap between the two front lower teeth as a result of the lower mid-jaw vertical fracture. These. Fractures will not be easy to repair and surgery is probably 2 weeks away given her condition. That's not ideal but she needs to be stabilized and be able to breathe with a different ventilator that can accommodate a move to a surgery room. Prayer is needed to locate the right team of osteopathic, oral/dental and cosmetic surgeons to perform these surgeries. It is assumed these initial surgeries will occur here in Macon, but there will need to be multiple procedures and follow-up.

3. The fracture below the right eye came within a millimeter of damaging the optic nerve of that eye. It was not clear if the inability to immediately repair that fracture posed continuing risk of damage to the nerve.

4. The doctor emphasized that the price of protecting the brain was paid by the large bones and jaw of that beautiful face.

5. As of midnight the DPL lab tests results were not back. So all we know is that the fluid extracted from the abdomen was clear. We should have test results by the 11:00 call.

6. On the issue of neurological response and oxygen supply to the brain: Shea was screaming in the emergency room so her lung function was not seriously impaired for several hours following the accident. At some point the lungs took on blood apparently both from the trauma to the lungs as well as from blood aspirated from the facial and sinus fractures. In addition, the lung tissue swelled and combined with the lung fluid to compromise lung capacity. The doctor likened the lungs to a balloon in a box and in Shea's case the box became very small. He noted that the ICU team had done an amazing job of reopening and clearing the lungs. He also noted that Shea appeared to have maintained reasonably good blood pressure through the early hours and good blood pressure can help compensate for reduced oxygen flow. As between good blood pressure and good oxygen flow he would take good blood pressure.

7. On the issue of neurological motor response: brain-damaged patients sometimes move their arms in stiff, mechanical movements with their forearms turned in. Shea's movements did not exhibit these characteristics.

8. There is a concern of infection stemming from the facial fractures and the potential for the onset of pneumonia. She is on antibiotics to combat these risks.

9. Shea has damage to the tendons and ligaments of the right knee and there appears to be a gap between the knee cap and the knee joint. There was no indication that this would be overly difficult to repair.

10. As previously reported, Shea has a broken collar bone. Otherwise, her arms, legs, feet, pelvis and spine all appear to be fine.


We know this is a lot of information, but we hope this will help you as you continue to support Shea in prayer.