M_Ware

Look who's looking like a million bucks! Stopped by for a quick visit on my way to NC and am happy to report that Mitch is looking great!

Here is Mitch's address at the hospital, sharing with Jenna's permission. Cards are good, no flowers at this time.

Mitch Brekke
Mary Brigh 2-196 (updated room number 8/3/17)
St. Mary's Mayo Hospital
1216 2nd Street SW
Rochester, MN 55902

His family is reading cards to him and hanging up photos.

Woohoo, looky here!

This sums it up.

One month later, @mbrekk44 looking even better.

Isn't it time we have a pet thread? Show us your dogs, cats, hamsters, iguanas, tarantulas, horses, goats, hedgehogs, llamas, bunnies, snakes, toads....you name it! Here's the canine crew at our house. Molly, Australian Cattle Dog x Corgi, in front; to the left, Hattie Jane, ACD, (aka Joan Jett and/or La Brujita); in the back, Jimmie, found by my husband in the James River in December, looks like a rez dog; and far right, Hazel, a very sweet, gun shy, thundershirt wearing Brittany.

Mitch told the bartender we met on Tinder.

Here is Jenna's latest post from tonight. When I get the new room number I will update it above.

"Thursday - Surgery #9
Journal entry by Jenna Christensen — 3 minutes ago

Mom and Dad came up to the room early to see how Mitch's night had gone. He didn't get much rest according to the night nurse as his pain and discomfort kept settling in. He thought it might have been October this morning when he woke up and asked Dad if he had been in the field yet and if his crops were okay. They told us this is common after what he has been through. Dad reassured him it was still July and it has only been a little over a week that he has been here in Rochester. Mitch was happy to hear that, and wanted to know about selling his corn. Dad asked Mitch if he would like it if he went home and hauled some of Mitch's corn. Mitch thought that this was an awesome idea and told dad he was a "good guy." This was the best stress therapy that Dad could have!

The morning rounds of doctors and teams went well and being off of the ventilator is so far so good. They need to keep the right chest tube in for a bit longer but they told us this would heal faster now without the ventilator blowing air continuously into the lungs. The kidney doctors are thinking the dialysis machine can go more intermittently after surgery and they didn't hook the machine back up when it beeped for the regular cleaning this morning at about 9:00 am.

Mom and I spent the morning hanging out with Mitch helping try to fight that pain by reading a few things off of his phone as he wanted. We have learned he hates numbering his pain and told the nurse at one point "and no.. I don't have a number."

He received an Amazon package today with a Hall and Oates CD, anyone that knows Mitch, this is his go to. We had fun as the nurse was helping him open it and he got a big smile. We got it in that CD player and the nurse, Mitch and I got jamming to "Rich Girl," and all the other nurses had to see what the commotion was. This was great and thank you to the mystery person who sent this! Mom came around the corner and got a good laugh, especially when Mitch was waving his suction wand and mouthing a few words.

They got him ready and took him for surgery at about 12:30. He wasn't thrilled about going back down to the operating room but realizes they have to do what they have to do to continue to heal him. We also found out we get to swap rooms when he comes back up, we remained in the same unit on the trauma ICU floor but he got a better view, not right inside the doors and not right across from the staff bathroom!

We waited for Mitch to come out of surgery, about 4:30 pm, we finally went back to check on him. Everything went as planned and wound-vacs are looking good. We are still working on getting the pain medications dialed in to what keeps him in less pain but also not to confuse him. He is doing good and loves his water sponge and ice chips, but begs for a Gatorade. He also usually enjoys us rubbing his eyebrows. If we wait too long, he attempts to do this with his suction wand and Mom told him he better watch out or he is going to poke his eye out. "We don't need you to go back down for eye surgery!"

As we left Mitch's room tonight he was snoring away and we prayed that he will get some peaceful rest tonight. We are excited he won't have surgery tomorrow and they are going to try and sit him up to help his lungs and also do the kidney dialysis intermittently to see how his kidneys do on their own. The doctors this morning explained to us that these will heal faster the sooner they can get him up. Once again, thank you for the prayers and keep them coming for recovery and healing."

A big shout out and thank you to my Secret Santa, you rock!