Ryan was discharged — directly from the ICU — and is now at home. We were fortunate to get out when we did because our area is getting quite the progression of precipitation: freezing rain, sleet, ice, and then snow.
Ryan gets his IV antibiotic this morning.
Over the next 14 days I must give him a strong (and somewhat uncommon) antibiotic intravenously. It is for the bacteria, serratia, that found its way into his bloodstream as a result of the kidney stones. The bacteria also infected his urine, but that didn’t happen until after his surgery. I consider this a big deal because it gives me some assurance that I have a solid protocol in place to protect his urinary tract.
This bug is resistant to most anitbiotics and must be completely eradicated. Once it is, he will need to undergo another surgery to go in and get the kidney stones. He has at least four stones and one is actually larger than the one that caused the blockage. Right now that one is harmlessly sitting in the kidney. As for the one that is responsible for all the havoc last week, it is still there, but pushed aside (between the stent and tract wall).
In general, Ryan seems like he is feeling somewhat better; just after two days of treatment. On Wednesday he will get his blood drawn and tested to make sure the serratia is being defeated.
What caused the kidney stones? Well, it can all be tied back to his brain injury. It’s the domino effect in all its fuddruckin’ glory. You know, the resulting problems with the body’s organs not functioning like they should… the change in diet… the medications and supplements… the ability to know something is going wrong… and so on.
I’ll just leave it at that before I start getting (more) pissed off.
I also want everyone to know that I have fallen behind on my replies to your emails, texts, and telephone messages. I tried to keep up, but it was overwhelming. I like that so many were this concerned and I see this as a good problem to have. I believe I have the Wish List Orders Received current now.
Related articles
Ryan is so very lucky he has you all for his family. I can’t imagine what your going through. I’ve never commented before, however I read your posts. May God Bless you, & keep giving you the strength to take such great care of your son.
If I didn’t have a 8 year old granddaughter I adore who lives with me and her parents also I would just come lighten your load. Family is everything! Love and hugs to all.
Glad Ryan is OK and on the road to recovery. You are in our prayers.
Wishing Ryan the best!
So glad he is home ! Will continue to pray for you guys!
God bless you and your family. prayers for you all ❤️❤️
Missed a couple of posts and was surprised to hear the news, but glad Ryan is home. We will keep him in our prayers. Keep fighting the good fight Ken.
Praying for Ryan.. Stay strong. God Bless You & Your Wife & Kari for doing such aWONDERFUL JOB with Ryan..He’s Amazing.
Glad to hear Ryan did so well ~ realize you still have many reasons for continued prayers. So sending up prayers for you, your family, and especially Ryan. God bless!
Fantastic! Keeping Ryan and family in my prayers.
Good to hear he is home again….love to you all.
Promising prayers
So happy to hear that better at he me than in the hospital.
So happy Ryan is back home and feeling better! Praying and thinking of Ryan and your family.
So so so happy to hear your news. Continued prayers for you all!
Prayers always.
Hi Ken, thank you so much for updating us on how Ryan is doing. He looks great thanks to your constant effort and care for him!! I feel so frustrated Ryan, you, Sue and Kari had to even deal with this. But deal with it you do, because you stand by each other through thick and thin.
Still, I know it takes a great emotional toll on all of you. It affects us as well because all of us care so much about your family. Sometimes when I get so frustrated (and yes angry at what was done to Ryan), I try to channel my feelings into something positive. So I found a few articles, most of which I’m pretty sure you’ve seen because your knowledge base about TBI so expansive. I’m sending them anyway as my small way of saying I have just as much hope about Ryan as I ever did. Something in me firmly believes Ryan is there and fighting with everything in him to push through.
It is thanks to your persistent dedication and your family’s complete love for Ryan that he continues to steadfastly work to recover. I will never give up hope for him!!! The sorrow, anguish, blood, sweat and tears — he is worth every bit of it!!! Ryan is a young man of great value and he continues to inspire people all around the world. Your commitment to helping him recover has resulted in the development and understanding of the best practices of care for all who have been forced to deal with TBI. That is no small thing. Stay strong, Ken Diviney. You have Ryan firmly by the hand and continue to help him through this storm. And he is holding on.
Forgive me if you’ve seen these links:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140226165154.htm
http://www.coma.ulg.ac.be/papers/vs/Bruno_Vanhaudenhuyse_JNeurology2011.pdf
http://www.dana.org/Cerebrum/2010/Commentary_on__Uncovering_Awareness__Medical_and_Ethical_Challenges_in_Diagnosing_and_Treating_the_Minimally_Conscious_State_/
Thank God for people like Dr. Fins and you, Ken Diviney, who are willing to believe in what many find difficult to see. In these horribly painful four and a half years, you and Ryan have made discoveries that will improve the quality of lives of a seriously marginalized population. It is because of brave and tenacious souls like you that advancements are made. Without your willingness to keep trying, no discoveries would be made. If anyone has the strength and power to do this, it is you, and your amazing son, Ryan. I am honored to know you.
Sending my love, prayers and fresh hope that comes new each day. Thank you for letting us be a part of your lives!!
Hugs, Paula
Paula ,Says it all!!! Thank you
All sending love ,prayers and hope. Stay strong Divineys
Glad to hear he is home 🙂
Praying for your peace Ken. The road you and your family travel is not familar to most. However there are so many that try to understand by offering words of encouragement, empathy, positive energies and prayer. So at this time My prayers are that you find some peace-so hard to come by on a normal day, let alone with what you endure day in and day out.
And as always my prayers are for Ryan’s healing- for his sake first and then for yours, Sue’s and Kari’s.
So glad to hear that Ryan is home and PROGRESSING and NOT regressing.
THANK YOU GOD for giving Ryan such devoted, strong, wise and loving parents… And for surrounding him with the medical personnel to treat him so accurately and swiftly.
With love and in prayer,
Keri, MY C.F. FRANKIE and Family
Sending prayers!
Amazing! Glad he’s home and doing better! Stay strong Diviney family.
So glad to see you all are home. We’re still here.
Isnt it selfish to.make him.suffer longer for ones.own closure? My brother was taken from.me, in icu and a vegetable. There was no reason to let him suffer when he couldnt live his life. I hope you all get the closure you need. But dont keep him.suffering for yourselves.
So, you’re suggesting we kill him? You do realize he is not on life-support… right? He survives on his own.
No one is being selfish. In fact, if we were acting only in our interest then he’d be in longterm care. The truth is, no matter the outcome there will never be “closure”. Also, what makes you think he is suffering now that the kidney stones are being resolved?
Finally, Ryan is not a vegetable. He isn’t even vegetative; rather minimally conscious. A vegetable is from the plant kingdom. You clearly don’t know what you are saying. It’s difficult to give your opinion any credence because of this. At least get the terminology correct, otherwise you might appear mean-spirited.
Brittany (or whoever you are), what was your purpose to make such statements, knowing full well as you do that the path the Divineys feel is best for their son is different from yours?
Did you somehow believe that your words would make a positive difference in their lives? I don’t think you did. I think you knew that your statements would inflict additional pain.
What would be your motivation for acting this way? Since you know full well the Divineys have been devoting themselves to caring for their beloved son for over four years?
Whatever “logic” you used before you put your fingers upon your keyboard, it was ill conceived and quite possibly specifically designed to add to their heartache.
If you didn’t know the Divineys have dedicated their lives to Ryan, I could fathom it. But you do know this and chose to say something purposely pain inducing to them anyway.
Totally insensitive, arrogant and ugly of you, but you know that. Very poorly done.
Excellent, Paula and Kenneth! Excellent reply to Brittany. I hope she now has a better understanding of what human values are. Ryan, you are valuable!
Kudos Paula.
Hey, Brittany. I have a troubled daughter who begs me to just let her die whenever her emotional or mental suffering overwhelm her. Is it selfish of me to keep telling her to hang on and fight, that things may look different to her tomorrow? Should I stop trying to help her heal and get stronger? Because this isn’t easy for either of us, after all. It’s exhausting and never-ending. Should I give up on my child? Thanks for the advice.
Well stated, Rita!!
Never, ever give up on her, Rita! Wish we could help, but you know we are all here for you. Love and prayers for your valuable Diamond! <3
Praying for Ryan and your family.
Praying for Ryan and your family.
Prayers
Lots of prayer for a speedy recovery Ry. ❇
Lots of prayer for a speedy recovery Ry. ❇
I wondered how he was and did not know he went in the hospital, You are a wonderful father and his hero.
I wondered how he was and did not know he went in the hospital, You are a wonderful father and his hero.
Happy to hear he is home, away from infection and under your control to keep watch on him. If it weren’t for your fulltime eagle eye this could have gotten way out of hand. Thank you for sharing and updating us. Sending you great vibes and virtual hugs for Ryan’s continued care and well being.
Wonderful news that Ryan is home and in his own bed. Praying and thinking of you all daily. Ken no need to apologize to us for not keeping up with our responses, we are all his FB family and he is your Son and is number one for you to take care of. God Bless you all <3 <3 <3 <3
Wonderful news that Ryan is home and in his own bed. Praying and thinking of you all daily. Ken no need to apologize to us for not keeping up with our responses, we are all his FB family and he is your Son and is number one for you to take care of. God Bless you all <3 <3 <3 <3
Wonderful news that Ryan is home and in his own bed. Praying and thinking of you all daily. Ken no need to apologize to us for not keeping up with our responses, we are all his FB family and he is your Son and is number one for you to take care of. God Bless you all <3 <3 <3 <3
Ken, I am so happy to hear that Ryan is home. I continue to pray for his healing and for peace for you. Never forget how much we love your family! Love, Jen
Yayyyyy!!! Ryan’s home!!! Bloody kidney stones!!!! Thank God you caught this sooooo early!!! So great that you are so brilliant with his care and that made him strong enough to fight off the urinary infection for a while!! Amazing!!! Sending strong positive vibes Ryan’s way to get rid of the serratia!!!
You and your family are amazing! Your strength, resolve, and commitment to Ryan is an astounding testament to your love for him! Keep fighting, Ryan…you’re an angel bud!
Ken,
So glad Ryan is home and feeling better. Hoping blood infection will clear
up quickly and he can get rid of stones. He has a wonderful Dr. and nurse at home with him. Hope you all can get much needed rest .
Love the picture ..Ryan sure looks good. Hugs to all
love Gail
Glad ya’ll are home. Nothing like being in your own space. Continued prayers to defeat the bacteria
Prayers for continued healing. I know you are taking the absolute best care of him. Perhaps you had a little time to rest while he was in the hospital. Though
I doubt it. Stay strong
,
Stay Strong!
Happy to hear he is home and my prayers continue to be with Ryan and all of you, remember take care of yourself too!
so good he is back home!!! prayers
Words cannot describe how I feel what happen to your son and now all we can do is trust in a Gods Blessings for Ryan and your Family!
I am so happy that Ryan is HOME–HUGH sigh of relief to know that he is on the road to recovery. Prayers continue. thank you, Lord. Ken…keep up your great, loving care. Thank you for letting us know, I can exhale now…..Love to Ryan and Team Diviney xoxo
That is Great News!!! 🙂
Wonderful to know he’s back at home where he’s comfy. So wonderful to know he’s getting better and we’re all praying for him to be completely rid of this. Ken, do not apologize to us for not being able to keep up with responses, etc. You ARE Superman, but c’mon, we (your extended fb family) would understand 100000% if it took you a year to respond. Don’t ever feel the need to apologize to us, every second of your time is spent caring for your boy and we understand that. That’s why we all love and care for the Divineys-because as a parent, you are above and beyond every expectation, and as a human being, you are the same-you are soooo incredible and strong-even when you feel weak, you are stronger than anyone I know and we feel for you from the depths of our hearts. You just enjoy having Ryan back home and feel all of our love coming to each of you. Keep us posted WHEN YOU CAN!
I’m glad Ryan is home. Hospitals are wonderful places when you need them but they can be very disorienting. They may not wake you from a sound sleep to give you a sleeping pill but they can be cacophonous 24/7! When I was hospitalized there was a vascular surgeon whose idea of “late rounds” was 5AM, dragging a gaggle of sleepy residents, interns & medical students in his wake! Now he’s in familiar environs, surrounded by people who love him dearly.
I’m surprised he needs surgery for the kidney stones. I thought they destroyed them w/ultrasound today. I pray everything works out for all of you. Please take care of YOURSELF, Ken. I know you need to be Ryan’s loving caregiver but you have to take care of yourself. If you fall ill or end up in the hospital yourself, you wont be much good to Ryan! My husband & I were caregivers to my mom years ago. My sister then had young children & could help just so much. It does take its toll. My mom loved both her “sons” deeply but even w/our wonderful “mom sitter” it was a challenge. We didn’t then have the concept of working w/in a person w/dementia’s reality.
You are, of course, in my prayers. We wont have a Prayer Table Wednesday. It’s Ash Wednesday, the Bishop has noon Mass which, no doubt will be full house. Meg told me yesterday she needs to attend the noon Mass because she cares for her grandchildren at night so she can’t come to our evening Mass. Our Bishop can wax eloquent sometimes!!! Deacon Sue will return from part of our Diocese’s annual Mission to Haiti, tomorrow & her husband says she’s going to SLEEP!
Ken, please don’t let your anger consume you. I understand. GOD understands. But someday He WILL “set all things right in heaven and in earth!” Peace, my brother.
Thanking God that Ryan is home and praying that the infection will be eradicated. You’ve done an amazing job with Ryan and I’m sure his overall physical health was a key factor in the shorter hospital stay. WTG!
Prayers continue as always.
Love,
Carla
Your in my prayers.
Praying you guys through another storm (in every sense of the word) and for the Serratia to be completely cleared from Ryan’s system. So glad to hear that he seems to be more comfortable for now. We’re here for you if you need anything at all (including a nap!) <3
God Bless you all.
continued prayers for Ryan