Day One - UC Health Burn Unit - Initial Status

Dan was sent to the ICU Burn Unit at UC Health Hospital. The burn occurred at 7:42am in our home. We arrived to find Daniel in the "Tub Room" with as many as eight doctors and nurses swarming around him. This is a sterile room with everyone gowned up, gloved and masked. Among them was Dr. Wagner the director of the Burn Unit and this was the first moments that the team had to begin evaluating Daniel. By this time he was heavily sedated, an airway controlling his breathing, many wires, tubes and devices and monitors were connected to him.

Next to the director was the 2nd burn doctor directly attending to Daniel at the moment. So Dr. Wagner turned to Dawn and I and gave us some information about this condition.

[I will state at this time that what I'm writing is from my perspective and may differ from someone else's point of view. So bear with me and my own interpretation of what's happening with my dear dear son Daniel].

We were informed by the doctor that Daniel had burns over 58% of his body. That he had 2nd and 3rd degree burns. That he would require skin grafts. His legs and feet are unburned. The team will use the skin from his legs as a source site for grafting skin onto other parts of his body. His fingers on his left hand are not burned for the most part. His right hand and fingers are also in pretty good shape.

We were told that as a general rule (every patient varies) but in general for every 1% of one's body that is burned equals one day in the Burn Unit ICU. We anticipate that Daniel will be in the ICU Burn Unit for 2-3 months. There will be a long recovery after that in other settings. I have no idea right now when he will return home with us.

Another thing we learned is that each day is similar to running a marathon in terms of the energy requirements that Daniel's body needs. This ultra endurance race will be going on each day, every day for the next 2 months at least.
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So eventually Daniel settled in and is in room 324 in the ICU Burn Unit.
I know I'm missing a lot of detail (and leaving off a lot of detail for various reasons).
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Daniel is in his room now. He's heavily sedated, but will occasionally open his eyes.

In the evening we learned of a burn victim recovery meeting that meets twice per month and it was tonight so we joined them. We met several victims and their families and were able to ask them questions about their recovery. Did they remember being in pain while they were in the ICU? (Nope) Do they recollect or have memories during the first few weeks? (Nope)

The meeting was good and gave us some perspective.