Tracey Dietsch’s Road to Recovery
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Tracey’s GoFundMe account will be managed financially by her Mother, Karon Gjorvad. Karon is also Tracey’s Power of Attorney. We have appreciated everyone’s support and donations.
Saturday October 16:
Yesterday, Tracey was once again admitted back to Mayo for observation.
After having the remaining stitches removed, she had extensive leaking of fluid.
They started her back on meds for blood clots, and possible bacteria/infection reduction.
If all goes well, she could possibly be released on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Please keep the support and racers coming.
October 5th update:
Tracey is back at the Mayo, awaiting a new transitional home for Physical Therapy. As you can imagine the costs associated with her care will be extensive.
If you are able to donate, we would appreciate it. Please keep the prayers coming, as well.
Friday, October 8.
Yesterday Tracey arrived at Presbyterian Homes, located in Bloomington.
The transition home is nice, clean and has a friendly staff.
Tracey will need extensive rehab with OT once a day and PT twice a day.
We are so excited that Tracey is allowed 2 visitors in the morning and 2 visitors in the afternoon. Puppy dogs are welcome.
Tracey’s medical costs are extensive. If you are able to share this post and/ or donate, it is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Saturday, September 11, 2021:
• Tracey was having dizzy spells and drove herself to the hospital. After several tests they realized she had a tumor in her brain the size of a lime. Tracey was immediately sent in an ambulance to the Mayo in Mankato, where she awaited surgery on Tuesday, September 14.
Tuesday, September 14, 2021:
• The surgery took 5 hours, the tumor was much larger than the surgeon expected.
The neurosurgeon stated the the surgery could not have gone any better. She removed 90-92% of the growth.
The tumor was graded as a category 1 and is not cancerous.
In addition to the surgery- Tracey tested positive (3 tests) for Covid but, asymptomatic.
She will be in ICU for 2 days and then will need to stay another 2 days.
Wednesday, September 15, 2021:
• Tracey had a severe stroke due to a blood clot that formed after surgery. Tracey also was experiencing extreme pain from the pressure of the brain swelling and spinal fluid build up within the skull.
The decision was made to go back to surgery and reopen the wound, let the fluid drain and brain expand.
Surgery started at 10:30am and lasted until 4pm with 3 neurosurgeons - so it was pretty involved.
Surgeon stated there was another blood clot that is in a difficult spot beneath the brain, watching hourly, not wanting it to move.
If it moves to the main brain it would be catastrophic. The goal is to let the clot dissolve its self with time and medications.
The next 24hrs - extremely critical.
Thursday, September 16, 2021:
• Tracey slept comfortably through the night without any issues.
The biggest concern is the 2nd blood clot.
We received a call from the surgeon that the blood clot was increasing in size.
The surgeon was hesitant to use blood thinners because of the concern that Tracey would bleed out in the area where she just had surgery. To further complicate this issue, Tracey is Covid positive and Covid patients have a thicker and more stickier blood that can cause "brain bleeds"
The surgeon made the decision to use blood thinners.
They increased the blood thinner as the day progressed.
Tracey is resting comfortably:
- The brain swelling has been minimized.
- The spinal fluid is draining properly.
- There is a slight increase in hydrocephalus fluid which the doctors addressed and are concerned about.
The major concern is a blood clot in one of the brain's sinuses. They are using a blood thinner but they have not seen a decrease or increase in the clot.
The clot needs to dissolve before Tracey can be moved out of ICU.
The good news is that they reduced the sedation medications and asked Tracey to open her eyes. Those baby blues opened and was able to wiggle toes and fingers when asked. They sedated her again to minimize the brain activity.
Doctors are encouraged but are extremely concerned about the blood clot.
Friday, September 17, 2021:
• Tracey is resting well and her doctor/surgeon feels comfortable enough that Tracey will not be transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester
However, if things go backwards, the decision will be to transfer Tracey immediately to Mayo Rochester.
The noon scan showed no new bleeding in the area where Tracey had the surgery to remove the tumor.
Good news - they reduced sedation medication and Tracey responded to all of the doctors commands.
Tracey came off the ventilator. Tracey struggles with a deep cough due to Covid.
Once the ventilator was removed Tracey was able to call her daughter Addie and speak with her for a few minutes.
Tracey is still day to day and is in critical condition but today was a step in the right direction.
Saturday, September 18, 2021:
• Traceys 6:00am scan showed a trace of blood by the spinal fluid drainage tube - the doctors are watching this closely.
They continue to monitor the blood clot - as of this morning (09/18) it has not moved, it has not gotten any larger nor has it gotten any smaller. This is the main concern/focus of the doctors.
They continue with blood thinners in the hope that they dissolve the clot.
Tracey has not eaten in 6 days, so main priority is nutrition and food.
They complete motor skill tests, showing responses pretty well, with the exception of her left arm. It's wobbly at best but should improve with time.
Tracey now rests well but continues to be listed in a critical state.
Saturday, September 18, 2021:
• Traceys 6:00am scan showed a trace of blood by the spinal fluid drainage tube - the doctors are watching this closely.
They continue to monitor the blood clot - as of this morning (09/18) it has not moved, it has not gotten any larger nor has it gotten any smaller. This is the main concern/focus of the doctors.
They continue with blood thinners in the hope that they dissolve the clot.
Tracey has not eaten in 6 days, so main priority is nutrition and food.
They complete motor skill tests, showing responses pretty well, with the exception of her left arm. It's wobbly at best but should improve with time.
Tracey now rests well but continues to be listed in a critical state.
Sunday, September 19, 2021:
• Tracey had a difficult night, she was running a 101 temp so they have her on antibiotics. They also took X-rays of her chest to see if there were issues there.
The scans Sunday morning showed that the bleeding in the brain has increased slightly around the spinal fluid drainage tube. This is a major concern of the doctors.
The blood clot has marginally has gotten smaller and the blood flow around the clot has gotten better.
The blood thinners need to be reduced substantially to stop the bleeding in the brain.
The decision was made to remove the spinal fluid drainage tubes on Monday.
Monday, September 20, 2021:
• Tracey is feeling feisty today and wants to get out so we’re gonna take that as a win.
No change to blood clot as of yet and they are removing the drainage tubes today.
The blood clot is still the biggest concern and until that shrinks she will likely continue to be in ICU.
Sounds like they’ll try to get her up and out of bed today. And since she can’t wash her hair or get her head wet, they will be shaving her head completely. But hair grows back so that’s the least of the issues.
We feel like we can take a breath today and have higher hopes of better results. However, Tracey is still in critical condition.
We feel like we can take a breath today and have higher hopes of better results. However, Tracey is still in critical condition.
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Quick update:
The early morning scans showed no new bleeding....very good news.
The blood clot has no noticeable change.
Blood thinners are being used via IV as well as orally.
The goal is to shrink the blood clot or to have it calcify (or in medical terms - Phleboliths)
The good news is that Tracey has been eating, sitting up and finally walked a few steps in a walker.
Her speech is relatively pretty good. The strength in her left arm is slowly coming back.
Tracey has been in pretty good spirits but is experiencing painful headaches on a regular basis.
Tracey remains in the ICU and will be there through Friday or Saturday.
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Tracey is still in ICU and her scans of the blood clot has not changed. We are hoping for a bed to open for the next step in her care. Her medicines are being managed well and she is happy with the care of the fantastic nurses and doctors.
Tracey’s spirits are up and down and she would like to be moved from ICU and start her journey to recovery.
Saturday September 25, 2021
Tracey was transferred out of ICU and into a Tier 2 room.
She is becoming more mobile and is allowed one visitor. The blood clot is still there and has not reduced in size. She has another scan today.
Meeting with social workers on long term care are the next steps to her recovery.
September 26, 2021
Tracey is doing well today. They are talking about having her move out PCU to a standard hospital room. She is walking slowly with a walker and needs to be careful to not slip or fall.
Tuesday, September 28
Tracey is walking with a walker and is in OT and PT, each day. She is off the fentanyl and reduced to a minimal dosage of Oxy and her stitches might come out tomorrow. Yay!
We are looking for her next steps for short-term care facility, near her family.
She is looking more like herself every day and are so blessed to have her with us.
Please keep the prayers coming and thank you for all of your support!
Tracey is slowly improving so these updates may be slowing down too.
I thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers! Please continue!! They are making a difference!
As you can imagine, the costs associated with this procedure and associated additional steps are astronomical and we are asking for any assistance you can provide to help Tracey and her family during this difficult time. Thank you!!!
Co-organizers (2)
Kim Goebel
Organizer
Cottage Grove, MN
Karon Gjorvad
Beneficiary
T.J. Sheldon
Co-organizer