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If you have any  "news" to add email dennis@offdutynetwork.com

 

October 2006

 

October 21

Update of Thomas Bowden (Dekalb Fire) courtesy of Brandon Ryan.
I just left CCU at UAB where I was with Thomas, Ginger, Bill (Dekalb car 7 ) and Darryl & Kelly Phillips. After eating lunch, Thomas' Vtach started back up this afternoon at a rate of about 200. Thomas went back into the cath lab where they did a laser ablation from the outside of his heart, by going in endoscopically just below the sternum. I spoke directly with the doctors and relayed what they told me to Ginger. They believe that the procedure was a success, and that the Vtach should now be gone. They also took a biopsy of the heart, the results of which will not be known until Monday. Thomas was awake back in his room in CCU, but even with 100% O2 mask, he could not stop coughing and was only satting in the 70s-80s and breathing 50 times per minute. Arterial blood gasses confirmed to poor saturation. He also had a 104.7 fever. The team decided it would be best to intubate him again and put him on the vent so he could relax and his body begin to heal. They sedated him and put him on the vent, and chest X-rays revealed bilateral pneumonia and possible ARDS. Even on the vent with 100% O2 he was only satting 80%. After a few hours he passed some mucus plugs and as of 2300 Friday night, he was satting 100%. With that news Ginger was comfortable enough to finally get some rest at the Marriott room Forsyth County provided. At this time the fever had also fallen to 102, and the doctors were pleased, yet feel that Thomas most likely will remain on the vent for several days, at the discretion of the pulmonologist. Some other rumors which I have heard and would like to dispel- Thomas never had open heart surgery, only cath lab procedures. He was shocked 22 times, but unsure how many of those were cardio versions or defibrillations. With all that he has been through, he is doing remarkably well.
 

October 19

Thomas Bowden (Dekalb Fire)

During the cardiac cath yesterday Thomas went into cardiac arrest repeatedly. He was resuscitated and moved to emergency surgery which lasted until after midnight. Total, he was in cardiac arrest 6 separate times. After surgery he was being called "stabilized for the moment". If he had a relapse overnight or if anything changed requiring further care beyond Piedmont's capabilities then they were considering flying him to University of Alabama - Birmingham hospital this morning. If he remained stabilized they are planning to hold him at Piedmont.

 

October 18

Thomas Bowden, DeKalb County Fire was admitted to the hospital this morning with a cardiac problem. He is currently being transferred to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta to attempt to correct the problem with a cardiac cath. He is awake, but is having serious problems at last report.

 

October 15

Angela K. Durden Heroes Need Practice, Too!

I have just come out with a new children's book. If you click on the link below you will see one of the pages on that site that features the original illustrations for the book. The book features Henry County, Georgia's Engine 8.  The art is being sold to raise money for the Youthful Fire setter Intervention program.

To view the art www.mikeandhisgrandpa.com/art.htm 

Visit www.mikeandhisgrandpa.com for the main page and you can get to everything else through it.