Arlington

This week Kyle went to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to attend the funeral for Captain David Wisniewski, a fellow Pave Hawk pilot who died from injuries suffered in Afghanistan.  Two members of Kyle's squadron at Moody AFB, Captain Brion Stroud and Lieutenant Don Smith, came up to Pittsburgh to get Kyle and drive him down.  He was so appreciative for everyone's efforts to help him attend the service.  It was a sad day and a day to remember all those soldiers and their families who have served to protect our country, and those that still do.  Thank you and God Bless.  

Kyle stands by the van and is ready to hit the road with Capt. Stroud and Lt. Smith.  Photo by Elsie Deem. 

Kyle, Lt. Smith and Capt. Stroud getting ready to head out.  Photo by Elsie Deem. 

Captain Shonkwiler and Lieutenant Colonel Tom Kunkel walking through Arlington Cemetery to attend the funeral.  Photo by Kyle Deem. 

Arlington Cemetery.  Photo by Kyle Deem.

Capt. Shonkwiler and Lt. Col. Kunkel walking to the ceremony.  Photo by Kyle Deem. 

 

Members of the United States Air Force Honor Guard await their next commands during the military burial at Arlington.  Photo by Kyle Deem. 

Lt. Col. Kunkel and Capt. Shonkwiler drove Kyle back to Pittsburgh and had dinner with his family.  Photo by Elsie Deem. 

Lt. Col. Kunkel brought Kyle his first Air Medal and read the citation to him in his home on Monday evening.  Kyle was awarded this for his combat missions flown in Iraq.  Photo by Elsie Deem. 

Kyle holds his Air Medal.  Photo by Elsie Deem.

Follow Up in Bethesda

Kyle and his parents returned to Bethesda this week to meet with his orthopedic, vascular and plastic surgeons for follow up appointments.  The Deems left Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon and headed for Bethesda.  The drive went well and they settled in for the night and rested in preparation for Kyle's first appointments the following day.

Kyle sleeping in the back seat on the drive to Bethesda on Monday.  Photo by Elsie Deem.

On the computer in the hotel room - Elsie noted even the handicapped room was a bit tight in spots.  Photo by Elsie Deem. 

Kyle was discharged from Bethesda NNMC on Sunday, July 25th.  His first out-patient appointment at NNMC was scheduled with one of his orthopedic surgeons about three weeks later on Tuesday, August 17th.  The doctor reviewed Kyle's x-rays and the position of the spatial frame.  It did not need any adjusting at this time because the frame was supporting his bones in a good position for healing.

The doctor expressed their plans to keep the frame on his leg for six months.  This was the maximum time Kyle had been told the frame would remain on his leg for, so everyone was a bit disappointed it wouldn't be for less time.  But the doctor assured him he was healing at an appropriate and expected pace and he would walk again, it just may be a little while.  The orthopedic surgeon wants to follow up with Kyle in two months.  

The white dots and markings seen throughout his leg are pieces of shrapnel from the gun shot.  Kyle's body may force out some of the smaller pieces but some of the larger pieces will remain for his lifetime.  And yes, he will probably be setting off metal detectors at the airport. 

Following that appointment, Kyle went to meet with one of his vascular surgeons.  The surgeon Kyle met with was very informative and thorough.  Unfortunately, while feeling for a pulse for a long time on the back of Kyle's foot/ankle area, he told Kyle his artery was failing; this was information the doctors knew since the angiogram they had performed on Kyle back in the middle of July.  The lack of pulse confirmed this report.  This was the artery surgeons in Afghanistan had tried to repair by grafting a vein from his left leg and placing it in his right leg.  This combat surgery just didn't last and there is nothing they can do at this point.

He also had lost another artery from the original wounding.  Kyle will have to recover with one of three arteries functioning in his lower leg.  The doctor was encouraging saying he had enough blood flow to make a full recovery with, but he just had no reserve.   The vascular surgeon wants to see Kyle in six months, once the spatial frame is removed. 

The next day, Kyle met with his head plastic surgeon (he remains to be one of Kyle's favorite doctors whom he has the utmost respect for).  They needed to do some cleaning of his leg, debriding his wound and removing dead tissue.  They bandaged it up after and want to see Kyle back in Bethesda in four weeks to check on its healing progress.  He will need to be very careful to keep it clean from any infection.  

Kyle snapped this photo on his cell phone and texted it to me.  I was a bit surprised to see it pop up on my phone.  The doctor used a scalpel and a pair of tweezers to debride the wound, removing dead tissue.

The wound inside his right leg after the cleaning.  Photo by Kyle Deem. 

The inside of Kyle's right leg after the cleaning.  Photo by Kyle Deem.

An assistant talks to Kyle after the wound cleaning is complete and discusses some details about his wound with him, along with sharing stories from Afghanistan for she had also spent time working there.  Photo by Elsie Deem. 

Kyle on the sixth floor at Walter Reed Hospital headed for neurology on Wednesday afternoon.  They were planning to do a nerve conduction study on his right leg but it didn't take place because the doctors at Walter Reed were unaware of the spatial frame and overall physical condition of Kyle's leg.  The study would give a fairly accurate report on the functionality of the nerves in Kyle's leg.  Photo by Elsie Deem.  

Since they couldn't do the nerve conduction study, Kyle talked to two doctors about his leg and they answered many of his questions.  Everyone felt that was time well spent and appreciated the doctors time with Kyle.  Elsie, Kyle and Bill went back to the hotel and packed up their things and got on the road to drive back to Pittsburgh that afternoon.  They would return to Bethesda in four weeks.  Photo by Elsie Deem.

In and Out of the House

Kyle has been home for about three weeks now and he is improving in many ways that we can all witness.  With open wounds and in a somewhat fragile state for his leg, Kyle's nurses recommend he stay inside as much as possible and when outside he use a towel to cover his leg so not to expose it to excess germs.  We all believe it's healthy for Kyle to get out of the house when he feels able.  It's good to get some fresh air and exercise his mind outside of the walls on Hillview Drive.  But we don't want to compromise his physical health, so it's a careful balance. 

Kyle leaves the house rarely for anything other than therapy and doctor appointments, and it takes quite a toll on him.  His energy level just isn't the same as it was before he was shot.  A few hours out of the house and he is exhausted and needs a lot of rest.  His immune system needs to remain strong as does his mind, so the trips outside of the house aren't too frequent, but again, ones we feel are beneficial in their own way.

Currently, Kyle is in Bethesda for follow-up doctor appointments with his Orthopedic, Vascular and Plastic Surgeons.  The updates from his latest reports will be posted shortly, but for now, he and his parents are hanging in there and hoping for a good visit with Plastics tomorrow.  Returning to the hospital is no small task, for anyone.  The road ahead remains long and arduous, but one that Kyle can certainly overcome.

Kyle gets ready for his morning cleaning while his mom, Elsie, comes in for the latest update about his previous night's sleep and to check on the appearance of his wound on the inside of his right leg on Saturday morning, August 14.

Elsie and Bill stand-by to help Kyle as he hops into the back seat of the car - we were heading out to the mall to run a couple quick errands and enjoy time out of the house.

In the back seat checking out the neighborhood on our way out.

We stopped in Borders book store for a few minutes and Kyle perused the Military History section.  He didn't find anything here but did buy a new atlas to give to his parents as a gift.

Kyle wheels through JC Penny on Saturday afternoon.  He was looking for a good pair of shorts to buy that he could wear in attendance for a fellow pilot's funeral service next week in Arlington.  During these difficult times for military families, and recently those within the Pave Hawk community, we pray for those who remain in combat and for the families that have suffered unimaginable losses.  God Bless.

On our way out of the mall, we went by a pet store and Kyle stopped to check out this Iguana.  Even the Iguana seemed interested and perplexed by Kyle's set up in the wheel chair.

Kyle sits out on the porch at his house in Pittsburgh, talking with his mom, and relaxing after a tiring trip to the mall.  He got some clothes for Arlington and was in need of some down time after his afternoon out.

Kyle and his dad, Bill, enjoy watching some of a pre-season Steelers game together in the living room.

Elsie, Bill, Kyle and I played a game of Parchesi together in the kitchen on Saturday night.  We had a fun time with a lot of laughs - and we all tried to stop Elsie from winning, but she persisted and beat us all by a long shot.

Kyle cleans his leg with the wet/dry treatment for the lower part of his inside wound on his right leg.  He has to clean the wound thoroughly with saline, apply ointment to both graft sites and carefully clean the pins drilled through his skin and into his bones with a water and hydrogen peroxide mix every morning and evening so as to avoid infection and promote healthy healing.

The lower part of the inside wound remains yellow, which Kyle's nurses say is dead skin tissue.  It may need to be heavily cleaned out and repaired, depending upon what his Plastic Surgeon team at Bethesda determines this week.

The outside of Kyle's right leg with a large skin graft area, is healing very nicely.  While the graft site was large, it seems to have all taken very well and with regular ointment applied this side of the leg is fairly low maintenance compared to the other side.

Wheels, Sticks and a Walker

Kyle has had many things to adapt to with his new lifestyle in Pittsburgh.  Life just doesn't work quite the way it used to for him, primarily regarding his mobility.  He has learned how to get around the house with his walker, crutches and wheel chair.  He has developed new habits for brushing his teeth, washing his face and showering.  And while some of it may be more time consuming than it ever used to be, Kyle is successfully managing his own care and learning how to live with his handicaps for now.

The inside of Kyle's leg on Sunday, late morning - staying clear of infection at this point but still needing some cleaning attention and special care.

Kyle gets up on Sunday morning and heads to the bathroom.  He uses a walker to go down the hallway from his bedroom to the bathroom.

Kyle leans over the sink and washes his face while holding his right leg off the ground.  It's too painful for him to put much pressure on it just yet.  But he was able to put his foot flat on the floor at therapy this week, so he is working toward it. 

Kyle comes down the stairs using one crutch.  He leaves one at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom so he can have them both when downstairs to use when going to the bathroom.  The wheelchair is too big and gets in the way for some of his small tasks around the house.  

 

Kyle gets to the bottom of the stairs and looks around briefly before getting comfortable in his wheel chair.

He gets situated and puts up his right leg when getting into his wheel chair at the base of the stairs.

 Always charming.  

Kyle wheels back into the kitchen to join his Grampa Deem, Martha, and his parents for a nice afternoon conversation.  

Everyone gathered in the kitchen to talk and catch up during Grampa Deem's visit on Sunday afternoon. 

Kyle wheels around the front of the house and tries to find a sunny spot to spend the afternoon.  

Happy to be outside in the sunny weather.  

Off to the porch once again, even if just for a few minutes.  The porch is a wonderful place to spend the evenings and enjoy company. 

Hanging Around the House

Kyle was figuring out how to live and get around the home he grew up in as a child in a whole new way now.  Being in a wheel chair was much different than walking around the house.  He can't just go upstairs to take a phone call or hop in the shower, so with limited privacy and mobility, adjusting to life in Pittsburgh was a challenge for both Kyle and his parents.  Yet they still shared so much comfort by just being together.  

He was scheduled for physical therapy three times a week and eventually got some nursing care provided as well.  As one of Kyle's fellow soldiers said, "Your mission now is to get better and heal".  Every day some of Kyle's main tasks consist of keeping his leg clean, exercising and building strength in his legs and throughout his entire body and eating and sleeping well.  He is making a lot of progress already and has recently been able to push his foot down at the ankle, which is a huge success!  We are all hopeful that Kyle's nerves are intact and he will be able to make a full recovery, but we should find out more details over the next several weeks.   

Many family members and close friends come by the house to visit with Kyle frequently.  It certainly keeps the Deems busy and occupied and feel much happier too.  I know the support and encouragement means a lot to everyone, and especially to Kyle.

Kyle sits out in his back yard to get some sun and enjoy the afternoon at home on Saturday.

Kyle visits with his Aunt Terri on Saturday afternoon who came by with her daughter Rachel with some food and wine and good conversation.

Kyle with his cousin Rachel, who made this sign to display at a local blood drive they organized in honor of Kyle and another local Pittsburgh person.  Kyle had to get a blood transfusion while still in Afghanistan after he was shot because he had lost so much blood.

Elsie holds the door for Kyle as he wheels into the kitchen using one of the new handicap ramps installed on the porch at their home.

Kyle plays with a remote control helicopter one of his buddies from the AF gave him.  It's a great little toy and very fun to play with; and we all really get a kick out it.   

Kyle, Elsie and I played a game of Scrabble together while out on the porch Saturday evening.  Kyle took a brief break to receive a call from one of the guys in his unit at Moody AFB.

Kyle laughing while talking on the phone - always good to see that smile.

Kyle and I play Scrabble with Elsie on the porch.  Photo by Elsie Deem.

Elsie gets a photo of me and Kyle before heading inside the house for the night on Saturday.  Photo by Elsie Deem.