Follow my journey as I continue a life long recovery from a poor attempt of cervical spine surgery, which resulted in a 5'' section of my esophagus deteriorating. He had complications...we were told he had suffered a very small nick to his esophagus. An ENT repaired it and that his recovery would be longer than planned and that he would come back on the ventilator. A day and a half later he was weaned from the vent. But kept developing other problems. One being the need for bronchoscopes to clean out mucus. X-rays then showed pneumonia. A swallow study the following Monday had to be stopped due to the barium running out his neck incision. I, his wife was seeing Brian get worse rather than better. By Weds am I was scared when I entered his room. He was in respiratory distress and his color was not good. I tried my best to get him transported elsewhere this day. Another bronchoscope was done which did make improvement before the doctor finally came in to check him out and shot me down..."there was no need for him to go elsewhere. He is getting the best possible care he can.". I left there that night very frustrated. The next morning I get a call before 7 am that he needs lifeflighted! He was taken to Penn State Hershey Medical Center. There he immediately had yet another swallow study which was stopped immediately due to leakage. Within an hour a doctor spoke with me and he was whisked off to the OR. A 4"+ perforation was in the esophagus along with the small nick that was repaired. He was massively full of infection in his chest tissue and lungs. A stent was put in the esophagus, a trach was put in, a thoracotomy was done on his right side to clean out and 2 chest tubes were inserted, his neck incision was reopened and cleaned out with drains inserted. A feeding tube/gastric drain tube was out into his abdomen, a picc line was inserted into his left upper arm which later developed clots and had to be pulled, a foley cath and he returned 8 hours later in an induced sedation and on the ventilator again where he remained for 13 long days. Many more stent replacements and removal of, feeding tube exchanges, scopes to check healing and he is slowly but surely on the mend, trach exchanges. He lost so much weight and muscle mass that at first he could not even hold a pen to write...since he is unable to speak. Oct.19, 2012
He has been home since Sept. 28th and Slowly with much encouragement he is writing, walking without the walker at this point (does ride in transport chair for long distances) but still has a long way to go. Many more scopes for healing and the possibility of surgery to graft a muscle flap into the esophagus to cover the cervical spine hardware, at some point the removal of the trach and feeding gastric bags once all healing is complete. He lost a total of 58 pounds. Is still unable to eat or drink anything or to speak. He has a lot of anxiety, panic and has been very depressed over all this. Thank goodness prior to discharge a double lumen port was put in his chest. He gets 4 different antibiotics numerous times a day here at home. This is a quick update on what happened, etc. but still is missing so much...to know all of it you would have to start when this page began and read from there til the present. We are very thankful as a couple and along with our extended family too for all the love, prayers, encouragement and support we have received. GOD has truly blessed us and we must just keep asking for him to guide us thru. Vicky Baney
****UPDATE LONG OVERDUE****
Trachea tube was removed in December of 2012. In time for Christmas dinner. Since then, I have made incredible progress. Talking, eating and drinking. All of which doctors thought I would never do again. In fact, I was not supposed to survive. Dr Dye and Dr Lazar of Hershey Medical Center have no medical reason for me to be alive. Such damage to the esophagus has always ended in death of the patient. So, I am now their miracle man, of sorts. I can only credit the hundreds of prayers from all of you, my family and friends and GOD'S WILL, for me being alive and thriving. GOD used the healing hands and ability of the doctors and nurses at HMC to bring me home. The awesome strength and faith that my wife, Vicky Mark Baney, displayed throughout my ordeal was a GOD SEND. Vicky was at my side, caring for me, holding my hand, encouraging me and yes, at times, FORCING me to work at my gaining strength and weight. Now, as of December 2013, I am not 100%. May never be. But, I do what I can, when I can do it. I haven't yet learned to pace myself. So, I have a good day then a few bad to follow. Fatigue and weakness are still a part of every day life for me. But, through it all, I remain steadfast in my yearning to get to 100%. Once again, we thank each and every one of you for your thoughts and prayers that saw us through a difficult journey. A journey, we wish not to venture on ever again. God Bless,
Brian & Vicky
December 11, 2013
