Ken Jones
Kindred Hospital Northland 500 NW 68th St. Kansas City, MO. 64118 Room 101

10/20/2015
Ken Passed away after his long battle with injuries suffered in a fall on 7/30/2015  See Obituary

10/7/2015
Dismissed from NKC Hosp listed as stable from pneumonia on 10/2 and admitted to Timberlake care center.  (Rehab hosp couldn't take him back ... too weak to participate in therapy).  Had a high fever the next day so was sent to St. Joseph hosp as it was the closest hosp.  Was in the ER for 8 hours before finally being transferred back to NKC for care.  As of today, 10/7, still feverish.  Bronchoscopy tomorrow to evaluate the left lower lung infiltrate/fluid/atelectasis (collapse) and hopefully remove what the docs believe may be a mucus plug. 

9/27/2015
Better today.  Now in NKC Hosp rm 1120 (renal floor).  Temp normal, BP up, wide awake and watching football.  Don't know why yesterday was such a problem.

9/26/2015
Ken was admitted to NKC Hosp ICU today with high fever , low BP, elevated white count and lethargy.  More later.

9/23/2015
Looks like Ken will be transferred to Mid Amer Rehab today.  Kindred Hosp got his respiratory problem solved ... trach is out and he's breathing on his own without  oxygen now.  Although he still requires dialysis, there's evidence his kidneys are starting to work.  MAR will be more aggressive with physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that have been inactive since July.  He's not out of the woods yet and outlook for return of extremity function is still guarded but maybe therapy will help.

Mid America Rehab
5701 W 110th St.
Overland Park, KS. 66211

 9/21/2015
Ken now in room 303 Kindred. 

9/1/2015
Ken has a new smaller tracheostomy tube which is smaller, easier to breathe through and allows him to speak with less effort. He's basically breathing room air with oxygen only supplying humidity. I think this means his compromised chest muscles, injured with the fall, have improved with therapy and aggressive respiratory care.

He still has sensation but no movement of arms. His legs do move although sometimes involuntarily. For the first time in weeks, he had some solid food even though it was only Jello! He still has dialysis 3 times a week but we remember the nephrologist told us kidneys are slow to recover function.

He's gotten a bunch of cards and wanted me to thank everyone for them. Also a special thanks to Jim Tate who has been an almost daily visitor. Ken is always in a better mood when Jim is there. I believe he is now ready for more visitors now that he can carry on a conversation. I'll try and send another update in a couple of weeks.

Allis

8/21/15
Ken was transferred from Columbia Hospital to Kindred Hospital Northland (LTAC) on Wednesday 8/19. Therapy had Ken sitting up in bed for 10 min today. He seemed to tolerate it well tho it was painful. He hasn't been upright since July 17th. Major step in the right direction. 

8/7/15
Tracheostomy this AM ... He DOES have a face! Seems in better spirits. No breathing tests today cuz of surg. Still on periodic dialysis but there is some improvement in urine output so hoping for continuation in that direction. Best news today was dismissal from ICU and ultimate transfer in "a few days" to a facility that can provide for therapy on his extremities along with resp and kidney care.

8/5/15
Holding his own. Still needs ventilator support ... the fall & spinal injury compromised his ability to take a deep breath. Will eventually need a tracheostomy w/ vent and if he can ever breathe long enough without oxygen he'll be able to talk. Kidneys are still not working well ... needs dialysis which takes off increased fluid as well as removes toxins from the blood. Will get cardiology consult to see if his damaged heart can withstand anesthesia and trach. Trach probably won't be done till week of 8/10, if then!

8/3/15
I just spoke to Allis and Ken did not pass his breathing test so he is still on the ventilator today. Ken had his 2nd kidney dialysis today to help his kidneys remove the excess fluids caused by the dye medications used for his spinal tests to locate where the problem was in his spinal cord and the heart catheterization due to his heart enzymes being elevated. They say this is not uncommon after surgery and hopefully his kidneys will recover. They did find he had (3) arteries partially blocked but will address that at a later date.  Allis said he was in good spirits today. Keep the prayers coming.  Joan

8/2/15
Ken came thru surgery okay. They replaced (3) disc between the vertebras and replaced them with cadaver bone to release the pressure on the spinal cord. Too early to tell when movement of his arms comes back. He is still in ICU. They are going to take him off the ventilator on Monday if he can breathe on his own. They will give him breathing tests before the procedure. The doctors are telling Allis it will be a long recovery.

 

7/30/15
Ken fell and injured his spine.  He underwent surgery at the University of Missouri Medical Center.  Not much is known at this time but let’s keep him and his family in our thoughts and prayers.  Cards can be sent to – 878
Bellvue Dr. Climax Springs, MO. 65324