Friday
Good morning from Steve’s bedside, it’s Friday the 20th. It’s been two weeks now since the stroke. Steve has made good progress through the medical issues that went along with that event and has been stable throughout the week. He will be headed down to Salt Lake City this weekend to start the long rehab process. This is very exciting but also a little difficult to be leaving the immediate Boise community.
Updates will not be able to be sent daily, but we will do our best to keep people posted on Steve’s progress. The outpouring of support and well wishes for Steve has been truly overwhelming. Keep up the good vibes, they mean a lot to our buddy.
There have been a lot of questions about community and financial support. The Get Involved page now has a GoFundMe function.
- Dave W
Thursday
Thursday morning update from Steve’s bedside. Our friend has no new or ongoing medical issues and has been able to get a couple nights of better rest. The case manager from the Salt Lake rehab hospital is working with St Luke's to arrange transfer down to their facility. We are waiting to hear on timing. Steve and his family are anxious to get started with the rehabilitation process.
As the medical issues remain stable, focus will be shifting to rigorous physical and occupational therapy as well as ongoing nutrition and speech therapy.
- Dave W
Wednesday
Good morning from St. Luke's. Steve had a pretty active evening visiting family last night. This morning his intracranial drain/monitor was removed (this helped monitor pressure in his head, so this is a big step). He still has a hard time opening his eyes which is frustrating, but he's getting stronger, too slowly for Steve, every day. The team has been talking with the Salt Lake rehab hospital daily this week, and we're hoping to get our buddy down there soon.
This message has been officially approved by Dr. Steve Baker.
- Dave W
Tuesday
Tuesday update from Steve's room - another uneventful night. He went for a feeding tube yesterday which allowed him to get rid of the one that was in his nose. Much more comfortable and helps with communication. His breathing has been strong and steady these last few days and there are no longer any continuous medications running. Steve’s obviously frustrated by the situation but understands all the medical boxes that need to get checked before he can focus more on rehabbing.
- Dave W
Monday
Good morning from Steve’s bedside. Our friend is currently resting after doing his AM neuro checks. He has done well with his breathing via tracheostomy and is more comfortable but exhausted from so much going on over the past ten days. As MaryAnn outlined, this week’s goal is for continued medical stability so Steve can transfer to a rehab facility that specializes in stroke/neurology. He is well aware and thankful for the hundreds of well wishes that have been pouring in.
Family and staff remind that visitors remain limited this week.
- Dave W
Saturday
Good morning. It is Saturday the 14th. I just wanted to give a little bit more realistic picture of Steve’s condition and his road to recovery. Although he is doing well given the circumstances, his interaction with people is very limited. He is still in the ICU on ventilator support. He is not speaking and attempts to relay his thoughts on a message board with lines and shapes that are hard to determine. He is still extremely sleepy and is still on a ventilator. He is able to open his eyes halfway once a day but otherwise he is sleeping. He has sat at his bedside a couple of times with max assist of physical and occupational therapists. Although he is showing great progress, given the circumstances, it is hard to know what version of Steve will be with us. He has been accepted to a rehab hospital in Salt Lake City that will require either ground or medical transport to get him there. He will be there for a couple of months in a stroke rehab facility, trying to regain his speech and try to learn to sit and to walk.
We have tried to keep a positive message through this blog, but I wanted people to have a more realistic picture of what we are dealing with here. Caroline and I are trying so hard to stay positive in his recovery, but it is not easy. Steve is going to continue to need the love and support of his friends for many months to come. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Mary Ann
Friday
(From Mary Ann:)
This has been one hell of a week. Who could have imagined our beloved Steve Baker would be going through something like this.
Steve has touched the lives of so many people from his practice, his music, his outdoor interests, and his history of smokejumping. He is the first one to step up when someone needs help whether it is a building project, a question about a pet, or simply someone to hang out with and make you smile.
The outpouring of love and support that I have received in this past week has been truly overwhelming. I can never begin to express my gratitude for all of the people in our different walks of lives who have stepped up with kind words, food, hugs, companionship, finishing building projects, providing medical advice, and saying prayers. This is beyond a difficult situation for me and for Caroline and there is no way we could get through it without each and every one of you. We will be forever grateful.
I have had family members coming into town from different parts of the country and they cannot believe the amazing people that are around us and helping us through this. His stroke has made us realize how truly fragile life can be. Make the most of every moment you have. You never know how quickly things can change. The little things that bug us from time to time or make us angry are so trivial in the scheme of life. Set those things aside, and live your life in the best possible way. That is what Steve would want you to do.
Love to you all.
Mary Ann and Caroline
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Steve continues to gain strength and is in good spirits today. He is very alert and is doing physical therapy. He is going to have a tracheostomy placed so he won’t have to have a breathing tube in his mouth. He’s very excited to have the tube out and this will help with communication and comfort. It’s been a pretty crazy week, but slow and steady remains the theme.
Family and staff are still limiting visitors to reduce infection risk and help with rest.
-Dave W
Thursday
Checking in from bedside, Thursday morning. Steve had another uneventful night and looks like he got some much-needed rest. It remains a slow process, frustratingly so for Steve, but he continues to gain strength. He is still in the ICU for neurologic monitoring and remains on the ventilator, but he is awake and alert and his sense of humor is robust. His nurses and care team are just as impressed with our friend as we are. Steve wants us to let everyone know how grateful he is for all the love and support pouring in (double thumbs up).
-Dave W
Wednesday
Steve is holding steady. The ICU and family ask that you hold your visits until further notice.
No new events overnight, which is great. Steve is still intubated and on the ventilator, but this is mostly for airway protection (he’s breathing well). This morning, he is very alert and moving all four extremities. He is trying to communicate, and actually was writing on a dry erase board with his right hand. Its frustratingly slow for him, as we all know Steve has a lot he wants to say. He actually asked about last night’s debate!
To reiterate, this is a super slow process with day-to-day ups and downs but we are staying focused on the big picture. We are still trying to keep stimulation to a minimum and give Steve a lot of rest time. He knows everybody wants to see him and is sending their love, support, and positive vibes
- Dave W
Updates
September 10, 2024
Good Tuesday morning friends of Steve.
Steve had an uneventful night and got much needed rest. He has more movement in extremities this morning. Due to oral secretions, the ventilator tube will stay in his mouth for now.
The outpouring from the community has been overwhelmingly generous. We would like to slow down on visitation for now, as Steve needs rest and there is some degree of infection risks from multiple visitors. If you do feel the need to see him, please check in at the waiting room (follow signs for "telemetry waiting room 3" prior to going into ICU. When you are visiting with Steve, please keep a calm and quiet voice. Less stimulation is better.
This recovery will be a long process and the group energy will be need on the weeks and months to come. He will need the bro-brah enthusiasm later, but not now.
This note is from Murphy, Dave W and Matt.
September 9, 2024
Good Monday Morning, friends and family of Steve.
Steve is still in the ICU, 72 hours after the stroke. He has not had setbacks since the cranial surgery, which he had on Saturday to relieve increased pressure.
His response to stimuli and questions fluctuates. He is opening his eyes, moving some body parts, and understanding people.
The road to recovery will be long, and he still needs assistance with the most basic functions, like breathing. We have seen ups and downs, which is often the case with a severe, critical illness of this sort. He has stabilized.
Fortunately Steve is strong in many ways.
September 8, 2024
Good Sunday morning. Steve had another operation last night, an intensive cranial one to remove pressure. The doctors said it went well. He is improved this AM, wiggling toes and having responses.
Pray!
September 7, 2024
Steve had a stroke yesterday September 6th. He was in a coffee shop with his brother-in-law, John.
Fortunately it happened very close to the hospital in Boise, and the ambulance came very quickly and he was in the hospital in minutes.
The doctors removed a sizable clot from his brain.
By Saturday his condition has stabilized, he has said a few words and has movements of hands and feet. He is resting deeply and needs to stay calm.
Stay posted for when he can interact with friends and family.