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| Tuesday, June 28, 2005 I'm happy to make this post. DL's going to be just fine. He's hoping to be released from Dodd Hall soon, and come back home and lead a normal life. He's going to have to still go through some out patient rehabilitation, but the important thing is he's coming home. A few weeks ago, we weren't sure if he was going to come out of a coma. Today, I got an e-mail from him. Just reading that e-mail was all I needed. DL would love everyone to e-mail him at sexyhondadriver@yahoo.com. I personally want to thank every single one of you who supported DL through his recovery. Whether you went up to see him, left him encouraging messages on his site, or even just viewed this page. Thank you.
Sunday, June 19, 2005 Sorry I haven't posted an update in a while. I haven't been up to see him since last Monday because of final exams. But I do know that he's been moved to OSU for rehab for his head injury. Right now it's up in the air whether some of his memory will ever come back. He's pretty good with who people are and how he knows them, and prior experiences with those people, but other things are starting to confuse him. Things like where he is. At last check, he still thinks he's in a hotel, not a hospital. Some details like where people live and work are escaping him too. Maybe more now than ever, DL needs those memories of how things used to be. Sometime in the next couple weeks I'll let him read the website, just so he can read all these great memories everyone has of him. Then he'll know that his friends are here to help. Always.
Monday, June 13, 2005 I think everything's going to be ok. When Michelle and I walked in today, he knew immediately who we were. Although we never asked him to call us by name, he looked at us and said, "hey, you're both out of school now." Then he looked at me and said, "wait, except for you. You have finals this week, then you've got that 3 weeks off before you start back up again." That's all I needed. DL's going to be fine. He will be having his rehab for his head injury at Ohio State Medical Center, and after that, the old DL will be back.
Saturday, June 11, 2005 I haven't updated his status in a couple days because it really hasn't changed. I went up there yesterday and he seemed to be the same. A little disoriented, a little lost, and still not sure who people are. He's been calling a couple people by name, but nurses say that's probably because they're actually stating their names to him, and he's just calling them whatever he hears. I've heard many stories from people who say that they've known people who've gone through the same type of thing and recovered just fine after a few months. Believe me, when DL recovers, we'll all be able to rest easier at night.
Wednesday, June 8, 2005 Today was a good day and a bad day all at once. He's awake, he's moving around, and talking... sorta. His speech was kind of jumbled, like he didn't know what he was saying. Early in the day he didn't know who people were, but I got a call from Katie late last night telling me that he recognized her and knew a couple other people too. So we're all hoping that it's all coming back to him now. It's going to be a long, long road back. Long. I just hope he does come back.
Tuesday, June 7, 2005 The good news is, the breathing tube is out. The bad news is... the doctors didn't take it out. DL, being the stubborn guy he is, took it out on his own. One way or another, that tube was gonna come out today. Yesterday they had him sedated at 25mg per hour, and today it was brought all the way down to .45mg per hour. He opened his eyes a couple times today and spoke a few times too. Unfortunately, right now, DL has a little bit on memory loss. He introduced himself a number of times to Jessi Nye. Doctors claim he could end up coming out of this, and the memory loss could just be a phase for now. All we can really do is pray that we get the same DL back as we had before.
Monday, June 6, 2005 I went up there again today to see him. It made me smile when he grinned at something funny I said. I know that means he can hear us, and he knows we're there for him. He just can't respond to us and let us know he's ok, because he's heavily sedated. Just a little while ago I talked to Richard and he told me some of the best news I've heard in a while. He said he seems to be breathing on his own, and then nurses said he could be taken off the respirator as early as tomorrow. That's great news, because he's only sedated because they're trying to keep him from taking the respirator tube out of his mouth. Which means he could be waking up soon. That's the best news I could possibly hope for. Keep checking for more updates on his condition. Also, check the DL's Stories section for a new way to post your favorite memory of DL. Please post a story so he can read about how much people care about him.
Sunday, June 5, 2005 I'm going to try my best to keep this updated and everyone up to date. But today was too hard for me. I'm not sure what to say. He's doing better. Not as good as I want, but improving. Please send me your favorite memory of DL so I can post it. I want him to see all of this when he comes to. I can't really type right now, I need some time.
Saturday, June 4, 2005 Today, David Lee Casto was life flighted to Grant Hospital with severe head trauma, bleeding around his brain, and multiple broken bones. Though in and out of a coma, he's yet to respond to voices, or open his eyes. There's no punch line, there's no funny drawing. This is for real. This is life. Some things in life are more important than comedy. This is one of them. I met DL about 5 years ago in driving school. From that point on, he was my best friend, and continues to be, to this day. We've been through high school together, being total idiots just because that's who we were. Yeah the parties were there, but that's what's fun about DL, he loves to have a good time. I had some of the best times I'll never remember with DL. Countless memories that we've had to be told about, because we just couldn't remember them. I want everyone to let DL know that we're thinking of him, that we want him to be ok. E-mail me, eric@gotbuckey.com with your best DL story, and I'll post it. Also, go to "DL's Guestbook" and leave him words of encouragement. Anything at all. When he pulls through this, I want him to know that he's not alone in this world, that there are so many people who are here for him. Please. |
