Thursday, October 30, 2008

Ricky's New Room

Ricky is now on the 6th floor, in Room 6660, Jim Pattison Pavillion. The suggested visiting times as of my last visit were
10 AM - 6 PM (7 days a week).

As you all know, Ricky is a restless soul, and a nomad. Being pent up, by himself for large periods of time is very hard for him. The best gift you can give him is your company.

That said, he won't turn down any loot, so you can now bring him things to help combat the boredom. He has a portable DVD player, so people can lend him movies. If you want to go the plant route, I would suggest something that doesn't require a lot of care, as his mobility is still fairly minimal. (maybe a cactus?)

Other things that he likes:
-sports (his hockey team is the Buffalo Sabres),
-toys (the weirder, the better)
-Jason (from Friday the 13th), Predator (from Predator)
and Boba Fett (from Star Wars)
-Burger King Whoppers

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

The Ricky "Buffalo" Blair Fundraiser

Charles has set this up on Facebook for Ricky. Here is the info posted there.

Sunday, November 30, 2008
11:00am - 6:00pm
"STRATOSPHERE HAIR SALON" AND "JUJU SALON & SPA"
1259 Granville Street

Contact Info
Phone: 6042187484
Email: stratospherehair@gmail.com

"Team Ricky it is time to unite. When Ricky gets out of the hospital he will not only need our love and attention, he will also need money. There will be all sorts of therapy and personal things that Ricky will need. The Ricky "Buffalo" Blair Fundraiser will be three events in one: First will be the cut-a-thon. Hairdressers from Stratosphere Hair Salon, JuJu Salon & Spa and Blanche MacDonald will be cutting hair by donation. (There will be a $20 minimum for cuts, another $30 minimum for color and $10 if you just want to have your hair styled). There will be 12 chairs going at all times.Secondly we will be having a bake sale run by Joshua Zuckermann and Julian Bafaro. We will need volunteers to bake and to sell.Thirdly there will be a garage sale run out of Stratosphere Hair Salon. We will also need volunteers and donations for this one as well.Our financial goal for this event is $4000. Of course more money will be needed, but this will be a good start.If you can volunteer, bake or donate please contact us at stratospherehair@gmail.com. All donations can be dropped of at Stratosphere Hair Salon. Please call Charles @ 604.218.7484 first though.We are all excited here at Team Ricky and look forward to a great event...PS Any donations can be made out to Ricky Blair and sent to Stratosphere Hair Salon 1259 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1M5"



(the link below requires you to log-in, so you need to have a facebook account)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=32277018998

You can also post to the comments on this blog if you plan to attend or volunteer your services.

There is also this Facebook group for Ricky (also run by Charles), where you can post/view photos or messages to our pal:

TEAM RICKY (Honorary Sabres)

(you do not have to log-in to view this link, although you do if you want to join the group and post anything there)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=44050116342

Monday, October 27, 2008

Update 7

Charles has given the go-ahead!

'Visit Ricky at VGH's NICU unit, 5A (Yes 5th floor) in the Jimmy Pattison Pavilion. Use the phone in the waiting room to the right to ask to enter. They may be performing some kind of procedure. Come one come all. Ricky is awake and ready for guests..'

In order to avoid all of us showing up at once, you can use the 'add comment' area below to broadcast the day and time you are planning to visit. It is probably best if we go in small groups.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Update 6: The update-iest of them all

Kevin & I went to see Ricky this evening.

His breathing tube was removed, although he was still wearing an oxygen mask. Heart rate, blood pressure, and the amount of oxygen his lungs are receiving are all good, though he still has a mean cough.

He has some cuts and scrapes, and bruising and swelling around his right eye, over where the cheekbone will have to be repaired when he gets his strength back up. He is going to have a pretty tough-looking scar on his head, just above the hairline. There is a long line of staples, and a smaller area near that with a handful of stitches.

Apparently, today was the best he's done so far. He was conscious for large parts of the day. His eyes widened when he saw me, then went squinty, as if suspicious, and I'm fairly certain he said "Jerkface".

Other than that, he was responding to most things we said, and his eyes went wide at the mention of hot nurses. The combination of the mask/cough/grogginess makes him a little difficult to understand, but that's not that different from pre-accident Ricky.

Those of us that know Ricky, know he can be his own worst enemy. Apparently, Friday he pulled his own breathing tube out, a feat he attempted to repeat a few times today. He kept trying to get up and was attempting to convince us to help him escape. Once we mentioned the hot nurses again, he settled down a little.

He is still very weak, and not ready for visitors. Kevin & I will continue checking on him. If his progress jumps day-to-day at the rate it has been, he will be moved from ICU to neuro-ward, where we can arrange a schedule, so everyone can see him.

There is still a long road ahead of Ricky, but I think we can all breathe a little easier. It appears the worst has passed. He has a lot of fight still in him, and his strength through all this has been astounding. A lesser man may not have survived what he has.
(Don't tell him I said that though, okay?)

Update 5

This just in:
Our height-challenged friend still has pneumonia & a fever, and various tubes attached to him.
(Breathing and intravenous)
However, he is responding to the nurses, and 'every hour there is a change in his face'.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Update 4 (Updated)

I just learned they postponed his surgery Sunday (not sure why).

Received an update from Charles:
"He was up with his eyes open responding with a thumbs up to questions this morning."
(At least we know our little nomadic friend can still hitchhike)

Charles is going to see him tonight after work.
Should have more details then..

UPDATE: For those that did not read Charles' comment below,
the surgery was postponed due to the fact that he contracted pneumonia.
They are treating it with antibiotics, and he is responding well.
When the pneumonia passes, they will again consider surgery. 

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Update 3

Some good news!

He is out of coma, motor skills intact. 
No head pressure worries, or spine/neck worries.
The surgery is merely cosmetic (no danger of losing his sight, etc).

All that said, he still has a long way to go.
As soon as we can visit, I will let you all know.

Update 2

We managed to locate Ricky's family, and they have authorized a surgery tonight.
It is a 2-4 hour procedure, that involves a plate being put under his eye.
(to 'save the eye in the structure of the skull')

Ricky's family will be here on Sunday.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Update 1

Hi everyone - Ricky was involved in a very serious accident Wednesday night and is in the ICU at Vancouver General Hospital. He was hit by a car while riding his scooter. He was in a coma and breathing through a ventilator, however, we just got an update from a very good friend of his, Charles, that he is off the ventilator now but has not regained consciousness. At this point his known injuries are cuts, bruises and a hip that was knocked out of joint. It is expected that he will have head injuries but the extent will not be known until he regains consciousness. The hospital has asked that no one visits or phones for now.

We will keep you up-to-date on any more information as we receive it.