Day 2

taken July 1

Following reconstructive surgery, Andre is fully sedated in a drug induced coma. He is on a ventilator and connected to an EEG monitor to record his brain activity. There is also a probe in his head to measure his inter cranial pressure. He has multiple IV ports and a suction in his stomach.



Day 10

Andre and Larry the Lobster. When he is able to eat again we promised to bring him a real one...but for now he and Larry dream of the Cape.



Day 10

Day 12 His right eye is resting on a titanium shelf installed behind his cheekbone. It is miraculously still intact, including the optic nerve. Sgt. Tim Lima of the Stow Police told me later that they didn't know there WAS an eye...they thought he lost it at the scene. This is an amazing picture of the wonders of modern reconstructive

Day 12 Taken July 10
Andre had his stitches (face)and staples (skull) out earlier in the day. He is given a break from his collar since he can't move anyway. You can see the full wound down his face.

Day 16 ~ taken July 14
Andre awake finally! He is only able to open his left eye. His right eye is still too swollen. He is able to track his father around the room with his left eye.



 Day 17 ~ taken July 15
Andre was taken off the ventilator earlier in the day. It is not neat and tidy like on TV. It takes days for someone coming off sedation to be fully conscious and strong enough to breathe on their own. In the meantime, they gag and choke a lot. And they have to keep cleaning out the tube every time the patient coughs, which only makes them gag and cough more.



Day 17 ~ taken July 15
Andre resting peacefully after having the ventilator removed. The feed tube was removed and replaced through his nose.



Day 29 ~ taken July 26
Andre is getting stronger, but still has his feeding tube. 



Day 29 ~ taken July 26
Andre kicking the ball around with his PT and OT at Spaulding.



Day 29 ~ taken July 26
Andre also likes to shoot baskets in the therapy room.



Day 29 ~ taken July 26
Andre is learning to use his walker.





Day 30 ~ taken July 28
Andre gets to eat his first meal since the accident, scrambled eggs and pancakes. It is a far cry from lobster, but it's a start.



Day 30 ~ taken July 28
Andre's siblings come visit him at Rehab. The little ones climb into his bed. They miss their big brother. Sophie asks, "BrahBrah (brother) home?"

   

Day 36 ~ Taken August 3
Andre received a visit from friends from out of state. He is starting to walk a bit, but still relies on his wheelchair most of the time. 

Day 44 ~ Taken August 11

Uncle Donny makes good on the long standing promise to get Andre a lobster.



Day 45 ~ taken August 12

We were celebrating Sophia's second birthday. We brought a cake, presents and the kids to Spaulding.   




picture of Andre with his maternal grandfather Vinny Harpin of Marlborough.



picture of Andre with his maternal grandmather Anne Harpin of Marlborough

On August 22, Andre was allowed his first car trip out of the rehab center...to see how he'd do.  Joanne & Mike brought him here to visit with us.  I hadn't seen him in over 6 weeks (because I had been nursing a bad case of cellulitis of my leg).  The last time I had seen Andre, he was just coming out of the coma, and was still under the influence of the meds, so he wasn't quite "with it".  It was so unbelievably wonderful to see him come walking into my living room!!!  It sure made my day! Andre eating some strawberry shortcake at his grandparents' home in Marlborough, on his first "road trip" away from Spaulding Rehab.

Andre...loving his bowl of strawberry shortcake, made by his "Pepere" Harpin.

The above picture was taken the day Andre came home from rehab

Here's a picture taken September 5, 2007 of Andre, making an "A-OK" sign. 




Here is Andre talking with his Aunt Monique, taken the day he came home