Steve has had a restful night and a comfortable day. His temp has now settled at around 37:5 degrees. When we saw him he was sleeping peacefully. Steve is still on the ventilator but he is receiving low pressure oxygen and is virtually breathing for himself. We did not disturb him so only stayed with him today for a short time.

Steve is going back into Theatre tomorrow for work on both hands so we expect him to be a little disturbed in himself on Thursday and Friday. Its the ups and downs that we have been warned about from the beginning by the Nursing Staff. We don't get used to it but we know that this is how Steve's recovery is going to be.

Steve has recently had his 5th visit to theatre. During this visit the consultant removed the vacuum therapy gloves and examined Steves hands. Work was carried out on the right hand little finger and the palm behind this finger. The vacuum therapy appears to be working due to the areas of the hands where the tissue is still health showing signs of improvement and actual growth. Unfortunately this improvement does not extend all the way down Steve's fingers or thumbs. This improvement is more prominent in the right hand as opposed to the left hand. Steve's next visit to theatre is scheduled for Wednesday 30/7.

The skin grafts on his legs and arms are coming on really well and the medical team are very pleased with this progress in this area. The grafts are healing quicker than expected which is fantastic news. Steve's ears are also healing well. He has a large bandage on his head at the moment to hold the dressings in place.

Steve is still sedated but his temperature has come down to near normal and his breathing is getting better although he his still on the ventilator for support.

The family are a really pleased with Steve's progress up to now. We are waiting for further info on Steve's hands this coming week. The Consultant has prepared us for the surgical work which may have to carry out to both hands but I will update you when we have been given definite information.

Steve has had a restful weekend. He has had a blood transfusion to prepare him for his time in theatre on Monday afternoon. He was a little more aware on Sunday of us being there with him and was trying to speak. When we left him he had fallen to sleep and was peaceful.

The medical team carried out work on both Steve's hands on Monday (21/7/08). Steve has extensive burn damage to both his hands which will require a lot of work to be undertaken by his consultant. Whilst in theatre Steve's hands were placed in vacuum gloves. These gloves are used to help prevent serious infection and to promote tissue growth in the more seriously damaged areas. The Consultant and his registrar are doing their very best to assist Steve's hands to heal as much as possible. We have been informed that due to the burns on Steve's hands they may have to deal with areas which are to badly damaged and will not heal.
The skin grafts on Steve's legs are doing well and appear to be healthy as they are on his arms. This is a good sign. Steve's ears and the burns to the sides of his head are all healing and the burns to the top of his arms are still being left to heal on their own which again is all positive for Steve.

Steve following his time in theatre has had to be placed back on the ventilator. This is to assist him to breathe easier following the hard work he had to put in whilst being operated on.

Steve has had further skin grafts placed on his left leg and both the grafts on his left and right leg at this time appear to be successful. He has had skin grafts to his lower arms but we do not know yet how well these have taken to the burn damaged areas.

Steve will be back in theatre on Monday where further examination of his hands will be undertaken. We will know more on Tuesday or Wednesday regarding both his hands.

Steve went into theatre this afternoon for more surgery. Whilst in there he had further skin grafts on his left leg and both his arms. Steve has had to be sedated more due to him being restless and agitated last night and this morning. The medical staff have said that he is currently resting back in his room. We will visit him tomorrow if he is well enough to receive visitors.

Steve had restless night last night. His temperature is still raised and the medical team are doing their best to reduce Steve's temperature. The nursing staff have informed us that due to his injuries his temperature will remain somewhat higher than usual so it is not a major issue at this time.

When we went into see Steve today at 14:00 he was sat in a more upright position than we have seen him since he was admitted to hospital. He did look very tired and was in a somewhat agitated state. This we have been informed is all part of the healing process for a burns patient. The medication which Steve has been on is causing a certain amount of withdrawal symptoms now the medication is slowly being reduced.

Whilst in the room Steve did reach out his hand (Steve still has extensive dressing over his body including his hands) to his Mum who placed it in her hand. He was looking directly at his Mum and we know that he was reassured that she was there. That for his Mum and the family was another defining moment in Steve's progress.

We are now waiting to hear when Steve will be returning to theatre for more surgery.

Steve is now lying on his back again. The skin grafts on the rear of his right leg appear to have taken ok but have not taken completely on the rear of his left leg. The burns to his upper arms are healing well, as are the areas where the skin has been harvested, to use as skin graft.
Steve's temperature is still raised and the burns team are investigating the possible causes as to why this temp rise is occurring. We should know more details this week.

Steve's next trip to theatre is Wednesday. The Burns consultants will be examining and treating the areas of burns damage which includes Steve's hands, legs and ears. After this theatre visit the surgical team will be able to advise Steve's family further on his current condition and further treatments required.

Today (14/7) Steve has had his eyes open but could not quite focus yet. What was really fantastic was that he was trying to talk. Unfortunately he became exhausted quite quickly but he did whisper his partners name and we think he whispered to his sister that he wanted to go home. This for the family is a truly huge step forward.

Steve had a comfortable night. He is still lay on his front due to the skin grafts on the back of his legs. We have been to see him today. Steve's temperature has risen during the day and the Burns Centre Staff are currently investigating the reasons for this rise in temp.

Steve's burns consultant will be examining Steve's injuries again this Friday. Following which the family will receive a further update on Steve's progress.

Steve is stable but still classed as critical by the medical staff at Wythenshawe Burns Centre. He has had initial skin grafting to the rear of his thighs, and lower back. His temperature has dropped slightly and the team of Doctors looking after Steve are confident that his major organs are all working as they should at this time. Steve is still being supported by a ventilator for his breathing,and is at present still sedated. This sedation is to allow him to rest and to allow the nursing staff to manage his health needs more easily.

Last night (08/07) Steve had a comfortable night with no interventions required from the Burns centre Staff. Steve is being looked after on a 24 hours monitoring basis at present. He is not left alone at all and the all the Hospital staff are absolutely fantastic with their treatment of Steve and making sure we as a family are ok.

Steve remains in hospital with serious burns to his lower back, buttocks and thighs. He also has full thickness burns to his hands and arms. He now has infection in some areas of the burns and this caused a rise in his temperature. However, his temperature has now come down.

He remains very poorly but is stable.