Friday 3/14

Yesterday (Tues 3/11) seemed to go well until the evening. Kristian was up walking the unit and later on made it down to the game room for a few hours. Shortly after we made it back to his room, the pain started. He was given his scheduled toradol & his as needed morphine for more severe pain. Unfortunately, neither seemed to do much. The nurse was able to get an order for an additional one-time dose of morphine about an hour or so after the previous dose. It helped briefly. They did some troubleshooting with his NG tube—making sure it wasn’t occluded as that could contribute to the increased pain. The sticker securing the NG tube to his face peeled off so they needed to adjust it & reconfirm correct placement via X-ray. Unfortunately, the tube was very uncomfortable for Kristian—they attempted more adjusting but without relief. They ended up pulling the tube & reinserting a new one. Thru this all he was still in pretty significant pain—thankfully right after all the tube issues & replacement he was able to get another dose of morphine & his scheduled dose of IV Toradol. I think the 3rd dose of morphine finally alleviated the pain. After a couple more X-rays, he was able to sleep well. It was a rough night but thankfully, he was able to get some relief! 

His pain seemed well controlled until the morning—he woke up with more pain. Unfortunately, the morphine only worked briefly…the morning ended up being a little rough too.

The trauma team was by about 9 this morning. Dr. Padilla was concerned about the continued pain and the amount of output still coming from the NG tube. Both indicators that there had been no improvement with the obstruction. He decided it’s time to take Kristian to surgery. He hoped to do the surgery laparoscopically—making just a few small incisions/punctures vs reopening his surgical scar—this method is far less invasive & makes for an easier recovery. However, Dr. Padilla was clear with us that he won’t know the extent of the surgery until he actually is in and can visualize the area. 

Kristian was off to surgery shortly after noon. Once again, we sent him with our love & many prayers🙏❤️

It wasn’t long and we received a phone call from surgery, “Kristian’s surgery is complete & the surgeon will meet with you soon”—wow! We didn’t expect to hear this so soon! Dr. Padilla & Dr. Bae met with us for the post-op report—surgery went well & they both were very happy with how it went! They said it was “best case scenario”—Kristian had developed an adhesion in his small intestine which was causing the obstruction. The surgeon released the adhesion and everything looked great! They checked the site of the prior surgery & confirmed it looked very good. They pulled his NG tube—he was happy to wake up without it! Such happy news this all is—what a relief!!🙏

Both surgeons were very optimistic about Kristian’s recovery & are hoping to get him home asap. Of course, they want to be certain he is able to tolerate eating/drinking & that his gut continues to function as it should. 

Many continued prayers for a safe & smooth recovery for Kristian! We are so grateful for this moment🙏❤️

Thank you for remembering Kristian & his family thru this all—no words are adequate to express our gratitude❤️

**Photo below—Brett & I with Kristian just before surgery

Tuesday 3/11

Kristian seemed to do well over night…his pain has been controlled & he seemed to sleep decently. He did have one bout of vomiting which may have been due to blockage in his NG tube. 

Trauma was by this morning & seemed satisfied with how he was looking…Dr. Padilla (trauma surgeon) decided to continue waiting on surgery for now…they will continue to monitor Kristian closely throughout the day & reevaluate later on. Dr. Padilla likes that he looks better and is much more comfortable today vs. yesterday—he also did mention that surgery is not unlikely but because Kristian is stable & appears comfortable, he’d prefer to allow a little more time to see if the blockage would resolve on its own…

So it’s a holding pattern for now…

We just took him for a walk and as usual, he did awesome! Hopefully it helps with resolving the obstruction🤞🏻

Yesterday (Thurs 3/6) was a beautiful day! Trauma team was by in the morning…after an update on the previous day, they were so impressed—Kristian was able to eat a double-double from in-n-out! The tentative plan was for possible discharge home on Friday but now they were thinking, possibly today(Thurs)! With that, they decided to pull Kristian’s NJ tube (feeding tube) and his PICC line—big stuff!! 

The afternoon was spent in the game room😊They played hard till dinner! Then decided to head back to Kristian’s room to hopefully get an update—will he be staying or going? The trauma team was by soon, we discussed the day—how did Kristian eat, how does he feel, does he feel ready to go home, and how do mom & dad feel? Ready to go home or prefer to stay? Good thing we were all on the same page…discharge orders were placed & we were quickly packed up & shipped out! We made it home a little after 9pm❤️

It’s truly nothing short of a miracle—after 3 weeks, we’re home & Kristian is doing SO well! We cannot thank you enough—the experts on his case—Doctors & ED staff at Beaver Creek/Vail Health, EMS crews, flight crew, Dr. Bae & Dr. Desai, the whole trauma team, pain team, the nursing staff & child life team at PCH.  

Our heartfelt thank you to all of you who have supported us in so many different ways—it has carried us thru this challenging & uncertain time. We are humbled beyond words and wish we could repay you all for your prayers, kindness, generosity & love.

Above all, we thank God for today—for carrying us thru this time, for His many blessings, for His unwavering love & sure promise. This miracle was only possible thru His blessing—our hearts are full! How fortunate we are to have our sweet boy home once again🙏❤️🥲

“If I could sing with thousand voices, / if I could speak with thousand tongues!— / then, while my heart in Him rejoices, / I would proclaim in grateful songs / to all, wherever I may be, / what things the Lord hath done for me!” -SHZ 335 v1

Wednesday 3/5

Today Kristian continued to work on eating. The trauma team hinted at possibly pulling the feeding tube real soon—maybe tomorrow! They also told Kristian that if he is eating enough and tolerating it well, he might get to go home in 2 days! Very exciting! So far, Kristian hasn’t been super impressed with the hospital food😬the menu definitely could use an RFK do-over. To help in the eating department, I had Brett bring a stash of Kristian’s favorite yogurts & some good food from home. Breakfast was easy & the yogurt was good! 

Lunch was great—a pleasant surprise for Kristian! A couple friends from Chandler Fire stopped by with in-n-out (and a couple other neat gifts—see the photo below)! He ate almost the entire burger, tried a few fries & sipped on his strawberry shake—I think he actually enjoyed it!☺️so nice to see, it hasn’t been so easy for him because he often feels pain after he eats. His stomach is trying to adjust to its new normal. I hope his body will adapt to the changes soon!

We look forward to the possibility of going home soon—there’s just no place like home❤️ Thanks to all for remembering us, it has helped us thru this uncertain time!

Yesterday (Mon 3/3) was a big day—Kristian’s diet was advanced to regular with no restrictions!! It was his first time eating solid/regular food in 2.5 wks! He was excited about it but I also sensed maybe a little apprehension. He started out with a fruit smoothie, which he seemed to enjoy. Later on when we were in the game room, he told me he was hungry—he hadn’t felt hunger for almost 2 wks! I was off to the cafeteria immediately—it was between meal times so there wasn’t a lot of good options—I opted for a pbj. It didn’t take long for him to realize the sores in his throat were still there…he made it thru about half the pbj before he called it quits. Better than nothing, I guess! For dinner, we had big plans—we would all enjoy dinner together in his room—something new & exciting for us all. Up until then, because Kristian wasn’t able to eat or drink, we hadn’t brought food or beverages other than water & coffee into his room. Last night, dinner was definitely a moment to celebrate & we did just that—dinner party in Kristian’s room!🤩(take a peek at the photo below!) He seemed pretty excited to try out his dinner but unfortunately, he only had 2 or 3 bites and decided to be done. He was having a little bit of abdominal pain (incision area) and then started experiencing some heartburn. I guess it might be a process reintroducing a regular diet, which I guess, makes sense. His GI system just experienced some pretty significant changes.

Today (Tues 3/4) we continue working on getting food down! The trauma team was by this morning—they just need him to eat & drink & we’re working on it! Once they see he is able to tolerate a normal diet adequately, I think he’ll get his walking papers & be headed home!🙏

I’m excited about the thought of possibly going home soon but have to admit, I have my reservations too. It’s really comforting knowing that the trauma team is laying eyes on him every day, ensuring that all is going as it should. I know they’ll let me know what to watch for & they’ll be following Kristian closely for quite some time still with frequent follow-ups, etc…I just need to trust— their (trauma team & trauma surgeon/s) confidence is encouraging!

We’re grateful to be at this point in Kristian’s recovery—really feels like a miracle. Our hearts are full of thankfulness—we have even more reason than ever, to thank the Heavenly Father—He heard our many prayers🙏❤️

Sunday 3/2

Kristian continues to get stronger and more able each day—it’s been so amazing to see! Last night, his IV nutrition & replacement fluids were stopped. He’s saline locked—no IV infusions! The only thing he’s connected to now is his tube feed. He’s getting more independent with his moving around too…gets up & moves around the room without help! 

Trauma was by this morning. His diet remains as clear liquids still—thus far, he’s been tolerating it well & we haven’t noticed any changes in his wound drain—no increase in output, no color changes…so far so good!🤞🏻

His pain continues to improve—in fact, he hasn’t had any pain medication for almost 2 days! His throat pain is still there but slowly is getting better. Will be nice when the sores are completely healed—will make eating & drinking easier and more appealing. 

This afternoon a few of Kristian’s buddies showed up—a welcome surprise! We all headed out to the hospital courtyard to enjoy the beautiful, sunny afternoon☀️Now, we’re in the Zone, a big game room for older kids only—seems that everyone is enjoying themselves, even dad!😊

Today has been a happy day—our hearts are full of thankfulness❤️Many prayers have been answered & we pray for continued healing & the return of good health🙏

Thank you for remembering Kristian & his whole family—if only we could repay you all for your love, kindness & generosity!❤️

Yesterday (Friday 2/28) was the best day yet…not only did Kristian get the NG pulled out but he seemed very comfortable all day! Aside from the pesky throat pain, he didn’t have much pain at all! The throat pain is caused by actual sores in the back of his throat—no wonder it hurts! ENT was by to see him again—they did another throat swab to test for various viral infections. 

The surgical JP drain did not get pulled, as mentioned was the plan yesterday. Dr. Bae wants to keep it in until Kristian is tolerating foods/drinks by mouth without any sign of adverse affect. The drain will be instrumental in indicating whether the surgical repair has any leaks—very important information! Glad the drain remains intact.

Kristian was up, out of bed for almost the entire day yesterday—huge progress even from the previous day! He sat at the bench under the window in his room for hours. Just 1 day prior, he was only able to tolerate the same place for maybe a half hour before he had too much pain and became too tired. 

Dr. Bae said he feels like Kristian is really “turning a corner.” He is very confident in Kristian’s recovery. He said that sometimes it will take the stomach a little while to adjust to its new normal but it will work! He hinted at possibly advancing Kristian’s diet to clear liquids today! He’s only been able to have ‘sips & chips’ (water & ice chips) for the last couple days. I would anticipate that as long as he’s been able to tolerate the increased tube feeds (which he has!), he’ll be trying some new flavors by mouth today!🤩 Exciting day!

One more thing…I was visiting with someone on the phone yesterday…In the conversation, I mentioned I’ve been away from home—at the hospital for a 2 weeks. Kristian chimes in, “you’re still on vacation”After giving him the ‘dinner-plate eyes😳look, I just laughed & laughed! I appreciate his humor😂

I love that we have our Kristian back!❤️

Yesterday (Thurs 2/27) was a special day…Kristian finally, after 2 weeks, got to see Elin & Bennett—his 2 ‘little’ siblings who haven’t been able to come up to his room. He made it outside to see the sun☀️another ‘first’ in 2 weeks! 

Otherwise, yesterday pain was controlled well most of the time—a couple bouts of increased pain that thankfully, pain meds took care of! Trauma was still working on encouraging gut activity, which there seemed to be a few small improvements—we’ll take what we can get! 

Today (Friday 2/28) is looking to be another good day! Trauma has been by a couple times…sounds like there will be progress today! They plan to pull out Kristian’s NG tube (goes in thru his nose) and the surgical JP drain! Two less tubes!!🎉 They also plan to begin increasing his tube feeds—slowly titrating them up again. We hope he is able to tolerate it well!

Kristian’s throat has still been bothering him—often causing more discomfort than the surgical pain. Trauma ordered a strep swab, just to rule it out…so we’ll see what that shows. Otherwise, Kristian keeps progressing in the right direction! Today we plan to walk the halls, maybe we’ll make it back downstairs & check out the Zone, a game room for older kids. And maybe we’ll make it outside to see the sun again!🤩

It’s hard to believe Kristian’s accident was 2 weeks ago—we’ve been here at PCH for 2 weeks already—seems that time just kind of stopped there for a while…

We wish to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to you all for your prayers, love & support—it has certainly carried us thru this scary & uncertain time and I know Kristian has been deeply touched. We have much reason for thanks!🙏❤️

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”(James 1:17)

Monday 2/24

I went home for the night last night—the first time since Kristian has been here at PCH & the first time since we’ve been back from CO. Although I was a little apprehensive about leaving, it did feel good to sleep in my own bed. I woke up to a text message from Brett (he had stayed with Kristian). It was a topic that were not in the habit of discussing and perhaps a little ‘taboo.’ The message said this:

“Kristian farted😁”….there was nothing taboo about the message today—it was reason to celebrate! His gut is waking up! It was the best ‘good morning’ ever! 

The trauma team came by—happy with the progression Kristian has been showing. They were able to remove the wound vac dressing from the surgical site—one less tube attached! They also started him on a tiny dose of formula through his feeding tube—5ml/hr (1 tsp/hr!). They’re hoping this will help stimulate his gut and get it moving a little better. So far he’s seemed to tolerate the feed ok. 

Therapy was by today as well. OT got him up to brush his teeth at the sink. PT came by later—got him up for a walk in the hall. He did amazing!!! He was cruising and he went even further than yesterday! 

I didn’t make it back to the hospital until early afternoon—Brett had been sending me updates & pictures of the progress throughout the morning—I was happy. It only got better when I walked into his room…I wish you all could have seen the radiant smile on his face!! I cried—tears of joy! By far, the best part of my day❤️my heart was exploding! This is so amazing to see—I think our feelings can be summed up with a few words right now: thankful, grateful & blessed🙏❤️Today was a good day & our hearts are full. 

Thank you for continuing to remember us❤️

(Photo: Trauma removing the wound vac dressing from the surgical site…take note of the peace sign☺️)

Sunday 12/23

Today was much like yesterday—Kristian seems to be getting a little stronger each day. He went for 2 walks in the hall! His biggest issue was the throat pain again today. The trauma team ordered a respiratory panel, just to rule out the chance of some virus causing the throat/ear pain. They also consulted ENT. Thankfully he checked out ok on both. Just wish the pain would subside! 

The trauma team is awaiting signs of GI motility — kind of a holding pattern until that happens. 

The pain team continues to titrate his dilaudid down. They actually stopped the continuous infusion completely but thankfully, he is able to still get bolus doses, as needed. They’re doing their part in getting the gut moving again & the less opioids the better! He seems to tolerate the lower dose of pain meds but has required some bolus doses throughout the day. 

Kristian enjoyed some time with his siblings & a couple cousins this evening—I know he really appreciates these visits❤️

We look forward to tomorrow—hoping for more progress towards a safe recovery🙏

Again, many thanks to all for your love & support❤️

Saturday 2/22

Today has been a quieter day but a good day. Both the pain & trauma teams were by. Trauma continues to like what they see & now are hoping to see some GI movement—hoping to get the bowels moving before they start introducing any nutrition via feeding tube or by mouth. Thus far he has been receiving IV nutrition. The pain team is doing their part in promoting GI motility—they started him on a Ketamine drip & began titrating his dilaudid (via PCA pump) down. Opioids are very effective in pain management but unfortunately, cause things to slow down…so we’re hoping the new pain plan is a success. Kristian’s surgical pain has been very well controlled—he’s been very comfortable over the last 2 days. This morning he began complaining of left-sided throat pain and this afternoon his left ear began hurting too. It’s likely due to irritation to the throat from the feeding tube—the tube was placed during surgery, so it’s been there rubbing, causing irritation to the lining of the throat for several days now. It doesn’t help that he has had nothing by mouth this entire time, so his throat is probably pretty dry. Aside from the pain setback, today has gone well—Kristian & I made it out to walk the hall—he walked approx 400ft—so amazing! I’ve noticed that he is getting stronger every day…able to boost himself up in bed—sometimes needs assist but neat to see he’s trying & usually successful!

Kristian enjoyed a little bit of company today too—always a welcome distraction❤️His siblings stopped by in the evening…a beautiful end to the day for us all.🥰

It’s been so heartwarming to know & see how much others care—the love & support has been amazing. I know Kristian has been deeply touched—thank you❤️

We pray for continued healing for our sweet Kristian🙏❤️

Fri 2/21

Today was a good day—lots of promising changes noted—just as Dr. Bae predicted, post-op day 3 was much better! Kristian’s pain has been well controlled, he was up walking in the hall, and even did some additional exercises with OT. These feats are a lot of work for him but he is ready & willing to go. I hope this determination continues! 

Trauma team is happy with how things are looking thus far. Now they’re hoping to see signs of the gut ‘waking up’ soon. The goal is activity—getting up and out of bed. This is all so important to promote healing & GI motility. All the activity is good & just what we want to see, but it takes a toll—definitely wipes him out. Glad he’s been able to get some rest.

Kristian (and mom & dad!) also enjoyed a visit from a very special guest —Ukki (grandpa)…stopped by with a couple cousins this afternoon🥰

It was a good day❤️we are so grateful! Thanks again for remembering us all❤️

Thurs 2/20

Last night was challenging for Kristian—he was in a lot of pain. Thankfully, early this morning the pain team changed the pain management plan—he is now on a PCA pump which has a continuous infusion of dilaudid—infuses a very small dose continuously but helps keep the pain controlled. With the pump he can have small bolus doses if the pain becomes more severe. They also started him on a transdermal clonidine patch, and continued with scheduled IV Tylenol. Needless to say, he has been much more comfortable today but unfortunately, groggy due to the effects of the opioid medications. Dr. Bae was hoping that tomorrow would be a better day for Kristian…typically they see improvement around day 3 post-op. The body usually undergoes a big fluid shift with trauma/surgery and within a few days the body usually is able to balance out. I hope tomorrow is an easier day🙏

Despite the long, unpleasant night, Kristian was able to walk about 50ft with PT today—a huge feat! Other than therapy, rest was the goal. He’s been sleeping on and off throughout most of the day. Hoping for a better day tomorrow—hoping the pain begins to decrease so he no longer requires so much opioid pain medications and can be more alert. 

Kristian’s siblings & some friends stopped in throughout the day—though he mostly slept, he appreciated the visits.❤️

We’re praying fervently for our dear Kristian🙏❤️ Many thanks from Kristian & his family, for the continued support!❤️

Wed 2/19

Kristian was re-admitted to the ICU after surgery last night. Despite not getting much sleep, he seemed to do well overnight. His pain began increasing early this morning—seems that this will be his greatest challenge today and likely for the next few days. Even with the pain, Kristian is eager to start moving & obviously is feeling better than he has over the last few days. There’s a lot on the to-do list today: 

-discontinue the foley catheter

-remove the arterial line

-PT/OT—maybe get up to walk!

-start IV nutrition (TPN)

-move out of the ICU!

As mentioned previously, Kristian isn’t ’out of the woods’ yet but we’re reveling in this moment! It is so encouraging to see the positive progression❤️ Last night, Dr. Bae concluded our post-op meeting with very important instructions: our focus now is positive—positive thoughts & vibes—our focus must be forward-facing—looking to safe recovery & healing🙏❤️

We realize there are many unknowns for us still…will this surgery (alternations to his internal anatomy) affect Kristian’s normal day-to-day life & if so, how? …I guess we’ll ‘cross that bridge’ when we get there…

Today, our hearts are full—we have much to be thankful for! We fervently pray that Kristian has a safe road to recovery & continued healing🙏

Kristian’s siblings are here now to see him. We’re down in the lobby with the 2 littles who are too young to visit (unfortunately, it’s respiratory season—visitors must be 12+).

It’s good to see them & spend a little QT with them—mom & dad have been M-I-A for the last 5 days, can only imagine it’s tough on them too. 

Thanks again for the continued prayers, love & support—if only we could repay you all for your generosity & kindness🙏❤️

Tuesday, 2/18

After a long day of anxiously awaiting text updates from OR, shortly after 8pm, we were notified that Kristian’s surgery was complete. Surgery lasted 8hrs. We met with Dr. Bae, he had good news to share—Kristian’s surgery went well! Though he is not “out of the woods” yet, we are grateful for this moment! Kristian underwent the whipple procedure—an extensive surgery to remove the damaged, unsalvageable duodenum & reconnect the stomach, small intestines, pancreatic & liver ducts. This procedure is common in adults but extremely rare in children. The recovery from this surgery will likely be more painful than the last, but the doctor is hopeful that the duration of the recovery may be less. Kristian has a long road ahead but we are so grateful for this moment—his surgery went well & we even got to enjoy a hint of his good humor after surgery!😍

We pray for a safe recovery & continued healing for our dear Kristian🙏❤️

A heartfelt thank you to all for the continued prayers, love & support—we couldn’t do it without you!❤️

We would like to extend our deep & heartfelt gratitude for the prompt, professional & compassionate care Kristian has received—starting with Beaver Creek Ski Patrol, providers at Beaver Creek Medical Center, all the staff at Vail Health Medical Center, Eagle County Paramedics, the flight crew with Classic Air Medical, AMR ambulance transport in Phoenix and all the medical team/experts on Kristian’s case at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. We cannot thank you enough—your exceptional care & compassion has not gone unnoticed.

Brett, Marita & Kristian Rintamaki & Family Sophia, Vera, Gavin, Anders, Elin & Bennett

Tues 2/18

Dr. Bae (trauma surgeon) was by this morning. Unfortunately, one of the drains from Kristian’s injury site was draining significantly more than previously. This was a sure sign that the first surgery did not take. There was very significant trauma to the duodenum (connects stomach to small intestine—liver and pancreas connect to the intestines in the duodenum also) and now it’s looking like he will require another very extensive abdominal surgery—it’s called the whipple procedure, likely to last 7+ hours. This procedure will eliminate the duodenum. Kristian was taken back to surgery just a few minutes ago. This is incredibly difficult as a parent and we fervently pray for success in surgery, for healing, and a safe recovery. We just want our precious Kristian healthy & happy🙏❤️we place our trust in God’s promises & His plan. Thank you for the continued prayers, love, & support.❤️

Monday 2/17 update

Kristian seems to be making some progress in the right direction. Yesterday, in the afternoon he was extubated—a big relief for him and for us it was so nice to hear his voice and visit with him again❤️A PICC line was inserted as it is anticipated that he will be receiving nutrition (TPN) and antibiotics for quite some time. Then, in the evening he was moved out of the ICU—Lots of progress for 1 day! 

Today (Monday), it seems that he began experiencing a little more pain. Before surgery, anesthesia placed an epidural to help with pain control—epidural is still in place and overall has been effective. Today he’s been needing additional pain medication, which thankfully has helped. 

PT & OT were by—they helped him up to the chair. The first significant movement for Kristian since the accident—I’m pretty sure he enjoyed his time out of bed! His brothers and a couple good buddies came for the evening—made me happy to see even a little of his usual spark return!❤️

It’s a waiting game now & for the coming days—waiting to see if the surgery takes. His injuries were very serious, “bad, bad injury,” as described by the trauma surgeon, resulting in a long, extensive, and complicated surgery. If this repair doesn’t heal adequately, he will need to undergo another major surgery. 

We pray for healing.🙏

The last few days have been a whirlwind for us all—we’re so thankful that Kristian was able to be transferred here to Phoenix Children’s where he is in expert care & close to home! It’s a long road ahead but we know he’s got this—he’s a strong kid! Most importantly we trust that God has not forgotten Kristian and hasn’t forgotten us—His promises are sure❤️

The show of love & support has been overwhelming. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for the many prayers, love, kindness, & encouragement we have received — we’re humbled; it truly means so much!❤️