Saturday April 5, 2014 Thanks to everyone for your continued caring concern about Drew and his recovery. He has been with us for a month now and has shown great progress. After the car accident and his many torso surgeries it's his right leg and foot that have been the main focus of attention. They have gone from totally numb to feeling sore with a burning sensation and sharp needle piercings on the bottom of his foot. Of course this means the nerves have come alive but it has been really uncomfortable for him. The pain medicine has helped . In the last week or so he has been able to take less of the medicine so that's a good sign. He enjoys seeing friends and family- several people have brought over food to share and stayed to visit. Others have had him over or taken him out to dinner and a movie - he even went to First Thursday with a friend visiting from Maui! Drew is getting around well on his crutches and it's been good for him to get out. His medicine has restricted him from having cocktails but he still has been enjoying other people's company at parties and gatherings. He went to a PJ party with friends and we've had a March Birthday potluck party honoring both Kimmy and Drew and two extended family dinners. For a change of scenery we drove to the Beach a couple of weeks ago and stayed over night in Manzanita. Drew said going to the beach made him sad because he remembers fondly his fun times there with Kimmy. He misses talking to her. I said that he could still speak to her and share his feelings and that it might make him feel closer to her. I'd like to think she could hear him in some way. Kathy, Kimmy's Mom, and Drew have been working on plans for a "Celebration of Life" ceremony for Kimmy. They are planning on having it on Memorial weekend, Sunday, May 25th , 2-4 at Mt.Tabor Park in SE Portland.They have rented the covered area by the volcano. I think they would like to make the wooden structure look like a Tiki hut. A Hawaiian theme seems appropriate for Kimmy with her love of everything Hawaiian. Drew has gone to several doctor follow up appointments and they all say he is healing well. One doctor said it looks like he is ready now to start physical therapy a couple times a week . He has scheduled his first session next week. We know it will take some time but we are looking forward to the time Drew will be walking again . Love to you all, Marian

3/4/2014 Today was Kimmy's Birthday... ( Drew's first full day at home since leaving the hospital) Her Mom , Kathy, and daughter, Amanda, brought over fancy cupcakes so that Drew, Matt, Clint and I could join them in celebrating Kimmy's life. It was a special time of remembrance of Kimmy's short but very special life. Drew was lucky to have shared part of it with her. He misses her but will forever carry her in his heart. It would be best to contact us or Drew so we can spread out visits- he is going to need his rest- Marian's email: sandozevensen@yahoo.com Drew's email: drew3e@gmail.com

2/24/14- 3/3/14 Drew is home from the hospital !!!!!!! It's been a week since the last post on Drew's progress- MRI's, X-rays and Ultra Sounds were given to check internal issues and all of the concerns have been resolved. Being able to take sit down showers, continue to practice walking with a walker and crutches and have a better appetite all helped him get closer to coming home on Monday afternoon, March 3rd. He will be staying with us for awhile to make a smoother transition before going back to his place. He will be taking blood thinners for several months and pain medicine plus has several follow up doctor appointments so it's important that we are here for him. Thanks to all of you who were able to come visit Drew in the hospital- it's amazing how it lifted his spirits. He had over fifty visitors during the last two weeks - he is certainly loved by his family and friends. Maybe he can schedule a few visitors while he's here too. We'll try to plan a few gatherings.

2/23/14 The monitoring of vital signs, IVs and connecting tubes are all gone. Yahooooooooo! Drew is feeling more comfortable with less pain. He is tired of being in the hospital and wants to be self sufficient - which is a good sign . The right leg and foot are now his focus. He needs time to exercise , time to practice walking ( using a walker and crutches ) and time to rest. We are so happy that he is getting closer each day to being the Drew we all know and love. The beautiful e-mails and facebook comments about Kimmy help him know she was loved by others as he loved her. He enjoys hearing from and seeing friends and family . Visitors lift his spirits. ( best times are after 3:00 ) Still not sure of how long they will have him stay in the hospital. This might be the time, once again, to say THANK YOU to everyone for their prayers of healing. There really is strength in numbers- I believe your prayers and good vibrations helped make a difference in Drew's amazing recovery! Thanks also to all who are sharing their love and caring thoughts for Kimmy and her family. The calls, e-mails, cards, flowers, gifts and meals plus donations to the link gofundme.com to help Drew and Amanda ( Kimmy's daughter) are so thoughtful and are greatly appreciated. I hope these posts have made you feel closer to Drew and what he has been going through. Writing them has helped me realize how important it is to stay close to both family and friends - take the time to hug all your loved ones and let them know they are special. With Drew's continued improvement, my next post will be to share the date Drew is able to go home. This maybe sooner than later- til then . Marian Evensen

2/22/14

Drew's dad and I arrived at the TRACU Saturday to see him walking with crutches!  The therapist walked beside Drew holding up his "break away" p j pants at the back and carried his lung liquid draining machine with cords but it was Drew who did all the work of balancing and moving forward with the crutches. It was good to see his determination.  

More staples from rib surgery were taken out and the last of the lung draining tubes were removed. His nurse showed us his multiple x-rays and what the doctors did to put him back together after the car accident. He has been in the hospital for two weeks now. The doctors and nurses are amazed that he is doing so well. He may be coming home in less than two weeks!

2/21/14 Friday started with a pelvic x-ray , more blood thinners and pain medicine. Laying completely flat on his back in bed seems to help Drew stretch out his body with less stress to his torso injuries. Found Drew a fleece cap to soothe his head and brought a breakfast sandwich of egg and ham plus a mango smoothie for a menu change of pace. Small comforts make a difference in his well being. He is using a computer and checking his e-mails - send him a message at: drew3e@gmail.com Before we left his physical therapist encouraged him to try walking with the crutches again. He used his arm strength and body balance to successfully walk out of his room, into the hall a ways and back again. Small steps now - bigger ones to come.

2/20/14 Drew was in good spirits when I arrived today- eyes were focused and body relaxed. He is now using Kimmy's cell phone and a friend's computer . He has started looking at everyone's kind words and the tributes to Kimmy. If you want to connect this might be the time to write him encouraging words on his facebook page or e-mail. The physical therapy session went well this morning but Drew mentioned his right leg was feeling numb and part of his foot was tingly. The nurses did an X-ray and found a small blood clot. He was given a blood thinner. Doctors plan to check on this later tonight. This afternoon a therapist wanted Drew to try using crutches but he found it was just too painful on his whole body. I could see the disappointment on his face. The walker may be a better option for now. Hope the arrival of friends to visit cheered him up.

2/19/14 It was Spa Treatment Day! Brother Matt trimmed and cleaned up Drew's newly grown beard - he was transformed from Mountain Man to Dapper Dude in a matter of minutes. He continues to practice walking with a walker and has been able to move a little further each day. Drew's dad and I began to talk to him about his financial situation - it's overwhelming to think of all the mounting bills... Julie brought by a lap top computer to help find information. He was sitting up in his hospital room recliner when one of his oldest neighborhood friend Alex and her mother came by to visit.

2/18/14 The epidural was removed Monday night and today Drew seemed much more comfortable. Staples were also removed from his chest /stomach incision. A physical therapist worked with him this morning, giving him practice using a walker. He did great using just his arms and left leg. His right leg is going to need exercise and time to get stronger so he can use it to walk again. Drew is determined to get better! I mentioned to him that many people have been sharing how much they loved Kimmy and that she inspired them or helped them in many ways. (examples : Her work in finding foster children adoptive families; Her vintage interests and involvement in a mid century modern club; Her love of planning themed parties and everything TIKI; Her close friendships; Her passion for travel and taking photographs; Her posting of those travel experiences plus useful travel tips on the Afterglobe travel blog she created and her sharing with others who were starting their own travel blogs.) Drew smiled and was pleased to hear she was loved and appreciated. He said he learned a lot from her and believes she made him a better person. He'd like to think Kimmy was chosen to organize some big event or help someone who really needed it in the next life. Once Drew gets better, he'd like to carry out some of the plans of travel they made together. He will have Kimmy's spirit with him so she'll see the world through his eyes.

From Marian: 2/17/14 The doctors and nurses are very pleased with Drew's progress. He has come amazingly far from his broken body condition eleven days ago. He slept well Sunday night and appeared more relaxed today . His voice was a little hoarse so a Speech Therapist came in to work with him. He is thinking clearly and understood everything his Dad , brother and I talked with him about. He worked with a physical therapist to strengthen his right leg and used his arms and a walker to move himself to a reclining chair which is much more comfortable than the bed ! More of his tubes were removed ( draining tube for the liquid in his lungs, and a catheter.) We can see that with each medical device that is taken off or out of his body he knows he is on the road to recovery and the smiles are coming back to his face. I shared with Drew the wonderful healing messages and photographs sent from his friends and his brother,Matt, taped some to the wall to decorate his room. Tropical flowers given by family and friends also help his room look festive . Thanks everyone! For those wanting to visit Drew at Emanuel Hospital's TRACU please check in with his nurse when you arrive to see if he is available to take visitors. Best times are after 3pm and before 9pm. Amanda and Kathy Hayes visited today . It was the first time they have had a chance to talk together about the tragic car accident. Drew shared that he does remember parts of that day - the wonderful time he and Kimmy had together at Multnomah Falls, the many photos Kimmy took for their travel blog , the icy conditions coming home and the car sliding . He is not clear on the details after that... Maybe that's best. He blames himself for what happened to Kimmy. Both Kimmy's family and ours have said to him that it was the snowy weather and icy road conditions that were a fault. We all are missing her right now - together.

2/16/14 BEST DAY SO FAR! Sunday morning Drew's oxygen tubes and IV were both removed. Fluid is still however being drained from his chest cavity. The amount of medication to manage his pain has been reduced. He is resting comfortably and appears calmer now. Drew is looking and sounding more like himself. Your prayers and positive thoughts have been paying off. He should be ready for visitors by this Wednesday . Emanuel Hospital's TRACU unit advises visitors come between 3:00pm and 9:00 pm. Friends who know each other might try to coordinate times and days to come visit so that Drew isn't overwhelmed . The room is small but two to four people could squeeze in to see him . Drew would be happy to see both friends and family.

From Marian: 2/15/14 Drew talked today of having nightmares. It's been difficult for him to rest . He doesn't want to close he's eyes because he sees strange creatures and images. I said it was "creative thinking" and if he was a writer he'd be writing it all down...he agreed. Planning on bringing a pen and paper notebook tomorrow. He was alert enough to be able to watch the Discovery channel on TV and enjoyed a travel program about Antarctica - said he wanted to go there some day. The BIG NEWS today was that Drew was cleared to move to the the TRACU- a Trauma Recovery Unit. This means he is out of the critical care stage. He is on oxygen and can now eat small amounts of food. We are encouraged by his progress but he's not quite ready for visitors yet. Thanks for everyone's love and support.

From Marian Evensen: 2/14/14 When we arrived at the hospital Friday morning Drew was having a hard time focusing. His speech was slow and he couldn't finish his sentences- but he did recognized us and knew we were there to support him. We could tell he was tired after a restless night and encouraged him to rest when he could. It's amazing how much noise and activity there is in the ICU (which doesn't lend itself to a good sleep.) Another tube was inserted into Drew's chest to drain liquid that was collecting in his lungs and chest cavity. He was asked to do exercises from a deep breathing machine to clear his lungs and a ultra sound test checked the condition of his now sore but repaired broken ribs. One of Drew's surgeries a week ago was to insert metal plates to each end of his fractured ribs. The rib plating devices hold the ribs in place to assist with healing and reduce pain during breathing . One of their main benefits is that they are built to conform to the shape of the ribs. The doctor shapes the plate during surgery. It is called the Synthes Matrix Rib fixation system and was developed by doctors and researchers at Emanuel Hospital. ( With his new inserted metal plates he may have some explaining to do at the airport.) Drew was moved from his bed to a special reclining chair so that he could practice sitting up. ( A week laying down in bed is a long time. ) His pelvis injury has effected the use of his right leg ( he can't put any weight on it ) Will be using a wheel chair while he gets therapy to strengthen his leg so he can walk again. Could take 8 to 10 weeks or more... They are hoping he can move into a special therapy wing to being his training soon. They may be moving him too fast. Yes, he needs to work on the physical part of his recovery but he also needs a chance to focus and really know what he is doing and why. The pain medicine is keeping him groggy. Had his first taste of food this evening- the choice was orange or lime jello. We had a taste test. Orange won .

2/14/2014 from Marian Evensen: We are heading up to the hospital- Called the nurse to check in and she said Drew had a bad night- He was frantic and what appeared to be talking in another language. They had to restraint his arms again. We hope that if the nurse says we are coming he will calm down . Keep the prayers coming. We will advise you when he is ready to have visitors. We thank all of your for your prayers and concern.

2/13/2014 From Marian Evensen: 2/13/2014 Pleased to see Drew's progress! The nurses lighten Drew's sedation over night . By morning he was aware enough to recognized us! He shook his Dad's hand and gave me ( his Mom) a kiss and said " they said you were coming!" He still is a bit confused but has moments of real clarity (like naming 1977 as the year the Trail Blazers were a great winning team...) Drew said he's having nightmares and it's hard to tell what's true and what's not. He was convinced that the nurses in ICU were hurting him but seemed to be reassured when we told him that he was hurting because of his injuries from an accident and that nurses or doctors were there trying to help him get better. ( the meds seem to be messing with his mind.) He still isn't clear on why he's at the hospital but can feel something went wrong. May take time to remember details. Both the collar and arm restraints came off Thursday. He's been working to get his lungs cleared out - coughing was difficult but he was able to drink water through a straw. These are small steps to recovery but huge when you think of where he was when he was brought to the hospital a week ago.

2/12/2014
Today Drew had x-rays on his legs and the results were good.  No additional surgeries are needed at this time.  Drew was taken off the respirator which let him start to breathe on his own . It has been painful for him to breathe due to his rib and pelvis injuries.  He had an epidural to help with pain.  He is coming off the sedation meds but is confused and fretful.  Tomorrow we will help him as his memory starts to comes back. The doctors indicated that he may or may not remember the accident or what happen to his lovely wife. It will be a difficult conversation .   

Update on Drew's status 2/12/2014

On February 7, Drew Evensen and Kimmy Hayes were in a very serious car accident on I-84 due to the black ice and snow conditions blanketing the Portland area.  Kimmy died at the scene.

Drew was taken to Emanuel Hospital (the nearest trama center).  He is in the ICU fighting for his life.  His vital signs are good.  Drew has had several surgeries since last Friday. His spleen was removed.  He had severe internal bleeding in addition to broken ribs and pelvis.  A bolt was inserted to stabilize his pelvis.

Currently, Drew is on a respirator to assist his breathing and minimize pain.  His doctors have kept him sedated to minimize his movement and promote healing.  He is not yet conscious. Drew is in great hands with the excellent staff at Emanuel.  He is expected to be in the hospital for many weeks.

His parents do not advise visiting Drew at this time.

Kimmy was cherished for her enthusiasm for helping and inspiring others to pursue their passion to travel. To Drew, Kimmy’s daughter, Amanda, and the rest of her family, we express our deepest condolences for your tragic loss. Know that Kimmy’s life and work had an impact on many people, and that her illuminating presence will be dearly missed by everyone.  Kimmy’s daughter, Amanda Hayes, is living with her grandmother, Kathy Hayes. 

This blog was created for you to keep advised of Drew’s progress during his recovery period.  It will allow you to post your thoughts, messages and prayers to the family. It will be updated regularly.

The families appreciate your prayers and support.

If you you'd like contribute to a fund for the Hayes-Evensen family, please follow this link http://www.gofundme.com/6riepk.