Honey Buns

Hello all. So here it is. This is like a little time capsule of information. My husband had his accident, then his best friend created a GoFundMe page for us… this is what it read:

Journeyman Lineman Michael “Hollywood” Carey

On Tuesday October 8th Mike was involved in a work related accident that has left him in critical condition. He is now in a medically induced coma while being treated for his injuries. At this time we would like to reach out for your help. Mike isn’t one to ask for help, but he is always the first person to give you the last shirt off of his back. He is a true brother. Let’s honor the saying “ be your brothers keeper” Anything will help Mike and his wife Amber. Thank you all in advance for helping these two through the most difficult time in their lives!

As you’ve come to know me, I do process my world through storytelling and typing it out. I initially felt pressured by this page. Not to the extent that it was a burden or anything, but in a positive way. I was pressured to continue to process my newest reality through writing. Although I was doing multiple group texts updates, weekly at minimum, this was a new place for me to place the milestones Michael was about to achieve. I was pressured to write. I felt that pressure because so many people started to donate money for us. I felt, if someone is willing to send me even a dollar, that must mean they have an interest in our well-being. In Michaels survival and eventual legacy. In my emotional well-being and eventual recovery. These are a lot of people I do not know well enough to be part of my many group texts. I felt if they cared this much, they too deserved some updates… and so I started writing. Here are the exact updates from the site:

• October 19th, 2019
  • Michael’s health is moving in the right direction. He is heavily sedated and on a unique ventilator made for burn patients. He has his third surgery scheduled for Monday, Oct 21. Thank you everyone for your generous donations. I appreciate all the support and prayers we’ve received. Please continue to share and pray! I feel Gods love in the room with us!

• October 29th, 2019
  • Today marks 3 weeks in the Burn ICU. His grafts have been assessed and look like 95% took which is awesome! His lungs are functioning wonderfully (not on their own yet) and he isn’t on such high doses of the strong medication anymore so he is starting to wake up a bit. He is still on pain medication and sedatives that keep him sleeping 90% of the time and comfortable. But he has woke up and has been able to look at us and say (with his lips but no sound) “hi” “how are you” and “I love you”. Mike is still on a breathing machine (ventilator) and heavily medicated. Thank you everyone so much for the continuous prayers and support!

• November 5th, 2019
  • Michael has been in the Burn ICU for 4 weeks and is continuing to be such a strong fighter! He still has a partial right lung collapse and has been getting treatment for a couple days now. Mike received 2 units of blood though the night. He’s responding well but may still need to go into surgery for the lung. Once it’s resolved or a surgery is scheduled I’ll let you all know but please pray for lung and liver healing. The liver is just under your lung where this issue on Michael is and they believe the lung damage is from the electrical current. Today he is also off the ventilator and breathing on his own!! Such awesome news! He has another surgery for sure to get his skin grafts retouched and has a lot of therapy ahead of him. Mike is making huge steps in progress and hopefully soonish he can get out of the ICU and off such strong medication. Thank you for the continuous prayers and support, he is still in critical condition but doing great!

• November 12th, 2019
  • Michael is still in the ICU but his health is moving in the right direction still! He is such a strong fighter. Some think it’s the Viking blood in him, others say it’s the Journeyman Lineman in him! He goes to surgery tomorrow for his right lung. We are now in week 6 and this will be his 6th trip to the OR. Michael has overcome some major challenges and knowing him, he will continue to fight! Thank you all for the continuous prayers, good thoughts, and great support!

• November 19th, 2019
  • Michael has truly made a huge turn around in a week! We are even talking about going home for the holidays!!! Michael no longer has a trach and only has the feeding tube and one chest tube in. He can walk when he needs to get up and soon he’ll be allowed to start eating. Doctors think Michael has a few years of rehabilitation ahead of him. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Thank you everyone!!

• November 23rd, 2019
  • 46 days later and Michael gets to be discharged from the hospital!! Since our home is like a mud run obstacle course, we will be staying with Mom and Dad for the Holidays until he gets a bit stronger. Thank you everyone for the amazing support and continuous prayers!

• December 6th, 2019
  • Michael so appreciates all of your generous donations. He has been seeing doctors, therapists, and nurses almost daily since he’s been discharged. Michael only uses a cane to walk now, no more walker. His energy level isn’t built up yet so sometimes needs the wheel chair for long days but that’s rare. He got his last two stitches removed today and we will be attending the USC Burn Survivor Christmas Party next week after getting some blood work done. Michael is a walking miracle and healing like one! His doctor told him we’re looking at about a year of recovery. Thank you everyone for the prayers and support. We both appreciate it all so much!

• January 8th, 2020
  • Oct 8 was 3 months ago.. it was the day our living nightmare began. It was a pivot point in many people’s faith. It was the day God chose to bless us and show the devil who’s in charge. I cannot believe it’s already been 3 months, but sometimes I cannot believe its only been 3 months. Mike looks nothing like this anymore and I am so thankful! I don’t know what to call it, a miracle, a medical singularity, luck? There are things that happened that I can’t explain. I don’t know why us. I don’t have many answers to the questions we have. I have my Michael here with me today and I couldn’t be more thankful! And in 10 days I get to marry him again!#

• March 19th, 2020
  • Just filling you in as we’re coming up on 6 months from mikes accident. He’s been doing great! He had one outpatient surgery and has 4 more. He has surgery on his shoulder that’s been postponed because of the Corona virus but the 3 for his skin grafts are still on schedule. He has an mri on his hip Monday and then a follow up to see what they plan to do moving forward with that. Because of right hip and right shoulder issues, his Physical therapy was stopped shortly after discharge from the hospital. We agree it’s important he stays active daily, so he has been working on the hillside. Yesterday he made it almost two hours. Today he is pulling weeds on the hill and is hoping to make it the full 2 hours out there. Doctors think Mike has a year and a half still to heal before returning to work. Because of his recent health issues and my health history, we are at higher risk for how COVID-19 will affect us. So we are both in a shelter in place and once that recommendation is lifted I’ll go back to work. So all in all we are doing great!