Posted: 8/9/06
On the long road to recovery, but getting there
 Susan Anderson, 9, of North Branch, pictured with the pressure garments that are part of her treatment for third degree burns, is looking forward to getting back to school in the fall. Her summer has been dominated by therapy to help her skin grafts heal. Her father Mark, 41, is also on the road to recovery. |
By Patrick Tepoorten
Life has been drastically different for not only father and daughter, Mark and Susan Anderson, but their family as well, since a May 27 cabin explosion left the two severely burned.
Both Mark and Susan are out of the hospital now. Susan, 9, was first released in early July, but was re-admitted for a few weeks before again being released in late July. Mark, 41, was released within a week after Susanís second stint at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.
Released in their case is a subjective term, and means little more than being able to eat home-cooked meals and sleeping at home. Both spend much of their waking hours traveling to and from occupational and physical therapy sessions.
Mark, who is staying with his sister Pam Gengler in Cedar, is receiving therapy exclusively at Regions. Seven days a week he is driven there in the morning for two hours of occupational therapy and a half an hour of physical therapy. His afternoon sessions are a bit more scattered.
Likewise, Susan leaves at 6:30 a.m. every day for her morning therapy sessions which last until about 11 a.m.
Primarily, their therapy is to stretch grafted skin which is required because grafted skin shrinks. If not treated, range of motion for limbs with grafted skin could be lost entirely. So every day, and depending on the areas burned, Mark and Susan have fingers, wrists, legs, arms, etc., stretched just a little more, or in a different direction, than the day before.
At the end of each morning session, both have casts placed on limbs to insure that range of motion gained is not lost overnight. Then, the following morning, the casts are removed and the process begun again.
Susanís treatment is split between morning and afternoons. Skin grafts on her upper body, primarily her arms and hands, are treated in the morning at Regions. In the afternoon her lower body receives much the same treatment at Fairview Lakes North Branch Clinic with additional physical therapy for atrophy in her lower limbs. These sessions last about three hours each day. According to Susanís grandfather, Woody Walters, Susan is reportedly getting pretty good at ìhallway soccer,î and has quite a winning streak going.
Following dinner each day Susanís pressure garments must be removed and replaced with clean ones. Pressure garments are essentially very tight bandages that holds grafts together and allow her new skin to heal properly. As the name implies, they fit very tightly, similar to a wet-suit, and Susanís cover most of her extremities.
As one can imagine, replacing the pressure garments and bandages is a painful process and by the time it is complete around 9 p.m., Susan is exhausted, according to Walters.
When she wakes the next morning around 5 a.m., the entire process is begun again.
Susan updated the Post Review on her progress Tuesday morning and stated that she has not had to have limbs cast for six days and counting.
Mark has not quite gotten to the stage in his treatment where the pressure garments are being used, and has added complications not being suffered by Susan that Gengler attributes primarily to age. He has had to deal with blood clots, for instance, and various other medical conditions. The good news for Mark is that infections he suffered early on appear to have cleared up and he has been taken off antibiotics.
Although the two patients do run into each other in the mornings as their therapy sessions at Regions overlap, they have not been able to spend much quality time together, both being so focused on getting better. But for a few hours on Aug. 5, Markís 41st birthday, that changed when Susan came for a visit.
ìThat is all Mark wanted for his birthday, and that is what he got,î said Gengler. The two had the pleasure of each otherís company in a casual setting and enjoyed the usual birthday fare, including ice cream and chocolate cake.
Both Mark and Susan are looking at up to a year, maybe more, of therapy. No one really knows and it will largely depend on progress.
A bright spot for Susan, it looks as though she will be able to attend school in the fall. She also has Wednesday off from therapy and will spend the day at Como Park. She is looking forward to seeing the monkeys.
The best part about being out of the hospital, she said, is being able to move around. ìI can go anywhere I want. I donít have to stay in my room.î Along with being able to go camping and swimming again, Susan is looking forward to attending school. The best part about going back to school? ìShopping,î she said.
While Susan focused on the future, Mark looked back in a Tuesday afternoon interview.
ìIím just amazed we both made it out of there alive,î he said, speaking of the cabin explosion and noted that he doesnít really remember much from that day. Mark also talked of the progress he is making, especially in regard to his right hand, which was severely burned.
ìIím about halfway to being able to make a fist again,î he said. For Mark, making a fist is extremely important because being able to do so means he is that much closer to returning to work as a machinist. ìI never thought Iíd look forward to getting back to work,î he said, and added that it is his primary goal. On that note, he also stated that his employer and company have ìbeen greatî and have told him his job is waiting for him whenever he is ready.
The road to recovery has also taken a toll on the family. Gengler and her husband are primarily responsible for Markís treatment and dressing changes, and Susan is being cared for by her mother Kris-Ann Anderson, her grandparents, and a host of relatives.
The response of the community has helped ease that burden, and Walters referred to it as ìoverwhelming.î Still, there are things that need doing.
KrisAnn has a two-fold problem. Her yard is full of dead oak trees that need to be cut down. Also, wood heats her home and she has had no time to facilitate wood for the coming winter. Walters is hoping there might be some individuals out there who would be willing to fell, cut and split those oak trees to help prepare for winter. Anyone who could help in this regard can call Walters at (651) 674-4470, or (651) 674-4102.
Accounts dedicated to helping the Andersonís in a multitude of ways continue to be maintained and the family welcomes any support the community might be able offer. If you wish to donate money for recovery or to help the family keep up with various bills and expenses, send donations to these accounts:
Donations for the Anderson family can be sent to:
Mark and Susan Anderson Recovery Fund
Lake State Federal Credit Union, 6241 Main St., North Branch, MN 55056
Donations for Susanís recovery can be sent to:
Susan Jean Anderson Burn Recovery Fund
First National Bank, 38860 10th Ave., P.O. Box 520, North Branch, MN 55056-0520
Comment from Aunt Kim, cousins Anthony and Amber, 8/10/06
It was so good to hear all this Susan, I have been wondering how things are going, I am proud of you,keep it up!!
Comment from Kim, 8/10/06
Pam, I am so glad your dad is retired and can help out also, keep up the good work Mark and Pam on recovery, start a journal and keep track of all the progress!!
Comment from Ashlie Shinler , 8/11/06
Susan I love you so much and I am so proud of you!!!!
love
Pookie
Comment from Aunt Marcia, 8/21/06
Susan, We are so proud of you honey and keep up the good work. Nikki, Krista, and Taryn say hi. We love you and wish we were closer. Have fun in school.
Luv your Colorado family :)
Comment from Aunt Marcia, 8/21/06
Susan, We are so proud of you honey and keep up the good work. Nikki, Krista, and Taryn say hi. We love you and wish we were closer. Have fun in school.
Luv your Colorado family :)
Comment from Aunt Marcia, 8/21/06
Susan, We are so proud of you honey and keep up the good work. Nikki, Krista, and Taryn say hi. We love you and wish we were closer. Have fun in school.
Luv your Colorado family :)
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