Dustin LaFortune

Archive for the ‘Family Updates’ Category

Thank you for all the emails looking for updates and wondering on how Dustin is doing now. Here is a little something that his mom got to me a few days ago in-between life happening:

I took Dustin for his pre-op physical exam today. He’s healthy and “fat” (255 lbs). LOL! No medical or health issues. Dustin laughed all the way to Wendy’s to buy his ‘Baconator Combo’. It seems he is quite amused by his weight because he describes anything OVER 250 as fat. After much chuckling, he said the first order of business was to sit on his brother Ryan. Next, he said that if anybody gave him a hard time about his weight, he would ask for counselling and allow some pretty therapist to pat him on the shoulder and offer him a kleenex to wipe away the tears (of laughter). He was a total brat today but in a good mood after a sleepless night spent talking about what happened to him. Anyway…Dustin is healthy is very pleased with himself.

We also got back from the plastic surgeon’s office. Good news and bad news: the liposuction to transfer fat from Dustin’s butt to his lips has to happen before the full flap grafts and facial reconstruction. So, between now and Sept. 9th, Dustin will go into hospital and have his facial scars erased. In September, the surgeon will pull skin from the inside of Dustin’s top and bottom lips then inject fat. As soon as his mouth is sufficiently healed, he’s goes back into hospital for ear surgery no.#2 (more cartilage removal and his ears will be ’sewn’ to the side of his head). Then the dental and plastic surgeons will begin the serious reconstruction.

Surgeries still to be done:

• bone grafts to reconstruct and repair Dustin’s nose
• bone grafts to reconstruct and repair Dustin’s eye orbits
• bone grafts to reconstruct and repair Dustin’s cheeks and jaw
• micro-surgical procedure to fix muscles and ligaments
• two to three more operations on Dustin’s ears
• complete dental reconstruction (extractions, crowns, pivots, veneers)
• full flap grafts (3 surgeries) to reconstruct lips
• full flap grafts on Dustin’s legs

Dustin has also been very active in the following activites:

• adventure therapy (kayaking and climbing)
• Disabled Sailing Association
• Tai Chi
• Trauma Counselling
• working daily/weekly two ABI (Acquired Brain Injury) Support Workers

Dustin is also attending classes at The Victoria Brain Injury Society. His mentor  meets with him (one-on-one) every Tuesday. Dustin will be featured on their new website and he’s represented VBIS all over the city.

He is also wanting to get the number of supporters to his NSAT page up over 1000!!

Last night, Lynn wrote to friends and family about what it was like spending all that time with Dustin, supporting him as he heals, remembers, comes to terms with what happened and learns to become an independent man again. When I read this, I was hit with the stark reality of what Dustin is going to need for years to come what his support circle will face. Here are Lynn’s own words on how it felt:

—=:=—

I just got home from Regina. The trip was great, we had a really good time doing a bunch of “firsts” since this all happened. It took about two days before he fell into pieces. Same goes for me. We took turns. Renee said it perfectly: this trip was my reality check. It’s not all dreams of fishing and sitting around with friends having a good time anymore. We have hit a wall, the recovery is slower now, the hard stuff is surfacing and I didn’t realize how hard this was actually going to be. I did, but, until you’re in it, you just… don’t know.

This was the hardest trip yet. It is not going to be easy for any of us. This visit was a HUGE wake up call for me. He made leaps and bounds so damn fast in the beginning that now that it’s starting to slow down, it’s tough. Not to mention mentally draining and exhausting with feelings of horror, helplessness, sadness, anger…

When I think of someone taking care of him 24/7 it’s too big to fathom. I was only there for 4 nights/5 days and can honestly say that NO ONE should have to go at this alone. This will have to be a group effort, everyone pitching in, driving him back and forth to places. I DON’T THINK IT’S HEALTHY FOR A LONE SOLDIER TO DO IT ALL. Dustin is repetitious, sad, happy, needing everything. When he does do things on his own, you have to watch and be there to make sure he doesn’t fall; this is not a “one home/person” job and it’s definitely tougher than I ever expected it to be.

In all honesty, I am exhausted to the MAX. I’ve cried, I’ve smiled, I’ve gotten frustrated, I’ve eaten, I’ve not eaten. It’s hard to explain, but I just don’t think one person can do this. He is going to need a team of caring people around him.

July Visit with Lynn

UPDATE: “Wait! Some images are missing! Where’s Courtney??” We know . We had a false DMCA Notice served for this website this morning. False or not, we still needed to go through a DMCA Counter-Notice to ensure this website wasn’t taken down. The papers have been filed and the 7 images that were in dispute have been disabled both here and in the main gallery for the time-being. After 10 days, barring any further dispute, they will be back up!

Dustin had an exciting weekend! His friend Lynn and his brother Rogi were able to visit him and Dustin was given permission for an outing. As well as visiting parks and monuments, they got to go to the Science Centre!

All the practicing he’s been doing with the support bars in physio is obviously helping!  He got to stand up holding railings outside and admire the view for the first time in months. No doubt Lynn and Rogi were tired too by the end of the day after pushing that wheelchair all around town.

You’ll also see that Courtney was able to stop by for a short bit and help Dustin learn about his iPad. I’m told that it should/could be integrated into his therapy.

I’ll let the pictures do the rest of the explaining for themselves – stay tuned later this week for Renee’s regular Wednesday teleconference notes for an update on how he’s doing – as you can see, he’s come so far! Way to go, Dustin

Photos re-published here with the permission of Lynn Ness.

Dear Supporters,

It is with great regret that we announce the shutting down of the Facebook group to comments. Right now our focus needs to be on Dustin, his healing and arrangements for the rest of his life. There are so many of you who are wonderful and supportive and gave so much to the community. We are so sorry all of that was getting lost in the noise.

From now on, we are going to focus our energy on bringing more updates to this website so people stay informed of his progress. To be notified of how Dustin is doing and any other important updates, you can either sign up for the newsletter on the right-hand side of this page or subscribe to the RSS feed in your preferred reader.

If you’d like to become more involved, we have the How You Can Help page with several different ways you can show your support. As always, messages of support and encouragement for the family are welcome! Simply use the form on the Contact page.

Thank you so much to everyone!

There has been much talk and many strong opinions about what should and should not be posted about Dustin online. This is Renee’s statement about that.

———————

I took the photos and I arranged Dustin ‘modestly’ but he is ALWAYS squirming and moving all over the place. Some of his movements are reflex (beyond his control) and some are just Dustin trying to position his body in a more comfortable position. I mentioned the diapers and Dustin laughed. He said he has no fat on his butt and it is not like he’s laying around in his underwear. Dustin was not concerned.

The truth is not pleasant. It’s hard for me (and the rest of the family) and it’s hard for the public but the reality check is what it is! Dustin looks 1000% better than the last time I saw him! I think the photos show just how much he’s improved.

I will never be ashamed of my sons – not any of them and certainly not Dustin. I’ve been changing diapers for 32 years and if I have to change diapers for another 32, that’s okay.

Dustin had no problem with the photos, not the diapers and not the pudding. He’s eating and that is not an easy feat when you are minus part of your tongue, your bottom lip and most of your teeth – not to mention the fact that the blow-out fractures and ligament damage prevent him from opening and closing his mouth.

If people are offended then that is their issue. Dustin is improving. Hopefully this story will have a happy ending and the public will be able to see Dustin’s progress from beginning to end.

———————

End of discussion.

Thanks to Dustin’s cousin, who is also one of his best friends, we have a wonderful video update to how Dustin is progressing! There is still a long road ahead of him, but now we can share in his first steps.

Thank YOU, Dustin; keep getting better.

Link to source at YouTube

Dustin’s YouTube Channel

There will be a quick little video of him trying to thank all his supporters. It will be posted soon (in a few days). You all have been so great we wanted to see if Dustin could give you reassurance and hope as he has done for his whole family. Thank you all so much for the continued support and loving prayers.

Dustin’s cousin Marcel, brother Rogi, best friend Lynn and “Cousin-in-law” Shileen (Marcel’s wife)  were able to visit Dustin this past weekend. They gave Dustin a new baseball cap and looks like he gets some stuffed animals to keep him company

To see the new photos, go to the Gallery.

Well, no update from the hospital tonight. When I called the to speak with the Charge Nurse, I had very important and sensitive information to SHARE with her. I issued a plea for HELP but to no avail. Their retaliation is even more serious than the breach.

Rogi (my son), Marcel, Shileen & Lynn will call later and perhaps fill me in on Dustin’s health – then I’ll post a medical update if I can still type.

I can tell everyone that I spoke with Dustin on the telephone. After he said

“…love you Mom” Dustin said:

“Mom, help me Mom.”

**Update, later same evening**

I’ve seen my son’s battered, broken, mutilated and emaciated body. I heard an audio recording of my son being tortured. Today, we heard him speak and we were ecstatic until we listened to the words and heard his story.

**Another update from Renee**

Dustin is still in a ‘CRITICAL’ care unit.
Dustin cannot sit, stand, or walk. He can barely move. The left side of his body works better than the right side.
He is not paralyzed. There was a fracture at C-7, but his spine is okay.
Dustin has a brain injury but it is too early to tell how much or how far he will progress with rehab.
Dustin has an NG feeding tube. He cannot swallow.
Dustin can speak, not very clearly, but enough to be understood.