Day 8 - Surgery Update

We were happy to learn that the surgeons were able to close Scott's abdominal wall during today's surgery. They also began the surgical process on his leg, and we anticipate several more surgeries for his leg.  He is stable.  We continue to remain optimistic throughout this long process. Thank you for your prayers.

Day 8

Scott was just taken to his sixth surgery. We are hoping that this is his final exploratory surgery.  The surgeons have been looking for and removing tissue that has died off due to blood circulation loss from the aorta dissection 8 days ago.  His stomach has remained open with a wound vac for the past week while they look to ensure that none of his major organs have been affected.  Hopefully this is the final surgery and he can be stitched up so that he can begin the healing process.  The surgeons are also looking at his leg, which has had some complications from the blood circulation loss.  Please keep the prayers coming.

Day 8 - Grace's Prayer

My favorite things to do with Pop 

by: Grace Polk

1.      - Play school together- Pop is always the student and I am the teacher

2.     - Go to Katy Mills Mall to ride the carousel

3.     - Go eat at Rainforest Café

4.     - Go swimming together

5.     - Go to Westside football games

Grace’s Prayer

Dear God,

Please make Pop better. I want him to come home.

Amen

Day 7

Today marks one week since Scott's original trauma.  He was scheduled for his sixth surgery this morning, but it has since been postponed until later this afternoon or tomorrow in order to give Scott time to rest.  Please keep your prayers and good thoughts coming.  We will update again as soon as possible.

Day 6 - Music

I just had to share that Scott has been very responsive to music. On Tuesday, I sang the "Jesus loves me" song to him when I was describing my son singing it on stage at school that morning. Scott turned toward me, and I know that he heard me.  Tonight, when I went to visit, I played his favorite song for him, Brooks & Dunn's Neon Moon, on my I-Phone. He opened his eyes, turned to me, wiggled his toes. I told him that he needed to be strong and fight so that he could get up out of that bed and dance with me to that song. I know he heard me. And I cannot wait to see him dance again!

- Krista

Day 6 - Surgery Update

While we were hopeful that this morning's surgery would have been his last exploratory surgery, we were disappointed to discover that he will have to go back in again tomorrow morning.

Please keep the prayers coming!

Day 6

It has been six days since Scott's original trauma.  The aorta dissection caused such a shock to his system, his team of doctors have been concerned about his blood circulation to his lower body.  Initially, Scott had cardio-vascular surgery to bypass the disruption in his aorta.  This morning, he was taken into his fifth surgery for complications to his body that occurred when the dissection happened.

Scott has remained stable in the cardio vascular intensive care unit. Because he is in ICU, only his immediate family is allowed to be with him.  We have worked out shifts on a day-by-day basis for family members to stay with Scott.  Because he has had multiple surgeries, he remains sedated while in ICU. He is responsive to our voices, laughter and commands.  And that gives us great hope.

About Scott Schroen

Scott Schroen, one of five sons to Dudley and Lorena Schroen, was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  He spent his early childhood with his two sets of twin brothers in Miami, Florida and has lived the rest of his life in Houston, Texas.  He met Debra ("Debi") Young while enrolled at Westbury High School.  They were married in 1971.

In 1974, Scott graduated from the University of Houston with a bachelors degree in History.  After 25 years in the corporate world, Scott pursued a career in teaching, where he discovered a new passion for educating high school students.  He has been employed as an Economics Teacher at Westside High School for the past several years.

This past July, Scott turned sixty years old and celebrated forty years of marriage to his high school sweetheart, Debi. His family is very important to Scott.  He has three children and also considers his in-laws his children. 

Son Brian Schroen with his two daughters, Savannah and Johannah; 

Son Christopher Schroen and his wife, Krista, with their son, Evan;

Daughter Amanda Schroen Polk and her husband, Jason Polk, pictured with their two daughters, Grace and Madelyn. 

The true highlight of his life is being "Poppy" or "Pop." 

Most of his free time is spent playing with his five grandchildren: Savannah-7, Johannah-5, Grace-4, Evan-3, and Maddie-11 months.

If you would like to contact the family, please leave a comment on the blog, or email Debi.  Cards and wishes can also be mailed to 25219 Taylor Park Lane, Katy, TX 77494.  

The Beginning

Continued prayers and positive thoughts are requested for Scott Schroen, who was admitted to Memorial Hermann Medical Center via life flight on Thursday, September 22, 2011 with an aortic dissection. He remains in cardio vascular ICU with complications from the dissection, which is a miracle that he even survived and is still with us. 


He has had four surgeries in five days.  We have been told to prepare for him to be in Cardio Vascular ICU for at least 3 weeks. We were gravely concerned that he would not survive the first 24 hours. He is still fighting strong and is with us. Every day he is stronger. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. 

Love to you all, 
The Schroen Family