May 7, 2008
There have been moments in my life that I have been pretty proud of my intellect...... Hey, I still have the certificates for each report card time thru four years of high school showing I was on honor roll! I have the newspaper article relating my being chosen for a special honors class in college. I mean, really, there has been lots of 'proof' over the years that I do have a brain. Even my maiden name...Brainard! The dictionery states that the suffix -ard means 'lots of what comes before it.' (True it gives the examples of 'drunkard' and 'braggard' but I was a BRAIN-ard!! )
But then there are times that make me wonder if I have any smarts at all! And I think I just encountered the pinnacle of all those times!!! I have spent more time and energy than I want to think about, trying to create a lovely walkway up to my front door. I have weeded, have transported gravel, have coerced my guy into buying me a bunch of brick things. I have raked, ..... you get the idea! Well, the gravel comes with dirt mixed in it. (I suppose there is gravel that is washed clean....but I am sure it is out of my price range.) So even tho I spread that fabric stuff all down the path before putting down the gravel, the dirt made my path a good breeding ground for dandelions etc. I have struggled with them thru the years....gasoline, commercial killers, back breaking weeding.... So when my 'mentor' Jeff L. (the newspaper official gardening expert) said to put newspapers over the weeds to kill them and keep them from growing back....and said they would be biodegradable and in all ways be better than chemicals or the fabric stuff or plastic.... I started saving newspapers. Eventually...just before my stash actually took over the house....the weather indicated that spring had sprung and the time had come for me to spread my papers. There was still snow on the lawn, and that would be a good thing, as the snow would be useful for my project.
Nevermind that I had recently torn a ligament in my knee.... I could do this job straight legged (if not straight faced!)
I carried more newspapers than you can even imagine to the front porch....then hauled as many as I could manage (I think this took me 3 or 4 trips.... or 5 or 6)down the ten front steps and down the sloped path and started covering the largest weeds....they were left over from last fall. Too cold for new ones to grow yet. Now this all took place about 3 weeks ago, yes, my knee was still pretty 'fresh.' But I am stubborn. (When I decided I wanted to build an igloo out of ice blocks one year, my four year old granddaughter ....after more than 100 blocks were packed to the site....asked, 'Why does G'ma say this is fun?') She's grown up and is smarter than to be available now when I get my hairbrained ideas.
Well... I got to thinking about how the wind could blow my papers around, and wondered just what steps Jeff L. would do to secure them. Remember that snow?? I found me a shovel and started throwing snow on them....it would wet them and make them seal right into the dirt and in the meantime weight them down in case the wind blew. (IN CASE the wind blew!!??? This is the hurricane alley of America! )
A couple of days later, mother nature agreed to help me out, and sent two feet of new snow....so my papers were well secured and would be plenty 'pulpy' when the snow melted.....right!! Instead, I watched the sun come back and dry up all the snow and dry up the papers. I knew I was in trouble, but not how MUCH trouble!! A few days ago, while I was in the throes of a doozy of a cold, I observed quite a few papers finding their way on to the lawn, and invading the driveway. Phil and KaCee took pity on me and went out and gathered up the loose ones, and put rocks on the others. And I kept busy with Stan, and forgot about my papers. Today I saw the trees swaying, felt the wind try to blow my hair off my head, and remembered my papers. Oh, oh, oh!!! They were everywhere. I couldn't ask for help!! Phil had been flu-y all night and Stan is 'just hanging around' (his words!) Out I went and started gathering. They were caught in every bush and bramble available, but many had still managed to make their way over the bank and onto a neighbor's property. I knew without a doubt as I struggled to gather them, that this has to be the dumbest idea I've had yet. (But don't despair.... I bet before another 68 years go by, I'll figure out some way to top it!)
I just thought you could all use a good chuckle.....brought to you at the expense of this chuckle head!!! Can't you just see me... hobbling around chasing flying newspapers, hoping no one is watching....while the wind keeps teasing me by getting more to give up their rock holds and join the fun. And just in case that isn't enough fun.... some of the ones I had stuffed in my arms would escape for a rerun!
Remember those bricks Stan bought me? They have been in a pile by the side of the path waiting until I could figure out just where I wanted them. Tonight I decided where I wanted them was securing the newspapers that hadn't taken flying lessons yet. But the wind is blowing so hard out there, that I am afraid of what the morning will show. I may have a few angry neighbors pounding on my door demanding my head! And who could blame them.
Regarding 'hairbrained' ideas....Pete was sure I was having a major one yesterday. I still think it would have worked, but I didn't get a chance to find out.
Stan's doctor insisted she could not treat him over the phone. (I had called 2 or 3 weeks ago when he was having headaches to ask if he could take something stronger than tylenol.) She hadn't seen him since before the stroke, and needed to assess him. So it was up to me to get him to her office. I thought I was calling TransCare plenty early to set up an appt. for them to come transport him, but found they were booked solid for that day. They are the ones who brought him home, so I was a little familiar with them. This is all new and uncharted territory I am trodding each day.
Well, I thought we could put him in the wheelchair and wheel him to the driveway, then lift him out of the chair and into the car with the Hoyer. Someone would have to bring the pickup, too, with the wheel chair and hoyer lift. Then I would use the hoyer to get him out of the car and into the wheel chair... And NOT ONLY would the ride be more comfortable for him, but we could have an outing and maybe get a milkshake from a drive-up. (The original trip home in the wheelchair, in a van, was difficult. He was not able to hold his head up at all back then, and not only did it stay flopped foreward, but his left foot kept slipping off the foot rest. I was buckled in sort of near him, but all I could do was try to keep a package of Depends shoved under his foot to keep it from being hurt. )
Well, I was all set up to have both the car and pickup at home for my use, and a couple of sons, too. Nothing went according to plans. I had neither of my vehicles at my beck and call, but assurance that they would be there. Andy was coming at 11 (I had asked him for noon....appt was for 1:20) because he didn't have much faith in my plan either, and wanted to do a 'dry run.' I figured if his dry run showed I was crazy, I would cancel the appt. and try for a day when TransCare was available.
Pete, however, was convinced I was going to kill Stan, and put in an SOS call to Kathy. Kathy spent her morning calling every transporter company in town....to no avail. Finally, she called TransCare and told them they had brought her friend home, but that the ride was so uncomfortable we had decided to never use them again. Whatever she really said to them...they decided they would squeeze Stan in....and would be at the house at 12:30. I called and told Andy he didn't need to be there until noon.....giving him a little more family time.
He showed up about 11:30 and it is a good thing. Stan has not been dressed for months!! We had to get sweat pants, shirt, and jacket on him. Then we had to get him in Hoyer, into the wheel chair, and down the porch stairs. There are three steps, a landing, and three more steps (to the side yard and driveway....definitely the most expedient route). That was no easy task, even with the help of the van driver. The van ride was the easy part. Andy and I went in the van and kept Stan as comfortable as possible. He didn't complain at all, and rather enjoyed the ride. The road is so bad (Alaska break up!!) that the van driver really went slow. BUT we got there with ten minutes to spare!! His sense of Humor has remained intact, and he was cracking jokes with the driver as he was unloaded from the van.
I was pleasantly surprised by his doctor. I had never met her, and had reasons to wonder...but she was very informative, did not rush us at all, and I never felt like I was taking too much of her time. She answered all my questions, and complied with things that were bothering me. She agreed to take him off coumadin, and also off insulin and put him back on pills for the diabetes. We will be monitoring his sugars carefully to make sure this is okay. She checked his tube and was pleased with what she saw. (Would you believe!! Since he's been home it has been oozing blood around the opening!! AARGH!)
The ride home was harder, mostly because he was tired. As we waited for the van to come for us, he repeatedly told us he was ready to go home and get in bed. He 'felt' every bump on the road home, and decided he didn't want the seat belt on the last couple of miles. It was a real challenge for Andy to keep him from releasing the belt. He was pretty determined, and now when he gets an idea into his head, he can be very stubborn. Luckily, Andy kept him laughing about it.
Pete and Corey met us at home and helped Andy get him back up those steps, while I went in and got his bed ready. So it was not a bad trip really.....blessings on Kathy!! But I would still like to see if he could be put in the car. If so, maybe he could enjoy a ride now and then. Dr. O'Fallon did say she wouldn't require him to come in very often.
He has been asking for a hamburger....very definite about where from and what's on it, too! Andy got him one today, chopped it up very small, put his teeth in, and tried to feed it to him. He really wanted it, but just seemed to choke and cough too much and finally gave up. We'll try again soon.
He expressed his disappointment about missing church tonight. Instead of the regular Bible Study, they had a mother's day banquet so we (I) opted to not have them worry about setting up the phone thing. I was surprised he remembered it was Wednesday!! That is a good sign. Dates seem to be hard for him.
I do have some urgent prayer requests before saying goodnight!
Little Darian King had one leg amputated last week due to the cancer and is undergoing additional surgery for reconstruction. He is just 5 or 6 years old.
Stan's cousin's grandson, Britt Chapman, is almost 12 and just today had some pretty serious surgery on his legs that will force him to be immobile for several months. He has had this type surgery when he was six, and now knows how painful the recovery can be.
Hannah Kingsley is just 3 1/2 and has had more heart surgeries than any of us want to think about. The doctor's want (feel it is necessary) to do an impending surgery asap... between November and March.....but first she needs to stay well AND gain five pounds. She only weighs 27 pounds right now.
Stan's Uncle Don had a stroke Sunday. The report we have had since is that he is doing well.
My sister Flossie just learned she had atrial fibrillation and was put on coumadin. This is what Stan was being treated for....and the coumadin is why he is in the condition he is in now.
Those little ones up there are all so young for such huge problems. Please put them on a permanent prayer list. These are all things that will be a part of them all their lives.
Thank you.....WE KNOW what prayer can accomplish! Stan is living proof!!
Love, M
Monday, May 12, 2008
May Day
God does take care of me...and He helped me keep my sanity today...but I wouldn't say things were shifted around to work in my favor.
Just as I was finishing changing Stan, he had to have a bm. This is a lengthy ordeal at best. After we finished with that and I was once again about to fasten his diaper on him, I heard 'running water' from someplace. As I was the only one home, I couldn't figure this out. Then found out that his left hand had caught his stomach tube (he has no feeling so didn't know) and with all the turning etc
I had to do to change him etc...the apparatus had pulled loose, and his stomach contents were spewing forth all over the other side of the bed and onto the floor. I had a puddle on the floor that measured about 12 by 30 inches...plus a wet sheet, draw sheet, etc. I had to put him in the hoyer and take him off the bed so I could clean it up and then clean up the floor (rug, of course.)
I had plans for Pete to come home and spell me so I could run some important errands (F. Meyers called yesterday to tell me Stan's digatek was recalled and I was to not give him any more, but to bring in his pills to trade for new ones. Also, he is almost out of diapers...will be before bedtime... and a few other things I had hoped to take care of...). Instead of coming at one, Pete called at two
with a 'situation.' The flowers he was delivering fell over in the van and had to be re-arranged and broken ones replaced. The person who loaded the van hadn't secured the 'pegs' that hold them from spilling. He is still taking care of this mess at 4:15... He was to trade the pickup for the car from Phil. Phil will not be able to get him the key until 5:45 because he is in rehearsel and can't be disturbed. (Pete probably won't be done until then anyway.)
I apparently thought I'd have a cup of coffee at some point and turned on the burner to heat water. Who knows how long later that I smelled something and realized what I had done... Hopefully I haven't ruined my kettle...and fortunately, I didn't burn the house down!
Now, just which of these incidents do you think was shifted my way to work in my favor??? heehee
What I need is more days like today.............NOT!!
It is beautiful out! Sunny....warm....
Well... get a good laugh out of this...because it is the only way we will stay sane!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay... that is the end of my response to the email. Here is the rest of this 'update.'
I had to cancel my appt. to get a recheck on my knee yesterday due to NO car or sitter available. No matter... after five weeks (FIVE WEEKS!) my knee is finally feeling like it is going to heal, so who needs THAT doctor, anyway!! It still thinks it should ache at night, but I can cautiously go down stairs in a normal fashion today. PTL
I did go 'shopping' today and took care of several errands. After wasting about 20 minutes at Sears hoping to check on mattresses there, I told the guy who paged for me that I would have to forget Sears and go elsewhere. My plan was to check on the temper pedic (sp??) type mattresses at 3 or 4 places before making my purchase. I had called Bailey's and Sadler's, but was going to compare their items with a couple more. I knew their prices and what they had to say via phone about the foam mattresses. The Englander at Bailey's and the Seely's at Sadler's were each $999.99 with a ten year guarantee....and both said those breathed...instead of sweat. The original T. pedic mattress apparently does NOT breathe and does make you sleep hot. Stan has always slept HOT, so I knew I didn't want that. I decided to take a look at the Mattress Ranch for a comparison. Those who live in Alaska know the weird ads that the owner puts on...with his dancing, etc. We met him at the fair last summer...and took pictures with him....Isaac and a friend of mine. (I took the pictures!)
He advertises the best prices...and he was right. I got one for $629 with the ten year guarantee and was told I could let Stan sleep on it for three days and if he didn't like it, I could return it!! If it 'sinks' more than half an inch during the ten years, it will be replaced. The mattress he is on now (came with the hospital bed) dips about six inches where his bottom rests! These foam mattresses are sold with frames that adjust (they tell me they don't call them 'hospital beds.')
Another errand I did today was to return the 'urine control' apparatus to the pharmacy (the one we hadn't opened.) I told Joe I didn't want any money back (he had given me such a deal that there was no way I wanted reimbursed.) He ended up GIVING me two $16 dollar washable under pads that are huge...and will save me lots of 'do-re-mi' over time!! And he sold me a box of 'diapers' for a bargain price, too. What a guy!!
Pete is bringing the mattress home 'as I type.' I am anxious to see how Stan rests with it. It should help me avoid bed sores on him, too!!
Hello again! Pete drove up with the mattress, and he, Mandy, and I made the switcheroo! This means getting Stan in the hoyer and letting him 'hang out' while we change out the mattress, remake the bed, etc. Pete gave Stan the bed controls and he has been lying there playing with them ever since.
Andy promised Stan some Deniki dessert yesterday but Grace took a teaching job and didn't get it made. The first thing Stan said to Andy was 'where is it?' So Andy brought it today and fed him some. It is a chocolate pudding and whipped cream dessert. Ashley helped her mom make it. I think Grace taught today, too. Last week Stan asked for her crazy cake WITH cream cheese frostening. He is getting pretty definite about his wants, huh!!! HIs comment while eating is 'yum, yum, eat 'em up!'
I think that about covers it here.......... So, until next time....
Love, M
Just as I was finishing changing Stan, he had to have a bm. This is a lengthy ordeal at best. After we finished with that and I was once again about to fasten his diaper on him, I heard 'running water' from someplace. As I was the only one home, I couldn't figure this out. Then found out that his left hand had caught his stomach tube (he has no feeling so didn't know) and with all the turning etc
I had to do to change him etc...the apparatus had pulled loose, and his stomach contents were spewing forth all over the other side of the bed and onto the floor. I had a puddle on the floor that measured about 12 by 30 inches...plus a wet sheet, draw sheet, etc. I had to put him in the hoyer and take him off the bed so I could clean it up and then clean up the floor (rug, of course.)
I had plans for Pete to come home and spell me so I could run some important errands (F. Meyers called yesterday to tell me Stan's digatek was recalled and I was to not give him any more, but to bring in his pills to trade for new ones. Also, he is almost out of diapers...will be before bedtime... and a few other things I had hoped to take care of...). Instead of coming at one, Pete called at two
with a 'situation.' The flowers he was delivering fell over in the van and had to be re-arranged and broken ones replaced. The person who loaded the van hadn't secured the 'pegs' that hold them from spilling. He is still taking care of this mess at 4:15... He was to trade the pickup for the car from Phil. Phil will not be able to get him the key until 5:45 because he is in rehearsel and can't be disturbed. (Pete probably won't be done until then anyway.)
I apparently thought I'd have a cup of coffee at some point and turned on the burner to heat water. Who knows how long later that I smelled something and realized what I had done... Hopefully I haven't ruined my kettle...and fortunately, I didn't burn the house down!
Now, just which of these incidents do you think was shifted my way to work in my favor??? heehee
What I need is more days like today.............NOT!!
It is beautiful out! Sunny....warm....
Well... get a good laugh out of this...because it is the only way we will stay sane!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay... that is the end of my response to the email. Here is the rest of this 'update.'
I had to cancel my appt. to get a recheck on my knee yesterday due to NO car or sitter available. No matter... after five weeks (FIVE WEEKS!) my knee is finally feeling like it is going to heal, so who needs THAT doctor, anyway!! It still thinks it should ache at night, but I can cautiously go down stairs in a normal fashion today. PTL
I did go 'shopping' today and took care of several errands. After wasting about 20 minutes at Sears hoping to check on mattresses there, I told the guy who paged for me that I would have to forget Sears and go elsewhere. My plan was to check on the temper pedic (sp??) type mattresses at 3 or 4 places before making my purchase. I had called Bailey's and Sadler's, but was going to compare their items with a couple more. I knew their prices and what they had to say via phone about the foam mattresses. The Englander at Bailey's and the Seely's at Sadler's were each $999.99 with a ten year guarantee....and both said those breathed...instead of sweat. The original T. pedic mattress apparently does NOT breathe and does make you sleep hot. Stan has always slept HOT, so I knew I didn't want that. I decided to take a look at the Mattress Ranch for a comparison. Those who live in Alaska know the weird ads that the owner puts on...with his dancing, etc. We met him at the fair last summer...and took pictures with him....Isaac and a friend of mine. (I took the pictures!)
He advertises the best prices...and he was right. I got one for $629 with the ten year guarantee and was told I could let Stan sleep on it for three days and if he didn't like it, I could return it!! If it 'sinks' more than half an inch during the ten years, it will be replaced. The mattress he is on now (came with the hospital bed) dips about six inches where his bottom rests! These foam mattresses are sold with frames that adjust (they tell me they don't call them 'hospital beds.')
Another errand I did today was to return the 'urine control' apparatus to the pharmacy (the one we hadn't opened.) I told Joe I didn't want any money back (he had given me such a deal that there was no way I wanted reimbursed.) He ended up GIVING me two $16 dollar washable under pads that are huge...and will save me lots of 'do-re-mi' over time!! And he sold me a box of 'diapers' for a bargain price, too. What a guy!!
Pete is bringing the mattress home 'as I type.' I am anxious to see how Stan rests with it. It should help me avoid bed sores on him, too!!
Hello again! Pete drove up with the mattress, and he, Mandy, and I made the switcheroo! This means getting Stan in the hoyer and letting him 'hang out' while we change out the mattress, remake the bed, etc. Pete gave Stan the bed controls and he has been lying there playing with them ever since.
Andy promised Stan some Deniki dessert yesterday but Grace took a teaching job and didn't get it made. The first thing Stan said to Andy was 'where is it?' So Andy brought it today and fed him some. It is a chocolate pudding and whipped cream dessert. Ashley helped her mom make it. I think Grace taught today, too. Last week Stan asked for her crazy cake WITH cream cheese frostening. He is getting pretty definite about his wants, huh!!! HIs comment while eating is 'yum, yum, eat 'em up!'
I think that about covers it here.......... So, until next time....
Love, M
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Phil. 1:3
I have been wanting to write an update for days. It seems like when I sit down to the computer to write, my mind is so tired, I tend to fall asleep. I don't seem to have much time
or incentive or something to even go to the computer these days. I think it is because 1. I AM tired and 2. It hurts.
I have had a few phone calls and several emails asking how things are.... I really do love knowing you are concerned about us. That is a comforting blessing. I am sorry for not writing
more often....
Okay... the GOOD: Stan has moved his left arm slightly ON COMMAND the past two days!! Brian works it most evenings, and told me his dad moved the arm (shoulder to elbow area)
in towards his side twice at Brian's request. I asked him to do it for me yesterday, and he DID. This could be the beginning of something BIG!!
He has been complaining of pain in that arm and in his left leg lately...so there is some feeling returning!! I used to give him his BIG insulin shots on that side because it didn't hurt as
much. Now he hollars just as loud as the right side!!! PTL (funny thing to PTL over, huh!!)
The weather is absolutely gorgeous.... today I took him out on the deck in the wheelchair to enjoy the sun. I can't wait to play in the dirt!!!
Friends in Kansas sent us a 'ton' of 'diapers' and pads that were left over from their care session. What a blessing! (Dave and Judy Parry, for those who know them.)
Jean Houston and I enjoyed a really fun outing at Kathy and John's....Yummy dinner, super company, and fun evening of playing (and learning) two new games. Pete stayed with his dad.
Stan's headaches have improved and he has quit insisting I get some 'head on' to treat them.
My cousin Brenda and friend Nancy were in Anchorage on Tribal business...and we had a great visit. She also shared that she had torn a knee ligament and told me how the therapy
really was a great help in healing.
Stan is doing his whistling thing right now. It is kind of cute. He started whistling about two weeks ago. I don't remember him ever whistling before.
For a few weeks now the church has been 'piping' in Sunday School class, Wednesday night Bible study, and Sunday's worship service. The two classes are by conference call on
the phone. We can participate in the discussions, hear what others are saying, and really are enjoying being able to 'be' there. We are joined by a couple near Kotzebue and also a
traveling member who just drove thru Canada to Oregon. In fact, he called me for the correct time tonight or I would have missed the class, because I had forgotten what day it was!!
The worship service is by computer web cam...so we actually see and hear the service...and several people make sure to wave to us during the greeting time. That is so neat!! Thank
you all for your super efforts to include us!!
PTL... after being 'dumped' by the clinic from my wonderful doctor's list for several months.... she became available again...and I jumped at the opportunity to get reassigned to her.
Also, called Grace so she could get Katrina back on her list!!! Hallelujah!!
Kathy helped me hook up with Joe at the pharmacy and get the Texas cathetar and another device for Stan. Joe delivered them to me and gave me a very good deal.
We are brought communion each Sunday afternoon...and have wonderful fellowship along with it.
THE BAD: Stan was suffering with some pretty bad headaches last week. He kept insisting that Pete would go to the store and buy some 'Head-On' pain reliever. I tried to tell him I
couldn't just administer anything that wasn't doctor okayed...due to all the meds he is on.
I fell four weeks ago today and 'did something to my knee' as I fell. It twisted wierdly, and I could feel something happen. Since then I have had some pretty intense pain. I can walk...
it doesn't hurt to bear weight on it. I cannot bend it. When it gets bent on accident, the pain is pretty bad. For some reason, it aches (different than the bending pain, but in the
same area) when I lay down....so I haven't had much sleep for the duration. (Now you know why I said I was tired.) I did go to the doctor...but that seems to fall under 'the ugly.'
I have had an ongoing problem with my right ear for maybe 3 or 4 years.... It itches, weeps, gets infected and has pus, hurts like crazy, gets better.... cycles again... and again... and
again. I have had it looked at a few times, but usually by the time I get an appointment, it is better.... I have been given cortizone drops periodically that do help, but it just gets bad
again. It flared up recently while I was also having a bladder owie...so asked the doctor to check it out. She gave me a different kind of antibiotic drops... and the first time I used them,
I got the sensation of being plugged up and for several days felt like I couldn't hear out of the ear...so my doctor sent me to the ent clinic... I was there today, and the doctor vacuumed
out my ear (used a noisy machine that sucked out the 'debris.') Apparently I was so full of infection when I used the drops, they washed a lot of gunk down to the ear drum area...and I
was plugged up!! It wasn't really painful at the time, but the sensation of not hearing on the one side was uncomfortable. It is much better now, but a little weepy and a little itchy. He
gave me some new drops that should clear these things up. I sure hope so. The bladder owie got its last pill today, so hopefully that is okay now, too.
My windows are so dirty... I guess this could be put under all three categories.... I don't have much time or energy...but have decided to wash one a day, or a week, or a month. So far I
have three washed and do they ever look better!!
I haven't been able to really get the Texas cathetar to work yet, and the other device is a 'no go.'
I guess BAD would be the label for our losing the Home Health Care.... It also fits under ugly.... so 'stay tuned.'
Stan needs more attention to exercise... he is not very willing, and the kids do have jobs and family obligations that preclude as much help as needed. I need to work out a better
schedule, so those movements will return!! Andy lifted him up the other day so he actually felt his weight on his leg for the first time since the stroke. (I guess that should have been
under GOOD!)
The UGLY: We no longer have Home Health coming because they say Stan hasn't made the progress medicare expects. He has come so far from where he was three months ago!!
There were doctors who didn't expect him to live, didn't expect him to wake up, didn't expect him to talk.... We have heard of so many cases...even people we know, who sustained
this much injury who are walking, driving, etc...but took any where from two to ten years to get there... yet Stan is expected to gain by leaps and bounds in three months!!
If the OT and PT and speech therapist don't come, then the nurse can't come. So now I have to have him transported to the doctor's office for 'professional' medical observation. (He
can't be treated over the phone.) All I did was call his doctor to ask if there was something besides tylanol that he could take for the headache. I was told since he wasn't being seen
by the nurse anymore, that he needed to be in a nursing home where he could have 'professional' medical care. There were five serious incidents that occurred to him while he was in
St. Elias Speciality Hospital (which is a pretty big step ABOVE any nursing home) so why would I want him to be some place where I would be worried sick over his care!!
More medicare stupidity: I had to purchase the special cushion that makes it more tolerable for him to sit up in a chair. Medicare refused payment because he doesn't have a bed sore!!!
The cushion will help eliminate bed sores ... pressure sores.... !!!
I was told that I should NOT be putting him in the hoyer lift by myself. It is too dangerous. But I am also told that he needs to be up at least 3 times per day!
I took my leg to the doctor I had before getting MY doctor back. He did xrays...even though I was sure NOTHING was broken. The injury happened as I fell..before I hit anything. I felt
the tear or twist as I was falling due to the awkward twist that occurred. Because nothing was broken, I wasn't hurt....is how I felt was the diagnosis. It was two days later when I was
still hurting very badly, before I was even able to get thru to the doctor to see what the xrays showed. I explained to the case manager that I knew I hadn't broken anything, but that
something was terribly wrong with my knee. After insisting this was not arthritis etc...but something NEW and not just a flare up of old age.... she talked to the doctor, called me back
and said he was referring me to the orthopedic clinic. This was Friday...so I had to wait until Monday to talk to them. On Monday I called and found they hadn't received the referral.
Finally, that afternoon, they called back and said they had the referral...and that nothing was broken. Again, I insisted there was something WRONG with my knee. She offered me an
appt. ten days out. I argued, she moved it up to a week, I argued some more, and finally got an appt. in five days! I tried to tell them I wasn't sleeping because of the way it ached
at night. When I saw the ortho doc, I was less than impressed. He told me they don't do MRI's, that the only way I could know just how badly my 'medial collateral ligament' was
torn was to cut me open. I had been told by the Home Health nurses and OT and PT that an MRI was usual and that surgery was usual. Also looking on the internet, I assumed an MRI
would be done. So the doctor told me he would do an MRI if I insisted. I asked him, 'today?' and he said no, it would be about three weeks. He then offered me a brace.... after about
an hour, it came, and he was fitting it on me. It went from ankle to hip...was cumbersome, and painful. It did NOT keep my knee from bending, in fact was designed to allow the knee
to bend.... HELLO! bending it what hurts!!!
So I refused the brace. The first doc told me to ice it....which I did. This ortho doc says, NO ICE...heat! I finally told him that I guess I had wasted his time coming to see him. He looked
kind of startled and said, 'Oh no, this is my job, to answer your questions.' (I had asked him several times how he knew what was torn and how badly it was torn. He never did give me a
good answer...at least not one I could understand.) Anyway, I have an appt. to see him for a follow up on April 30. In the meantime, I had to see MY doctor (the one I got back) last
Friday for another matter, and she wanted to see my knee. She did some feeling around inspection and confirmed it was the medial collateral ligament that was torn, and to be sure to
keep the appt. with the ortho doc. She explained much more to my satisfaction why they don't do surgery or MRI's until about 12 weeks after such an injury. That it is better to keep it up
and let it heal. And then have therapy. So here I am....four weeks into the duration...hoping for some relief in the future. Some 'layman' friend did mention using a pillow, which does help
a little...but not much. The ortho guy did tell me that AFTER this thing gets to feeling better, if there is still pain elsewhere, then they would do an MRI to see if there was more extensive
damage.
Well... I hate to admit the rest of the ugly! Yesterday (Tuesday), I was doing just fine (but am lacking dreadfully in sleep) and had bathed, fed, etc Stan for the morning, had opened the
boxes from Kansas and had stuff spread all over the entry (just outside Stan's room). I had hung the urinal on the back of the wheelchair that sits in the entry, also. So to get to it from
Stan's bedside, I needed to wade thru the packages of diapers and pads that I hadn't picked back up when I decided it was time to change him again. He needed some major cleaning, and I
was so glad that I was able to contain it without soiling the pad under him, the draw sheet, or the bedding. I was still in the midst of this when he announced he needed to pee. I begged
him (foolishly...he hasn't the ability to control this) to please wait while I fetched the urinal. I can't step over things with this bum leg, so my jaunt to the wheel chair was slow and
difficult...and I returned in time to see a fountain spraying all over the bed. I started sobbing! Poor Stan... I couldn't stop. I was just too tired...but had to get him into the lift and off
the bed before I could completely change it. But first I had to get him diapered! I suppose it was a culmination of weeks of no sleep, deep sadness over the loss of our dreams and
previous life, etc...but it took a long time for me to get control. And he felt so guilty... I have tried to tell him it isn't his fault, and I know he couldn't help it.... but I know it really bothers
him.
SO...please pray for us! We have so much to be thankful for, but I fear it won't be the last time I lose IT.
Well.. now you all know why I haven't been writing updates.... who wants to send such depressing news to one's friends!!!
Thank you for caring and praying. Please know it is such a great comfort.
Love, M
I have been wanting to write an update for days. It seems like when I sit down to the computer to write, my mind is so tired, I tend to fall asleep. I don't seem to have much time
or incentive or something to even go to the computer these days. I think it is because 1. I AM tired and 2. It hurts.
I have had a few phone calls and several emails asking how things are.... I really do love knowing you are concerned about us. That is a comforting blessing. I am sorry for not writing
more often....
Okay... the GOOD: Stan has moved his left arm slightly ON COMMAND the past two days!! Brian works it most evenings, and told me his dad moved the arm (shoulder to elbow area)
in towards his side twice at Brian's request. I asked him to do it for me yesterday, and he DID. This could be the beginning of something BIG!!
He has been complaining of pain in that arm and in his left leg lately...so there is some feeling returning!! I used to give him his BIG insulin shots on that side because it didn't hurt as
much. Now he hollars just as loud as the right side!!! PTL (funny thing to PTL over, huh!!)
The weather is absolutely gorgeous.... today I took him out on the deck in the wheelchair to enjoy the sun. I can't wait to play in the dirt!!!
Friends in Kansas sent us a 'ton' of 'diapers' and pads that were left over from their care session. What a blessing! (Dave and Judy Parry, for those who know them.)
Jean Houston and I enjoyed a really fun outing at Kathy and John's....Yummy dinner, super company, and fun evening of playing (and learning) two new games. Pete stayed with his dad.
Stan's headaches have improved and he has quit insisting I get some 'head on' to treat them.
My cousin Brenda and friend Nancy were in Anchorage on Tribal business...and we had a great visit. She also shared that she had torn a knee ligament and told me how the therapy
really was a great help in healing.
Stan is doing his whistling thing right now. It is kind of cute. He started whistling about two weeks ago. I don't remember him ever whistling before.
For a few weeks now the church has been 'piping' in Sunday School class, Wednesday night Bible study, and Sunday's worship service. The two classes are by conference call on
the phone. We can participate in the discussions, hear what others are saying, and really are enjoying being able to 'be' there. We are joined by a couple near Kotzebue and also a
traveling member who just drove thru Canada to Oregon. In fact, he called me for the correct time tonight or I would have missed the class, because I had forgotten what day it was!!
The worship service is by computer web cam...so we actually see and hear the service...and several people make sure to wave to us during the greeting time. That is so neat!! Thank
you all for your super efforts to include us!!
PTL... after being 'dumped' by the clinic from my wonderful doctor's list for several months.... she became available again...and I jumped at the opportunity to get reassigned to her.
Also, called Grace so she could get Katrina back on her list!!! Hallelujah!!
Kathy helped me hook up with Joe at the pharmacy and get the Texas cathetar and another device for Stan. Joe delivered them to me and gave me a very good deal.
We are brought communion each Sunday afternoon...and have wonderful fellowship along with it.
THE BAD: Stan was suffering with some pretty bad headaches last week. He kept insisting that Pete would go to the store and buy some 'Head-On' pain reliever. I tried to tell him I
couldn't just administer anything that wasn't doctor okayed...due to all the meds he is on.
I fell four weeks ago today and 'did something to my knee' as I fell. It twisted wierdly, and I could feel something happen. Since then I have had some pretty intense pain. I can walk...
it doesn't hurt to bear weight on it. I cannot bend it. When it gets bent on accident, the pain is pretty bad. For some reason, it aches (different than the bending pain, but in the
same area) when I lay down....so I haven't had much sleep for the duration. (Now you know why I said I was tired.) I did go to the doctor...but that seems to fall under 'the ugly.'
I have had an ongoing problem with my right ear for maybe 3 or 4 years.... It itches, weeps, gets infected and has pus, hurts like crazy, gets better.... cycles again... and again... and
again. I have had it looked at a few times, but usually by the time I get an appointment, it is better.... I have been given cortizone drops periodically that do help, but it just gets bad
again. It flared up recently while I was also having a bladder owie...so asked the doctor to check it out. She gave me a different kind of antibiotic drops... and the first time I used them,
I got the sensation of being plugged up and for several days felt like I couldn't hear out of the ear...so my doctor sent me to the ent clinic... I was there today, and the doctor vacuumed
out my ear (used a noisy machine that sucked out the 'debris.') Apparently I was so full of infection when I used the drops, they washed a lot of gunk down to the ear drum area...and I
was plugged up!! It wasn't really painful at the time, but the sensation of not hearing on the one side was uncomfortable. It is much better now, but a little weepy and a little itchy. He
gave me some new drops that should clear these things up. I sure hope so. The bladder owie got its last pill today, so hopefully that is okay now, too.
My windows are so dirty... I guess this could be put under all three categories.... I don't have much time or energy...but have decided to wash one a day, or a week, or a month. So far I
have three washed and do they ever look better!!
I haven't been able to really get the Texas cathetar to work yet, and the other device is a 'no go.'
I guess BAD would be the label for our losing the Home Health Care.... It also fits under ugly.... so 'stay tuned.'
Stan needs more attention to exercise... he is not very willing, and the kids do have jobs and family obligations that preclude as much help as needed. I need to work out a better
schedule, so those movements will return!! Andy lifted him up the other day so he actually felt his weight on his leg for the first time since the stroke. (I guess that should have been
under GOOD!)
The UGLY: We no longer have Home Health coming because they say Stan hasn't made the progress medicare expects. He has come so far from where he was three months ago!!
There were doctors who didn't expect him to live, didn't expect him to wake up, didn't expect him to talk.... We have heard of so many cases...even people we know, who sustained
this much injury who are walking, driving, etc...but took any where from two to ten years to get there... yet Stan is expected to gain by leaps and bounds in three months!!
If the OT and PT and speech therapist don't come, then the nurse can't come. So now I have to have him transported to the doctor's office for 'professional' medical observation. (He
can't be treated over the phone.) All I did was call his doctor to ask if there was something besides tylanol that he could take for the headache. I was told since he wasn't being seen
by the nurse anymore, that he needed to be in a nursing home where he could have 'professional' medical care. There were five serious incidents that occurred to him while he was in
St. Elias Speciality Hospital (which is a pretty big step ABOVE any nursing home) so why would I want him to be some place where I would be worried sick over his care!!
More medicare stupidity: I had to purchase the special cushion that makes it more tolerable for him to sit up in a chair. Medicare refused payment because he doesn't have a bed sore!!!
The cushion will help eliminate bed sores ... pressure sores.... !!!
I was told that I should NOT be putting him in the hoyer lift by myself. It is too dangerous. But I am also told that he needs to be up at least 3 times per day!
I took my leg to the doctor I had before getting MY doctor back. He did xrays...even though I was sure NOTHING was broken. The injury happened as I fell..before I hit anything. I felt
the tear or twist as I was falling due to the awkward twist that occurred. Because nothing was broken, I wasn't hurt....is how I felt was the diagnosis. It was two days later when I was
still hurting very badly, before I was even able to get thru to the doctor to see what the xrays showed. I explained to the case manager that I knew I hadn't broken anything, but that
something was terribly wrong with my knee. After insisting this was not arthritis etc...but something NEW and not just a flare up of old age.... she talked to the doctor, called me back
and said he was referring me to the orthopedic clinic. This was Friday...so I had to wait until Monday to talk to them. On Monday I called and found they hadn't received the referral.
Finally, that afternoon, they called back and said they had the referral...and that nothing was broken. Again, I insisted there was something WRONG with my knee. She offered me an
appt. ten days out. I argued, she moved it up to a week, I argued some more, and finally got an appt. in five days! I tried to tell them I wasn't sleeping because of the way it ached
at night. When I saw the ortho doc, I was less than impressed. He told me they don't do MRI's, that the only way I could know just how badly my 'medial collateral ligament' was
torn was to cut me open. I had been told by the Home Health nurses and OT and PT that an MRI was usual and that surgery was usual. Also looking on the internet, I assumed an MRI
would be done. So the doctor told me he would do an MRI if I insisted. I asked him, 'today?' and he said no, it would be about three weeks. He then offered me a brace.... after about
an hour, it came, and he was fitting it on me. It went from ankle to hip...was cumbersome, and painful. It did NOT keep my knee from bending, in fact was designed to allow the knee
to bend.... HELLO! bending it what hurts!!!
So I refused the brace. The first doc told me to ice it....which I did. This ortho doc says, NO ICE...heat! I finally told him that I guess I had wasted his time coming to see him. He looked
kind of startled and said, 'Oh no, this is my job, to answer your questions.' (I had asked him several times how he knew what was torn and how badly it was torn. He never did give me a
good answer...at least not one I could understand.) Anyway, I have an appt. to see him for a follow up on April 30. In the meantime, I had to see MY doctor (the one I got back) last
Friday for another matter, and she wanted to see my knee. She did some feeling around inspection and confirmed it was the medial collateral ligament that was torn, and to be sure to
keep the appt. with the ortho doc. She explained much more to my satisfaction why they don't do surgery or MRI's until about 12 weeks after such an injury. That it is better to keep it up
and let it heal. And then have therapy. So here I am....four weeks into the duration...hoping for some relief in the future. Some 'layman' friend did mention using a pillow, which does help
a little...but not much. The ortho guy did tell me that AFTER this thing gets to feeling better, if there is still pain elsewhere, then they would do an MRI to see if there was more extensive
damage.
Well... I hate to admit the rest of the ugly! Yesterday (Tuesday), I was doing just fine (but am lacking dreadfully in sleep) and had bathed, fed, etc Stan for the morning, had opened the
boxes from Kansas and had stuff spread all over the entry (just outside Stan's room). I had hung the urinal on the back of the wheelchair that sits in the entry, also. So to get to it from
Stan's bedside, I needed to wade thru the packages of diapers and pads that I hadn't picked back up when I decided it was time to change him again. He needed some major cleaning, and I
was so glad that I was able to contain it without soiling the pad under him, the draw sheet, or the bedding. I was still in the midst of this when he announced he needed to pee. I begged
him (foolishly...he hasn't the ability to control this) to please wait while I fetched the urinal. I can't step over things with this bum leg, so my jaunt to the wheel chair was slow and
difficult...and I returned in time to see a fountain spraying all over the bed. I started sobbing! Poor Stan... I couldn't stop. I was just too tired...but had to get him into the lift and off
the bed before I could completely change it. But first I had to get him diapered! I suppose it was a culmination of weeks of no sleep, deep sadness over the loss of our dreams and
previous life, etc...but it took a long time for me to get control. And he felt so guilty... I have tried to tell him it isn't his fault, and I know he couldn't help it.... but I know it really bothers
him.
SO...please pray for us! We have so much to be thankful for, but I fear it won't be the last time I lose IT.
Well.. now you all know why I haven't been writing updates.... who wants to send such depressing news to one's friends!!!
Thank you for caring and praying. Please know it is such a great comfort.
Love, M
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