Again, I am writing this the "morning after."
Stan's brothers arrived at the hospital about 4:30 p.m. He was so excited to see them. And they kept saying "how good he looked." And he does....look pretty good.
He ate two meals yesterday again. He was pretty tired during dinner and wasn't sure he wanted to eat. He had a kind of speghetti for lunch. Noodles do NOT puree, so he didn't eat much of them. He ate the rest of his food, tho. Then for dinner he had beef stir fry and rice, a creamy soup we think was vegetable, broccoli, and strawberries. He ate 98% of it. He has to be taking in enough calories to sustain life before he can get off the feeding tube.
The OT (occupational therapist....works with upper body) made him "earn" his juice earlier. He told me he was thirsty, so I mixed up some apple juice for him (it has to be thickened), and had just given him a couple of sips when she came in. She was teaching him to use his hand and arm to get a spoon to his mouth. The juice doesn't stay on very well when the spoon gets turned sideways or upside down. His hand hurts a lot right now....I think he has a pinched nerve in his neck. I do want him to be able to do things, but sometimes he needs other attention, too.
He also had PT (phyical therapy....which is the lower extremities). He was "supposed" to get a shower, but it didn't happen. They had a chair that looked like it had a padded toilet seat and a mesh back and side to strap him to..... He was really looking forward to that, but the aides got busy. (I looked at that chair, and remembered my conversation with the nurse the day before....and wondered why it or something similar couldn't work for a toilet. A bed pan does NOT work, but when I suggested two of his sons help him unto a commode and steady him, I was refused....too much liability. So, why not use that shower chair!!! It looked ideal. )
Hopefully, he'll get the shower today. I was told they wanted me in with him to learn how to do it. I helped mom and Julie, I am pretty sure I can manage this.
He proudly showed off the fish Eric brought him the night before. They are beautiful.
I tried to make a snow ball........there is no way to make a snow man with this snow. Just a lot of fluff. Pretty tho....the trees are LADEN down.... everything is White! It was 4 degrees on my way to the hospital yesterday (Friday), and 6 on my way home. The forecast is for minus 3 tonight (Saturday). Poor Chuck and Danny picked a cold spell to come!! It is supposed to warm up by next weekend (to the high teens).
I was told he may get his trach taken OUT today or tomorrow!!! That will be exciting. He is READY!!
Everyone comments on his "cool" haircut. He loves it....
I guess his most specific prayer need now is to have his left side respond to "his" commands. So far, there is no results there.
Thank you all for your support!! I know it keeps him focused on the right direction instead of him getting discouraged over what he can NOT do. We keep telling him what a miracle he is and what a miracle every little accomplishment is! To see what he is doing now and compare it to just two weeks ago.... God has truly been at work answering our prayers!!!
Love, M
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Day 58
Hi..... For those who may be wondering, I MADE it off my hill with no trouble. Brian spent the morning snow blowing our driveway, and by then the roads had been plowed!! So, thank you for your prayers.....God answered them in the best possible way! I have had to "plow" thru snow before that packed up under the car and tried to stop me. It is much nicer to drive on a plowed road. (There has been "evidence" of a snow plow entering our property a couple of times since Stan has been sick.........I think the initials JF might fit the culprit!! Thank you!!!)
Andy and Pete were with Stan from about 9 a.m. so I wasn't worried about him wondering where I was. When I got there he had already had his lunch. He had lasagna (can you imagine that pureed!!), vegies, and applesauce. He told me the lasagna was dry.
He had his trach "buttoned" shut and his voice sounded much more like "him" and much stronger. The RT removed the button at bed time, saying it was a lot of work for him and he needed rest. He hadn't complained about it, his oxygen levels stayed high, so we were disappointed that she removed it, at least while he still had company.
The boys showed him videos of our two year old grandsons shooting a target with a bow and arrow. Hey....they are GOOD!! Kathy's husband also showed us a photo of his recent hunt. Stan NEVER tires of seeing hunting pictures!!!
I finally remembered to take the hair clippers, and I took pix as Pete shaved Stan's head. He had a most interesting hair "cut" up to now. The spot where he was shaved for surgery has grown back in to about 1/2 inch long, the rest of his hair kept growing and he had already needed a haircut, so that is the "long and short" of it. He loves the "Yul Brenner, Telly Savalis, Howie Mandel" look.........(I bet I butchered those names, but you must recognize at least one of them!!)
He has really been complaining of a neck ache. When he sits up, it is scary looking...his head falls forward and looks too heavy to hold up. We place pillows every which way. Paula's "bone" pillow helps a lot, but still it aches...and I am wondering if a nerve is pinched there because he has been saying his right hand (the useable one) hurts now, too. We all try to massage his neck often, and last night Deryl gave him a "chiropractic" treatment....very gently trying to stretch those muscles so they can relax.
I hate to see him have to take too much pain meds...especially since they are giving him oxycodone more often than tylenol.
He told me "they" asked him if he wanted dinner, but he told them "no, he wasnt' hungry" (this was at lunch time). "They" must have ordered it anyway, because about six p.m. his tray arrived. He had (pureed) pork roast, beans, asparagus, strawberries, and orange juice. Deryl and Kelly arrived about then and the fun began!! Everyone knows that strawberries dipped in chocolate are a real gourmet treat. Deryl warmed up a Hershey Kiss and I scraped some of the melted part onto his spoon and gave him a lick. A little stayed on the spoon (hardened) so when I would give him a bite of strawberries, he would get a taste of chocolate with them. Yummmmy! (Don't tell!)
Eric, Heidi, and Brooke came in later bringing a beautiful fish carving. I have placed it on a shelf in his room, and will leave it for a few days....so any of you who can come see Stan, don't forget to take a look!!
Brian didn't get time to come before work because the snow blowing took too long. He doesn't get off until 9:30 p.m. and was heading home, pretty tired. He called to tell me he got the mail, and I let him "talk" to Stan over the phone. I guess Stan told him how much he missed him, because he turned around and came back to the hospital.
Brooke and Heidi had a "surprise" for me.........it was a GOOD one, too. They had cleaned off my car when they got there. Brian started it for me, so it was clean and cozy when my time to go arrived!! (I get this treatment from Ashley, Katrina, and Isaac too, when they're there. Aren't I special!!!) (If you don't live where it snows and gets cold and you have to clean and warm up your own car late at night, you just won't appreciate how nice it is to have it done for you!)
Today (Friday) Stan's brothers will arrive. He has been "expecting" them every day since he learned they were coming. When he naps during the day, he thinks it is a new day when he wakes up. It has to be very confusing!!
I'm sorry for the "next day" report again. I just am too sleepy when I get home at night. I actually got 5 1/2 hours straight with no wake ups last night! Wow....I did take one of the 400mg Ibuprophen pills the doctor gave me before going to bed. Maybe it makes a difference! I hope I don't start being a pill taker, tho. I don't like being dependent on "stuff."
Well.... I had better get my day going or I'll be meeting myself coming home.
Love, M
Andy and Pete were with Stan from about 9 a.m. so I wasn't worried about him wondering where I was. When I got there he had already had his lunch. He had lasagna (can you imagine that pureed!!), vegies, and applesauce. He told me the lasagna was dry.
He had his trach "buttoned" shut and his voice sounded much more like "him" and much stronger. The RT removed the button at bed time, saying it was a lot of work for him and he needed rest. He hadn't complained about it, his oxygen levels stayed high, so we were disappointed that she removed it, at least while he still had company.
The boys showed him videos of our two year old grandsons shooting a target with a bow and arrow. Hey....they are GOOD!! Kathy's husband also showed us a photo of his recent hunt. Stan NEVER tires of seeing hunting pictures!!!
I finally remembered to take the hair clippers, and I took pix as Pete shaved Stan's head. He had a most interesting hair "cut" up to now. The spot where he was shaved for surgery has grown back in to about 1/2 inch long, the rest of his hair kept growing and he had already needed a haircut, so that is the "long and short" of it. He loves the "Yul Brenner, Telly Savalis, Howie Mandel" look.........(I bet I butchered those names, but you must recognize at least one of them!!)
He has really been complaining of a neck ache. When he sits up, it is scary looking...his head falls forward and looks too heavy to hold up. We place pillows every which way. Paula's "bone" pillow helps a lot, but still it aches...and I am wondering if a nerve is pinched there because he has been saying his right hand (the useable one) hurts now, too. We all try to massage his neck often, and last night Deryl gave him a "chiropractic" treatment....very gently trying to stretch those muscles so they can relax.
I hate to see him have to take too much pain meds...especially since they are giving him oxycodone more often than tylenol.
He told me "they" asked him if he wanted dinner, but he told them "no, he wasnt' hungry" (this was at lunch time). "They" must have ordered it anyway, because about six p.m. his tray arrived. He had (pureed) pork roast, beans, asparagus, strawberries, and orange juice. Deryl and Kelly arrived about then and the fun began!! Everyone knows that strawberries dipped in chocolate are a real gourmet treat. Deryl warmed up a Hershey Kiss and I scraped some of the melted part onto his spoon and gave him a lick. A little stayed on the spoon (hardened) so when I would give him a bite of strawberries, he would get a taste of chocolate with them. Yummmmy! (Don't tell!)
Eric, Heidi, and Brooke came in later bringing a beautiful fish carving. I have placed it on a shelf in his room, and will leave it for a few days....so any of you who can come see Stan, don't forget to take a look!!
Brian didn't get time to come before work because the snow blowing took too long. He doesn't get off until 9:30 p.m. and was heading home, pretty tired. He called to tell me he got the mail, and I let him "talk" to Stan over the phone. I guess Stan told him how much he missed him, because he turned around and came back to the hospital.
Brooke and Heidi had a "surprise" for me.........it was a GOOD one, too. They had cleaned off my car when they got there. Brian started it for me, so it was clean and cozy when my time to go arrived!! (I get this treatment from Ashley, Katrina, and Isaac too, when they're there. Aren't I special!!!) (If you don't live where it snows and gets cold and you have to clean and warm up your own car late at night, you just won't appreciate how nice it is to have it done for you!)
Today (Friday) Stan's brothers will arrive. He has been "expecting" them every day since he learned they were coming. When he naps during the day, he thinks it is a new day when he wakes up. It has to be very confusing!!
I'm sorry for the "next day" report again. I just am too sleepy when I get home at night. I actually got 5 1/2 hours straight with no wake ups last night! Wow....I did take one of the 400mg Ibuprophen pills the doctor gave me before going to bed. Maybe it makes a difference! I hope I don't start being a pill taker, tho. I don't like being dependent on "stuff."
Well.... I had better get my day going or I'll be meeting myself coming home.
Love, M
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Day 57
What a day... snow to clean off before leaving home. More snow to clean off before coming home. It has been snowing all day, and I hear it could keep it up for a couple of days. My biggest worry is getting up and down the hill to see Stan.
He had quite a day today!! A full course turkey dinner! (Pureed, of course!) Turkey, mashed spuds, carrots, and peaches, with apple juice to drink. Have you ever seen pureed turkey??? Interesting!!! The apple juice was thickened a little...he could still sip it, but it wasn't as thin as normal. He also tried the thickened water and found it not too bad. He really enjoyed his dinner. He ate every bite, and scraped the bowls!! First the speech therapist tried to get him to hold the spoon, but he just couldn't manage, and was SO wanting to EAT. She fed him the first few bites and then had me do it. She got to feeling secure enough with MY feeding him that she left for a few minutes. (I passed the test!!) He really did like the dinner. Mom had some similar and did NOT want that stuff. The difference may be that she hadn't gone 57 days without eating the real stuff.
I got a statement from the first hospital today. Stan is my "million dollar guy" and I have documentation to prove it. Thank goodness for insurance!!
Kathy decided to test Stan's vision tonight, so she held her hand over his left eye and had me hold up different numbers of fingers for him to identify. He passed with flying colors. Then she changed eyes and covered the right eye. He wasn't so adept at saying out I cold read to herl (WHEEEEEE!!! Guess you've figured out I am here to entertain you tonight. That should read ...adept at saying how many fingers I was holding up.)
The above was written last night....but I went to bed after that weird entry.....so now it is morning. Sorry!!
To finish the story of Kathy and the eye exam.... Stan fumbled around trying to tell how many fingers I held up and apparently doesn't see as well with his left eye. (Remember, Kathy has her hand over his right eye..) We keep asking, "Stan, how many fingers do you see?" Finally, he says, "I see FIVE of Kathy's fingers!"
He did so well with his meal that they plan to "button" up his trach today and see how he does breathing in and out through his nose and mouth....something he hasn't done since about day 2....whenever he was put on the ventilator. With the speaking valve, he has been breathing IN thru the trach and OUT through his mouth, and his oxygen levels have remained pretty stable. If he succeeds with the button for a couple of days, they will remove the trach. If he keeps eating as well as he did yesterday, they will remove the stomach tube. (I don't think it has been six weeks for the stomach tube yet. When it was put in I was told it had to remain for six weeks whether it was still needed or not....because it took that long for the incisions to scar together, or he would have an area between the stomach and the area outside the stomach that food could leak into.
When it was lunch time (Wednesday) the speech therapist asked him if he would like to sit up to eat, and he said, "I'm ready." So he was put into the chair and sat upright for the meal...which is way more "normal" than eating in bed....and will help him develop more muscles. So..every day he is still advancing by leaps and bounds!! His brothers are coming tomorrow (Friday) to see him and Cheri will be here on the 17th. Won't they be amazed!!!
Welllllll........I looked outside, and I have more snow to clean off than both of yesterday's cleanings put together!! I hope I can get out of our road. I just discovered that I left Stan's cell phone in his room, so if I get stuck, I am stuck!! Guess you'll have to wait for the next installment to know "Did she, or didn't she?"
Love, M
He had quite a day today!! A full course turkey dinner! (Pureed, of course!) Turkey, mashed spuds, carrots, and peaches, with apple juice to drink. Have you ever seen pureed turkey??? Interesting!!! The apple juice was thickened a little...he could still sip it, but it wasn't as thin as normal. He also tried the thickened water and found it not too bad. He really enjoyed his dinner. He ate every bite, and scraped the bowls!! First the speech therapist tried to get him to hold the spoon, but he just couldn't manage, and was SO wanting to EAT. She fed him the first few bites and then had me do it. She got to feeling secure enough with MY feeding him that she left for a few minutes. (I passed the test!!) He really did like the dinner. Mom had some similar and did NOT want that stuff. The difference may be that she hadn't gone 57 days without eating the real stuff.
I got a statement from the first hospital today. Stan is my "million dollar guy" and I have documentation to prove it. Thank goodness for insurance!!
Kathy decided to test Stan's vision tonight, so she held her hand over his left eye and had me hold up different numbers of fingers for him to identify. He passed with flying colors. Then she changed eyes and covered the right eye. He wasn't so adept at saying out I cold read to herl (WHEEEEEE!!! Guess you've figured out I am here to entertain you tonight. That should read ...adept at saying how many fingers I was holding up.)
The above was written last night....but I went to bed after that weird entry.....so now it is morning. Sorry!!
To finish the story of Kathy and the eye exam.... Stan fumbled around trying to tell how many fingers I held up and apparently doesn't see as well with his left eye. (Remember, Kathy has her hand over his right eye..) We keep asking, "Stan, how many fingers do you see?" Finally, he says, "I see FIVE of Kathy's fingers!"
He did so well with his meal that they plan to "button" up his trach today and see how he does breathing in and out through his nose and mouth....something he hasn't done since about day 2....whenever he was put on the ventilator. With the speaking valve, he has been breathing IN thru the trach and OUT through his mouth, and his oxygen levels have remained pretty stable. If he succeeds with the button for a couple of days, they will remove the trach. If he keeps eating as well as he did yesterday, they will remove the stomach tube. (I don't think it has been six weeks for the stomach tube yet. When it was put in I was told it had to remain for six weeks whether it was still needed or not....because it took that long for the incisions to scar together, or he would have an area between the stomach and the area outside the stomach that food could leak into.
When it was lunch time (Wednesday) the speech therapist asked him if he would like to sit up to eat, and he said, "I'm ready." So he was put into the chair and sat upright for the meal...which is way more "normal" than eating in bed....and will help him develop more muscles. So..every day he is still advancing by leaps and bounds!! His brothers are coming tomorrow (Friday) to see him and Cheri will be here on the 17th. Won't they be amazed!!!
Welllllll........I looked outside, and I have more snow to clean off than both of yesterday's cleanings put together!! I hope I can get out of our road. I just discovered that I left Stan's cell phone in his room, so if I get stuck, I am stuck!! Guess you'll have to wait for the next installment to know "Did she, or didn't she?"
Love, M
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Day 56
I was too tired to write last night, so it is now Wednesday morning. Stan didn't "fail" us yesterday. He had a couple of exciting things happen.
He had his chocolate pudding...the therapist said he ate about an ounce. He was "too tired" or he could have had more. He did seem more tired yesterday. I have asked if they could let him have a four hour stretch once during the night when he could just sleep if possible. He is poked, prodded, etc all the time, and rolled regularly every two hours.....so it keeps him from getting any of that "deep sleep" they say is important to healing.
We are also concerned about the amount of coumadin he is getting. I didn't even know he was getting it until Monday! The pharmacist came and talked to me yesterday and promised they would check his INR daily and keep us informed of any jumps in his numbers...right now he is at 1.14 ...as opposed to 6.8 when the stroke happened.
Instead of getting into the chair yesterday, they sat him up on the side of the bed. He doesn't have the muscle tone, strength, or balance yet to sit by himself, but he tried. There were people on all sides holding him up, but also having him try to hold himself up. It was a "good" first try.
Last night when they were turning him...not long before I left.... he did something I had been thinking about suggesting, but to my knowledge NO ONE had said anything to him about it yet. There is a "grab bar" hanging above his head...and when they turned him, he reached up and took hold of it and helped in the turning!!!! Oh...and there is one more thing, too. They finally came up with a call button that he can work, and he has successfully "called" for the nurse twice yesterday.
Today he has a "lunch tray" ordered. (all pureed foods, but FOOD!) He has been saying "they don't feed me, I haven't had a bite for three days..." I respond to him that he hasn't had a bite in 53 days!! Now we'll both have to change our tunes. (I thing it was Molly who mentioned one of my favorite songs the other day..."God will make a way, where there seems to be no way...."
God is so good! He's so good to me!!
Love, M
He had his chocolate pudding...the therapist said he ate about an ounce. He was "too tired" or he could have had more. He did seem more tired yesterday. I have asked if they could let him have a four hour stretch once during the night when he could just sleep if possible. He is poked, prodded, etc all the time, and rolled regularly every two hours.....so it keeps him from getting any of that "deep sleep" they say is important to healing.
We are also concerned about the amount of coumadin he is getting. I didn't even know he was getting it until Monday! The pharmacist came and talked to me yesterday and promised they would check his INR daily and keep us informed of any jumps in his numbers...right now he is at 1.14 ...as opposed to 6.8 when the stroke happened.
Instead of getting into the chair yesterday, they sat him up on the side of the bed. He doesn't have the muscle tone, strength, or balance yet to sit by himself, but he tried. There were people on all sides holding him up, but also having him try to hold himself up. It was a "good" first try.
Last night when they were turning him...not long before I left.... he did something I had been thinking about suggesting, but to my knowledge NO ONE had said anything to him about it yet. There is a "grab bar" hanging above his head...and when they turned him, he reached up and took hold of it and helped in the turning!!!! Oh...and there is one more thing, too. They finally came up with a call button that he can work, and he has successfully "called" for the nurse twice yesterday.
Today he has a "lunch tray" ordered. (all pureed foods, but FOOD!) He has been saying "they don't feed me, I haven't had a bite for three days..." I respond to him that he hasn't had a bite in 53 days!! Now we'll both have to change our tunes. (I thing it was Molly who mentioned one of my favorite songs the other day..."God will make a way, where there seems to be no way...."
God is so good! He's so good to me!!
Love, M
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Day 55
Oh dear...I really wanted to build that snowman!! For those of you who don't understand Alaska snow....it just won't stick together. When I got to the hospital the wind chill was a little much even for me. (I did manage to walk around down town with Pete, covering 6 or 7 blocks in single digit weather, wearing my light weight jacket, no gloves or hat.) I did take two pair of gloves with me to the hospital in case anyone volunteered to help. Shortly after I got there we had a pretty good blizzard for about an hour, too. But the snow is so dry and fluffy, it just won't even make a snow ball. I thought maybe it would, since Kathy threw the one a couple of days ago. But when she came and I asked her to go help me, she said she had to work and work to get it to stay together long enough for her to throw it. Maybe I need to make an igloo instead..........out of ice blocks. Hmmmmm Stay tuned..
It will depend on how I feel, I guess. I hate to admit it, but I am pretty sore, and am a bit concerned about what tomorrow will bring. Pete and I went "shopping" to get Stan some of those thermacare heat pads for his knees, and some nice soft warm socks for his feet when he is sitting up in the chair. On our way back to the hospital.....almost in sight of the hospital, but not quite....I was stopped at a red light waiting to turn from Denali street onto Tudor...when I grabbed my head and cried "OW! OW!" It wasn't until AFTER that that I figured out what was wrong. I had just been rear ended by a large GMC Yukon vehicle. My back bumper is no longer a very pretty sight. I really truly didn't need any more stress in my life. I hate "paper work" and "insurance" stuff, and all that goes with these things ...the inconvenience!! Even if there is no pain........... I thought my plate was full, but I guess I had room for dessert!
(The first snow of the season is usually wet enough to make a snow man. Remember my first email update on Stan...the day he had the stroke it snowed and was the snow man kind, and I wanted to make one SOOOO bad.)
Back to Stan!!!! He ate five bites of applesauce for the speech therapist today. He liked it! He did fine! She is bringing chocolate pudding tomorrow!!!
I also found a bag of chocolate candy on the shelf in his room when I got back from shopping. AND he said "someone" melted a little and put it on his tongue. Does anyone know who that was, Deryl???
He was in the chair for over an hour again today. And didn't really fuss about hurting until he was back in his room. Then he said "they forgot to take the brick out of the chair." He is having plenty of knee pain, and we are trying to alleviate it. He looks so good sitting in the chair, all shaved and handsome...I took his picture. When I get it developed I'll try to scan it in to show you all.
We did get several inches of new snow in our driveway. It is supposed to be cold for the rest of the week....meaning single digits at night.
I left around 10:30 tonight, hoping to get some sleep, so I guess I better go "get it."
Love, M
It will depend on how I feel, I guess. I hate to admit it, but I am pretty sore, and am a bit concerned about what tomorrow will bring. Pete and I went "shopping" to get Stan some of those thermacare heat pads for his knees, and some nice soft warm socks for his feet when he is sitting up in the chair. On our way back to the hospital.....almost in sight of the hospital, but not quite....I was stopped at a red light waiting to turn from Denali street onto Tudor...when I grabbed my head and cried "OW! OW!" It wasn't until AFTER that that I figured out what was wrong. I had just been rear ended by a large GMC Yukon vehicle. My back bumper is no longer a very pretty sight. I really truly didn't need any more stress in my life. I hate "paper work" and "insurance" stuff, and all that goes with these things ...the inconvenience!! Even if there is no pain........... I thought my plate was full, but I guess I had room for dessert!
(The first snow of the season is usually wet enough to make a snow man. Remember my first email update on Stan...the day he had the stroke it snowed and was the snow man kind, and I wanted to make one SOOOO bad.)
Back to Stan!!!! He ate five bites of applesauce for the speech therapist today. He liked it! He did fine! She is bringing chocolate pudding tomorrow!!!
I also found a bag of chocolate candy on the shelf in his room when I got back from shopping. AND he said "someone" melted a little and put it on his tongue. Does anyone know who that was, Deryl???
He was in the chair for over an hour again today. And didn't really fuss about hurting until he was back in his room. Then he said "they forgot to take the brick out of the chair." He is having plenty of knee pain, and we are trying to alleviate it. He looks so good sitting in the chair, all shaved and handsome...I took his picture. When I get it developed I'll try to scan it in to show you all.
We did get several inches of new snow in our driveway. It is supposed to be cold for the rest of the week....meaning single digits at night.
I left around 10:30 tonight, hoping to get some sleep, so I guess I better go "get it."
Love, M
Monday, January 7, 2008
Day 54
Sometimes I think I am losing count!!! I stayed until after midnight last night, so didn't have the energy to stay awake to write.
I had a few interesting emails this morning.......... one (from my Molly) suggesting a snowman be built outside Stan's window. There is enough snow there, but I'm not sure if it will stick together, but I intend to find out!!
Another (from my nephew Steve in AZ) told about his friend's dad who had a stroke in October. Here is a quote from Steve....
. "Joe is probably 20 years older than Stan. He was an Army Intelligence Officer just after WWII, and spent his entire life working for the Government. Chris went to visit Joe, who is recovering in a care facility, he has his wits, can speak pretty well, but cannot walk. Aides move him to his chair and back. Joe is a little confused about his condition. He asked Chris how he got in so easily, said the warden kept him under close guard.
Anyway thought you could relate, it was cute. Joe really thinks he's in a prison.
I'm glad Stan is progressing well, sitting up should be good for his lungs. It's not doubt that Stan can out joke everybody in the room, he already knew the punch line to any joke I ever tried to tell him. "
Stan said just last night that the hospital he is in is "easy to get into, but hard to get out of." I am sure he feels like he is in prison, too.
Okay...here's the way he gets in and out of the chair......
The aides place a non inflated air mattress under him in the bed......they do this by rolling him to one side, placing it up against his back side, rolling him onto it, and then pulling it on under him. Then using a large vacuum cleaner looking hose, they inflate the "raft." It is very strong and inflates in seconds. Then, putting the chair flat and of course the bed is flat, and having them at the same level, Stan and mattress (it has handles along its side) is pulled over onto the chair. Then it is deflated and the chair is positioned to fit Stan's comfort. (Which means repositioning it several times during the 90 or so minutes he is able to stay up.) Then the process is done in reverse to put him back into bed. Pretty ingenious....
He did stay in the chair for a good hour and a half Sunday. He is holding his head up better, but it does get tired. Paula brought him a lovely white satin "bone" shaped neck pillow...and I do believe it is just the "ticket" for neck comfort. (John snuck out and threw a snow ball this time!)
His hips and knees get more painful......... Pete had me bring his ReLiv for the doctor to check out. She decided on "not now" because certain ingredients will counteract with his COUMADIN! We didn't know he was on it!! She explained the reasons.........I am hoping to find a better solution!! But the risk of a clot is greater than the risk of another bleed right now.
God does work in "mysterious ways" ... or you might say His timing is heavenly!!! Just last night I received an email from my brother in law with an attachment (two pictures of me playing while Audrey from Tulsa is singing) and a note from Audrey with her email address attached!! Audrey was "my pharmaceudical source for homeopathic meds/ natural meds/ (you know what I mean!!) in Tulsa. She uses a lot of the things Julie got from her alternative med doctor. I am going to email her and ask about things that thin the blood other than these drugs.
Stan is TALKING... I mean, almost NON stop. I tried to get him to relax his tongue because when you can completely relax your tongue, all your muscles are relaxed. It is the LAST muscle to relax.... it has been a huge help to me especially during labor contractions...... but it is not easy. You have to really concentrate on it...float it in your mouth...so you can't be thinking about other things and you certainly can't be TALKING. This guy wouldn't "shut up."
He tried, and you could feel it start to help, but he just has a lot of talking to catch up on!!!
It is now 9 a.m. and I want to get there soon, so I better let this suffice for now. I need to find gloves if I plan to try the snow man construction! Kathy, bring some gloves!!! You can help me. Anyone else want to help??
Love, M
I had a few interesting emails this morning.......... one (from my Molly) suggesting a snowman be built outside Stan's window. There is enough snow there, but I'm not sure if it will stick together, but I intend to find out!!
Another (from my nephew Steve in AZ) told about his friend's dad who had a stroke in October. Here is a quote from Steve....
. "Joe is probably 20 years older than Stan. He was an Army Intelligence Officer just after WWII, and spent his entire life working for the Government. Chris went to visit Joe, who is recovering in a care facility, he has his wits, can speak pretty well, but cannot walk. Aides move him to his chair and back. Joe is a little confused about his condition. He asked Chris how he got in so easily, said the warden kept him under close guard.
Anyway thought you could relate, it was cute. Joe really thinks he's in a prison.
I'm glad Stan is progressing well, sitting up should be good for his lungs. It's not doubt that Stan can out joke everybody in the room, he already knew the punch line to any joke I ever tried to tell him. "
Stan said just last night that the hospital he is in is "easy to get into, but hard to get out of." I am sure he feels like he is in prison, too.
Okay...here's the way he gets in and out of the chair......
The aides place a non inflated air mattress under him in the bed......they do this by rolling him to one side, placing it up against his back side, rolling him onto it, and then pulling it on under him. Then using a large vacuum cleaner looking hose, they inflate the "raft." It is very strong and inflates in seconds. Then, putting the chair flat and of course the bed is flat, and having them at the same level, Stan and mattress (it has handles along its side) is pulled over onto the chair. Then it is deflated and the chair is positioned to fit Stan's comfort. (Which means repositioning it several times during the 90 or so minutes he is able to stay up.) Then the process is done in reverse to put him back into bed. Pretty ingenious....
He did stay in the chair for a good hour and a half Sunday. He is holding his head up better, but it does get tired. Paula brought him a lovely white satin "bone" shaped neck pillow...and I do believe it is just the "ticket" for neck comfort. (John snuck out and threw a snow ball this time!)
His hips and knees get more painful......... Pete had me bring his ReLiv for the doctor to check out. She decided on "not now" because certain ingredients will counteract with his COUMADIN! We didn't know he was on it!! She explained the reasons.........I am hoping to find a better solution!! But the risk of a clot is greater than the risk of another bleed right now.
God does work in "mysterious ways" ... or you might say His timing is heavenly!!! Just last night I received an email from my brother in law with an attachment (two pictures of me playing while Audrey from Tulsa is singing) and a note from Audrey with her email address attached!! Audrey was "my pharmaceudical source for homeopathic meds/ natural meds/ (you know what I mean!!) in Tulsa. She uses a lot of the things Julie got from her alternative med doctor. I am going to email her and ask about things that thin the blood other than these drugs.
Stan is TALKING... I mean, almost NON stop. I tried to get him to relax his tongue because when you can completely relax your tongue, all your muscles are relaxed. It is the LAST muscle to relax.... it has been a huge help to me especially during labor contractions...... but it is not easy. You have to really concentrate on it...float it in your mouth...so you can't be thinking about other things and you certainly can't be TALKING. This guy wouldn't "shut up."
He tried, and you could feel it start to help, but he just has a lot of talking to catch up on!!!
It is now 9 a.m. and I want to get there soon, so I better let this suffice for now. I need to find gloves if I plan to try the snow man construction! Kathy, bring some gloves!!! You can help me. Anyone else want to help??
Love, M
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Day 53
Guess I am on my own tonight!! I do feel better, and did go in to be with Stan for most of the day.
Nothing exactly NEW today.........just MORE talking, more sitting up in a chair and more time spent in the sitting area in the front lobby. Well...he did get a snow ball thrown at him, and a snow ball to hold in his hand. Guess that is new!!
He was pretty sleepy this morning when I got there. Carl E. and I visited for a good hour without waking him.
Pete and Brian had gone to the men's bfst at the church. Stan often cooked his famous crepes for this once a month event.
After Carl left, and I had to answer the phone in Stan's room twice, and the "big" guys came and turned him..........and he slept ON...Katie came and he woke up right away. So she told him jokes. Unlike when John told his jokes, Stan made the mistake of opening his eyes, so Katie KNEW he could hear her. She even acted out her first joke....but go no laugh. He said, "I don't laugh so much lately." The second joke HE explained to us. Katie said he "passed," since he obviously "got" it.
Stan has a large room here....which is good. He often has in excess of 8 adults visiting...and other times two two year olds to boot! They are pretty good little boys...if I do say so!!
The "mechanism" to get Stan into the special chair is interesting. I'll have to watch it sometime and then explain it to everyone. It's been explained to me, but I would probably confuse you if I tried to explain something I don't understand!!! heehee
Pete wheeled him out to the lobby to visit with Kathy, John, Paula, and me. Kathy snuck outside and threw a snow ball at the window in front of his face. Carl (who had been in to see Stan, AND we thought had left) was visiting someone in a catty corner room to the lobby and SAW Kathy throw the snowball....so he had to come investigate. Too bad Stan hadn't kept hold of the snowball Kathy brought in to him. He could have nailed Carl!!! Now that would have been "news worthy."
His hips and knees have really been hurting the last couple of days....or he is just now able to TELL us they are hurting. I sure wish I knew of a solution for that problem ASAP.
Pete stayed the night, Phil and Kacee are there waiting until Pete and/or Andy return to stay the night. Stan likes the company when he is wakeful.
He still remembers all his "old" sayings. We were looking at the light fixtures in the very high ceilings of the lobby. I told him to tell Kathy how HE would put them up....and he didn't fail me. He said, "Take a shot of Old Crow and fly up." He still prefers to think it is 2006 instead of 2008, tho.
Each day continues to be as good as or better than the one before.....PTL
Love, M
Nothing exactly NEW today.........just MORE talking, more sitting up in a chair and more time spent in the sitting area in the front lobby. Well...he did get a snow ball thrown at him, and a snow ball to hold in his hand. Guess that is new!!
He was pretty sleepy this morning when I got there. Carl E. and I visited for a good hour without waking him.
Pete and Brian had gone to the men's bfst at the church. Stan often cooked his famous crepes for this once a month event.
After Carl left, and I had to answer the phone in Stan's room twice, and the "big" guys came and turned him..........and he slept ON...Katie came and he woke up right away. So she told him jokes. Unlike when John told his jokes, Stan made the mistake of opening his eyes, so Katie KNEW he could hear her. She even acted out her first joke....but go no laugh. He said, "I don't laugh so much lately." The second joke HE explained to us. Katie said he "passed," since he obviously "got" it.
Stan has a large room here....which is good. He often has in excess of 8 adults visiting...and other times two two year olds to boot! They are pretty good little boys...if I do say so!!
The "mechanism" to get Stan into the special chair is interesting. I'll have to watch it sometime and then explain it to everyone. It's been explained to me, but I would probably confuse you if I tried to explain something I don't understand!!! heehee
Pete wheeled him out to the lobby to visit with Kathy, John, Paula, and me. Kathy snuck outside and threw a snow ball at the window in front of his face. Carl (who had been in to see Stan, AND we thought had left) was visiting someone in a catty corner room to the lobby and SAW Kathy throw the snowball....so he had to come investigate. Too bad Stan hadn't kept hold of the snowball Kathy brought in to him. He could have nailed Carl!!! Now that would have been "news worthy."
His hips and knees have really been hurting the last couple of days....or he is just now able to TELL us they are hurting. I sure wish I knew of a solution for that problem ASAP.
Pete stayed the night, Phil and Kacee are there waiting until Pete and/or Andy return to stay the night. Stan likes the company when he is wakeful.
He still remembers all his "old" sayings. We were looking at the light fixtures in the very high ceilings of the lobby. I told him to tell Kathy how HE would put them up....and he didn't fail me. He said, "Take a shot of Old Crow and fly up." He still prefers to think it is 2006 instead of 2008, tho.
Each day continues to be as good as or better than the one before.....PTL
Love, M
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Day 52
Hmmmm....I just came over to the computer to write an update so I could take my achy self to bed....and found Kathy wrote one for me!! And I certainly can't improve on it............so here it is!!!!
Love, M
p.s. He joined Deryl, John T., and Rick E. and me in telling "Bible" jokes today, too. Like "How many did "milk a bear" ? (Milcah bore 8 sons!!) or Who had NO parents? (Joshua, he was the son of Nun.) How do we know there were cars in Bible times? The Bible says the apostles were all in "one Accord." Where is there a reference to playing tennis in the Bible? (Moses served in Pharoah's court.) and on and on....and Stan was sharper than the rest of us!!
Soooooooo, with that...here is Kathy's update!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 22:46:13 -0800
From: kc_icewoman@yahoo.com
Subject: My "Stan" update...
To: orlaska@hotmail.com
Hi Madeleine....
Oh boy...I get to give you an update...
Stan and I had a great conversation tonight. He told me jokes, chatted with me, and we had a good old time.
We were talking about his stroke and the miracle God has done in his life...then Stan said, "3 strokes and you're out" He really had Brian and me laughing with that one.
Then ... we were talking about how you and I biked together a few years ago and Brian and I were trying to remember how many speeds your bike had....We were guessing 3...then Stan says in a loud voice "1"...
Then I asked him if he remembered the place we all took that hike a few years back...I honestly couldn't remember the name of the place...Stan just looked at me like I was the one that had the stroke and said, "Thunder-bird Falls".
Then we chatted about God, the Church and the power of prayer. It was a really GREAT conversation. I had chills.... During the conversation he showed memory, humor, thought, etc. He is mentally 100% back !!!!! Talk about the power of prayer.
I told Stan that I've been in the medical field for 35 years...and he is only the second person to prove me wrong...and I am so glad he did !!!! I never thought he would mentally come back like he has....
I sure hope you are feeling better soon. If you have what has been going around...you need to stay in bed for the next 2 days...or you will never get well, worse, you could give it to Stan. Please take care of yourself....So many people need you and depend on you (like it or not)
When I left Stan's room Brian was exercising his legs and arms....
Pete and Issac were heading out for pizza and then coming back for the night.
Sweet dreams...
Kathy
Love, M
p.s. He joined Deryl, John T., and Rick E. and me in telling "Bible" jokes today, too. Like "How many did "milk a bear" ? (Milcah bore 8 sons!!) or Who had NO parents? (Joshua, he was the son of Nun.) How do we know there were cars in Bible times? The Bible says the apostles were all in "one Accord." Where is there a reference to playing tennis in the Bible? (Moses served in Pharoah's court.) and on and on....and Stan was sharper than the rest of us!!
Soooooooo, with that...here is Kathy's update!!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 22:46:13 -0800
From: kc_icewoman@yahoo.com
Subject: My "Stan" update...
To: orlaska@hotmail.com
Hi Madeleine....
Oh boy...I get to give you an update...
Stan and I had a great conversation tonight. He told me jokes, chatted with me, and we had a good old time.
We were talking about his stroke and the miracle God has done in his life...then Stan said, "3 strokes and you're out" He really had Brian and me laughing with that one.
Then ... we were talking about how you and I biked together a few years ago and Brian and I were trying to remember how many speeds your bike had....We were guessing 3...then Stan says in a loud voice "1"...
Then I asked him if he remembered the place we all took that hike a few years back...I honestly couldn't remember the name of the place...Stan just looked at me like I was the one that had the stroke and said, "Thunder-bird Falls".
Then we chatted about God, the Church and the power of prayer. It was a really GREAT conversation. I had chills.... During the conversation he showed memory, humor, thought, etc. He is mentally 100% back !!!!! Talk about the power of prayer.
I told Stan that I've been in the medical field for 35 years...and he is only the second person to prove me wrong...and I am so glad he did !!!! I never thought he would mentally come back like he has....
I sure hope you are feeling better soon. If you have what has been going around...you need to stay in bed for the next 2 days...or you will never get well, worse, you could give it to Stan. Please take care of yourself....So many people need you and depend on you (like it or not)
When I left Stan's room Brian was exercising his legs and arms....
Pete and Issac were heading out for pizza and then coming back for the night.
Sweet dreams...
Kathy
Friday, January 4, 2008
Day 51
Each day does continue to bring new advances!! Today Stan had his teeth in and his speech device in for several hours. He even asked for his teeth in again later in the day. The speech therapist gave permission for him to have ice chips...IF he was awake, sitting up, and has his device in...and if the "trial" is stopped if he coughs or chokes. He wants his teeth in so he can chew the ice. They seem to fit just fine....which is a real blessing.
Tonight little Shelby was visiting and getting brave enough to watch and question things that were going on. When the nurse was suctioning Stan's trach, she wanted to know what was happening. Her Papa Deryl (shame on him!!) told her that they were pulling out all the bad stuff. She promptly said, "Mr. Stan doesn't have any bad stuff in him." (Mr. Stan smiled!!!)
I seem to have caught up with the fever bug that Andy's family had....or one of my own... so really am going to make this short and go to bed with a couple of excedrin for company.
Oh.... For those who wonder about Stan's headaches... I would be amazed if he had no headache.... His brain is still recovering from all the bleed and swelling...so there is still an abundance of pressure in there. It seems to be helped with tylenol, and sometimes with oxycodone. He is getting where he doesn't like us all to leave at night, so I think Pete is going to try to spend the night with him and then sleep during the day. Bless him. It is hard to leave him with him wanting us there.
Stan wants a drink of Coke!!! All in good time, we tell him.
Love, M
Tonight little Shelby was visiting and getting brave enough to watch and question things that were going on. When the nurse was suctioning Stan's trach, she wanted to know what was happening. Her Papa Deryl (shame on him!!) told her that they were pulling out all the bad stuff. She promptly said, "Mr. Stan doesn't have any bad stuff in him." (Mr. Stan smiled!!!)
I seem to have caught up with the fever bug that Andy's family had....or one of my own... so really am going to make this short and go to bed with a couple of excedrin for company.
Oh.... For those who wonder about Stan's headaches... I would be amazed if he had no headache.... His brain is still recovering from all the bleed and swelling...so there is still an abundance of pressure in there. It seems to be helped with tylenol, and sometimes with oxycodone. He is getting where he doesn't like us all to leave at night, so I think Pete is going to try to spend the night with him and then sleep during the day. Bless him. It is hard to leave him with him wanting us there.
Stan wants a drink of Coke!!! All in good time, we tell him.
Love, M
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Day 50
I got started a little late today....well, actually, my day started early, but my trip to the hosp. was late. I managed to gather all the 49 emails together and put them in a folder so I will have them. Then I did dishes and other neglected house hold things.............
I found Stan asleep, but with his teeth IN. I had taken them yesterday and left them where I hoped the speech therapist would find them. She did, but I don't know how or if they helped. His speak device was out. It wasn't too long before he woke and wanted the teeth out, too. I took them out. His normal routine at home is to have them out half the time.
His mouth does get dry, so I need to remember to "wet his whistle" more often.
We carried on a pretty good conversation for over an hour once he woke up. He did tell me he had a number ten head ache......after telling me he "needed some pain pills." That was about 1 p.m. He was given oxycodone, and he still stayed awake for another hour or so, but then he went to sleep, and was mostly asleep until about 9 tonight. At 10ish he said he had another bad (10) headache, so I told the nurse. I waited until he had the meds and they were beginning to take affect, and then I headed home. The boys (Andy, Pete, and Isaac) got to the hosp. about 7, I think. Brian came from work just after they got there and did the exercises on Stan's left side. I met the new doctor about 8, and asked about the clot. She said it is safe to do some "work" on his right side now. I don't fully understand the whole business....like, it could take a month or a year for the clot to dissolve or break up, but the danger is quite small now of its breaking off and going to his lungs or heart since he's been on blood thinner for five days. I sure hope she is right.
The kids fixed up pictures on the lap top computer, and were showing them to him when I left. There was talk of showing him some Looney Tunes, too. He does love them!!
They do say "laughter is the best medicine." He might be walking by tomorrow!!!
He did move his left foot in the night when Andy was there (after he got off work at 2:30 a.m.). And I saw him move it once today. The question is, is this "intelligent" movement or a spasm??
Please pray for him to have all the patience he needs to endure life right now. There are so many things he now wants to do, and can't yet.........going to the bathroom is a biggie!! Scratching his nose, he has conquered! Talking is a real chore, but he is DOING it!! Only, I can't always understand him, and sometimes it take 3 or 4 repeats....and I know that is no fun for him. He has a swet spirit, but I want it to stay that way!
Thanks so much.........Love, m
I found Stan asleep, but with his teeth IN. I had taken them yesterday and left them where I hoped the speech therapist would find them. She did, but I don't know how or if they helped. His speak device was out. It wasn't too long before he woke and wanted the teeth out, too. I took them out. His normal routine at home is to have them out half the time.
His mouth does get dry, so I need to remember to "wet his whistle" more often.
We carried on a pretty good conversation for over an hour once he woke up. He did tell me he had a number ten head ache......after telling me he "needed some pain pills." That was about 1 p.m. He was given oxycodone, and he still stayed awake for another hour or so, but then he went to sleep, and was mostly asleep until about 9 tonight. At 10ish he said he had another bad (10) headache, so I told the nurse. I waited until he had the meds and they were beginning to take affect, and then I headed home. The boys (Andy, Pete, and Isaac) got to the hosp. about 7, I think. Brian came from work just after they got there and did the exercises on Stan's left side. I met the new doctor about 8, and asked about the clot. She said it is safe to do some "work" on his right side now. I don't fully understand the whole business....like, it could take a month or a year for the clot to dissolve or break up, but the danger is quite small now of its breaking off and going to his lungs or heart since he's been on blood thinner for five days. I sure hope she is right.
The kids fixed up pictures on the lap top computer, and were showing them to him when I left. There was talk of showing him some Looney Tunes, too. He does love them!!
They do say "laughter is the best medicine." He might be walking by tomorrow!!!
He did move his left foot in the night when Andy was there (after he got off work at 2:30 a.m.). And I saw him move it once today. The question is, is this "intelligent" movement or a spasm??
Please pray for him to have all the patience he needs to endure life right now. There are so many things he now wants to do, and can't yet.........going to the bathroom is a biggie!! Scratching his nose, he has conquered! Talking is a real chore, but he is DOING it!! Only, I can't always understand him, and sometimes it take 3 or 4 repeats....and I know that is no fun for him. He has a swet spirit, but I want it to stay that way!
Thanks so much.........Love, m
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Day 49
In just a few hours it will have been an entire 49 days (seven weeks) from the day and time Stan's stroke occurred. SEVEN weeks!!!But it is that 7th week that has brought so much good news. (7 is a very Biblical number!! Wonder if God planned his eye opening that way!)
Well, today started off kind of cute and nervously..............when I went to start the car and get the paper out of the box....I had to tell Ms. Moose I was just going to get my paper and then I would be out of her way. She looked at me, but decided my bushes were much more interesting and tasty.
It was a bit of a shock............why, I don't know, as we have lots of moose come to visit.............but it was a bit of a shock to have to almost drive over her back feet to get out of my driveway. I was just glad she didn't mind sharing my driveway with me. A little closer than I wanted, when I got the paper.
My jaunts to and from the hospital each WINTER day are all "packed full of excitement and adventure!" I saw a grouse in the road one day, I often have had NEW snow to "plow" through, or icy roads that make cars go "sssssssslide" and your heart go "thump thump." I've had sons, grandsons, and granddaughters and maybe even a daughter in law, go ahead of me at night and clean my car off. I've had my own share of times that I was the cleaner off-er. I've had minus temps, single digit temps, teens, 20s, and even 30 to 40 temps during the past 49 days. Even tho there have been two or more incidences of BEARS out and about this late...I haven't got to see one yet! I turned my lights off driving home last night (Monday) (only on MY road!) to check out the visibility. It is so neat. I could actually see BETTER than with my lights on! No kidding.. but I had to turn them on in case someone would come and not be able to see me. I used to do this coming home from work in the wee hours in winter. Where is that "young lady" who used to be so scared to drive in ice or snow that she moaned and felt like she was having a heart attack??? I am glad she is no longer with me. AAAAAHHH...I am an Alaskan!!
Pete was with Stan when I got there. Stan had his speaking device in place, but I couldn't get him to say much, and when he did, he didn't open his mouth enough to let the words form. He went to sleep for a while, and I settled down with the paper. Pete had gone outside to talk on his cell phone where there is better reception. My (Stan's) cell phone rang. It was Danny (his "baby" brother). We chatted a bit, the nurse came in and woke Stan, so I asked Danny if he would like to talk to Stan. I held the phone up to Stan's ear, asked him if he could tell who was talking to him, and he answered yes. Then he spoke, "I love you guys." Wow...Danny heard it as plain as day. He said, "I've got to call Chuck." When he called back later on the room phone, he said he and Chuck have tickets to come January 11. They said they would be on a plane when they knew Stan would recognize them. He certainly WILL!
Pete and I went to get something to eat, and when we got back Stan's device was out and he seemed depressed. He wouldn't talk to me or really look at me, so I asked if he was mad at me. He shook his head "no." I couldn't get him to open his mouth. The RT came and asked if he wanted his speaking thing back in, and he was decisive with his "no." After she'd asked 2 or 3 times and he had refused 2 or 3 times, she told him she needed to put it in for a while.
Kathy came. Don and Nita Meierhoff came. Kathy decided to "quiz" Stan...but he was "ready" for her!! She asked him what state he was in. He didn't disappoint me... I KNEW what his answer would be in "normal" times. He piped right up with, "Confusion."
He did have a problem with the year, even tho it had only been a little while since I had told him. He went back wards to 2006.... But counting was his only mental weakness we have seen so far. If he were asked to squeeze once for yes, he might squeeze half a dozen times. We won't hold this agains him, huh!!
He watched some football on TV....a first in over 49 days. I also gave him a little "lick" of his Christmas gift chocolate bar....and he loved it...and he smiled and looked pleased. The nurse and I had discussed this a bit the day before, and she said she'd "never tell." It was barely a lick...he wanted to Bite, but I wouldn't let him. I don't want any choking or aspirating going on. We did hear that he "failed" his ice chip test the day before. He asked for something cold to drink, but he just isn't able to do that yet. Pete does a good job of "wetting his whistle" but we have to be careful until he can swallow better before giving him the longed for drink.
They have upped his feeding "speed" to 90 from 80. He is malnourished according to tests they do on him. They are giving stuff with more protein now, but it is also thicker and jams the pump. It has kept them busy all day, and us listening to the thing beep beep beep.
He kept asking to have the speaking device removed. It bugged him (his words) and it was "a pain in the neck" (his words....and quite a pun, since it is in his neck!). I truly thought it was "just' for talking. Turns out, it has a needed physical function. It is used in the transition from Christmas to a new term in school...Oh OH...guess I am sleepy....
I'll try that again...it is needed to help wean him off the trach. It makes breathing more difficult...makes him use more muscle to breathe....being able to talk is a nice side line. He has been breathing thru his trach for about 3 weeks, and before that the vent did his breathing for him. With this on, HE has to do the breathing ... thru his mouth and nose. Not having air moving thru them for 7 weeks, this is dry and hurts etc......
So it may become difficult to wean him off the bottle after they're...OH, bother, there I go again.
I really need to go to bed!! I thought I could tell you ALL about today...well, I have managed to say most everything ... so I'll say good night, now!
Love you all........... OOOOH, I was asked about his ability to see.......I'll try to address that before I write any more silly things.
I took his glasses today and he wore them for a few hours. He didn't seem to be able to focus using both eyes. I'm not sure of this yet. I need to experiment more tomorrow. He does see.......but we aren't sure how well or clear he sees. I'll try to find out. I guess we haven't checked that out. And SOOOOOOOOOO OFF to bed NOW! I sure hope I haven't said too many weird things in the email!
Love, M
Well, today started off kind of cute and nervously..............when I went to start the car and get the paper out of the box....I had to tell Ms. Moose I was just going to get my paper and then I would be out of her way. She looked at me, but decided my bushes were much more interesting and tasty.
It was a bit of a shock............why, I don't know, as we have lots of moose come to visit.............but it was a bit of a shock to have to almost drive over her back feet to get out of my driveway. I was just glad she didn't mind sharing my driveway with me. A little closer than I wanted, when I got the paper.
My jaunts to and from the hospital each WINTER day are all "packed full of excitement and adventure!" I saw a grouse in the road one day, I often have had NEW snow to "plow" through, or icy roads that make cars go "sssssssslide" and your heart go "thump thump." I've had sons, grandsons, and granddaughters and maybe even a daughter in law, go ahead of me at night and clean my car off. I've had my own share of times that I was the cleaner off-er. I've had minus temps, single digit temps, teens, 20s, and even 30 to 40 temps during the past 49 days. Even tho there have been two or more incidences of BEARS out and about this late...I haven't got to see one yet! I turned my lights off driving home last night (Monday) (only on MY road!) to check out the visibility. It is so neat. I could actually see BETTER than with my lights on! No kidding.. but I had to turn them on in case someone would come and not be able to see me. I used to do this coming home from work in the wee hours in winter. Where is that "young lady" who used to be so scared to drive in ice or snow that she moaned and felt like she was having a heart attack??? I am glad she is no longer with me. AAAAAHHH...I am an Alaskan!!
Pete was with Stan when I got there. Stan had his speaking device in place, but I couldn't get him to say much, and when he did, he didn't open his mouth enough to let the words form. He went to sleep for a while, and I settled down with the paper. Pete had gone outside to talk on his cell phone where there is better reception. My (Stan's) cell phone rang. It was Danny (his "baby" brother). We chatted a bit, the nurse came in and woke Stan, so I asked Danny if he would like to talk to Stan. I held the phone up to Stan's ear, asked him if he could tell who was talking to him, and he answered yes. Then he spoke, "I love you guys." Wow...Danny heard it as plain as day. He said, "I've got to call Chuck." When he called back later on the room phone, he said he and Chuck have tickets to come January 11. They said they would be on a plane when they knew Stan would recognize them. He certainly WILL!
Pete and I went to get something to eat, and when we got back Stan's device was out and he seemed depressed. He wouldn't talk to me or really look at me, so I asked if he was mad at me. He shook his head "no." I couldn't get him to open his mouth. The RT came and asked if he wanted his speaking thing back in, and he was decisive with his "no." After she'd asked 2 or 3 times and he had refused 2 or 3 times, she told him she needed to put it in for a while.
Kathy came. Don and Nita Meierhoff came. Kathy decided to "quiz" Stan...but he was "ready" for her!! She asked him what state he was in. He didn't disappoint me... I KNEW what his answer would be in "normal" times. He piped right up with, "Confusion."
He did have a problem with the year, even tho it had only been a little while since I had told him. He went back wards to 2006.... But counting was his only mental weakness we have seen so far. If he were asked to squeeze once for yes, he might squeeze half a dozen times. We won't hold this agains him, huh!!
He watched some football on TV....a first in over 49 days. I also gave him a little "lick" of his Christmas gift chocolate bar....and he loved it...and he smiled and looked pleased. The nurse and I had discussed this a bit the day before, and she said she'd "never tell." It was barely a lick...he wanted to Bite, but I wouldn't let him. I don't want any choking or aspirating going on. We did hear that he "failed" his ice chip test the day before. He asked for something cold to drink, but he just isn't able to do that yet. Pete does a good job of "wetting his whistle" but we have to be careful until he can swallow better before giving him the longed for drink.
They have upped his feeding "speed" to 90 from 80. He is malnourished according to tests they do on him. They are giving stuff with more protein now, but it is also thicker and jams the pump. It has kept them busy all day, and us listening to the thing beep beep beep.
He kept asking to have the speaking device removed. It bugged him (his words) and it was "a pain in the neck" (his words....and quite a pun, since it is in his neck!). I truly thought it was "just' for talking. Turns out, it has a needed physical function. It is used in the transition from Christmas to a new term in school...Oh OH...guess I am sleepy....
I'll try that again...it is needed to help wean him off the trach. It makes breathing more difficult...makes him use more muscle to breathe....being able to talk is a nice side line. He has been breathing thru his trach for about 3 weeks, and before that the vent did his breathing for him. With this on, HE has to do the breathing ... thru his mouth and nose. Not having air moving thru them for 7 weeks, this is dry and hurts etc......
So it may become difficult to wean him off the bottle after they're...OH, bother, there I go again.
I really need to go to bed!! I thought I could tell you ALL about today...well, I have managed to say most everything ... so I'll say good night, now!
Love you all........... OOOOH, I was asked about his ability to see.......I'll try to address that before I write any more silly things.
I took his glasses today and he wore them for a few hours. He didn't seem to be able to focus using both eyes. I'm not sure of this yet. I need to experiment more tomorrow. He does see.......but we aren't sure how well or clear he sees. I'll try to find out. I guess we haven't checked that out. And SOOOOOOOOOO OFF to bed NOW! I sure hope I haven't said too many weird things in the email!
Love, M
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Day 48
Tomorrow morning begins the 8th week since Stan's stroke!! He (and God) have certainly made believers out of a lot of doubters! When I think of some of his doctor's "predictions" I shudder and rejoice!!! Shudder, because one wanted to pull the feeding tube three weeks ago!! Rejoice that I said NO, and because God has restored him so much in the last week!! I was thinking this morning how wonderful it is going to be when Stan walks into Regional to see all those caregivers who came to love him. (And when he once again shows the power of prayer to the doctor at St. Elias who said he will never walk. )
It may take a while, but it is certainly not impossible!!
We had a huge milestone yesterday...........but I for one, was NOT surprised!! He has been saying words now and then for a few days!! The speech therapist put a device over his trach that allowed the air to pass by his vocal cords so that he could talk. He said several things............very coherently! When she asked him if there was anything he wanted to say, he said, "They won't let me sleep around here." (He was sound asleep, after having been awake for four hours and then "exercised" a bunch and tired out, when she came in and woke him up to do the therapy. There is always someone poking and prodding him.)
(Exercised, as in...being cleaned up, turned, etc. All that wears him out!)
He also is reaching with his right hand, and I saw him rub his right eye and itch his nose several times yesterday!! (Yesterday ...as in, Monday)
He does something new every day!!! PTL
It is morning again when I am writing this report. I stayed at the hospital until almost midnight. I was going to "Ring the New Year In" with him, bu since he was sleeping soundly, I just kissed him "Happy New Year" and decided to go home before all the party goers got back on the streets! I saw lots of fire works going off on my way home. It is so neat that people who don't even know Stan are celebrating his "victories."
Love, M
It may take a while, but it is certainly not impossible!!
We had a huge milestone yesterday...........but I for one, was NOT surprised!! He has been saying words now and then for a few days!! The speech therapist put a device over his trach that allowed the air to pass by his vocal cords so that he could talk. He said several things............very coherently! When she asked him if there was anything he wanted to say, he said, "They won't let me sleep around here." (He was sound asleep, after having been awake for four hours and then "exercised" a bunch and tired out, when she came in and woke him up to do the therapy. There is always someone poking and prodding him.)
(Exercised, as in...being cleaned up, turned, etc. All that wears him out!)
He also is reaching with his right hand, and I saw him rub his right eye and itch his nose several times yesterday!! (Yesterday ...as in, Monday)
He does something new every day!!! PTL
It is morning again when I am writing this report. I stayed at the hospital until almost midnight. I was going to "Ring the New Year In" with him, bu since he was sleeping soundly, I just kissed him "Happy New Year" and decided to go home before all the party goers got back on the streets! I saw lots of fire works going off on my way home. It is so neat that people who don't even know Stan are celebrating his "victories."
Love, M
Monday, December 31, 2007
Day 47
Sorry about it being "the next morning" again before writing! I stayed at the hospital until midnight. I think my husband knows I am about to leave, so "acts up." He was sleeping so peacefully about 8, so I considered going home EARLY, but about then his blood pressure was sky high, and I wanted to see it "down" before leaving. It was 204/100!! It did start coming down with meds, but the cuff he has on his left ankle only inflates every 30 minutes...
By the time it was "decent" (meaning, 173/88) the RT had come in and was planning to change the collar on his trach among other things. A very pleasant "young" man who was "fun" to talk to. When I mentioned the RT's at Regional, he said I must know Howdie. I said, "no, but my good friend does. She's a retired RT, but even though she was at Regional almost every day Stan was there, she never connected with Howdie." Then I asked him if HE knew Kathy C. and he said YES. He wants to be remembered to you, Kathy....He said he worked at Valley Hospital with you. His name is Ed.
I liked him. He let me be "in his way," respected what I had to offer and/or say, showed me how he changes the collar, etc.
After he finished, it was time to change Stan's position again (11:30) so I stayed to see him settled down again. Oh, he had woke up and told me he had a bad headache just before the RT came, so Ed chose to wait until the tylenol "kicked in" before doing all the stuff to him. (Stan looked like he hurt, so I told him to squeeze my hand if his head ache. It was a good hard multiple squeeze.)
He had been pretty sleepy all morning when I got there (about 8:30). He had been sleepy Saturday night, too, so I was a bit worried.... Andy, Pete, and Cannon arrived about 11:30 and the doctor asked us to go into an office room to talk. He very thoroughly went over Stan's condition and what DNR meant to him etc...for an hour...allowing us to ask questions and voice concerns. I was wishing we had a tape recorder. I did ask him for a copy of some of his notes, and was assured that would be fine....(they were waiting for me when we got back from IHOP.)
In the meeting with the doctor, Pete spoke out about the one aide. Later my friend Kathy was in Stan's room wondering where we were...Andy, Pete, Cannon, and I had gone to IHOP for something to eat. The nurse said she would speak to the aide about her refusing to let me "help" in any way. I guess
the nurse really stuck to her guns at every word the aide said. Kathy was in the room and heard the conversation. The nurse would tell her "to let Madeline help." The aide would use all kinds of excuses, but the nurse kept saying, " it is her husband, you let her help!" It was funny to act on this. She had no idea I was privy (through Kathy) to the conversation, and I didn't let on. First she "let me" take the wipes out of the package and open them all the way up and lay them across the end of the bed. I was a good girl, and didn't let on at all. The next time around I was promoted to helping her lift Stan.
Kathy had "found" us at IHOP and came over to join us. She brought a "McDonald's" toy in for Cannon....some funny looking figurine who shoots "tazors" (made of paper discs) from his appendage. It did NOT take long before Cannon learned to do it himself. When we got to the hospital he ran down the hallway saying, "Shoot Papa!" but when he got into "Papa's" room he stopped short and said, "Papa has an owie." It took him awhile, but soon he did decide it was okay to "shoot Papa." Then I took the toy and let Papa shoot Cannon. I held his "good" thumb on the button and pushed it down. The next time, I just put it near his thumb and he did the shooting!!! He even held his hand up to "ward off Cannon's shot!" So he "played" with Cannon. He also wiggled his right toes at Cannon a lot!!
Scott Toms leaves for Afghanistan today (31st) and he has always been "one of Stan's kids." It was great to have Scott come to tell Stan good bye. While he was there, I put his dad to work holding the digital picture frame that Andy had hooked up. It was neat to see Stan watch the photos as they each came up on the screen. One where he was wearing his shirt that is covered in animals, John asked if those were deer. I said they were elk or moose...and Stan SAID, "elk."
"We talked" together quietly after everyone left, and he was moved by how many people loved him...praying, visiting, emailing, etc.... Thank you all!!!
It is hard to leave when he is looking at me with loving eyes! And he DOES!! WOW...PTL!! It was all I really "asked" for!! Just to see his eyes open with recognition again. I am so anxious now to see each "new" thing he can do.
The doctor told us he would never walk again, will never be the dad or husband we had before, etc. I am not convinced of that. We had been told before that he probably would NOT wake up! And if he did, he probably wouldn't know us. So why should I get discouraged over this news?? I'll just trust God to give me what He chooses, and I'll be content.
No decision was made regarding the DNR. We'll talk with the other boys more first, but probably don't want Stan "coded" ....
The doctor did say that he is still very ill with multiple things wrong...pneumonia, clots, infection, the stroke, etc.... and that Stan could "throw him a curve ball" at any time. We did like and appreciate the doctor. Today he rotates out and a new one comes in to care for Stan. Like Kathy says, that is good because each new doc comes with a fresh look at the problems and thinks of other solutions that may help.
Well.... I better get going. It is almost 8 a.m.
Love, M
By the time it was "decent" (meaning, 173/88) the RT had come in and was planning to change the collar on his trach among other things. A very pleasant "young" man who was "fun" to talk to. When I mentioned the RT's at Regional, he said I must know Howdie. I said, "no, but my good friend does. She's a retired RT, but even though she was at Regional almost every day Stan was there, she never connected with Howdie." Then I asked him if HE knew Kathy C. and he said YES. He wants to be remembered to you, Kathy....He said he worked at Valley Hospital with you. His name is Ed.
I liked him. He let me be "in his way," respected what I had to offer and/or say, showed me how he changes the collar, etc.
After he finished, it was time to change Stan's position again (11:30) so I stayed to see him settled down again. Oh, he had woke up and told me he had a bad headache just before the RT came, so Ed chose to wait until the tylenol "kicked in" before doing all the stuff to him. (Stan looked like he hurt, so I told him to squeeze my hand if his head ache. It was a good hard multiple squeeze.)
He had been pretty sleepy all morning when I got there (about 8:30). He had been sleepy Saturday night, too, so I was a bit worried.... Andy, Pete, and Cannon arrived about 11:30 and the doctor asked us to go into an office room to talk. He very thoroughly went over Stan's condition and what DNR meant to him etc...for an hour...allowing us to ask questions and voice concerns. I was wishing we had a tape recorder. I did ask him for a copy of some of his notes, and was assured that would be fine....(they were waiting for me when we got back from IHOP.)
In the meeting with the doctor, Pete spoke out about the one aide. Later my friend Kathy was in Stan's room wondering where we were...Andy, Pete, Cannon, and I had gone to IHOP for something to eat. The nurse said she would speak to the aide about her refusing to let me "help" in any way. I guess
the nurse really stuck to her guns at every word the aide said. Kathy was in the room and heard the conversation. The nurse would tell her "to let Madeline help." The aide would use all kinds of excuses, but the nurse kept saying, " it is her husband, you let her help!" It was funny to act on this. She had no idea I was privy (through Kathy) to the conversation, and I didn't let on. First she "let me" take the wipes out of the package and open them all the way up and lay them across the end of the bed. I was a good girl, and didn't let on at all. The next time around I was promoted to helping her lift Stan.
Kathy had "found" us at IHOP and came over to join us. She brought a "McDonald's" toy in for Cannon....some funny looking figurine who shoots "tazors" (made of paper discs) from his appendage. It did NOT take long before Cannon learned to do it himself. When we got to the hospital he ran down the hallway saying, "Shoot Papa!" but when he got into "Papa's" room he stopped short and said, "Papa has an owie." It took him awhile, but soon he did decide it was okay to "shoot Papa." Then I took the toy and let Papa shoot Cannon. I held his "good" thumb on the button and pushed it down. The next time, I just put it near his thumb and he did the shooting!!! He even held his hand up to "ward off Cannon's shot!" So he "played" with Cannon. He also wiggled his right toes at Cannon a lot!!
Scott Toms leaves for Afghanistan today (31st) and he has always been "one of Stan's kids." It was great to have Scott come to tell Stan good bye. While he was there, I put his dad to work holding the digital picture frame that Andy had hooked up. It was neat to see Stan watch the photos as they each came up on the screen. One where he was wearing his shirt that is covered in animals, John asked if those were deer. I said they were elk or moose...and Stan SAID, "elk."
"We talked" together quietly after everyone left, and he was moved by how many people loved him...praying, visiting, emailing, etc.... Thank you all!!!
It is hard to leave when he is looking at me with loving eyes! And he DOES!! WOW...PTL!! It was all I really "asked" for!! Just to see his eyes open with recognition again. I am so anxious now to see each "new" thing he can do.
The doctor told us he would never walk again, will never be the dad or husband we had before, etc. I am not convinced of that. We had been told before that he probably would NOT wake up! And if he did, he probably wouldn't know us. So why should I get discouraged over this news?? I'll just trust God to give me what He chooses, and I'll be content.
No decision was made regarding the DNR. We'll talk with the other boys more first, but probably don't want Stan "coded" ....
The doctor did say that he is still very ill with multiple things wrong...pneumonia, clots, infection, the stroke, etc.... and that Stan could "throw him a curve ball" at any time. We did like and appreciate the doctor. Today he rotates out and a new one comes in to care for Stan. Like Kathy says, that is good because each new doc comes with a fresh look at the problems and thinks of other solutions that may help.
Well.... I better get going. It is almost 8 a.m.
Love, M
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Day 46
Today I found Stan quite sleepy. Sometimes I was scared, but I know that God said NOT to fear. I didn't leave tonight until 11:30 because his heart rate was playing tiddly winks with the numbers!! I wanted to be sure they would settle down, OR I was prepared to settle down there for the night. When I left his rate was in the 60s for about half an hour. About ten his monitor started buzzing too often. Whenever his rate dropped below fifty for more than a couple of beeps....the lowest I saw was 43. His blood pressure had been pretty high all last night and into the morning, so the doctor doubled his meds that are trying to control it and his heart rate. His "usual" heart rate is high...in the 90s always at home, and with meds in the hospital it has been anywhere from 80s to 200! 205 being the highest, and only for a short time, but often around 130....it is his A-fib doing that. But in the 40s is just as scary to me. His BP was WAY better with the meds, tho. Diastolic (bottom number) went to 135 for about ten minutes in the morning.... so they had to do something. When I left his BP was reading 138/70...
His sleepiness is a worry...but maybe it is a combo of being worn out from Friday's jaunt to Regional and back and all the meds he has been on today to counteract pain and high BP. The nurse gave him oxycodone twice for pain, and then Tylenol twice after that. I just get scared that the sleepiness could be symptom of another stroke, blood clot, or something. I'll take a cue from Scarlett and say, "Tomorrow is another day." Or better yet, from God's Word and keep my trust where it belongs!
We did "mouth" "I love you" to each other shortly after I got there this morning. Pete, Eric, and Isaac were there and the boys told me he kept saying "Mom" like he wondered where I was. I'll definitely get there sooner in the morning.
He also had a bit of an episode with his oxygen about six tonight. First, I didn't like the way the Aide had rolled him around with that "time bomb" clotted arm!! And when she settled him on that side, it did NOT look comfortable, but short of removing the pillows from under his other side, I was afraid to move his arm into a more comfortable position. Finally, I asked him if he hurt and he squeezed "yes." I asked him about his head and legs and his answers were "no." When I got to the arms, he indicated the right arm hurt...and he did want meds. I rang for the nurse, but before she came his oxygen buzzer started ringing....and his stats went down to 77! I went out to the nurse's station to get someone. I still can't believe they didn't come when I rang, or when his buzzer went off...by now, several times.
The (day) nurse and (day) RT came...and called the doctor. While they were trying all kinds of things, the phone rang, and it was the doctor. He told me he had told them a few things to try, and then proceeded to talk me "out of" taking him off DNR. We had agreed to DNR before he woke up at all, but said then that if he woke up and was "there" we wanted to remove it. We were assured that would be a "whole other ball game." But now while I am standing by Stan's bed holding his hand and watching his Oxygen level #s stay at 84 and below...no matter what the gals did... It was hard to concentrate on such an important decision over the phone or even listen as carefully as I needed to. In his defense, I suppose he didn't realize I was right in the center of the action!
After at least 30 minutes, 3 or 4 rough suctionings, a bagging, raising his oxygen to 100%, and I don't know what all else, one of the two decided to check his finger probe. It was on askew...as soon as it was corrected, his levels went up to 99! HELLO....that is definitely what I will check FIRST from now on!! The bagging and deep suctioning is hard on him! Maybe that is why he was so sound asleep for the rest of the time I was there. The nurse agreed with me that he was NOT comfortable the way he was lying, so she removed the pillows and we eased him onto his back.
Yesterday he started doing some funny breathing... kind of like the hiccups...but different. The RT last night (Friday) watched for quite awhile, and said she could not figure out what was going on. I told her he had done this twice during the day (Friday) but that the only thing similar was the hiccups he had while on the ventilator...before the trach. Each time after being suctioned, this stopped. So she suctioned, and VOILA ... it stopped again.
He started this again tonight after the heart rate drop started. The (night) RT came in, got worried first about the heart rate and went for the nurse. The (night) nurse came in and told me that she had called the doctor again, and as long as his BP stayed good and the heart rate didn't "stay" in the 40s, not to worry and he'd reassess him in the morning.
Then the RT came back and addressed the funny "double breathing" or hiccups, or whatever. I told her about the suctioning solution, but kind of hated to as he'd been through that so much already. But she did suction him, and again VOILA ... it stopped. She also had no idea what it is or what causes it. She said he was a bit "wheezy" in his chest and thought maybe that was it. ???? who knows.
So when I did leave tonight he was NOT "hiccuping," was sound asleep, and had a good BP, and his heart rate was mostly staying in the 60s.
Last night (Friday) the RT on duty also works at Regional. She said lots of the nurses were asking about him, and she wanted my permission to tell them. I gave her a huge "thumbs up." I had been wanting to let them know how he is progressing.... eyes open, saying words, nodding and shaking his head, and now even reaching with his right hand. And even throwing kisses!!! They will be so excited.
The doctor did say he would be glad to talk to the boys at 10 or 11 in the morning about the DNR if they wanted. I have talked to them and think I know what they want now. After he told me how really horrible Coding is, and Pete having witnessed it before and confirming what the doctor said... we will probably leave him with the DNR status. The doctor did say to me that if we took him OFF and he coded and we were in the room, he would not let us leave, but we would have to watch every thing he would have to do. He emphasized that if Stan coded, it would be because something catastrophic happened to him....like a clot to the lung or another bleed.
We are now up to 129 individual visitors.....most have come several times...but since we didn't keep track of who comes how often, I can't even guess at the number of VISITS he has had!!
It is "to bed" for me now. It is 3 a.m. and I am getting up by 7 for sure........
Love, M
His sleepiness is a worry...but maybe it is a combo of being worn out from Friday's jaunt to Regional and back and all the meds he has been on today to counteract pain and high BP. The nurse gave him oxycodone twice for pain, and then Tylenol twice after that. I just get scared that the sleepiness could be symptom of another stroke, blood clot, or something. I'll take a cue from Scarlett and say, "Tomorrow is another day." Or better yet, from God's Word and keep my trust where it belongs!
We did "mouth" "I love you" to each other shortly after I got there this morning. Pete, Eric, and Isaac were there and the boys told me he kept saying "Mom" like he wondered where I was. I'll definitely get there sooner in the morning.
He also had a bit of an episode with his oxygen about six tonight. First, I didn't like the way the Aide had rolled him around with that "time bomb" clotted arm!! And when she settled him on that side, it did NOT look comfortable, but short of removing the pillows from under his other side, I was afraid to move his arm into a more comfortable position. Finally, I asked him if he hurt and he squeezed "yes." I asked him about his head and legs and his answers were "no." When I got to the arms, he indicated the right arm hurt...and he did want meds. I rang for the nurse, but before she came his oxygen buzzer started ringing....and his stats went down to 77! I went out to the nurse's station to get someone. I still can't believe they didn't come when I rang, or when his buzzer went off...by now, several times.
The (day) nurse and (day) RT came...and called the doctor. While they were trying all kinds of things, the phone rang, and it was the doctor. He told me he had told them a few things to try, and then proceeded to talk me "out of" taking him off DNR. We had agreed to DNR before he woke up at all, but said then that if he woke up and was "there" we wanted to remove it. We were assured that would be a "whole other ball game." But now while I am standing by Stan's bed holding his hand and watching his Oxygen level #s stay at 84 and below...no matter what the gals did... It was hard to concentrate on such an important decision over the phone or even listen as carefully as I needed to. In his defense, I suppose he didn't realize I was right in the center of the action!
After at least 30 minutes, 3 or 4 rough suctionings, a bagging, raising his oxygen to 100%, and I don't know what all else, one of the two decided to check his finger probe. It was on askew...as soon as it was corrected, his levels went up to 99! HELLO....that is definitely what I will check FIRST from now on!! The bagging and deep suctioning is hard on him! Maybe that is why he was so sound asleep for the rest of the time I was there. The nurse agreed with me that he was NOT comfortable the way he was lying, so she removed the pillows and we eased him onto his back.
Yesterday he started doing some funny breathing... kind of like the hiccups...but different. The RT last night (Friday) watched for quite awhile, and said she could not figure out what was going on. I told her he had done this twice during the day (Friday) but that the only thing similar was the hiccups he had while on the ventilator...before the trach. Each time after being suctioned, this stopped. So she suctioned, and VOILA ... it stopped again.
He started this again tonight after the heart rate drop started. The (night) RT came in, got worried first about the heart rate and went for the nurse. The (night) nurse came in and told me that she had called the doctor again, and as long as his BP stayed good and the heart rate didn't "stay" in the 40s, not to worry and he'd reassess him in the morning.
Then the RT came back and addressed the funny "double breathing" or hiccups, or whatever. I told her about the suctioning solution, but kind of hated to as he'd been through that so much already. But she did suction him, and again VOILA ... it stopped. She also had no idea what it is or what causes it. She said he was a bit "wheezy" in his chest and thought maybe that was it. ???? who knows.
So when I did leave tonight he was NOT "hiccuping," was sound asleep, and had a good BP, and his heart rate was mostly staying in the 60s.
Last night (Friday) the RT on duty also works at Regional. She said lots of the nurses were asking about him, and she wanted my permission to tell them. I gave her a huge "thumbs up." I had been wanting to let them know how he is progressing.... eyes open, saying words, nodding and shaking his head, and now even reaching with his right hand. And even throwing kisses!!! They will be so excited.
The doctor did say he would be glad to talk to the boys at 10 or 11 in the morning about the DNR if they wanted. I have talked to them and think I know what they want now. After he told me how really horrible Coding is, and Pete having witnessed it before and confirming what the doctor said... we will probably leave him with the DNR status. The doctor did say to me that if we took him OFF and he coded and we were in the room, he would not let us leave, but we would have to watch every thing he would have to do. He emphasized that if Stan coded, it would be because something catastrophic happened to him....like a clot to the lung or another bleed.
We are now up to 129 individual visitors.....most have come several times...but since we didn't keep track of who comes how often, I can't even guess at the number of VISITS he has had!!
It is "to bed" for me now. It is 3 a.m. and I am getting up by 7 for sure........
Love, M
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Day 45
What a day!! I was supposed to "sleep in" and Pete and Andy were going to be with Stan early. I got a call from Andy (when I was in the shower!) telling me he was sick, and Pete was on his way to Anchorage with Isaac....to take Isaac to the doctor. (I just talked to Grace....it is Sat. morn now, and Katrina is the only member of their family NOT sick!)
Next Pete called me from St. Elias, asking if they'd called and told me Stan was being transferred back to Regional for some tests. I said, "No." He said Stan's room was empty, and that he'd be at Regional for quite awhile. So I hurriedly got ready and went to Regional....parked (always a problem there), went to three desks to find where they had Stan...each had a line!... and when I asked if I could go see him, was told he was being transported back to St. Elias at that moment. SOOOO, back to the car and St. Elias!!
Bad news... because his "good" hand was so swollen, they suspected a clot, and it was confirmed by the exam at Regional. It is a large one in his upper right arm. NO exercising or massaging or BP taking, etc. on that arm!!! They cannot put in a filter for that clot, so said there was no other alternative except blood thinners for treatment.
The road is rough enough without all the potholes!!! This is more than a bump!!
Good news!! I HEARD him say Hi to the Nelsons! AND the nurse told me he was reaching with his right hand, and I saw it at least four times last night. He wants to scratch his nose (or something) but can't quite reach his face. But it is a BIG WOW!!
I need to get going on the run NOW. I let myself sleep until I woke up....midnight to 8 a.m. ... UNBELIEVABLE.... eight whole hours...but now I find no one was able to get there early, so need to get going.
I had to stop an aide from using the BP cuff on his right arm yesterday. They did put up a large note behind his bed after that, but will anyone see it??? I know the night people were careful, because I stayed until after 11 to make sure.
Please do pray that this clot will dissolve with the meds they have given him, and he won't bleed again! Thank you!!
Love, M
Next Pete called me from St. Elias, asking if they'd called and told me Stan was being transferred back to Regional for some tests. I said, "No." He said Stan's room was empty, and that he'd be at Regional for quite awhile. So I hurriedly got ready and went to Regional....parked (always a problem there), went to three desks to find where they had Stan...each had a line!... and when I asked if I could go see him, was told he was being transported back to St. Elias at that moment. SOOOO, back to the car and St. Elias!!
Bad news... because his "good" hand was so swollen, they suspected a clot, and it was confirmed by the exam at Regional. It is a large one in his upper right arm. NO exercising or massaging or BP taking, etc. on that arm!!! They cannot put in a filter for that clot, so said there was no other alternative except blood thinners for treatment.
The road is rough enough without all the potholes!!! This is more than a bump!!
Good news!! I HEARD him say Hi to the Nelsons! AND the nurse told me he was reaching with his right hand, and I saw it at least four times last night. He wants to scratch his nose (or something) but can't quite reach his face. But it is a BIG WOW!!
I need to get going on the run NOW. I let myself sleep until I woke up....midnight to 8 a.m. ... UNBELIEVABLE.... eight whole hours...but now I find no one was able to get there early, so need to get going.
I had to stop an aide from using the BP cuff on his right arm yesterday. They did put up a large note behind his bed after that, but will anyone see it??? I know the night people were careful, because I stayed until after 11 to make sure.
Please do pray that this clot will dissolve with the meds they have given him, and he won't bleed again! Thank you!!
Love, M
Friday, December 28, 2007
Day 44
Here is a special FUN email I received today from my sister in law!!! I know you will all enjoy it!! I sure did!!
"Want to tell you something funny. I was eating a piece of almond brittle this afternoon and my lips were sticky. Sooooo I licked them and thought Stan is smiling. So now everytime I lick my lips I think of Stan and SMILE!!!
Love and Prayers,
Janet"
Now we'll all be smiling and thinking of Stan whenever we lick our lips. I wish you could all see him do it. It brings tears to our eyes and a smile to our lips!!
So....God is good!! He continues to give me gifts of love every day!! Today Stan seemed more sleepy, less wakeful than he has been the last three days. I was a little worried, and even asked if they were giving him anything that would cause this. They weren't.... I think he is just tired out from all the move etc.
Anyway, Pete, Cannon, Andy's family, Brian, Philip, and Kacee all joined Kathy and me in Stan's room this evening. The little boys were so cute and sweet, touching Stan's hands, feeling his whiskers (he needs a shave still!) and talking to him. Cannon was showing him his CARS from the movie, and Stan SAID, "Varmit!"
That is what he calls all our grandsons when they are little. I saw it, Andy heard it!!
Kathy had read Deryl's email about Stan shaking his head...so she asked him to nod "yes" if he could. He DID! He also shook his head "no" for us. So each day we get another miracle!
I saw him mouthing words to Phil, but neither Phil nor I could make them out. But he was trying!!!
They changed his trach today....down from a size 8 to a size 6. They tell me this is a step in the direction of weaning him off it, and also to help him be able to talk again.
I guess a specific prayer (besides more and more mental accuity) would be that he NOT aspirate into his lungs now that the protective "balloon" is no longer there. He is recovering slowly from his latest bout of pneumonia, and we sure don't want another one!
We did learn the results of his MRI. His protrusion is less than the last one showed, and there is no sign of change, meaning no abscess from the staph!! So that is great good news, too!
If you live in the area (and even if you don't!), you are very welcome to come visit him and see his "new digs." They are quite nice!! Visiting hours are from 8 to 8. You can come in later, but you might be left standing in the cold like I was, so be prepared!! You are required to sign in at the front desk. (I like that, because then I can see who I missed if I was away. )
Andy and Pete will be there early in the morning to let me sleep in (I wish!!).........but, at least get a little more rest. Laura and her girls plan to take me to lunch at one. I will be at the hospital after that, until about ten. It is hard to leave him more than ever now that he is awake and looking at me!!! He seems to like it when I gently rub his forehead....
Brian has faithfully exercised his limbs each day since they showed us what to do. Bless him!!! We are hoping that this will get him ready for more serious re-hab when he is well enough.
Maybe he could even eat when he gets the trach out!! Look out, Chocolate! Here he comes!!!
Eric told me that Brooke said she told Santa that what she wanted for Christmas was for Papa to get better. "Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa!"* (We know Him better as GOD!) *quote from New York Times c. 1930s.
Love, M
"Want to tell you something funny. I was eating a piece of almond brittle this afternoon and my lips were sticky. Sooooo I licked them and thought Stan is smiling. So now everytime I lick my lips I think of Stan and SMILE!!!
Love and Prayers,
Janet"
Now we'll all be smiling and thinking of Stan whenever we lick our lips. I wish you could all see him do it. It brings tears to our eyes and a smile to our lips!!
So....God is good!! He continues to give me gifts of love every day!! Today Stan seemed more sleepy, less wakeful than he has been the last three days. I was a little worried, and even asked if they were giving him anything that would cause this. They weren't.... I think he is just tired out from all the move etc.
Anyway, Pete, Cannon, Andy's family, Brian, Philip, and Kacee all joined Kathy and me in Stan's room this evening. The little boys were so cute and sweet, touching Stan's hands, feeling his whiskers (he needs a shave still!) and talking to him. Cannon was showing him his CARS from the movie, and Stan SAID, "Varmit!"
That is what he calls all our grandsons when they are little. I saw it, Andy heard it!!
Kathy had read Deryl's email about Stan shaking his head...so she asked him to nod "yes" if he could. He DID! He also shook his head "no" for us. So each day we get another miracle!
I saw him mouthing words to Phil, but neither Phil nor I could make them out. But he was trying!!!
They changed his trach today....down from a size 8 to a size 6. They tell me this is a step in the direction of weaning him off it, and also to help him be able to talk again.
I guess a specific prayer (besides more and more mental accuity) would be that he NOT aspirate into his lungs now that the protective "balloon" is no longer there. He is recovering slowly from his latest bout of pneumonia, and we sure don't want another one!
We did learn the results of his MRI. His protrusion is less than the last one showed, and there is no sign of change, meaning no abscess from the staph!! So that is great good news, too!
If you live in the area (and even if you don't!), you are very welcome to come visit him and see his "new digs." They are quite nice!! Visiting hours are from 8 to 8. You can come in later, but you might be left standing in the cold like I was, so be prepared!! You are required to sign in at the front desk. (I like that, because then I can see who I missed if I was away. )
Andy and Pete will be there early in the morning to let me sleep in (I wish!!).........but, at least get a little more rest. Laura and her girls plan to take me to lunch at one. I will be at the hospital after that, until about ten. It is hard to leave him more than ever now that he is awake and looking at me!!! He seems to like it when I gently rub his forehead....
Brian has faithfully exercised his limbs each day since they showed us what to do. Bless him!!! We are hoping that this will get him ready for more serious re-hab when he is well enough.
Maybe he could even eat when he gets the trach out!! Look out, Chocolate! Here he comes!!!
Eric told me that Brooke said she told Santa that what she wanted for Christmas was for Papa to get better. "Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa!"* (We know Him better as GOD!) *quote from New York Times c. 1930s.
Love, M
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Day 43
Today has been a busy day....full of surprises and changes... I am not sure whether this has all been good, or some bad.
I arrived at the hospital to be shocked by an empty room with NO sign of Stan or his bed. I discovered he had just been taken for another MRI. I had no idea one had been ordered for today, and didn't understand "why" since he had had his first one just nine days ago. He has been waking up so dramatically, but I didn't think he would require an MRI to "judge" just how he was doing. As near as I could discover, he was being checked for an abscess in his brain. Apparently because his staph infection is in the blood, they want to rule out the possibility of it infecting his brain. I was told that judging by his improvement happening in such "leaps and bounds" that there is a good indication that NO abscess exists, but they felt the need to be sure. I hope to get results tomorrow (thursday).
I was told by the nurse that a young man who said he had served much of his electrical apprenticeship under Stan's guidance had gone with him to the MRI area. Hearing her description of him, I narrowed my choices down to Carl and Larry.... and after asking my last question, dark hair or light...I decided it was Carl, and I was right! He was in the waiting room and Stan was "waiting" in the MRI room for another patient to finish. Carl and I were allowed in to watch. "Big" Dave did this one, since "our" Dave is vacationing in Florida! (Now that Stan is awake and aware, I was so thankful that Carl had been there to visit with him and tell him what was going on as he went to have the MRI.)
We were barely back in the room and getting Stan settled in, when the person in charge of social service or transfer or whatever department it is, came to let me know that St. Elias and the doctor had decided today was the day for Stan's transfer. It took a little longer to get the entire move underway. I was first told 2, then said probably 2:30.....and the nurse said that means more like 3.... He was given a bath so he could arrive all spiffied up, but still wasn't shaved. I had asked if he could be shaved for Christmas. (He STILL isn't shaved, but maybe by morning.)
Lots of "goings and comings" and I hate to start naming names, because as sure as I do, I manage to miss someone....and ALL of you are so very important and loved.
But it was neat to find Angie sitting in his room after the MRI, and to have Kathy come and take charge in her own special way that never fails to really be a help to me. She organized all the stuff that I could take from his room for use later at home, and found the plastic bags that were needed for the transfer of his stuff...i.e. the bouquet from United that is still very nice after a week. Here is Alaska they need to be protected before shocking them with the brrrrry cold weather.
Stan was strapped down, kissed (by me) and fussed over, and sent on his way with his ambulance buddies to ride a few miles away. BUT before he left his room he had a pretty special visitor! Shelby's little cousin, Kiana almost six months!, (here to visit G'pa and G'ma Titus) was held in his range of view, and I know he enjoyed seeing her. And Shelby, who is not real fond of the hospital scene but likes to come see "Mrs. Stan" (and the guy who draws pictures for her)....went twice to peek at Mr. Stan.
Kathy and I were laden with bags, but still managed to check out the gift shop before leaving the hospital because there were signs all over saying "50% off sale"!! What I had admired a couple of days ago, was gone...so I was saved a bit of money. But I still managed to get a few "trinkets" for the grandkids. It was only the Christmas stuff on sale, of course.
When we got off the elevator, John and Paula were there just ready to go visit Stan....so we were able to head them in the right direction...meaning out side to their car and over to SESH (St. Elias Speciality Hospital...from now on to be SESH!)
(You do realize that Shelby and Kiana didn't come alone!!) The first Angie mentioned is MY Angie. Kiana's mother is Deryl and Kelly's Angie, her Uncle John, Shelby's mommy Mandy, and of course G'ma (Kelly). So....adding John, Angie, and Kiana...we have reached 124 visitors.
Another interesting bit of trivia...Kathy asked the nurse if he knew who St. Elias was saint OF. His statement led us to ask where he went to church. Turns out he attends Faith (originally Gov't Hill, later Parkside, now Faith Christian)...where Stan and I attended for more than 18 years. We figured out we'd attended together for about five years before Stan and I changed to CCA. What a small world!! Oh, and he asked me to remember him to you, Wayne (Dr. Bigelow). His name is Mike Hayes.
As Stan was getting settled into SESH, I was coericed into going to eat. John, Paula, and Scott joined Kathy and me at the Golden Corral buffet. We had a good meal, and then sat and talked church and Bible etc for a couple of hours!! John drew the tabernacle on a napkin and explained the types...shadow and substance...and meanings relating to the plan of salvation of each component of the building, its furnishings, and the court yard to Kathy. He did such a good job, we failed to see the restaurant was empty way before its usual closing time. We did notice a lot of people coming in packing wrapped packages. When we left we saw that the marquee said Closing at 8 for their staff Christmas party. They were very gracious and never hurried us out!! They do get an A+ in friendly service!!
I rode there with Kathy, and when we got back to SESH, she dropped me at the door and left to make sure her hubby was not too lonesome!! Little did she know that I could have been in big trouble SOON.... It was the coldest 16 degrees I have experienced in a long time.
The doors were locked, and unlike the "real hospital" their rules are quite different. It was about five after 9 p.m. and my first day there! I wanted to tell Stan good night and gather up my stuff before heading home. It was then I noticed the sign on the door that says if you come after hours, call "this" number for admittance....
Here is the rather fearsome part..........or could have been...!! What if I hadn't taken the cell phone and/or my car key with me!! A very real possibility, as I had stuck my debit card in my pocket, rather than worry about taking my purse to dinner. I fumbled in my purse for the purse (okay, I'm getting sleepy...that is your fun for the day!)... for the PHONE, managed to punch in the number with frozen fingers, only to be told no one was there, but I could leave a message, etc. I left a message, wondering what to do, decided to go sit in the car and warm up (AFTER it warmed up!)...and try to call again. I was thoroughly frozen in a very short period of time. I really did begin to wonder what would have been my plight if I did not have my key or the cell phone with me!!
I eventually got a response and the door opened.
Inside, I found Stan being cleaned up, as he had vomited over his gown and sheet. He was coughing up lots of gunk, so I suctioned while the nurse cleaned up the other. Another nurse came to help and they bathed him and changed him. His oxygen levels were going down, and the numbers caused lots of beeping, but I could see NO ONE taking any notice. I didn't feel I could go home until I knew his levels were safe ones. Finally, the RT came and did deep suctioning, and his "numbers" improved.
I discovered I have to establish my ability to do things etc. all over again with a new set of caregivers. I was not even allowed to put the pillow cases on the pillows that were there in a stack while they cleaned him. I was always doing this in CCU and PCU....to save the nurses time for other things.
He may be here around four weeks and then, depending on his status, be moved back to Regional for therapy. I hope he improves so fast that the entire town will be impressed by answered prayer!!
I am getting sleepy...so will go to bed!!
Love, M
I arrived at the hospital to be shocked by an empty room with NO sign of Stan or his bed. I discovered he had just been taken for another MRI. I had no idea one had been ordered for today, and didn't understand "why" since he had had his first one just nine days ago. He has been waking up so dramatically, but I didn't think he would require an MRI to "judge" just how he was doing. As near as I could discover, he was being checked for an abscess in his brain. Apparently because his staph infection is in the blood, they want to rule out the possibility of it infecting his brain. I was told that judging by his improvement happening in such "leaps and bounds" that there is a good indication that NO abscess exists, but they felt the need to be sure. I hope to get results tomorrow (thursday).
I was told by the nurse that a young man who said he had served much of his electrical apprenticeship under Stan's guidance had gone with him to the MRI area. Hearing her description of him, I narrowed my choices down to Carl and Larry.... and after asking my last question, dark hair or light...I decided it was Carl, and I was right! He was in the waiting room and Stan was "waiting" in the MRI room for another patient to finish. Carl and I were allowed in to watch. "Big" Dave did this one, since "our" Dave is vacationing in Florida! (Now that Stan is awake and aware, I was so thankful that Carl had been there to visit with him and tell him what was going on as he went to have the MRI.)
We were barely back in the room and getting Stan settled in, when the person in charge of social service or transfer or whatever department it is, came to let me know that St. Elias and the doctor had decided today was the day for Stan's transfer. It took a little longer to get the entire move underway. I was first told 2, then said probably 2:30.....and the nurse said that means more like 3.... He was given a bath so he could arrive all spiffied up, but still wasn't shaved. I had asked if he could be shaved for Christmas. (He STILL isn't shaved, but maybe by morning.)
Lots of "goings and comings" and I hate to start naming names, because as sure as I do, I manage to miss someone....and ALL of you are so very important and loved.
But it was neat to find Angie sitting in his room after the MRI, and to have Kathy come and take charge in her own special way that never fails to really be a help to me. She organized all the stuff that I could take from his room for use later at home, and found the plastic bags that were needed for the transfer of his stuff...i.e. the bouquet from United that is still very nice after a week. Here is Alaska they need to be protected before shocking them with the brrrrry cold weather.
Stan was strapped down, kissed (by me) and fussed over, and sent on his way with his ambulance buddies to ride a few miles away. BUT before he left his room he had a pretty special visitor! Shelby's little cousin, Kiana almost six months!, (here to visit G'pa and G'ma Titus) was held in his range of view, and I know he enjoyed seeing her. And Shelby, who is not real fond of the hospital scene but likes to come see "Mrs. Stan" (and the guy who draws pictures for her)....went twice to peek at Mr. Stan.
Kathy and I were laden with bags, but still managed to check out the gift shop before leaving the hospital because there were signs all over saying "50% off sale"!! What I had admired a couple of days ago, was gone...so I was saved a bit of money. But I still managed to get a few "trinkets" for the grandkids. It was only the Christmas stuff on sale, of course.
When we got off the elevator, John and Paula were there just ready to go visit Stan....so we were able to head them in the right direction...meaning out side to their car and over to SESH (St. Elias Speciality Hospital...from now on to be SESH!)
(You do realize that Shelby and Kiana didn't come alone!!) The first Angie mentioned is MY Angie. Kiana's mother is Deryl and Kelly's Angie, her Uncle John, Shelby's mommy Mandy, and of course G'ma (Kelly). So....adding John, Angie, and Kiana...we have reached 124 visitors.
Another interesting bit of trivia...Kathy asked the nurse if he knew who St. Elias was saint OF. His statement led us to ask where he went to church. Turns out he attends Faith (originally Gov't Hill, later Parkside, now Faith Christian)...where Stan and I attended for more than 18 years. We figured out we'd attended together for about five years before Stan and I changed to CCA. What a small world!! Oh, and he asked me to remember him to you, Wayne (Dr. Bigelow). His name is Mike Hayes.
As Stan was getting settled into SESH, I was coericed into going to eat. John, Paula, and Scott joined Kathy and me at the Golden Corral buffet. We had a good meal, and then sat and talked church and Bible etc for a couple of hours!! John drew the tabernacle on a napkin and explained the types...shadow and substance...and meanings relating to the plan of salvation of each component of the building, its furnishings, and the court yard to Kathy. He did such a good job, we failed to see the restaurant was empty way before its usual closing time. We did notice a lot of people coming in packing wrapped packages. When we left we saw that the marquee said Closing at 8 for their staff Christmas party. They were very gracious and never hurried us out!! They do get an A+ in friendly service!!
I rode there with Kathy, and when we got back to SESH, she dropped me at the door and left to make sure her hubby was not too lonesome!! Little did she know that I could have been in big trouble SOON.... It was the coldest 16 degrees I have experienced in a long time.
The doors were locked, and unlike the "real hospital" their rules are quite different. It was about five after 9 p.m. and my first day there! I wanted to tell Stan good night and gather up my stuff before heading home. It was then I noticed the sign on the door that says if you come after hours, call "this" number for admittance....
Here is the rather fearsome part..........or could have been...!! What if I hadn't taken the cell phone and/or my car key with me!! A very real possibility, as I had stuck my debit card in my pocket, rather than worry about taking my purse to dinner. I fumbled in my purse for the purse (okay, I'm getting sleepy...that is your fun for the day!)... for the PHONE, managed to punch in the number with frozen fingers, only to be told no one was there, but I could leave a message, etc. I left a message, wondering what to do, decided to go sit in the car and warm up (AFTER it warmed up!)...and try to call again. I was thoroughly frozen in a very short period of time. I really did begin to wonder what would have been my plight if I did not have my key or the cell phone with me!!
I eventually got a response and the door opened.
Inside, I found Stan being cleaned up, as he had vomited over his gown and sheet. He was coughing up lots of gunk, so I suctioned while the nurse cleaned up the other. Another nurse came to help and they bathed him and changed him. His oxygen levels were going down, and the numbers caused lots of beeping, but I could see NO ONE taking any notice. I didn't feel I could go home until I knew his levels were safe ones. Finally, the RT came and did deep suctioning, and his "numbers" improved.
I discovered I have to establish my ability to do things etc. all over again with a new set of caregivers. I was not even allowed to put the pillow cases on the pillows that were there in a stack while they cleaned him. I was always doing this in CCU and PCU....to save the nurses time for other things.
He may be here around four weeks and then, depending on his status, be moved back to Regional for therapy. I hope he improves so fast that the entire town will be impressed by answered prayer!!
I am getting sleepy...so will go to bed!!
Love, M
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Day 42
I am so excited! I can't wait to see what God has in store for me tomorrow!!!
John, Paula, Dave, and Katie are my witnesses....Stan "laughed" today!! And Kathy told him to blow me a kiss, and he did!!
Yesterday I told him I wanted a smile, and if he couldn't do a "real" smile, then to lick his lips and I would be very happy to call that a smile. So he licks his lips when I ask for a smile. Katie told him a funny story, and he started licking his lips rapidly, and his right side of his face kind of crinkled up with the action and his eyes sparkled!! He WAS laughing!!
Later, while I was off to the little girl's room, Kathy told him to throw a kiss....so when I got back she told me she had a surprise for me... OR Stan did!! And he gets a little kiss pucker when he is told to throw a kiss!!
Now how is that for a Christmas miracle!!!
Evaleen came with Rick and Carol today, and she is the 121st individual to visit him!!! WOW! I am going to read him the list tomorrow. I do believe he fully understands...and who knows what each new day will bring in his development!!!
Please pray that he heals in his body and stays well so that his system can concentrate on his brain's healing. He had a terrific uphill battle with his lungs for weeks..... It seems like there are a lot of road blocks in the way ....like blood clots, blood infection, stomach not processing correctly, etc...so we need lots of prayers BESIDES ones for his brain's healing!! Thank you so much. God is certainly on our side!
Pete and Cannon arrived about midnight, and Cheri called to say the Fosters in Oregon are using their airline miles to get her a ticket to come back up in January. I am anxious for them to see the changes in Stan since they left!!
Stan will be transferred to St. Elias (on Cordova street, between Tudor and International) soon...probably this week. It is the LTAC I wrote about earlier.
Love, M
John, Paula, Dave, and Katie are my witnesses....Stan "laughed" today!! And Kathy told him to blow me a kiss, and he did!!
Yesterday I told him I wanted a smile, and if he couldn't do a "real" smile, then to lick his lips and I would be very happy to call that a smile. So he licks his lips when I ask for a smile. Katie told him a funny story, and he started licking his lips rapidly, and his right side of his face kind of crinkled up with the action and his eyes sparkled!! He WAS laughing!!
Later, while I was off to the little girl's room, Kathy told him to throw a kiss....so when I got back she told me she had a surprise for me... OR Stan did!! And he gets a little kiss pucker when he is told to throw a kiss!!
Now how is that for a Christmas miracle!!!
Evaleen came with Rick and Carol today, and she is the 121st individual to visit him!!! WOW! I am going to read him the list tomorrow. I do believe he fully understands...and who knows what each new day will bring in his development!!!
Please pray that he heals in his body and stays well so that his system can concentrate on his brain's healing. He had a terrific uphill battle with his lungs for weeks..... It seems like there are a lot of road blocks in the way ....like blood clots, blood infection, stomach not processing correctly, etc...so we need lots of prayers BESIDES ones for his brain's healing!! Thank you so much. God is certainly on our side!
Pete and Cannon arrived about midnight, and Cheri called to say the Fosters in Oregon are using their airline miles to get her a ticket to come back up in January. I am anxious for them to see the changes in Stan since they left!!
Stan will be transferred to St. Elias (on Cordova street, between Tudor and International) soon...probably this week. It is the LTAC I wrote about earlier.
Love, M
Monday, December 24, 2007
Day 40!
WOW!!!!
Celebration time! Rejoice! Rejoice!
I am over whelmed!! Today has been so exciting.
I went to the hospital to see Stan first! Then I went to church and enjoyed an incredible program, with talent oozing from every corner and seam of the building. Beautiful!
Lots of hugs for me and well wishing for Stan!!
I left to go back to the hospital wondering where to get me some lunch, decided I wasn't hungry, so....just go to the hospital. When I got there I thought I'd just get me a Subway sandwich and take it to Stan's room.
When I got to his room, I found two young ladies tenderly ministering to him.... wiping the sweat from his brow and holding his hand!!! Sondra and Christi from United were taking care of him for me.
There was a bag that I found out later came from the Smiths..........and I am so sorry I missed them!!
Next Jesse and his bride arrived. I embarrassed myself by mixing him up with Cory...but he was very gracious. And we had such a nice visit............
The girls told me Stan had opened his eyes and looked right at them for all of five minutes. That sounded like an eternity to me; how I longed for something that substantial! My looks have usually been in the 10 second range....but oh, so appreciated!!
He squeezed my hand some more, and that was special.
As some visitors left, other arrived. Pauline from church came with a yummy Amish friendship cake, our neighbors the Fosters came with lots of goodies....with Bradley sporting a Santa hat. John and Paula joined us, and again, as some left, others came. It's too bad anyone left and didn't get to see my Christmas miracle! Brian came and exercised Stan's legs and arms. He was just off work and hadn't been home yet. He left. Dave and Katie arrived, and they and John and Paula were visiting as I think I was trying to finish that Subway sandwich. Scottie (who is being deployed in about a week!) came.
Andy, Grace, Isaac, Katrina, Ashley, and Luke came. Andy had been moose hunting with a friend who had a Ft. Rich tag....his friend had been successful, and the call went out for HELP to pack it out of the woods. As Andy later said, FINALLY a moose from Stuckagain Heights (that is where we live. We back up to Ft. Rich property and that is where they were hunting.) Grace came in from Wasilla with her kids, gathered up Isaac, and the group of them hiked into the hunt area and helped bring out the moose. We are talking about cold and snow here, remember.
After all that "exercise," they decided to go to the cafeteria for subways, too.
A group of carolers started singing in the hallway, and Katie or Paula said, "Madeline, come quick! Stan just opened his eyes!"
I stood by his bed and watched as his eyes searched around a little. Then he seemed to focus on me, and they stayed open during the entire caroling of that group. As that group moved on around the hallway, a group from church arrived ..... specifically to carol for Stan. We made room for them to gather around his bed....all the while he had his eyes clearly open. As they sang, and I did my best to contain my tears, he continued to look at me. Rick and Patti, Audrey and Alex, Tim and Jenifer and Allie, Katrina and Briana, Jake, ... (I should not have started listing for fear of missing someone!! Please forgive me and remind me, if you were missed.) along with the Toms and Matsons and Andy's group who by now had returned....filled the room with angelic voices of love. Stan's eyes stayed open and he seemed to be very aware. I truly heard the angels sing!!
He gently closed his eyes during the last song....which they sang because it is his favorite hymn....This is my Father's World!! It had been close to an hour that he was awake and joined us. Many of us held hands around his bed while Tim offered a prayer of thanksgiving.
A few minutes later he opened his eyes again while Andy told him all about the moose hunt!!
What a DAY!
I know that the steady support of all of you....those who come, those who pray, those who email, those who have sent food, given hugs, etc....have made this day possible. It has been a LONG 40 days.....and 40 nights!! (Hey, that sounds like a Biblical number!!)
I do know that the road ahead is still long and bumpy, but God will sustain us as we travel it!!
Praise Him, praise Him!!
Love, M
Celebration time! Rejoice! Rejoice!
I am over whelmed!! Today has been so exciting.
I went to the hospital to see Stan first! Then I went to church and enjoyed an incredible program, with talent oozing from every corner and seam of the building. Beautiful!
Lots of hugs for me and well wishing for Stan!!
I left to go back to the hospital wondering where to get me some lunch, decided I wasn't hungry, so....just go to the hospital. When I got there I thought I'd just get me a Subway sandwich and take it to Stan's room.
When I got to his room, I found two young ladies tenderly ministering to him.... wiping the sweat from his brow and holding his hand!!! Sondra and Christi from United were taking care of him for me.
There was a bag that I found out later came from the Smiths..........and I am so sorry I missed them!!
Next Jesse and his bride arrived. I embarrassed myself by mixing him up with Cory...but he was very gracious. And we had such a nice visit............
The girls told me Stan had opened his eyes and looked right at them for all of five minutes. That sounded like an eternity to me; how I longed for something that substantial! My looks have usually been in the 10 second range....but oh, so appreciated!!
He squeezed my hand some more, and that was special.
As some visitors left, other arrived. Pauline from church came with a yummy Amish friendship cake, our neighbors the Fosters came with lots of goodies....with Bradley sporting a Santa hat. John and Paula joined us, and again, as some left, others came. It's too bad anyone left and didn't get to see my Christmas miracle! Brian came and exercised Stan's legs and arms. He was just off work and hadn't been home yet. He left. Dave and Katie arrived, and they and John and Paula were visiting as I think I was trying to finish that Subway sandwich. Scottie (who is being deployed in about a week!) came.
Andy, Grace, Isaac, Katrina, Ashley, and Luke came. Andy had been moose hunting with a friend who had a Ft. Rich tag....his friend had been successful, and the call went out for HELP to pack it out of the woods. As Andy later said, FINALLY a moose from Stuckagain Heights (that is where we live. We back up to Ft. Rich property and that is where they were hunting.) Grace came in from Wasilla with her kids, gathered up Isaac, and the group of them hiked into the hunt area and helped bring out the moose. We are talking about cold and snow here, remember.
After all that "exercise," they decided to go to the cafeteria for subways, too.
A group of carolers started singing in the hallway, and Katie or Paula said, "Madeline, come quick! Stan just opened his eyes!"
I stood by his bed and watched as his eyes searched around a little. Then he seemed to focus on me, and they stayed open during the entire caroling of that group. As that group moved on around the hallway, a group from church arrived ..... specifically to carol for Stan. We made room for them to gather around his bed....all the while he had his eyes clearly open. As they sang, and I did my best to contain my tears, he continued to look at me. Rick and Patti, Audrey and Alex, Tim and Jenifer and Allie, Katrina and Briana, Jake, ... (I should not have started listing for fear of missing someone!! Please forgive me and remind me, if you were missed.) along with the Toms and Matsons and Andy's group who by now had returned....filled the room with angelic voices of love. Stan's eyes stayed open and he seemed to be very aware. I truly heard the angels sing!!
He gently closed his eyes during the last song....which they sang because it is his favorite hymn....This is my Father's World!! It had been close to an hour that he was awake and joined us. Many of us held hands around his bed while Tim offered a prayer of thanksgiving.
A few minutes later he opened his eyes again while Andy told him all about the moose hunt!!
What a DAY!
I know that the steady support of all of you....those who come, those who pray, those who email, those who have sent food, given hugs, etc....have made this day possible. It has been a LONG 40 days.....and 40 nights!! (Hey, that sounds like a Biblical number!!)
I do know that the road ahead is still long and bumpy, but God will sustain us as we travel it!!
Praise Him, praise Him!!
Love, M
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Day 39
Brian went in to the hospital early to sit with Stan. He had good news to relate to me. The "infection" doctor told him that the antibiotic was the right one and was working against the staph. PTL
Stan had been having trouble digesting his "food" so they turned it off for a couple of days to give his gut a rest. They turned it back on today, and he seems to be tolerating it.
Stan's numbers stayed good today. He did have to have his pic changed back to his left arm. They are supposed to be good for quite awhile, but his seems to quit working after two weeks. This is the third or fourth time his has been moved. It is similar to a port that chemo patients have....they can administer meds thru it, draw blood from it, etc. John Toms and I sat for over two hours waiting for him to be brought back to his room. We thought it was a simple fifteen minute procedure.
By the time he got back, he was exhausted. I did not see him open his eyes today, but I think Brian did. He did squeeze my hand lightly several different times. Right after I put on our Billy Vaughn CD that has a lot of old favorites of ours on it, I said that I thought the song playing was "Tiny Bubbles." I asked him to squeeze my hand if I was right. That was the most definite squeeze so far!!! How exciting! It means to me that he heard me AND knew the song!!
Grace and the kids came about 7 and talked me into going to dinner. We went to Red Robin and sat next (by that I mean almost on top of!!) an elderly gentleman who entertained us royally. His chair was closer to Isaac's than I was to Katrina...and I was beside Katrina at our table. Isaac was at the end of our table and the man was sitting with his back to us and his chair touching Isaac's! He kept turning to Isaac and telling him jokes...........the same ones over and over. Isaac was such a sweety...he laughed each time!! And keeps mentioning how much he enjoyed the guy. He told us he was 84 years old. I told him I was 85, and he said, "No way! More like 45!" So you can see why I liked him!!!!
We have had sad news today...both Flora Lee Lockhart and Rodney Reyman have passed away. I haven't had any new news about Roger Buck, but think he is doing similar to Stan. Please keep him and Stan in prayer. My sister Jeanne is home from Tulsa and pretty weak. I would appreciate prayers for her, too.
Thank you so much for being such faithful and true supporters of my guy!!
Love, M
Stan had been having trouble digesting his "food" so they turned it off for a couple of days to give his gut a rest. They turned it back on today, and he seems to be tolerating it.
Stan's numbers stayed good today. He did have to have his pic changed back to his left arm. They are supposed to be good for quite awhile, but his seems to quit working after two weeks. This is the third or fourth time his has been moved. It is similar to a port that chemo patients have....they can administer meds thru it, draw blood from it, etc. John Toms and I sat for over two hours waiting for him to be brought back to his room. We thought it was a simple fifteen minute procedure.
By the time he got back, he was exhausted. I did not see him open his eyes today, but I think Brian did. He did squeeze my hand lightly several different times. Right after I put on our Billy Vaughn CD that has a lot of old favorites of ours on it, I said that I thought the song playing was "Tiny Bubbles." I asked him to squeeze my hand if I was right. That was the most definite squeeze so far!!! How exciting! It means to me that he heard me AND knew the song!!
Grace and the kids came about 7 and talked me into going to dinner. We went to Red Robin and sat next (by that I mean almost on top of!!) an elderly gentleman who entertained us royally. His chair was closer to Isaac's than I was to Katrina...and I was beside Katrina at our table. Isaac was at the end of our table and the man was sitting with his back to us and his chair touching Isaac's! He kept turning to Isaac and telling him jokes...........the same ones over and over. Isaac was such a sweety...he laughed each time!! And keeps mentioning how much he enjoyed the guy. He told us he was 84 years old. I told him I was 85, and he said, "No way! More like 45!" So you can see why I liked him!!!!
We have had sad news today...both Flora Lee Lockhart and Rodney Reyman have passed away. I haven't had any new news about Roger Buck, but think he is doing similar to Stan. Please keep him and Stan in prayer. My sister Jeanne is home from Tulsa and pretty weak. I would appreciate prayers for her, too.
Thank you so much for being such faithful and true supporters of my guy!!
Love, M
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