Saturday

Adalynn came to visit for the weekend so I didn't see Dad last night. I talked with him on the phone and despite the quarantine he managed to sneak in a visitor for a few minutes.

You have to put on a gown and gloves when entering for your own protection as well as Dad's. When leaving you need to wash your hands for at least 30 seconds and use the antibacterial foam as you go out the door.

I have to work tonight so I won't see him again today. Mom did go up for a while this afternoon before the snow started getting heavy. Because it is the weekend, she didn't get to talk to a doctor. I told her we need to see some one other than the physiatrist. I guess we will see the cardiac surgeon again Wednesday but I don't have a lot of confidence in his opinion about infection since we probably picked it up there (his 3 nurses that looked at his leg did not wear gloves when examining it).

I have to work again tomorrow so I won't see him until tomorrow night.

God is good!

Friday

Dad has contracted VRE, a contagious infection.

I won't try to explain now because I am exasperated.

He is in quarantine.

NO VISITORS...FAMILY ONLY.

God is good!

Thursday

Nancy and Madeline were visiting Dad when Charlotte and I got there around 5:45 this evening. They had eaten supper with him and his table mates. Dad said that his Eighty+ buddies were acting there age until Nancy and Madeline arrived. All of a sudden their posture improved and they acted like they knew what a napkin was for. Dad got a kick out of it. Madeline had a school project to get to so they left a little after 6. 

Dad was feeling energetic so we wheeled down to the reception area and chatted while we watched a magnificent lightning show. Dad said that he had a busy day and that the OT had run him through the paces he didn't get to the day before. He also revealed that when he woke up this morning, someone had put his urinal no the window ledge, so he got himself out of bed into the wheelchair and fetched it. I told him he broke the rules of getting up without assistance and he hung his head with pride. He promised not to do it again.

Uncle Burt(the youngest Jones boy) called tonight and they had a good visit. He had called last night but called the wrong bed so he got to talk to Bob. Bob couldn't take the heat anymore today so they moved him into another room. My guess is that the nurses got the message.

The charge nurse came in and told us that she had a doctor prescribe an antibiotic for Dad today, even though the cardiac surgeon left orders not to do so until the culture came back. Who's on first? 

I had a deacon confab at 7 so we bid adieu for the evening. (Ironically, I head the Hospital Team Ministry)

God is good!

Wednesday

Happy Ash Wednesday! I have decided to give up fasting for Lent this year. 

Today Mom, Dad, Nathan, and I had our "Family Training" session with the PT and OT. The purpose was to take Dad through some paces as if he was at home. We practiced getting in and out of bed, in and out of the car, and navigating the steps into the house. Dad did pretty well on these practical tasks, but he still gets tired quickly and has some balance issues that need to be addressed. The OT tried to accomplish the bathroom issues, getting in and out of the tub, and on and off the toilet but because most bathroom doors are more narrow and a wheelchair may not fit through the opening, we used the walker and by the time we got to the fixtures Dad was "pooped" and was not able to finish the exercise. He has gotten used to the 45 minute sessions but this mornings training was and hour and a half. We did get an idea of what we need to do in preparation for his homecoming. 

When he got back to bed, the wound care nurse came in to repack his tunneling in his leg and decided to take a culture. Both nurses have wound care backgrounds and thought that we should have let the wound care doctor open up the tunnel. We asked to see the physiatrist to get his opinion. His opinion was to let the cardiac surgeon look at it. So they repacked it and told us they would let us know when the appointment would be. I took off to take advantage of the beautiful day. 

About 2:30 I got a call saying that his appointment was at 2:45 if we wanted to come. Mom was at home as well and so we both went back to the hospital. More paper work. We got in fairly quickly and the CS's nurse came in and unpacked the tunnel and measured etc. She said that she thought that they should keep packing it just as before. When the CS (not the one who did the surgery) came in, he looked at it and said that he suggested that we not pack it or open it up, but just dress it as needed and wait for the culture. His logic was that it couldn't heal with the packing in and if it did abscess it would have to opened up anyway. Anyone out in blogdom have an opinion? So we are going with the CS and told him to write orders so that everyone was on the same page. He also canceled the Wound Center appointment on Monday and set up a follow up visit for next Wednesday.

I nailed down our departure date with the case worker. We will be leaving HS a week from this Friday. This gives us a week and a half to make as much progress as possible and prepare the house to be accessible for Dad. 

Dad (all of us) needs an intervention so he can detox from institutional insanity. He is really getting fed up with a lot of the medical minutia and is becoming fixated on the petty picayune. Today it was $75 a pair compression hose. He figures that they have put on $1000 worth since he has been there. So everyone and I mean everyone, from the housekeeper to the cardiac surgeon has heard about poor stewardship. It doesn't matter if it is a regulation or not, there is no excuse for such waste and high dollar charges.

Pray that Lent doesn't last 40 days and Easter arrives early.

God is good!

Tuesday

Got a call from a case worker this morning to schedule "family training" (I only hope they don't hit us with a newspaper and rub our nose in it). I guess it is their way of saying, ready or not pack your bags, medi-don't-care has run out. So I guess we will allow somebody do their assignment and listen to them regurgitate a script enlightening us in the art of common sense and educating us on what they wish Dad could do if they only had more money, I mean time to work with him.

I would normally apologize for my sarcasm, but since I've yet to be derisive or contemptuous but instead only sardonic, and since it is not one of the seven deadly's and I am not sorry, I won't.

I finally got to meet the PT and OT. I now know why, as strenuous as they are, Dad looks forward to the therapy sessions. Their enthusiasm and optimism is infectious. They promised that they were literally going to the mat in these final days to make as much progress as possible for Dad. 

We are thankful for all the caregivers, especially those who see a person instead of a task.

I went to see Dad this evening and we chated and had a few laughs. I heated up the room for him and apologized to Bob,  his roommate. He is bearing it and trying to grin. I hope to get to know him better tomorrow. 

We included Bob in our prayer together tonight and ask that you do the same.

God is good!

Monday

Met Mom and Dad at the Wound Center this morning. It was very crowded but they did get us in fairly promptly. We got to answer the same questions that we have been asked at every institution we have been to over the last 50+ days. After measuring the length of the "tunnel" the doctor suggested that we let him cut an incision the entire length, leave the incision open and let the wound heal from the inside out. I wanted to say,"Are you an idiot!" but I didn't. I asked him if it was infected and if they could just continue to pack it while Dad finished his last week at HS. I could tell he was disappointed that he wasn't going to get to use his scalpel, but he said that it could wait. All the activity wore Dad out and he decided to eat lunch in his room. 

He had his regular afternoon sessions and went back to his room where he now had a roommate. I don't know why because there are a lot of empty rooms and with the temperature issues Dad has had this week there was bound to be a problem, but since we never seem to have the same nurse or tech from shift to shift, day to day, night to night, who knew. I guess it was a sleepless night for both of them. Institutional idiocy! 

God is good!

Sunday

Saw Dad briefly this afternoon. He had a good day. He and Mom wheeled around the the premises for a while, he read the paper, and had a couple of visitors. The heat issue seems to have been resolved for now.

He will be going to the Wound Center near the hospital tomorrow to have the tunneling in his leg evaluated (where the vein was removed). It is not infected or anything but is not filling in and healing like they usually do.

I hope to be there early in the morning to see if I can see the Doc. I have not seen him since we have been at HS.

God is good!

Saturday

I let Mike and Cindy handle the morning visit while I slept in and did some paperwork. He had a short workout with Hannah's friend but according to Dad it wasn't much. A little attention is better than none at this point. The weekends are considered days of rest at HS, especially on Sunday. 

I went to see Dad mid afternoon and found Mom, Cindy and Mike in the oven with Dad. It was like a blast furnace when I walked into the room! Evidently Dad had had some issues with heat overnight and had given the nurses some heat of his own. I don't know why it was still so hot in the room. Mike had already turned it down before I got there. I guess Dad wanted to make sure that the room was warm enough before nightfall. 

Cindy and Mike left shortly after I got there to go back to Conway and Mom left not long after that. I sat down in the wheel chair and listened as Dad related the events of the day and especially last night. He experienced some severe chills around 10pm and no matter how many blankets they put on him he couldn't get warm. He took it out on the nurses and even told them he was going to call 911. They took his temperature and checked vitals and everything was in normal levels. After giving them the what for, his chills subsided and the crisis was over. Dad was still agitated about the situation and lack of resolve. I noticed when I sat down that the temp was not near as warm as when I was standing. I decided to raise the bed as high as it would go and see if that would make a difference. The bed was at its lowest point so Dad would have an eaiser time getting in and out to the wheel chair and so the nurses would have easy access to the patient when providing care.  I was able to raise the bed about 4 feet and Dad said that he could tell a difference immediatly but when a  tech came in, she nearly came out of her shoes, even though I had put up the bed rails all around the bed. I explained what we were doing and she said that she would get the charge nurse. I was scolded for raising the bed, evidently, you have to have Dr.'s orders to raise the bed for liability reasons. So much for physics.

It was time for supper so they got Dad into the wheel chair to eat. While Dad was eating, I asked the tech if we could move Dad to the bed next to the window where the heater was, since my brilliant idea was against regulation. They agreed to try it. The tech that moved Dad brought in 2 or 3 blankets and he was comfortable even though the rest of us were sweating. I had some errands to run and told Dad I would be back in the evening. Because of the move, Dad's telephone number has changed to 479 444-2321.

Charlotte and I brought Dad some clean clothes around 7 and the room was still toasty. Dad was in the bathroom brushing his teeth and getting ready for bed. He has really come a long way in transferring from the chair to the bed. He is so much more confident and stable. We chatted for a while and the nurse came in to give him his meds and take his vitals. One of the nurses from last night is on duty again and Dad told me he had apologized to her for being belligerent.  I asked him if he was warm enough and he said that he was fine and even asked me to turn the heat down a bit. We had prayer and left about 8:30.

Pray Dad stays warm and sleeps well.

God is good!

Friday

Mike and Cindy are coming into town tonight and Mom will go with them to see Dad tonight. Charlotte and I have been invited to a soup supper with friends so I will give Dad a break from looking at my mug today.

Nathan went by during a therapy session today and had a good report. He told me that he was feeling very optimistic about Pawpaw. He was impressed with what Dad did today and said that he saw a lot of improvement.

I will byte you tomorrow.

God is good!

Thursday

Since Dad was asleep at 8pm last night, Charlotte and I went to see him at 7pm tonight. When we got there the lights were out and so was Dad. He was sleeping very soundly. I checked out the slick board to get a hint of what happened during the day and rattled a few papers and Dad woke up and turned on the light. Other than needing a shave, he looked energized and rested. His voice was raspy but strong and clear. Charlotte had bought him some butterscotch Lifesavers and he tore into a couple of those.

 He said that his therapy today was all about balance and standing steady while accomplishing tasks at a table. His afternoon session was more balance and leg strength but exercise was done in bed. I think he is really excited about the prospects of getting back to where he was if not better. If he stays focused on the small steps, the giant leap will come.

Mom called and gave me some instruction on what to do with some stuff in Dad's closet. We have given in to Dad's  fashion "scents" (PU), since he has adopted excuse after excuse not to wear the togs we have bought him.  "I am not here to walk down a runway in a fashion show." As long as he can do the work and not flash anyone, let him be comfortable in his old khakis. Dad told Mom that he had been repenting this evening for scolding her about trying to get him to dress for success. 

Mom is feeling better and was there for part of the day. I haven't been out to see the house repairs, but I think most of that has been taken care of, thanks to their neighbor John. 

While we were talking, a massage therapist in training came in and asked Dad if he would like to have his arms and hands massaged. She told Dad that it was part of her internship and she needed to do some community service. Dad really enjoyed the treatment, especially on his right arm and hand. He has been using his right hand more and more, but I can tell it still is not back to normal strength and functionality. 

We have had 3 good days of improvement and look forward to what tomorrow brings. We had prayer and bid each other goodnight.

God is good!

Wednesday

Brother Jamie III was in town today and spent a little time with Dad between workouts. Mom has sinusitis and didn't go to the hospital today. We got some clothing issues worked out and Dad had full day. He woke up early and was ahead of the schedule, he got an extra 10 minutes of OT before breakfast. They removed sternal precautions today which means that Dad can start using his upper body more. This is one of those, hope they know what they are doing moments.

I saw him briefly after work. He was just finishing his supper. He had some visitors which is always nice just to break up the monotony of my face. He cat napped a little while I was there and I left to go eat supper. I went back to tuck him in for the night around 8 pm but he was already pretty much out for the night. I left a note on the white board and came home.

I am optimistic about recovery and achieving goals.

God is good!

Tuesday

Mom, Dad and  I attended a family welcome conference this morning and learned a lot about how HS operates. I was impressed. There were four other patients and a couple of family members present but two of the patients had to leave mid meeting because of pain issues. Each patient is given a schedule every morning to prepare them for the day. They are encouraged to rest or take a nap in between sessions. They are usually very prompt and stay on schedule. After the gathering, we went back to Dad's room to check his schedule and found that he had about 20 minutes before he had and OT confab, then it was off to lunch with the 12 o'clock bunch. He had about an hour and a half rest period before another OT and PT session in the afternoon. A friend of Hannah's,(Adam Hobbs, for all you Hobbses in Alabama following the blog) came by to meet us and said he would make sure that we had the best of the best therapists. I went back to work and Mom had an appointment with their neighbor who has been terrific in repairing the damage to the house from the ice storm. 

Charlotte and I went back to see Dad this evening and found that our son Nathan had already been by to check on Dad. He was awake and much more energetic than this morning. He said, "These people know what they are doing." A tech came in to help Dad get into bed and it was amazing what he had learned and accomplished this afternoon. He got up out of the chair and stood without a flutter or sway, he pivoted and sat on the bed with very little help. His legs and abdominal muscles are not strong enough yet to pull his legs into the bed without help but wow what a difference 24 hrs. has made. I could tell he was encouraged and was impressed with the afternoon. He told us that the PT was a no nonsense gal that stayed on point but with humor and positive reinforcement. He said that tomorrow will be a test with the schedule packing a full day. I asked him how the food was and he said that it was great!

They are addressing the bladder issue and while it is somewhat painful, it is short lived and Dad seem to think it was worth the discomfort. He was wearing a fleece top because he said that he had been cold all day. The room was chilly so I adjusted the heat. His roommate was discharged this afternoon so I guess Dad will have a new one soon. 

We had a prayer of thanks and let Dad rest.

God is good!

Monday

I will play catch up tonight or tomorrow, but a quick update.

Dad is moving to Health South today around 2 p.m.

More to come.

Dad's new address:

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital

Room 111 D
153 East Monte Painter Drive
Fayetteville, AR 72703

Room Phone: 479-444-2322

We checked Dad in about 2:30 this afternoon and he went through a battery of questions basically to test his mental faculties. He passed with flying colors. Even thought he was tired and answered a lot of questions with his eyes closed. I don't know what other evaluation they did after I left but I know they planned to have a fair idea of his capability before tomorrow. 

Dad is a little apprehensive about the rigors ahead, but I think he will do well here. They specialize in all kinds of rehab and develop personalized regimens for their patients. It is also much more social and seeing others in different phases of treatment offers inspiration and hope. Dad has a roommate although I have not personally met him yet and I don't know what his affliction is but he currently needs a sling to get from the bed to the wheel chair. He is much younger than Dad and seems to have a great attitude. Hopefully they will hit it off and feed off each other. 

They will start in earnest at 7:30 am. They will assist Dad in getting dressed and ready for breakfast, and begin the first rotation of PT shortly after that. He will receive different therapy in increments of about 45 minutes with rest periods in between. All patients eat lunch together in the cafeteria and he will have a menu to choose from for the next day for all meals. Family is encouraged to particpate in therapy sessions and is welcome during the day. Other visitors are restricted to the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

Some of the minutia that we are having to deal with is functional clothing and footwear. Dad will be required to wear something other than a hospital gown which causes some problem with the diuretics prescribed for him. Another development that I can't believe is just now being addressed is the percent of bladder evacuation Dad is able to accomplish. The admitting nurse told us that they would do sonograms on his bladder the next 3 times Dad evacuates. I remember this from Charlotte's hospitalization this past summer. I don't remember what percent she had to achieve, but it had to be significant, and in 3 consecutive times or she would not be released. Nancy said that she was there for one sonogram this evening and he still had a lot of urine in his bladder but no feeling of urgency. Regency was "monitoring" his input and output but never did a sonogram. His output would vary drastically, but I was too dumb to ask about it. I don't know what this might do to his evaluation, but I am sure it will have to be addressed. I just hope he doesn't have to have another catheter.

Pray for Dad tonight and tomorrow as he begins this very important time in his recovery.

(I have also updated Sunday's post since I didn't get to it Sunday night and events began to move quickly today)

God is good!

Sunday

I hope you all had a wonderful day of worship and fellowship today. 

Charlotte and I have been soaking up as much grand baby loving possible during her short visit. We never get satiated. 

We went to see Dad tonight after Adalynn left and found him engaged with a very animated and verbose nurse who is also a minister. I don't know if she is ordained but is very committed and compelled to her calling and has a clear and focused mission. I have not seen Dad as verbal since his admission to the hospital in early January. He was very energized. I don't know if his medication was adjusted or if he had finally come out of the effects of the sleep aids he had taken on Friday. 

After the nurse left, he kept on filling us in on events of the day and asking about our kids and talking about all sorts of things. I think I mentioned that during one of Dad's sleepless nights, he decided to relax and clear his mind and allow God to wash His love all over him. He told us that he had done that on more than one occasion and that on two consecutive nights he had either had a vision or dream that a silver sheet had descended over and covered a field or layer of rocks. When he reached out an touched the silver sheet, it was very smooth and he could not feel the rocks underneath. He also said that he could not be sure if there was and angel or some entity present but he seemed to remember something of the sort. He then looked at me and said, "Okay Joseph, interpret that dream." My immediate response was from Handel's Messiah; Every valley shall be exalted, every hill made low, and the rough places plain. Dad had a similar impression. I do not pretend to understand this event or it's true meaning, but it is my prayer tonight. 

Isa. 40

[3] A voice cries:
"In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
[4] Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.

As we prepared to leave and have our prayer together, Dad said he would like to lead the prayer. It was a holy moment for me and for the first time in a long time, it felt like order had been restored.

God is good!

Saturday

Dad had a special Valentine visit today. Our 18 month old granddaughter Adalynn, son Adam, daughter Hannah, and Charlotte stopped by this afternoon along with Jamie III. Dad had been to the gym and was very tired but was delighted to see everyone. 

Dad was very lethargic again today.

No more word on discharge.

God is good!

Friday

Thursday was basically a sleep day for Dad. For some reason they changed the sleeping pill that he was on and gave him Ambien. He had nightmares and therefore didn't get much sleep, so he slept most of Thursday. His sense of humor was awake though. Rachel and Jordan went by about 3 pm and there was a PT and PTT with Dad having him do some resistance exercise in the bed. Dad was participating but with his eyes closed. The PT told him she was going to start calling him Sleepy and asked Dad which dwarf he wanted her to be, and he said, "Dopey".

I got to the hospital around 9 this morning and Dad was in the shower. He had walked to the shower and walked back to his room for a total of about 220'. He was pretty worn out when he got back in bed. He told me that he had slept a little better last night but the nursed told me that it was only in intervals. 

He had put on a shirt and had buttoned it himself even though he said that he had put the buttons in the wrong holes. He still has trouble being able to put on his pants by himself. We will have to address special needs clothing before we go to Health South.

I read some cards to him and we talked a little about my granddaughter coming up this weekend (hopefully we can take her to see him). He dosed off and I went to talk to the nurses about his lethargy. She said that he may still be having some after effects of the Ambien but it was more likely that he was just tired out from the morning activity. He is supposed to go the gym this afternoon. I also talked to one of the case workers and asked her if they had heard from HS and she said no. I asked her where Dad was in the process as far as Regency was concerned and she said that he was ready for discharge. 

Mom had some errands to run today and will be going to see him around noon. I have to work tonight so I will not get to see him this evening.

The nights are long for Dad. Several times when I have visited in the evening, he has said "Oh, shucks, it is a long time until morning." He told Charlotte and I that one night he couldn't sleep and he said that he decided to lay there and let God wash His love all over him and listen for any instruction. I asked him if he had gotten any orders for a new mission, and he said not yet.

Job 7

[4] When I lie down I say, "When shall I arise?"

but the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.

Lord we pray for strength and activity that will bring meaning to life and further your kingdom on earth.

God is good!

Wednesday

I spent about 3 hours with Mom and Dad this afternoon. Dad ate a pretty good lunch, the chicken is much better than the hamburger.

The mystery weigh ins continue. I think they have decided that the 175 to 177 lb. range is as close as they can narrow it down to. The 203 lbs that I witnessed yesterday was marked out on the chart when I got there today. At any rate, I don't think he is losing or gaining massive amounts of weight in short periods of time.

Today was the prelude to the next chapter in Dad's recovery. The mid-week eval was done this morning and an evaluator from Health South Rehab Hospital came to see if Dad was ready for their facility. I was somewhat surprised that she said that Dad was ready to move. Dad quizzed her about what they could do for him and gave her the run down of his concerns. I expressed my misgivings about the lack of PT he has received at Regency and that going from 30 minutes of PT once a day to 3 hours a day at HS seemed a little extreme. She assured me that they would evaluate what Dad was capable of and gradually build on that baseline. We discussed the medical requirements and assistance levels that Dad continues to have and we were assured again that they were equipped to handle these needs. She said that she would take Dad's profile to their eval team and they would make the final decision as to whether Dad is ready. One of the Regency doctors came in and checked Dad over and spent some time trying to explain some of the inexplicable things that have occurred eg. weight. We got a lesson in drug interactions and dietary this and that. Unless the xray shows something abnormal, I assume they will release Dad when a bed comes open at HS and they approve Dad's eval.

I have some strong opinions about Regency which I am choosing not to express in this venue. From the cynical point of view I have developed concerning the medical business, I will say that I find the timing of this latest development highly coincidental, after all their own goal was to discharge Dad on February 20th. I can only hope for Mother and Dad's sake that the decisions being made are truly from a medical standpoint and not a business one.

I took a tour of Health South while Dad was still at WRMC and thought he would do well there. At that time he was a lot stronger but he had the blood infection, BOOP, and his sternum was still very fragile. I like the facility and the staff I met, so I am hopeful that Dad will be able to make long strides toward getting home in a relatively short period of time. My next mission will be to look at barriers at their house and see if I can make it a walker friendly place. Most of the challenges will probably be in the bathrooms.

Pray that this is the right time and the right place for Dad.

God is good.

Tuesday

I dropped by to see Dad at 1pm to see what was going on and if any change had occurred. Mom was there and Dad had finished lunch and was snacking on pecans. He had been to the gym following the same type exercise that he did yesterday (yea, consistency). I had asked Mom to find a doctor and have Dad weighed this morning to find out what this was all about. She had not seen a doctor and he had not been weighed, so I went out to the nurses station and greeted everyone and asked, doctor in the house. A pregnant pause occurred and then one nurse said "Oh, your are serious aren't you?" I said yes I am. I also asked if Dad could be weighed. A pulmonologist came in and a PT and PTT came in to weigh Dad. While they were getting Dad up, the doctor asked if I had had the difference of opinion for treatment for BOOP had been explained to me. I told me it had but I was not a fan of the steroid prescription because the trade offs were questionable. He told me that I was wise to question it but that it seem to be taking care of the BOOP. He has ordered another xray for tomorrow. Dad weighed 203 lbs. today. I asked the doctor if he thought the last two weigh ins were anomalous, and he said yes. I concur. 

I hope we have turned a corner on treatment. It seems that way to me. I asked Dad what meal he would like if he could have anything he wanted. He said that it all taste the same without being able to doctor it up. I told him I would bring him something tasty. Rachel has become quite the chef and makes a mean salmon dish, so I will see if we can take him a decent meal in the near future.

Rachel called me just about the time I was leaving and came to visit for a little while this afternoon.

We are supposed to have some rough weather tonight and I am worried about hanging limbs all over town but especially at Mom and Dad's. I may not make it back to see Dad tonight.

God is good!

Monday

Met Mom at 9 am and found Dad in a chair. He had just finished his breakfast. I got the word out that we wanted to have a family conference with all Directors involved with Dad's care. While waiting for them to show up, Dad went to the gym for a PT session. I watched what they did for a while when the case manager came in. Mom expressed her concerns and asked some medical questions, and I made clear my thoughts and goals. The Director of Referrals came in and took us down the hall where we repeated our mission again. He said that he would address all the points with all those involved and help determine a course of action. Hopefully we are back on a unified track. Dad has a long way to go.

Major concerns at this point:

• If the scales and records are correct, Dad is losing a lot of weight in a short period of time.
  

2/1/09  200lbs.  2/8/09 177.9 lbs. today 164.6 lbs. It is not all fluid, his edema is almost non existent right now. The DOR is checking with the dietitian and we are going to bring him anything he wants sans sodium. Ensure is going to be an in between snack.

• PT a consistent targeted regimen. Keeping Dad engaged in getting better.

Everything is a balancing act and we need to be vigilant about doing the most he is capable of without putting him at risk in aggravating his congestive heart failure or over taxing his heart. 

God is good!

Sunday

After church I went to Mom and Dad's to pick up a pole saw for a neighbor who was struggling to trim some high branches damaged by the ice storm.  His wife is a PT and is working part time at the VA. I quizzed her about suggestions she might have and she said that she would provide me with some OT Dad should be able to do on his own. She also had some suggestions on how to handle the meeting with the case worker and dept. heads. I also spoke with a dietitian from our church and she had some good suggestions as well.

To be honest, I did not want to go the the hospital today. I expected to find the same apathy and ignore-ance that has been the norm for the past week. Charlotte and I stopped by a little after 6 pm. Dad was in bed and had finished his supper. From the sound of it, there were not many calories ingested. He said that he had a busy day. He had walked 54' and had used a hand bike while sitting in a chair in the "gym". He also took a shower. I don't know if the slick board had anything to do with it, but someone had re-written my goals and notes so that they were legible. Mom told me that Dad had lost 25lbs. since he got there, I added NUTRITION to the slick board today. 

I am grateful that Dad had some activity today. I pray that we can achieve some consistency and become a priority in a holistic regimen tomorrow. 

God is good!

Saturday

Sorry about the absence of update today. I started  a draft and just didn't have the heart.

I will leave it at this: Dad asked me if I was worried about him. I told him I was. He said that he was too. He knows he is not making progress and is instead losing strength. He told me that he had not been praying as much as he should, instead relying on the prayers of others, but that he had given his situation to God. I told him I did not want him to give up and that I would do everything I could to get the care that he needed to turn this around. He said that he was not giving up but would give it his best.

Dad had very little attention in the therapy department today and that was disheartening.

I had a conversation with yet another nurse and made no bones about our irritation with the level of care and commitment from Regency. I got some names of those who should be aware and accountable for the service that was advertised to us by liaisons and there web page. I also wrote on the slick board some detailed expectations we have and goals we consider requisite. I will be finding these folks on Monday morning.

We pray that God will lead us to those who will open their eyes and understand Dad's plight and offer solutions and provide supervision to get Dad back on track.

God is good!

Friday

Mom visited Dad this morning and said that he was able to walk quite a ways and even brushed his teeth at the lavatory (he told me this evening that it was quite  a chore though). He sat in a chair for two hours this morning and was sitting in a wheel chair when Charlotte and I got there at 5:30. His dinner came shortly after we got there. It was a small piece of chicken, a cup of asparagus, some very gummy rice and gravy, a fruit cup and a piece of bread. Dad made quick  work of the chicken, bread and fruit, but the rice and asparagus didn't cut the mustard. It is very difficult to watch Dad struggle with the simple use of a spoon, fork, or tooth brush. His  upper body mobility and coordination has suffered with the long period of being bed ridden. His strength has ebbed away. 

We talked for a while and he had a  couple of phone calls and a visitor. Dad's mind is as sharp as always but his speech is slow. It began to get hard for him to keep  from slumping in the chair so I decided to help him get back in bed, which I had done before. He was so fatigued tonight that he could not stand and lock his knees with just my help so we had to call for help. That really bothered me. He just seemed so much more frail and I was not expecting him to be so weak. I don't know how he has been able to walk. I hope it was just that it was at the end of the day and he was just worn out. We had prayer with him and came home.

Yesterday someone asked Mom what their plans were when they left Regency. They were not even in the new room yet and they were talking about what's next. Today on the slick board someone had written "Checkout Goal February 20".  I am glad it said goal because he got no PT or OT today with the exception of walking and sitting up today. I am going to write some goals on it tomorrow. They will be short term goals and very specific and will not have anything to do with time.  I am going to try to get some answers tomorrow, but being Saturday, I doubt I will get any answers. I am not impressed with this institution when it comes to "therapy" of any kind.

Mom didn't get to spend much time with Dad today because an insurance adjuster came to the house to assess the damage. It took most of the afternoon. She is doing okay now that she can get out of the house again.

I can't tell you how much your cards and emails mean to Dad. He went on and on tonight about some cards he received today! Thank you for your steadfastness in keeping him in your thoughts and prayers. It is the best therapy he has had!

God is good!

 

Thursday

Dad walked to his new room, 434, not 425 as expected. His phone # is 479 713-1424 however. It is like a suite compared to the ICU. It may take some getting used to because it is so quiet. Chairs are much more comfortable which will be easier on Mom. 

Nancy, Madeline and I visited Dad after work and Mom went home. Dad ate most of his dinner and some sugarless choclate that Madeline brought to him. I asked about his xray and the report did not show any change, at least we are not going backward. Madeline and I talked politics while Dad took his meds, steroids, and insulin.

Madeline and I had homework so we all had prayer together and departed. Nancy finally got power restored and some of the debris cleaned up at her house.

God is good!

Wednesday

Just spent a few minutes with Dad tonight. He is pretty worn out. For some reason they have gone from zero to 60 in two days. He walked three times today, 60' twice and 180' this afternoon. None of today's activity was done by PT, instead the nurses got it done. I just hope that they are not going too fast. May be a moot point tomorrow because Dad is moving out of ICU to the PT wing. Unless something changes he will be in room 425. It will be less attention but it will be quiet and he should be able to rest and sleep better. The nurse on duty tonight said that the PT's usually spend most of their time on that end. Hopefully he can get in a routine and we will see some consistency.

Dad is still in A-Fib and is throwing a few PVCs. This is not unusual for A-Fibbers but it is a little scary to see one on the monitor. He will not be on a monitor at the other end but vitals will be taken often and if they think he needs a monitor they can put one on him. He will have another xray some time tomorrow to check on the BOOP. He is not in any pain but he knows that his voice is weak and it bothers him that he can't talk as much as he would like. He wants to quiz the nurses and other personnel about different things. The duty nurse said that he has charmed all the staff and they really have enjoyed having him on the ward. I guess he will have to charm a new bunch tomorrow.

Update on our friends: Millie had a double mastectomy and is resting comfortably. Bill's surgeon did not recommend surgery. Danny went home today and is awaiting results from a test. Thank you for your prayer. One more, Arron White his battling pancreatic cancer, remember him and his wife Paula tonight.

God is good!

Tuesday

I didn't get by to see Dad today but got reports.

Evidently, the PT staff was there today and were trying to make up for lost time. Dad walked more than 200' this morning and then they worked his arms in the bed. They provided him with some diagrams and demonstrated the proper technique for the exercise so Dad could do them on his own. When they suggested that he have another session after lunch, Dad said, "You don't have to cram an entire spring training into one day." He said that he was actually sore from the morning session.

Mom said that one of the pulmonologist spent a long time with them this morning explaining the treatment of the BOOP. One of the side effects of the steroids is elevated blood sugar levels, so Dad is now having to have insulin added to his meds. He was encouraged by the difference in the two xrays I spoke of in yesterday's update.

Dad had several visitors today as well as phone calls. He enjoyed reading your email, comments, and cards. He expressed his gratitude for the encouragement and for the outpouring of assistance with the debris clean up. Some of you have asked for an address to send Dad a card.
Jamie Jones Room 404 c/o
Regency Hospital
1125 N College Ave
Fayetteville, AR 72703

I would like to ask for your prayer tonight for two dear friends and Charlotte's brother. Danny had a stent put in one of his coronary arteries last week and is back in the hospital with edema around his lungs. Millie Webster is a 10 year cancer survivor but a new type of cancer has returned and she is having surgery tomorrow. Bill Hodnett is in Little Rock tonight having an assessment on an aneurism to see if it is operable. The temperature is supposed to be back in the teens tonight and several thousand folks still don't have power.

God is good!

Monday

I spent about 45 minutes with Dad this morning. He ate all of his breakfast and was able to walk about 125' this morning. He was in good humor and his color was good. His voice is still raspy and weak but he showed off a little with his breathing "toy". I thought he was going to hyperventilate.

We had the no non-sense nurse today and they were short handed again. I think it may be economics instead of other causes. I heard on the news tonight that WRMC was cutting pay by 2% for most employees and 3% for executives. This seems to be a common practice across all companies. Not a good time to get sick. I asked the nurse if he would be able to have another PT session this afternoon and she bluntly said "No, once per day!". She told me that PT employees were not in today. Well, we will see about this. I asked her to at least bring the recumbent bike in so he could get another activity period in today. She told me that he was about to have lunch, then his meds including Lasix which is a time bomb in its effects. She said that by the time all that was accomplished it would be dinner time. I repeated our desire for more activity and told Dad to keep asking for it. I have not heard how it turned out (I got home too late to find out). The nurse did show me the xray from two days ago and the one they took this morning. There was appreciable change and it looks like the steroids and or diuretics are helping clear up the lung congestion. It may have looked better than the actual result though because I noticed that the exposures were from slightly different angles but I was satisfied that he was making progress. It is also hard to tell how much of the pulmonary symptoms are from the BOOP (bronchiolitis obliterans with organizing pneumonia) and the congestive heart failure.

I took Dad another batch of your comments and emails to read, and while I was talking to the nurse, he began reading them. They always seem to lift his spirits. He also told me that several members of FBC were out at the house clearing debris. Mom was at home feeling meek and grateful for such magnanimity and altruism. Dad's lunch came and it was time for me to go to work so we blessed the ravioli and I left.

I stopped by the homestead on the way to work and was amazed at the work this band of angels (even the fallen angles, Bill Brunner and Rick Tanneberger) had accomplished. Travis, etal. THANK YOU SO MUCH! We can't begin to herald our gratitude for your charity and hard work. These wonderful saints were not through. They left for lunch and were headed to another home devastated by the ice in the afternoon. God bless you all!

Rom.12
[1] I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
[2] Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
[3] For by the grace given to me I bid every one among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith which God has assigned him.
[4] For as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function,
[5] so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
[6] Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
[7] if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching;
[8] he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who contributes, in liberality; he who gives aid, with zeal; he who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
[9] Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
[10] love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.
[11] Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the Spirit, serve the Lord.
[12] Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
[13] Contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality.
[14] Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
[15] Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.
[16] Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited.

God is good!

Sunday

Most of my update tonight is second hand, from Mom and nurses.

Dad was hard at it before breakfast this morning. He walked with a walker 110 feet and took a shower. The shower was probably a huge lift for Dad.

Mom got there about 9:30 am. Dad's voice was much stronger today and he read the newspaper. Mom said that the lunch was a little meager and she is going to supplement tomorrow, maybe an Ensure shake.

I got home from work in time to see the Cardinals lose the Superbowl with the 100 yard interception return just before half. Charlotte and I let the "Boss" entertain everyone while we went to the hospital. When we got there Dad was sleeping soundly with the halftime show playing on the tube. We thought he might be just dosing but he didn't rouse at all. I went out and got an update from the nurse. She said that his vitals all looked good and that he slept better last night. I left him a note on the slick board and we left him resting peacefully.

I will see him in the morning before work and see if I can get with the PT and keep the ball rolling on the activity front. I will also take a fresh batch of emails and comments since Dad seems to be up to reading again.

God is good!