One ill Bill

To all my dear friends,

It seems a few people are still checking the blog occasionally. This is just a little message to see if we still get any comments. We are doing quite well. Bill is up and about these days. He drives three times a week to the pulmonary rehab that has started once again. He looks and feels good, and is learning different things this time. I am done with graduate school and feel totally free. We have lots of holiday plans, cards are in the mail, dinners scheduled with local friends, children arriving for the weekend, and many emails from friends have arrived from all of you who carried us through the summer. Bill and I are hoping to go to his Franciscan reunion in New Mexico in June. That would be a long drive, but something to look forward to. Flying presents lots of complications with oxygen. Here’s hoping you all have a terrific Christmas as we feel we are having. Thelma

I talked with Bill a few minutes ago. He had some therapy today and seems comfortable with things. It is still hard for him to remember what happens during the day and then relay that information to me. I will be seeing him tonight after work, but already know his schedule runs later in the day with a longer afternoon break than before.

My class went fine and the carpool arrangement is great. Paul will drive all the time and I will simply give him money for gas. How lucky for me. And I can tell he will be a reliable carpool partner. Elizabeth fixed our internet at home, it had been down since Saturday. Bill’s brother is coming tomorrow night, and I am looking forward to a long weekend.

Well, Bill is lots better today. That brings good and bad. Now they are anxious to get him out of here. This morning I was overwhelmed when they came to say he could not go to to the rehab unit and I would need to find a nursing home today. But, when the social worker came she said tomorrow would be more likely. The only information she could provide was a list of places and their telephone numbers, asking what city we would like Bill to go to. That’s it. No information about any of the places. She would call to see which ones had beds. Period. Then, she allowed for the remote possibility he would be able to be in a “transition unit” at this hospital. Since we all hoped that would be the plan instead of a nursing home she didn’t want to start calling the nursing homes until tomorrow AM when she had a final answer about the transition unit. I was very upset and crying in the hall. How in the world do you make a major decision with less information than you could get in the telephone book??? And then….the speech pathologist came in to evaluate Bill saying she had heard he was coming to the rehab unit (our first choice.) Two more therapists came in with the same information. When one noticed I was crying in the corner she came to see why and then promptly called rehab to check and see if her information was correct. Evidentally they meant he couldn’t go there TODAY. But they all believe he will be transferred there tomorrow. They already have him on their schedules. So…probably transferred tomorrow. I am staying right here in this room until I see exactly what transpires. I was on my way to work this morning when the doctor dropped in and unloaded the “go to nursing home now bomb.” If Bill is not in rehab tomorrow I will need to figure out all the nursing home questions and will be hysterical again. We knew he still needed care, but never dreamed you make such a decision with no information. As Liz told her doctor when she had her broken pelvis, you don’t understand. “Information is my life.”

They are doing the MRI of Bill’s back right now. I saw the doctor this morning. The fracture is L1 and the pain is at L3 & L4 for those of you who know something about this. So, the MRI may tell us more. They seem to feel the fracture may be old, but no idea what is causing the pain. The aorta thing is clearer to me now. What they referred to as an enlargement is a possible annurism (sp?) of the aorta in his abdomen. This too will be answered by the MRI. I came to the office to do some paperwork and will return to the hospital to find out who things went. The hospital is only a mile from our main office and I am working there today, and perhaps tomorrow.

I am worried about how we will handle all this when we get home. I was already swamped with the care he needed before. Also, am wondering if he can use his new “vest” for pulmonary care with back pain. The vest has been a great help, and his pulmonary function right now is as good as it can be.

I should be able to post this afternoon for those of you check often.

Hi!  I gave mom a ring this morning to check on the dr. appointment and asked her if she would like me to update the BLOG….Mom was reluctant to hope….but the doctors only had good things to report!  Papa will go home this Friday!!  Insert choir of Alleluias. He is going to have some speech therapy for “upper level” speech issues, 2-3 times a week.  The speech therapist is going to come to the house for the first couple of weeks.  Hope your Tuesday is as good as mine,

 Liz

Hi!

Well, mom called from her car (interesting since she always lectures me about talking on the phone and driving!) and she said that they are on their way to Burlington.  It sounded like a great morning.  The Therapy Dog Mabel (1/2 dalmation, 1/2 pointer) came to see papa this AM.  They took a pic, and I hope to be able to post it some time soon, of mom, papa and Mabel.  The hospital packed a sack lunch for papa to take in the ambulance since he would be traveling over the lunch hour!  They loaded him up and are headed there now.  Mom’s voice was relaxed and happy and for the first time in a very long time she sounded like she thought everything was going to be OK.  This is long in coming since as the daughter I am used to my parents sounding sure that everything will be fine….it is good to have that back!  Summer blessings to all of you,

Liz

Bill’s lungs sound better today and he slept good.  Nobody ever says you will be going for sure until you are actually in the ambulance, but from all appearances he will be on his way at 11:00.  He had a glazed donut this AM for breakfast, so it’s almost a perfect world.  Incidentally, he has been eating moderate amounts of wheat this week, so his life seems to be improving in many ways.  Here’s hoping the next post is from Burlington.