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2006
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July 31, 2006
Amber-
Last night was the 2nd night that mom went without oxygen. She was ok
on her own. When we went into the gym the PT wanted up and mom
turned her head to the left to look at her. In the past few days mom has
had great eye control, better than ever. Mom did the tilt table up to 75
degrees; PT said she would be able to do the standing frame soon.
Krystal asked mom later to sake her hand and mom reached out. At the
next class mom put big rings onto a peg. She had good control. She did
the arm bike first to stretch out her arm. At our 2nd OT class we did the
hand bike and mom did the pedal with her right hand on her own for 27
seconds, it was great. Krystal has been a lot of help here.
Mom has had great tongue control in speech class. On Friday she did
well to. She is pushing her tongue left, right, and up when asked. Her
eye control is getting better as well.
July 25, 2006
Amber-
Mom slept through the entire night. She had 3 breathing treatments and
did not wake up. Even when they did nasal suctioning she stayed
asleep. She continued to breath on her own without oxygen. Her stats
stay good all night. We got news that mom will be transferring out of the
hospital today and go over to rehab. This is wonderful.
We are now at rehab. In the morning mom will be evaluated by the
therapist. This is her second day breathing on her own without oxygen.
Tonight is the first night in 2 weeks that she got to lay on a hard surface.
We brought the message mat up to rehab.
July 24, 2006
Amber-
Today was the first day mom went without any oxygen. Krystal said that
mom slept 4-5 hours last night.
July 23, 2006
Jerrall-
Friday night respiratory disconnected the oxygen supply to see how low
Debbie’s stats would fall. They went down to 89 in 2 minutes. Saturday
the doctor removed her oxygen and she went down to 91-90. Today,
Sunday, I removed the oxygen and she went down to 91-92. So our need
for oxygen is getting better, fewer secretions. Debbie is ready to be
discharged to rehab or home as soon as we or rehab is comfortable with
the secretions.
Amber-
Last night mom and I stayed together. She was the calmest I have seen
her in the night at the hospital. 2 times she fell asleep for 30 minutes,
holding my hand. The rest of the time she was awake, but she was
completely still, only her right hand moved. She did respond to me a few
times. She coughed 3 times and I was able to get her saliva out. She did
well for the respiratory therapist to. This morning she started to jump a
bit, and then she settled down on her own. This was after they took blood
from her. She responded to me one time this morning. The doctor come
in and said he thinks when mom had her bladder infection she got weak
and was not able to work her secretions as well. This is what mostly
caused her to aspirate on her own saliva causing her to get sick. He said
when we feel comfortable with her secretion he believes rehab can come
evaluate her. Yeah, great news. She has come so far.
July 22, 2006
Krystal-
1 am BP 126/65, pulse 79, oxygen 93, respiration 18
2:50 am turned on left side
3 am BP 122/70, pulse 81, oxygen 93, respiration 25
3:15 am .5 Klonopin
4:55 am turned onto back
5 am BP 114/57, pulse 82, oxygen 96, respiration 21
5:15 am breathing treatment
4:35 am mom ate
Mom slept from 4 am to 4:45 am on and off. She woke up at 4:55 am.
she had a lot of thick secretions that I got from her mouth. She slept from
6 am to 6:60 and 7 am to …
7 am BP 109/49, pulse 83, oxygen 95, respiration 20
Jerrall-
7:30 am I got here and Krystal went home to sleep
8 am Dr. Morgan came in and said mom’s position level was to high and
that he was going to change the type of food mom took. He said it is
because her potassium is to high. Deb is in a deep sleep. BP 109/49,
pulse 81, oxygen 93, respiration 16. Her right fingers are out.
9 am Deb only had Dantrium, multi vitamin, Bromocriptine, an d50 mg of
provigil. She had do diazepam, Klonopin, or Propranolol. BP 98/52, pulse
82, oxygen 91, respiration 15
Debbie is only taking 5 medications at the hospital. This is great.
Dantrium 3 x 25 mg. Propranolol 10 mg PRN 9 am and bedtime. Klonopin .
75 at bedtime and PRN every 6 hours .5 mg. Bromocriptine 9 am and 1
pm 12.5 mg. Provigil 100 mg. Diazepam is PRN
3 pm BP 109/60, pulse 83, oxygen 93 at 30 %, respiration 22, little
trimmer and up in chair for 3 hours.
6 pm Deb ate the new food and at the new scheduled time BP 11542,
pulse 84, oxygen 96. She has been awake since 10:30 am in the chair.
10 am she had her breathing treatment in the chair.
5:30 am she got back into her chair. Today when she was jumping,
stretching, not meds fixed the problem.
Today has been a good day. Deb got to sleep 4 am to 10 am. She sat in
her chair for 7 hours over the day. She had 350 cc of saliva that were
thinner and than in color. Her temperature was 99.5 and today is the last
of the antibiotics. Her oxygen is at 30 % and she stayed above 90.
8:30 pm breathing treatment got out 3 suctions. BP 108/56, pulse 87,
oxygen 97. Deb is awake and now jumping. Now it is time for me and
Amber to do a bowel program, bath and message.
11 pm she had all 3 meds and she is awake. BP 123/61, pulse 85,
oxygen 97
Amber-
12 midnight. BP 123/61, Pulse 81, oxygen 96, respiration 32.
1 am BP 29/62, pulse 81, oxygen 95, respiration 24
July 21, 2006
Jerrall-
8 am .5 Klonopin
9:30 am Propranolol
9:30 am PT did sitting balance with mom; she has to gain her strength
back to hold her head up.
10 am she got into her chair
10:30 am PT came back and said she would email Dr. Hammond for rehab
10:45 am pulse 82 oxygen 95 respiration 9 in the chair with no head rest
on BP 103-60
Still Propranolol takes the pressure to 103-100 is this is ok because no
tremor, but not responding.
11 am Dr. Morgan came in and said we could go as soon as secretions
are under control.
11:15 am started provigil
By 11:30 am Debbie is in her chair with her eyes bright and watching TV.
Pulse 75, oxygen 97, 20 on respiration, BP 87/51 maybe not a good read.
11:45 am Deb starting to shrug her shoulder. Dr. Morgan said
Propranolol does not affect cognition. Temperature is 98.1
Her breathing treatment was done in the chair. Deb did not cough or
need suction.
1 pm BP 113/67, pulse 77, oxygen 95, respiration 17
1:30 pm Debbie eats, has Dantrium and Bromocriptine only.
2:30 Sally brought over pictures of us all bowling.
3 pm Pulse 80, oxygen 96 at 30%, respiration 17, BP 98/49
Krystal-
3 pm BP 98/49, pulse 81, oxygen 95, respiration 19
4:50 mom had her breathing treatment, they got some stuff out.
5 pm BP 133/74, pulse 86, oxygen 96, respiration 21
5:25 pm mom at, only had Dantrium.
6:50 pm mom sat up in bed to watch TV.
7 pm BP 124/66, oxygen 97, pulse 82, respiration 32
9 pm BP 133/77 pulse 79, oxygen 94, respiration 16
11 pm BP 129/70, pulse 75, oxygen 97, respiration 16
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Jerrall-
8:30 am PT did a session. Debbie sat on the side of the bed. She
had a little trouble holding her head up. PT also stretched out Debbie’s
ankles.
9:00 am Breathing Treatment: She coughed up her secretions and
we could use the yankauer to suction it out.
9:15 am Debbie ate breakfast. We only gave her .25 Klonopin, 5mg
Propranolol, and NO DIAZEPAM. She was calm and aware.
9:55 am Dr. Morgan visited.
10:15 am OT did a session. We stretched Debbie’s neck and got her
up in the chair.
10:55 am Debbie got up in the chair. She stayed in the chair for 3 ½
hours.
1:00 pm Debbie had sleep apnea which set off the alarms for 26
seconds. Dad had to shake Mom to get her to wake up. This happened
in the chair.
1:30 pm Breathing treatment in the chair with no suction needed.
1:45 pm Ate Lunch: Debbie was calm.
3:00 pm Debbie had a little diarrhea and we got a stool sample to
check for C Def.
3:30 pm We turned Debbie on her left side to rest her back and
bottom.
4:00 pm Breathing Treatment: Debbie did not cough up anything.
5:10 pm Ate Dinner: Debbie only took her Dantrium. She was calm,
so she did not need any extra Klonopin.
5:40 pm Debbie took the biggest yawn ever. Maybe she will sleep
some tonight.
6:00 pm We were able to switch Mom over from an oxygen mask to a
nasal canella.
6:15 pm Debbie got up in the chair for a second time. She looks
incredible.
8:00 pm We got Mom back in bed and waited for respiratory to come.
9:30 pm Breathing Treatment: She did not cough anything up.
10:20 pm She ate her final meal of the day and did not go to sleep
right away.
Blood Pressures: 7 pm - 118/68 (80)
8 pm - 156/96 (103)
9 pm - 130/78 (91)
10 pm - 133/77 (91)
11pm - 120/92 (95)
NOTE: 5 mg Propranolol takes 6 hours to cycle
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Jerrall-
Debbie has her days and nights backwards. Air is moving in all parts of
lungs with fewer secretions.
Propranolol still keeps pressure too low for hours.
July 17, 2006
Amber-
This morning the doctor said he is not sure what is wrong with mom. He
thinks maybe her body is wearing out. She looks good though. He wants
to put a trach in her for easy access. Dad told him we do not want to do
that. Mom has not slept in 4 days, so dad got her meds switched. She is
sleeping now. Some of her jumping may be from withdraw, 4 or 5
medicines were taken away. The muscle jumping she has in her hand
and mouth is in her throat to. They said that with her muscle moving so
much in her throat she would never be able to get her breath. It makes
her breath per minute 44 sometimes verse 12 or 13 were it should be.
Having these medicines back to calm her will help, but she may not be
able to do therapy or be awake much. This is such a trade off on and
hurt or off and calm. This is not fair, something will change. I am writing
this at 6 pm so I will update more tomorrow. Look at the photos page of
2006 for her ICU pictures at the bottom.
Jerrall-
11:00 am Got
Propranolol
11:15 am Got in chair
12:30 pm Semi asleep in chair 81 p 97 ox at
30% 102/62 (72)
1:00 pm 80’s 95 ox at 30 % 107/64
(75)
2:00 pm 105/66(78)
I put Deb back in bed and PT, Amy, came for an hour. Deb was sleeping
and Amy did range of motion
3:00 pm
104/68 (76)
3:30 pm Started breathing treatment Deb @ 93-96 oxy
4:00 pm Dr. McLanahan stopped
by 106/68 (78)
5:00 pm Debbie is still asleep. She had to be suctioned only once
after treatment.
102/72 (78)
6:00 pm Deb ate 1.5 can to make up for treatment time only 1.5 @
bed time left
119/72(83)
7:00 pm As the meds cycle, Debbie is asleep. We can put her shoes
on and her right hand out flat on pillow case
Pulse starting to rise 86 now has been low 80’s
Pressure is up, but normal
Oxy @ 95 on 30%
19 breaths per minute
NOTE: 11 am got Propranolol & 7 hours to cycle
Klonopin takes 4-5 hours to cycle
Propranolol takes 7 hours to cycle
Diazepam takes 1 hour to cycle
July 16, 2006 Sunday
Amber-
This morning mom’s temperature is 99.6 the lowest it has been. They
said the chest x-rays are looking better if you compare them. They said it
is hard to read them with all her movement and damage dune by the
wreck. Today mom got to sit in the wheelchair for the first time for 4
hours. We are still in the ICU, but she is getting better.
July 15, 2006
Amber-
Today was pretty good again until 6ish. Mom had just one bad hour.
Otherwise, her could is getting stronger and the harsh machine are not
as bad. The machine that blows and sucks out your air to make you
cough has not been as evasive since she is able to cough more now.
The pressure is the same but she takes the air and releases it more so
we do not see her skin fly back. The other machine that does not hurt is
used to expand her lungs. She is now able to turn the machine off on her
own. Before she air was not moving strong enough to turn the machine
off and back on again. They just had to do if for her for a few minutes.
These are all good things. She still needs oxygen and is in ICU, but she
is awake now and looks so much better. They said she will be her for 2
days to a week. I stayed with her tonight until 7:30 am. She only slept 30
minutes all night. She was rowdy and answered my questions by
mouthing or shaking her head. This means her cognitive level is coming
back. She is jumping so much we think because they took 5 of her
medications away to make sure she did not have brain damage. Some of
these medicines help with spasticity. Now that she is awake more she
tends to grab the respiratory therapist if we do not hold onto her tight.
Tonight I was told she is now going to get a diuretic to increase her urine.
They think maybe she has some fluid building up around the outer part of
her lungs, because she is not producing urine much. This should help
she has a 101 fever.
July 14, 2006
Amber-
Where do I start??? This entry is going to be from the heart like all
others, but may be a bit overwhelming. Krystal arrived on her own to the
hospital at 6:30 am this morning to take care of mom while dad and I got
some sleep. No one asked her to this she went all on her own decisions.
We are very proud of her. She had to go threw breathing treatment with
mom, talk to the main doctor, and keep mom calm until 10:30 am. Mom
seemed to be better than yesterday, which was so difficult to bear. We
went from talking about our 2 options being the last ones before a vent
which mom may never come off. Coming to today being good for the first
part. I was so excited to see the change. They said they got a lot out of
her lungs at 2 am and that if they did the treatments every 4 hours she
may be empty by tonight. Even at 11 am or so a doctor that specializes in
infections and diseases came in with some ok news. He said he is the
one looking into mom’s infections in her blood and urine. Now yesterday
they said her blood infections was a contamination. He began by saying
she has 2 types of bugs (infections) in her urine. And one of the bugs is
the same bug in her blood. This is leading them to further testing. He
used some big word with staff at the end of it. He said this bug can not kill
you. That is good. He then said the one that is the same in the urine
does not make you sick the second bug in the urine is what makes you
sick. The bug in the blood sticks to devices if it is not proven to be a
contaminant. He said her baclofen bump is a device. Tomorrow,
Saturday we should know. This morning they are testing the blood bug to
see if it takes the same antibiotic as the same one in the urine. If so then
they match and we do further investigation. There is a lot of information
doctors do not know, how surprising.
With this information I see why no one has given us answers from the
start. They really do not know what is wrong or where it is coming from.
How scary is that? Today is the first time in 3 days that they wrote down a
diagnosis besides a bladder infection. They wrote that she has aspiration
phenomena. They call it a lower respiratory infection.
Next the hospital’s OT came in to see if she could work with mom. I told
her that mom opened her eyes today for real for the first time since
Saturday. I asked if she would watch me sit mom up though for the first
time. Krystal, the nurse, and the OT helped hold all of mom’s lines while I
sat her up. To my surprise mom had most of her strength still. She did
not have balance but she sat very strong. OT and I asked her to twist
and I held her while she did the work. We asked her to learn to the right
and then the left. She did both. She was following commands and
working hard. We did this slow and only for a few minutes to keep her
from getting fatigued. On a personal note this felt incredible for me. I
got to wrap my arms around her, she felt warm and wonderful. After she
laid down she remained cognitive for an hour or so. At 1 pm the
respiratory therapist came in and started the bed going crazy for a
treatment. She immediately closed her eyes and looked beat up and
worn out. Her and I were all alone, I watched her as her body vibrated.
The bed is beating her in the back to break up the mucus in her lungs.
Both treatments are aggressive and are keeping the vent off of her. It is
hard to see her oxygen drop to the 80’s when they pull the oxygen off of
her for a few seconds to suction. How did this happen, she is not able to
breath over 88 on her own. Her cough is weak; it is not like at home
where she can cough stuff up. As 6 pm come around the day I raved
about being so different from the day before changes. She needs
aggressive treatments and has lots to get up. My mind repeats how in
shock I am and how did it get this way so fast.
I am in shock, I am in shock, and I can not help feeling this way. It is the
same way I felt the first day of her accident when they told us to say right
there for 2 or 10 minutes (I can not remember) to say good bye. This and
that will stick with me for life. I am seeing first hand the aggressive
procedures to remove this fluid. It tares my heart out. The other thing
they do is put a mask on her nose and mouth and force oxygen to the
bottom of her lungs that makes her skin fly back. Then is sucks all of the
oxygen out to create a fake cough. She is suffocating as they suck out
her oxygen. She chokes, gags, tears run down her face, and she gasps
for air. They then stick a tube down her nose to suck the thick secretions
out that takes even more air out that she does not have to give. It is like
someone holding her head under water and lifting you up just to push you
under again. The only thing is that instead of you grabbing air when you
come up you loose more air. Dad says we are (meaning mom) going to
get over this, it may be days, weeks or even a year, but don’t worry.
This is the first time I have let my emotion show in 3 years. This is hard
for me, I am cracking my tuff, all work, serious, emotional walls I put up
years ago. We are reliving all the emotions we went through when we
were in the trauma unit 3 years ago. Three years of pretending to have
face is failing; it is hared to go on acting like nothing is wrong. Driving
home it is hard to remember how to get there and it is only one street
home. Also sleeping, walking through the house, and thinking about work
are all so hard. I have lost my way home 2 times. My breaking point was
on Tuesday night when they said mom had a 103.4 temperature which
was under the arm so you add 1 to make 104.4 and 10 minutes later the
doctor asks me about live support decisions for my mom. This is when
my wall came down that I am failing to put back up. I feel like I am loosing
it.
Why do I feel this way? Mom has not passed away and she is getting
great care. It hurts to come home without her, passing her flashcards,
cups for he suction, pads laid out, her flashlights. It hurts so bad.
Everything’s changes so fast good, great, the worst, better, so so. It gets
very confusing. Mom is trying so hard and she is so strong. I love her
very much and have made her my world. I need to get control of myself.
She will do great and God has her in his hands and I trust him. I am not
scared or worried, but shocked, confused, lost, and walking around
dazed. I do realize this is happening to me, I do not seem to be able to
stop it. This is not helping my mom, I am working on this.
July 11th and 12th, 2006
Amber-
An ambulance came to pick mom up this morning. She has been asleep
for a day and a half, not tight, coughing up mucus all the time, and not
breathing over 90 without oxygen. She had to go all night (Monday night)
with oxygen on her. The emergency room said she had a bad bladder
infection with a fever and that could cause her to have theses issues. We
took the option to stay at the hospital for them to give her antibiotics
threw an IV. Around seven mom started to flip out. She was not
breathing above 87 with oxygen on, was jerking, chocking and sweating.
The doctor came and wanted to check her for blood clots and fluid in her
lungs. Her temperature has climbed not to 103.4. He rushed her to have
a CT and then sent her to an intensive care unit.
He did ask us if we want to do all means possible to keep mom alive. He
was concerned about the way mom was behaving. We talked it seemed
very intensely about this for about 10 minutes it seemed. He said if there
is any hesitation then his team would do all they can do to keep mom
alive if it came down to options and then later I could decide after a few
days what is best. We were just discussing this to make all things clear in
case the worst happened. Basically he said if something happened and
he was working on her and she had to be in-abated and then need to
have a trach, he needed to know when to stop. He said it is standard to
go all the way unless they are told otherwise. He said what would Mrs.
Rich want. I replied by saying my mother never wanted to be in a wheel
chair and live like this, but when it comes down to it life is a hard thing to
deiced on. I talked about several situations and that I have trouble
making a before decision since it could go anyway, we do not know until
something bad happens. He said yes in all the situations you explain it is
not for certain that she would be severely hurt permanently. So I said yes
that is why I want to try and then have to decide if the other way came
about. He said I understand and yes there does seem to be some
hesitation on the real decision to let her go if option started coming up.
So with this said as your doctor at midnight I vow to do all I can to keep
your mom going. This is not what I was expecting him to turn around and
ask. I could not believe that this moment really occurred. It seemed to
real, just not something that you pop up on. I think he asked me so direct
and forceful is to get the most honest response out of me. I think my first
response was “I do not think this is the best life, but I how can I bee sure
of what happens, how do you say that?” I wanted to be fair, not holding
on and her suffer for it. I could not get myself to say do not help her,
how, they have had to help her a lot so far and look at all she has done.
She has gotten so much better. I would rather wait for a day that it comes
down to a situation occurring and then only 2 options being available.
That said the options being if she goes she will be in heaven or if she
stays on the machines she will be a vegetable and slowly suffer. I never
want that to happen though. I would rather when we all have to go and
before we suffer we fall asleep and God takes us. That is far out there,
but in a world where suffering is so great that thought makes me feel
more comfortable when thinking about death. Day to day we deal with
mom needing to have her secretions removed. This is dangerous and
deadly, but we do not say it like that or act as if we are playing ER minute
by minute. If we acted that way we would have a much more difficult life
style. Instead we see our new life as just a life style that has changed.
We are now in an intensive care unit and having to do deep suction with a
tube. This has elevated out normal suctioning to even more dangerous.
Here at the hospital we have more help and more monitors. As of now
they are treating her for a bladder infection, a bloodstream infection, and
aspirated pneumonia. She has a central line in her neck just like when
she was in the trauma unit. This is a direct line for them to give her
emergency care if she needs it. She has had oxygen on her all day and
breathing treatments.
How odd is it to relive certain things and see how you react to them. Just
walking to the corning we used to wait to see mom for 15 minutes when
she was in the trauma unit made me have chills down my body. When the
central line was put in her neck and had all the memories of her body
filled with all kinds of tubes and lines going into to her flash in my mind.
The entire world stops while you are in the hospital, nothing else matters.
You eat and barely sleep automatically, not because you are tired or
hungry just do it to fill time.
Last night we had to come home, they said we could not see her from 3
am until 9 am. I walked in and pasted her room; I almost cried seeing her
bed empty. I felt like I was panicking not knowing were she was for a
moment. I went to my bedroom and saw the flash light I sleep with at night
to use on her lying on my bed. I got a knot in my stomach. It is extremely
hard to be apart from her, it is not like I am out to dinner and dad is with
mom. She is with trained professionals, but dad and I have not left her in
2 and half years. Many emotions ran threw my head. The house was not
the same and the emptiness filled every square feet. I walked back by
mom’s room and dad had turned mom’s airbed on. I guess it make he to
not to feel so alone. The sound made our house seem more normal. We
are all not talking, but feeling the same.
Tonight I am filling my time by writing this entry onto the web site.
July 8 - 10, 2006
Amber-
Mom is not feeing well and needing lots of suction. She is tired and not
herself. We did not post these days until July 12th with her needing our
attention most of the time.
July 7, 2006
Amber-
Today was great. Mom woke up at 4 am and still kept on going. She did
get a bit tired at times but she remained calm after standing. She had a
great stand. Her legs were straight and she did not fight it. Her and I did
a speech session and she whispered the words for the first time since her
eye surgery a week and a half ago. She then had OT come. They
worked on pouring water into a coffee cup. The water went everywhere,
but with assistance mom did well. Mom had a calm hand when she was to
pick up the cloth and dry up the water. Mom laid her hand on the cloth
but did not move it to much, she tired. She did a good job when she was
asked to stir the spoon in the cup. Susanne asked her to put the spoon
down on the tray, mom continued to try and put the spoon back in the
cup. She did put the spoon down later; it was just a small delay. Then
she wanted mom to rub in lotion on her arm. Mom grabbed the cloth on
the tray and brought it to her mouth. Mom wanted to clean her lips and
tongue. She stuck her tongue out and wiped it well. She did this for
some time. Susanne watched in amazement. PT came next 20 minutes
after. Mom was very relaxed. Mom continued to do well. The past 2
weeks have been amazing. Her sitting balance was perfect; she was
sitting square and strong. When they did the sit to stand for the first time
ever he only supported her left leg in the transfer. Mom did it perfect 3
times. This means she was using her right leg on her own fully. Later on
mom, Krystal, and I were sitting together mom came so on all of the
sudden. This is the most on we have ever seen her and we have seen
her pretty on. I asked her what my name was, what her name was, what
her husband’s name was, and what her other daughter’s name was. She
mouthed or whispered each one with no problem or delay. It was so
fantastic to see. We ask her lots of questions and she talked back. She
smiled, gave us a hug when we asked, turned her head to the left every
time to hear Krystal. Krystal tapped on mom’s left shoulder a few times to
see if she would respond. She did, she felt her and knew where to look. I
teared up a few times it was the best feeling. This may have occurred on
for 45 minutes. We then went to practice on the mat which went well.
July 6, 2006
Amber-
I want to make a list of some of the good things mom has been
doing in the past few months. She has come a long way. Cough
when she get choked up and has trouble breathing we can talk
her to calm down and have her cough. She is calmer most of the
time. She is sleeping better. She is awake more. She helps us
more often when trying to put her shirt on with her right arm. This
makes this task much easier. It has been 6 months since her eye
has rolled back in her head. The drops in the roof of her mouth
do not seem to collect as bad. We have only had to drain her on
her side about 2 times in 2 months. She is holding her mouth
more closed during the day. At night she puts her right leg out on
her own, most nights. She does sit to stand transfers with me.
July 5, 2006
Amber-
Mom had a great session with both of her therapist. Bryan, the
PT, came first. Mom was responding to him well. They practiced
sitting balance on the mat. He first did a sit to stand transfer to
the mat. He told mom it was the best ever. He keeps seeing how
much she is getting. Every other sessions he says it is her best
or strongest ever. She sat up and lifted her head each time he
asked her. Again he was not holding on to her. He had to touch
her hips to apply some pressure to remind her if she leaned back,
otherwise she did it on her own. OT came in as they were sitting
on the mat. She was thrilled to see how great mom was doing. I
transferred mom back into the chair and the 3 of us worked on the
hand bike. We put her right hand on it and she started going
round and round on her own. Her hand would come off after 3
turns and we helped her put it back on. If we lifted her elbow she
would put he hand on it almost by herself. She did good. She
only wanted to go around a few times and stop, then start over. It
was very clear that she is getting stronger and that she knew
exactly what to do. Her movement was calm and smooth. The
entire time Susanne was excited and telling mom how strong she
is getting and how proud she is. Bryan was very excited to during
his session. He told mom several times she is doing great and
working hard. He also told her how much she is improving and
had a big smile. Mom seemed proud and happy. She is working
very hard. She did not get tired after these sessions.
Jerrall-
Debbie had a good night but was awake at 5 am. I gave Deb 240
cc water and formula and Deb went back to sleep with no extra
meds. When I woke up I was in Debbie’s bed and I had Deb lying
on her side. Note: Debbie has not had 2 of her prescribed
sleeping meds for the last two weeks. It is not that the meds are
the issue, it is at what point of recovery do meds need adjusted.
As Debbie can participate more and more in therapy I find that
some meds can keep Deb from focusing on what she is trying to
do in therapy. Debbie has to actually relearn how to think again.
I do not want to reinvent the wheel I find talking to Brain Injury
Survivors and following in there path reduces the amount of time
wasted in therapy or Debbie’s time. This morning Debbie and I
signed papers to have a Brain Injury case manager come up with
a plan of care for the near future. Not everyone can have a case
manager but when recovery begins to make progress time is the
issue.
Today has been one of the calmest days I have every seen even
with med reduction. The swelling in Debbie’s left eye lid is better
Deb can see a little bit more the eye lid is closed only 2/3 the way.
With time maybe the doc can open the eye lid even more. The
issue is the eye lid not the vision in Deb’s left eye.
July 4, 2006
Jerrall-
Last night was a great night for Debbie, a shower, average time to
go to sleep, had to change Deb’s depends twice; Deb had a
suction canister half full, no extra meds and Amber woke us up at
9 am. All of this might sound like a lot or a long night but it could
be worse. I am so lucky to spend this time with Debbie.
Today Deb, Amber, Krystal and I went to the mall today for about
three hours. Krystal had her eye exam, Amber wanted to make a
return and Debbie and I were glad to get out of the house. We all
had lunch at the atrium. It is not often we are all together at the
same time. Tonight Amber and Krystal are with there friends to
see the fireworks. Deb and I have learned it works best for us to
watch the fireworks on TV without the traffic.
Is there a day when you can always remember where you were?
The 4th of July is one of those days for me.
2003 Debbie was an inpatient at rehab and was still coming out of
a coma. It had been 3 mouths after the accident. I would get
Debbie to bed and then come home to spend the nights with
Amber and Krystal. Debbie was still having storming issues and
the nurses would say you have been here since 6 am go get some
sleep tomorrow will be here before you know it. Later this mouth
Debbie started to wake up more and knew who I was but not
where she was. One night Debbie’s pulse went up to 150 and
Debbie was taken to get a cat scan to see if a blood clot had went
to her lungs. From that night on I slept on the floor next to
Debbie’s hospital bed every night. At this point of recovery
Debbie did not open her left eye.
2004 Debbie was at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina watching the
fireworks from the Balcony of the hotel. Krystal and I shot mortars
over the ocean for more than two hours. Debbie did not want to
go in when Amber tried to get her wheelchair thought the door.
At this point of recovery Debbie was still not awake everyday.
Debbie’s Baclofen level was so high she was paralyzed to the
point she could not set up on her own. All of Debbie’s therapist
had discharged her and I saw Debbie getting weaker everyday.
Debbie is needing more suction everyday, I am glad to see the
next morning come.
2005 Debbie went to the Smokey Mountains for two days the first
time since the accident and we came back on the fourth so the
girls could see them with there friends. Debbie was not breathing
very well so we stayed home to watch the fireworks on TV. But
after 10 minutes Debbie fell asleep and I took her to bed. At this
point of recovery Debbie was not awake everyday and sometimes
would not go to sleep for two days at a time. Not the doctor, but I
had the baclofen level lowered and other meds reduced and
Debbie started to come back to life. Still Debbie was not with us
everyday so she still did not have any therapy. A couple of weeks
later we move from the lake to the middle of Charlotte and in with
Amber.
2006 Debbie and I stayed home and watched the fireworks on the
TV by choice. Today Debbie is with us everyday and has PT,OT,
and Speech therapy 2 times every week for the last 7 mouths.
Instead of Debbie needing a hoyer lift Debbie is putting her right
foot down and helping with transfers. Helping to get dressed and
control her right hand more. Debbie is still having trouble with
speech because of the tremors in her mouth and tongue. The
tremors are getting better and Debbie has come so far since 2003
who can say what the next fourth will bring. Also Debbie’s cough
is getting stronger and not needing suction as often. I am still so
lucky to have this time with Debbie it is funny what is really
important in life and what you can not learn from books.
July 2, 2006
Jerrall- Sunday
Debbie woke up at 5:30 am and I got to sleep at 4:30 am. So
something has to give. So I gave Deb a can of formula just in
case Deb is hungry. Then I got in bed with Debbie and held on so
see knew she was not alone. Debbie let me sleep off and on for 3
more hours. Today was a quite day and at times Debbie was wild.
Not once have I seen Deb reach out to touch her left eye but I can
tell by the way her purple is moving under her eye lid. This will
take some time for everyone to get used. Debbie is keeping her
right eye open more and not throwing her eye glasses on the
floor. Also I watch Debbie even when she. Hard day. Tonight it
took a ½ hour for the meds to work.
July 1, 2006 - Sunday
Jerrall-
Debbie woke up at 5:30 am and I got to sleep at 4:30 am. So
something has to give. So I gave Deb a can of formula just in
case Deb is hungry. Then I got in bed with Debbie and held on so
see knew she was not alone. Debbie let me sleep off and on for 3
more hours. Today was a quite day and at times Debbie was wild.
Not once have I seen Deb reach out to touch her left eye but I can
tell by the way her purple is moving under her eye lid. This will
take some time for everyone to get used. Debbie is keeping her
right eye open more and not throwing her eye glasses on the
floor. Also I watch Debbie even when she. Hard day. Tonight it
took a ½ hour for the meds to work.
Jerrall-
Last night started ok, Deb slept 11:30 pm to 1 am and then the
saliva issue started. I only got to sleep 1 ½ hours. All night Deb’s
throat needed cleaned. At 5:30 am I asked Amber to watch Debbie
but she said she was too tired also. Some how I had to made it
until 9:30 am, when Amber took over. This is another day I lost.
When I got up this afternoon Amber helped me give Deb a shower
before she left for the weekend. Today Debbie reached out for
my arm this is a first since her surgery. There was no reason to
get in a hurry to go to bed and Debbie not be able to go to sleep.
Deb and I worked on the mat for a while then watch TV and then
back on the mat. At 12:30 am I took Deb to bed and she was really
jumping I do not know if she was scared or in pain or what was
going on. I just knew the meds I was getting ready to give Debbie
would take a way all of the jumping and also take Debbie’s
cogitation away. Still we would get thru the next ½ hour. Just
talking to Debbie softly and slowly just like tell her a bed time
story calmed Debbie down until the meds worked.
