Thursday, February 27, 2014 6:30pm

OUR "NEW NORMAL" CONTINUES

We are still here and working on the "new normal" of our journey.  The past two weeks have been busy ones.  We have at least one appointment every day - John has physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy every Monday and Wednesday and there are doctor visits and various labs and tests other days.  We try very hard for John to get in a good, long nap each day and his energy is holding up pretty well.  There have been a couple "wipe out" days. 

John's eating is improving and he eats most things now.  His facial muscles continue to improve slowly, but he looks more like himself and has a nice smile now!  The eyes are still a problem although he is able to do more reading now.  We are eager for the appointment with the neuro-ophthalmologist tomorrow morning.  If John works real hard, he can blink and even close his eyes - well, mostly the right eye.


Elisa was here for three days last weekend.  It was a lot of fun and she was such a help to both of us. We got the last project done in the bathroom.  Of course, Elisa and Mom got a bit of shopping in, too. We all had a great outing to a nearby city park with a lake where we met three men who regularly sail their radio operated sailboats there.  They were generous with information and giving John a chance to try it out.  What a great hobby!  On Sunday we worshipped at Horizon Presbyterian Church where our friend Ron Hawkins in the pastor.  It is also our closest Presbyterian Church and my brother, Terry, and his wife, Julie, are charter members.  Here are a few photos of the nice times we had together.



























Yesterday was a big day.  John's physical therapist took us to the Sports and Fitness Center for Persons with Disabilities, a state-of-the-art facility right on our side of town.  Wow! It was just amazing and is a certified center for training for paralympics with gyms, pools, and exercise rooms and classes for people with all kinds of disabilities.  St. Joseph's Hospital has a grant program and John is qualifying for a one year membership for both of us.  We hope to get him 1-2 days of extra workouts to supplement his therapies in the Outpatient Rehab.  He is so determined to get stronger!

 

 

Last week, John finally saw the surgeon for his post-op follow-up for the leg amputation.  Good news: Dr. Motzkin was very pleased with the healing process and said he is ready for "weight bearing".  So, yesterday afternoon John had his first casting to begin making his first temporary prosthesis.  It was such a moving experience to realize after all these months, this process is finally underway.  Of course, he has a lot of strength-building to do before he is walking, but this is real progress.



We are just so grateful to be home together.  We love to sit on our back patio each evening and we look forward to sitting in the front courtyard when we have some mornings at home.  We have a great view of the mountains just down the street.  When you remember us in your prayers, please ask the Lord to continue to grant us the energy and endurance we need.  We are home and meeting each day's challenges.

Thursday, February 13, 2014 6:30am

JOHN IS HOME! PRAISE THE LORD!

John is home - happy and content!  John was just beaming in the car all the way! It was 110 days in the hospitals.  The staff was affectionate and encouraging as we left the Rehab Unit.  They were amazed and proud of his hard work and the great progress he made.  We will never be able to thank all the professional staff along the way who made this day possible.  And we are ever mindful and grateful for God's healing mercies and steadfastness. John has been outdoors each day and is acquiring his tan again. He wheels around the house a bit more smoothly each day. 

Whew! It has been a very busy six days.  We are so grateful that Paul was here for the first three days.  He and my family were here working hard to make necessary adaptations for the wheelchair.  They also brought food and merriment!  The ramp we purchased for the front doors was installed and works well.  Paul built another wooden ramp for the one step we have inside the house which allows John access to the dining table and straight to the back patio.  Paul and Terry took off all the framing on the bathroom door, installed a grab bar and new shower head on a long hose.  The bathroom is fully functional for John.  Paul raised John's lounge chair up 3" so he is able to "slide" from the wheelchair to the lounger.  Perfect!  Then Terry brought in seven 4'x8' sheets of a thin, hard wood and laid them on the floor so John could maneuver the wheelchair since the thick carpet made it very difficult.  The bed and bedroom work just fine.  John has no trouble sleeping!


Now I know why the nurses and nursing techs were so busy - there is a lot of maintenance to do in our days.  John and I are still working out the kinks and moving towards a routine.  It really takes awhile to get going in the mornings.  Taking a shower takes time, but our setup works out well. We still work to get the right medications taken at the right times by reading our list.  We need to remember to put in his eye drops every 2-3 hours - and we are still watching for improvement. Also, we are working our way through meal choices since John cannot eat everything.  The second day (while the family was at the table), John had a serious choking incident with lettuce.  It was left from the day before and the limp, stringy stuff just got stuck! No more salads for awhile.   Everything else is in small bites and eaten slowly.

John had an intake session with his new physical therapist at the Barrows Outpatient Rehab on Monday afternoon.  He is eager to get to work and will see her twice a week (although he would prefer every day, Medicare does not).  On Wednesday he had an intake with his new speech therapist and next Monday we will meet his occupational therapist.  Two days a week will be very busy and John will need to work steadily at home on exercises as well.  The PT predicts at least 3-4 months.
I have been busy scheduling follow-up appointments with various doctors.  We are eager to see a neurologist/ophthalmologist who specializes in cranial/facial issues.

We have been out and about.  We tackled Panda Express (John could eat the noodles) and WalMart (of all places!)  Those few hours were a whole day's energy.  On Valentine's Day we will tackle the movie theatre in the morning and then lunch out. 

Today 10:30am - John cleaning the front porch!

So, here is our life now.  John is determined and cheerful and getting stronger.  We are moving forward in a new normal although we know this one is temporary as he continues to heal and progress. Stay with us, dear friends and family, and keep praying.  And thanks once again for all the continuing cards and notes of encouragement 

Wednesday, February 5, 2014 9:30pm

LIFE IN REHAB IS WINDING DOWN or GEARING UP FOR HOME



Last Friday's retirement celebration was fantastic!  There were 25 people gathered in the hospital conference room/family room - most of them family and the others we consider family.  The biggest surprise was when Elisa, Stephen and the four kids walked in - just after driving from Utah!!  It was so wonderful! My sister made cupcakes and veggie tray; we had a little ice water and lemonade - all very stylishly served on the conference table and decorated with balloons.  John was out of his gym shorts and dressed for the occasion wearing his cargo shorts and customary black preaching shirt and cross.  There were good stories, funny moments, reading some greetings, and prayers of thanksgiving for John and his life and ministry as well as hope and belief in the future.  It was just the kind of event John wanted.  Just enough. 






Last Wednesday, John and I went on a recreational outing to the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden.  This is required therapy to experience going in the wheelchair on the bus, in public, dealing with a crowd, being "looked at" and feeling "different".  It was a perfectly beautiful afternoon and thoroughly enjoyable - but there were challenges.  Being in a wheelchair, unable to do little for yourself, is a very vulnerable feeling.  Being the spouse makes me very protective.  There was a special exhibit by Dale Chihuly - extraordinary, vibrant  works of blown glass art.  I hope you enjoy the pictures I have included.

The weekend was full of fun as we spent time with Elisa's family.  The kids were great when they visited Grandpa and had lunch in the dining room - they entertained everyone!  We had walks in the hospital Renewal Garden.  On Sunday we enjoyed attending Horizon Presbyterian where my brother and sister-in-law are members.  Their pastor, Ron Hawkins, has been a faithful and encouraging friend on weekly visits.  Stephen attended the Super Bowl Party at the rehab with John; Elisa and the kids and I enjoyed our time at home.

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Most of John's time and energy has been spent on building strength and skills for coming home.  Together we have accomplished the goals that were set - tomorrow we will get "tested" and signed off in the different areas.  This picture shows John "transferring" from the bed to the chair - a skill necessary for his mobility and self-care.  The transfer in and out of the car is the biggest challenge. He gets stronger and better at all of it everyday... so, friends and family, we approach the long-awaited day of discharge. 

John is coming home on Friday!  It has been 110 days since John arrived at the emergency room in Chandler.  I think the house is a ready as I can make it right now.  Paul arrives Thursday night and will help us through the weekend.  John knows well that there is still a long road of recovery and hard work ahead, but he is ready for it.  He will continue to work in therapy on an outpatient basis 2-3 times a week for many months.



Thanks for sticking by us - for holding John and me up in your prayers.  We felt each and every one of them.  We read and re-read your notes.  The Lord continues to be gracious and generous with his blessings.  We'll continue to post this blog as we continue the journey.