Today Dad can go outside in his new shoes. We've been experiencing heavy rain here in Los Angeles, with intermittent clearing. Right now it's cold and beautiful outside, and I can hardly wait for him to step outside and take a deep breath of that cold, clean air into his lungs. Can you imagine what that's going to do to his body after a month inside a hospital?!?
His plan for the day:
1. The therapy dog makes his rounds this morning.
2. I brought in his guitar.
3. Physical therapy (morning and afternoon).
4. The doctor makes his rounds today, and will evaluate the trach.
5. He wants to have a philosophical discussion with Father Gregory two beds down. I wonder what the Father will think of Dad?
He's starting to act for himself again: he took his pre-paid cell phone and called Verizon to add more minutes. He can start doing more and more on his own initiative.
He was asleep when I arrived this morning at 6:45AM. I sat by the bed and drank my coffee and read the newspaper until he woke up. What a great sight it was to see him sleeping. He says that he only slept fitfully, but it looked good to me.
Bob and Marilyn are coming on Saturday, and Tom and Maryanne are coming a week from Friday.
I brought home his iPod, which I'm charging now, and his sweatpants and blanket, which are in the washing machine. I'll bring all of those back to him this evening after yoga.
4 comments:
Outdoor air. Yippee. Was he able to walk ouside, or was this a wheelchair adventure?
Sleep is a wonderful thing. As he starts moving more, he will be more tired.
Did he play the guitar? That must have been therapeutic.
I had to chuckle when I read about your Dad thinking about "Truckin". And after hearing about all the coincidences with names, songs, C2 fractures, etc, I started to think about Disney's "It's A Small World After All".
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the trach can come out. If he's not using it, doesn't need it, and it's only another place that can get infected, I vote for removing it. All those in favor of removing the trach, raise their hand.
Cousin Carole
I agree -- it's just a nuisance. It's the last thing that connected him to those machines. All the IVs and wires and tubes are gone, and it will be a psychological boost to get it removed. In addition, I'd prefer that the would heal under their supervision rather than mine.
Have they stepped the size of the trach down at all? Usally they want to change it out to smaller and smaller sizes before removing it. It's possible it's already a small size. It will be wonderful when he can finally have that out.
Like the sneakers. Did he get out today?Did he get to talk with the father? Currious what that was like.
I got Friday the 1st off, so we should get down at a decent time.
See you all soon.
Maryanne
Hi Deb & Dick,
Jonny and I can't wait until you can step outside and breath fresh air. We are so looking forward to that time. I think after that magic moment, you'll heal even faster and your stamina will too. It would even be great for you to see the rainfall too. Are there lots of windows to look out? It sounds as though this is a great place for him. GREAT JOB DEB!!!!! Jonny & Laura Keep up the good work Dick!!!
Post a Comment