Monday, December 31, 2007
First Therapy Session at New Place
I am happy to report that David felt really good about his first therapy session at his new place. Neither of us were expecting that he would, but he came home very pleased and hopeful. Thanks for your prayers!
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Prayer Request
Hi - Heidi again - the wheels are turning, however slowly. David has an appointment to go in for testing (heart MRI) mid-January in Sacramento. We will consult with the heart surgeon at some point after those results are read, but not, unfortunately, on the same day. At least things are finally coming about.
We are at a fork in the road with his therapy. We were so grateful that he was able to stay with English Oaks as an outpatient, which was an answer to prayer - genuinely a miracle, as that is something that is just never allowed by insurance. At this point, however, insurance requires that he move on. I can tell that David is concerned. From what we have heard other places in the area focus on orthopedic rather than neurological issues, but David needs therapy focused on neurological issues. He is not in therapy because of a hip replacement or a knee replacement or a sports injury. He's had a stroke. We are concerned that his future care, no matter how good, may just not be directed at the right thing.
His physical therapists at English Oaks were able to address the neurological issues very specifically, and they knew him and his needs so well from having worked with him for 5 weeks, that it was an ideal situation. He had been going in 3 days a week for 3 hours at a time working with two therapists, one for occupational therapy, one for physical therapy. His last session there was this past Monday; he begins at the new place this coming Monday (Jan. 31). I'm not sure how many days a week he will be going, but he will only have 45 minutes of therapy each time he goes in, and it will be exclusively (or almost exclusively) physical therapy.
At this point in his progress, things have really slowed down simply because he's already made the giant leaps forward - moving, standing, walking. He continues to make progress, but it is in fine increments. It was so much more encouraging for him early on to SEE such significant progress daily. As everyone who sees him says, "If I didn't know he'd had a stroke, I'd never know there was anything wrong," and it's true, but there is a lot he is yet missing, especially in terms of sensation and fine motor skills, and he'd sure like to get it all back if he can. He cannot yet run, and he IS a runner. He'd sure like to get that back, but it's not just a matter of trying hard or exercising a lot; his brain needs to be rewired to once again be able to tell his body how to do that, because the brain cells that used to know how to do that died.
Some of the little things get reasonably significant too, especially if alone - such things as buttoning his right sleeve cuff or clipping his fingernails (no can do!) or cutting fruit or vegetables - trying to hold the object in the appropriate position for cutting without cutting fingers off at the same time!
I need to add here that as he and I were talking last night he said, "I know I'm OK, and if this is as much as I get, I can live with that." And I know he could, but . . .
We are praying that this move he has to make will not cause him to lose ground or stall his progress but that someone there will have interest in and training for working specifically on the neurological aspects of physical therapy. David has worked so hard; we sure don't want to just settle for something less than full recovery when it could be a full recovery.
We are at a fork in the road with his therapy. We were so grateful that he was able to stay with English Oaks as an outpatient, which was an answer to prayer - genuinely a miracle, as that is something that is just never allowed by insurance. At this point, however, insurance requires that he move on. I can tell that David is concerned. From what we have heard other places in the area focus on orthopedic rather than neurological issues, but David needs therapy focused on neurological issues. He is not in therapy because of a hip replacement or a knee replacement or a sports injury. He's had a stroke. We are concerned that his future care, no matter how good, may just not be directed at the right thing.
His physical therapists at English Oaks were able to address the neurological issues very specifically, and they knew him and his needs so well from having worked with him for 5 weeks, that it was an ideal situation. He had been going in 3 days a week for 3 hours at a time working with two therapists, one for occupational therapy, one for physical therapy. His last session there was this past Monday; he begins at the new place this coming Monday (Jan. 31). I'm not sure how many days a week he will be going, but he will only have 45 minutes of therapy each time he goes in, and it will be exclusively (or almost exclusively) physical therapy.
At this point in his progress, things have really slowed down simply because he's already made the giant leaps forward - moving, standing, walking. He continues to make progress, but it is in fine increments. It was so much more encouraging for him early on to SEE such significant progress daily. As everyone who sees him says, "If I didn't know he'd had a stroke, I'd never know there was anything wrong," and it's true, but there is a lot he is yet missing, especially in terms of sensation and fine motor skills, and he'd sure like to get it all back if he can. He cannot yet run, and he IS a runner. He'd sure like to get that back, but it's not just a matter of trying hard or exercising a lot; his brain needs to be rewired to once again be able to tell his body how to do that, because the brain cells that used to know how to do that died.
Some of the little things get reasonably significant too, especially if alone - such things as buttoning his right sleeve cuff or clipping his fingernails (no can do!) or cutting fruit or vegetables - trying to hold the object in the appropriate position for cutting without cutting fingers off at the same time!
I need to add here that as he and I were talking last night he said, "I know I'm OK, and if this is as much as I get, I can live with that." And I know he could, but . . .
We are praying that this move he has to make will not cause him to lose ground or stall his progress but that someone there will have interest in and training for working specifically on the neurological aspects of physical therapy. David has worked so hard; we sure don't want to just settle for something less than full recovery when it could be a full recovery.
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Thanks from David
Heidi was good enough to give me a brief lesson on blogging so that I could post a message of my own for Christmas Day.
I want to take this opportunity to say "Thank You!" to the many people out there who have shown such incredible love and support to me and my family over the last 7 1/2 weeks. You have been so amazing! From visits, to cards, to phone calls, to prayers, to meals, to groceries, to loads of laundry, to pages on the prayer pager, to rides to school for our kids, to yard work, to lending a book, to flowers, to cookies, to encouraging scripture passages, to help with automotive issues, to following my progress on Heidi's Blog, I cannot thank you enough. I have felt so incredibly loved and supported by all of you.
Heidi has kept you updated on so many of the milestones of my progress over the weeks, now I would like to share one with you myself. Sunday morning as I was getting dressed for church, I was able to step into my pants without leaning on anything for support. That may seem like a strange thing to consider as a milestone, but you might be amazed by the many small things that I have taken for granted for so long, that have now become big goals on my road to healing. Balance has been a huge issue to relearn from the start, and it is so exciting to see it returning.
Monday was my last day of therapy at English Oaks. Part of occupational therapy was spent reassessing my progress. One of the tasks I was asked to perform was to balance on one foot, first on the right and then on the left. What an eye opener this was for me. Once again I was amazed at the things I have taken fore granted for so long. The only way to explain this is to have you try this task yourself. Will you take a moment to do this for me? Take off your shoe and try standing on one foot. Either one will do. As you balance there for 10 seconds or more, really pay attention to what is happening on the bottom of your foot. Can you feel the muscles on the left and the right working together to keep you from toppling over? Can you feel the toes sensing when they need to do their work of preventing you from going too far forward? Do you realize all of the messages that are automatically being transferred back and forth from foot to brain and back again to make this possible? Wow! Our feet do that automatically! Isn't that incredible? Right now, my right foot does all of these things very well, but I realized during my assessment, that my left foot has a long way to go yet. It pretty much tips from side to side as my body starts to tilt in one direction or another, but the bottom of my foot cannot fully sense all that is going on, and the muscles and toes don't quite know how or when to do their part. It is going to be exciting to see what kind of improvement may come as this foot continues to come back to life.
Well, what I really wanted to say through all of this is that we have an amazing God. He is the God of my foot and the God of the universe. He is the God who heals and the God who saves. On this Christmas day, I want to remind you that this God can not only make a paralysed man walk, but he can also forgive all of his sins. Celebrate God's goodness today in the gift of His son, Jesus. He is so deserving of our thanks!
I want to take this opportunity to say "Thank You!" to the many people out there who have shown such incredible love and support to me and my family over the last 7 1/2 weeks. You have been so amazing! From visits, to cards, to phone calls, to prayers, to meals, to groceries, to loads of laundry, to pages on the prayer pager, to rides to school for our kids, to yard work, to lending a book, to flowers, to cookies, to encouraging scripture passages, to help with automotive issues, to following my progress on Heidi's Blog, I cannot thank you enough. I have felt so incredibly loved and supported by all of you.
Heidi has kept you updated on so many of the milestones of my progress over the weeks, now I would like to share one with you myself. Sunday morning as I was getting dressed for church, I was able to step into my pants without leaning on anything for support. That may seem like a strange thing to consider as a milestone, but you might be amazed by the many small things that I have taken for granted for so long, that have now become big goals on my road to healing. Balance has been a huge issue to relearn from the start, and it is so exciting to see it returning.
Monday was my last day of therapy at English Oaks. Part of occupational therapy was spent reassessing my progress. One of the tasks I was asked to perform was to balance on one foot, first on the right and then on the left. What an eye opener this was for me. Once again I was amazed at the things I have taken fore granted for so long. The only way to explain this is to have you try this task yourself. Will you take a moment to do this for me? Take off your shoe and try standing on one foot. Either one will do. As you balance there for 10 seconds or more, really pay attention to what is happening on the bottom of your foot. Can you feel the muscles on the left and the right working together to keep you from toppling over? Can you feel the toes sensing when they need to do their work of preventing you from going too far forward? Do you realize all of the messages that are automatically being transferred back and forth from foot to brain and back again to make this possible? Wow! Our feet do that automatically! Isn't that incredible? Right now, my right foot does all of these things very well, but I realized during my assessment, that my left foot has a long way to go yet. It pretty much tips from side to side as my body starts to tilt in one direction or another, but the bottom of my foot cannot fully sense all that is going on, and the muscles and toes don't quite know how or when to do their part. It is going to be exciting to see what kind of improvement may come as this foot continues to come back to life.
Well, what I really wanted to say through all of this is that we have an amazing God. He is the God of my foot and the God of the universe. He is the God who heals and the God who saves. On this Christmas day, I want to remind you that this God can not only make a paralysed man walk, but he can also forgive all of his sins. Celebrate God's goodness today in the gift of His son, Jesus. He is so deserving of our thanks!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
AH-HA!
I've been a little suspicious, and as certain "therapy" instruments continue to enter our home (like a "quarterstaff"?!?!), I've been wondering if David actually had a stroke or if he'd been drawn in by some secret organization to be trained as a ninja and had to simulate a stroke in order to enter the training program undetected.
My suspicions have been confirmed as can be seen in these photos.
My suspicions have been confirmed as can be seen in these photos.
Notice how this second photo was damaged in the explosion they used to try to stop me as I escaped the top secret security room in the facility after my exploratory mission!
Sorry, David, your cover is blown!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Quick Update on David
After his therapy today David told me that as he makes progress he feels more and more "tipsy." When he told his PTs that this morning they said that was a good thing that he's sensing that, because it shows a growing alertness. We just keep learning as we go! Who knew?!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Commandeering by Caleb
Well, this isn't technically about David, but it IS about his physical therapy equipment. Never one to miss an opportunity for invention, Caleb has taken these items (elastic bands and exercise balls) and commandeered it for a whole new use!
Ever heard of a "trebuchet?" Well, this isn't one, but it is the biggest slingshot I ever want to see in my house!!
Water skiing without the water?!
Friday, December 14, 2007
Adjustment Phase
David has been home for 15 days now. After all the warnings we had gotten from medical personel about how hard the adjustment to being home would be for David (and the rest of us), I was rather concerned. I'd anticipated a bit but not to the extent they were expecting for us, so we just all got ready for any eventuality.
What a lovely surprise to have it go so very well instead of poorly!
I should have been tipped off when, before David left, one of the physical therapists asked David if he was used to "ruling with an iron fist." I think what he was getting at is that after a month the boys would be used to not being under Dad's authority. That may be true in other cases, but this PT clearly doesn't know the GENTLY firm, incredibly nurturing and fun father David is, nor does he know how easy-going our boys are. And I sure haven't had any "control issue" problems in terms of giving up being the sole parent and "sharing" the parental role with David again!
For David I am seeing ONE THING has been hard, though, and, from what I'm observing, is getting harder by the day. David is generally ALWAYS in good spirits, but he's started looking to me to be quite depressed. When I ask him about it he says he doesn't think he's depressed but maybe he looks as he does because it's really bothering him that his left hand just can't feel things and his left foot feels like a two-by-four. It's not feeling any WORSE than it had, but I think there are two things that are making it harder than it had been up to this point. One is that in the hospital he expected to not feel quite right, but now that he is home this situation stands out to him more and more with each thing he tries to do.
The second thing that I see as making this hard for him is that he made such quick progress at the beginning; although he had a lot to get back and it took time, he could see dramatic improvement daily. This piece of it, though, just won't budge. He said to me last night, "I can go to therapy and do exercises to regain strength and balance, but how do you work at getting feeling back in your hand or making your foot stop feeling like a two-by-four?" He IS working VERY hard both during therapy sessions and at exercises they give him to do at home, but no matter how hard he works, this is something he just can't get at.
So, as I keep saying in these posts, overall the news is good - very good. The transition home has been a simple one instead of the difficult one that we had been told it would be. Yet there remain challenges. Would you please pray that David is able to get his hand and foot back as "his own" and in the meantime that God will lift his spirits and give him continued patience? Thank you!
What a lovely surprise to have it go so very well instead of poorly!
I should have been tipped off when, before David left, one of the physical therapists asked David if he was used to "ruling with an iron fist." I think what he was getting at is that after a month the boys would be used to not being under Dad's authority. That may be true in other cases, but this PT clearly doesn't know the GENTLY firm, incredibly nurturing and fun father David is, nor does he know how easy-going our boys are. And I sure haven't had any "control issue" problems in terms of giving up being the sole parent and "sharing" the parental role with David again!
For David I am seeing ONE THING has been hard, though, and, from what I'm observing, is getting harder by the day. David is generally ALWAYS in good spirits, but he's started looking to me to be quite depressed. When I ask him about it he says he doesn't think he's depressed but maybe he looks as he does because it's really bothering him that his left hand just can't feel things and his left foot feels like a two-by-four. It's not feeling any WORSE than it had, but I think there are two things that are making it harder than it had been up to this point. One is that in the hospital he expected to not feel quite right, but now that he is home this situation stands out to him more and more with each thing he tries to do.
The second thing that I see as making this hard for him is that he made such quick progress at the beginning; although he had a lot to get back and it took time, he could see dramatic improvement daily. This piece of it, though, just won't budge. He said to me last night, "I can go to therapy and do exercises to regain strength and balance, but how do you work at getting feeling back in your hand or making your foot stop feeling like a two-by-four?" He IS working VERY hard both during therapy sessions and at exercises they give him to do at home, but no matter how hard he works, this is something he just can't get at.
So, as I keep saying in these posts, overall the news is good - very good. The transition home has been a simple one instead of the difficult one that we had been told it would be. Yet there remain challenges. Would you please pray that David is able to get his hand and foot back as "his own" and in the meantime that God will lift his spirits and give him continued patience? Thank you!
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Look (OUT) Who's Driving!
Earlier I shared the "Look Who's Walking" poster that English Oaks put up about David's progress.
This morning David DROVE to church, and I was asked why I had not shared THAT news, so I guess it is time for the "Look Who's Driving" update! (He's progressing so fast I can hardly keep up!)
Yes, David is once again on the roads - LOOK OUT! - just kidding. :-)
We had a lot of conflicting advice about this. One PT advised not doing so for a month or two, but the neurologist had told him to just try on a quiet street and see how it went. He is in no danger of seizure activity, and the Coumadin is protecting him from another stroke, so the only issue is whether his body is going to cooperate with him, whether his awareness of all sides is intact and if his response time is appropriate (given that his brain is busy with trying to reintegrate his left side). Well, it looks like we have all systems go in those categories, so he's back behind the wheel as of this past Friday - first time on the highway this morning.
Not only is he driving a car, but, what I think is more amazing because it involves balance, is that he is RIDING A BIKE! We went for a family bike ride yesterday. YEA!
In other good news he is also walking without a cane!
He is still wearing an AFO (brace). He walks with a pronounced limp and yet has to be careful, but he's doing great! We're so glad he is still under the guidance of physical therapists, however. On Friday one of them decided it was time for David, the runner, to try sprinting. David tried, and he promptly fell down - well, nearly - the physical therapist caught him before he hit the floor. He tried to take off sprinting, but his left leg was totally clueless and didn't cooperate.
They work him hard, and he comes home exhausted and sore but grateful.
It's a bit tough to know where the boundaries are between what he can do and what he cannot do.
While he was talking with a friend this morning at church he was using his hands to gesture as he spoke. He was talking about how tPA is the ONE drug that is effective for administration after stroke. To emphasize the word "one" he lifted his left hand to stick out his index finger and TWO fingers, rather than one, extended. We all had a good laugh. David is very able to laugh at himself.
The BIG PICURE is GREAT, but there are things that are more difficult to describe that remain frustrating. Whenever David's body shifts position while sleeping it wakes him up, because there is just something so different about that left side.
There are a lot of things he can't hold quite right that cause some problems. For instance, when we were washing dishes together last night he was holing the metal lid of a frying pan in his left hand, and the lip of it was cutting into his hand, because he cannot figure out how to hold things. He can hold it. He can see what he is doing. It comes absolutely naturally on his right side, with no thought. But he just can't get his left hand to do it quite the right way.
He also has a tendency to drop things.
One piece of his homework is having someone put a block in his left hand while he is not looking; he then needs to identify the shape of the block, triangular, cylindrical, etc. It is nearly impossible for him to tell the shape; in fact, it's nearly impossible for him to tell there IS something in his hand at all if he is not looking. Caleb was really messing with David the other night by putting the same shape in David's hand over and over (David, of course, assuming it would be different each time, thus making different guesses). Caleb would also mess with him by putting two blocks in his hand rather than one, and David could not tell that this was the case.
There are uncomfortable sensation issues too. We wanted to go to a movie as a family yesterday, but David could not go, because it is far too uncomfortable for him to even consider doing such a thing. He feels this very strong discomfort when trying to sit in a movie theater or when trying to sit in church. His arm still kind of does its own thing if he is not consciously moving it or looking at it, and the sensation he has in it is such that if it is against the back of a pew or seat it's extremely irritating.
I'm not explaining this well. I don't understand it well. I'm not sure David could explain it well either were he writing.
I'm writing in so much detail, because people are asking and want to know, and I'm being told I'm being derelict in my duty, so there you go - lots of details! :-) Thank you for wanting to know! Thank you so much for caring so deeply! We remain aware of what yet is not right, but mostly we are just so grateful he is making the progress he is - that he can move, that he has strength, that he CAN walk, that he CAN drive, that he can BIKE, that he is at a point where the PT would even suggest TRYING a sprint!
One of the passages mentioned in church this morning was about the paralytic that Jesus healed by telling him to take up his bed and walk. That passage hit us so strongly today in a way it never had before. What hit us was not what normally would capture our attention, the fact that Jesus healed him; that is, Jesus allowed whatever was wrong with his body to be healed. What hit us this morning was the fact that AS SOON AS HE WAS HEALED HE GOT UP AND WALKED. The second issue of the learning to walk was also immediately taken care of. We consider David's healing miraculous. He has been recovering well ever since being given tPA on November 2, but we have seen how long recovery and relearning after paralysis can take (and we're told David is progressing quickly!). When Jesus healed the paralytic, the man just got up, picked up his mat, and walked home right then! No walker, no cane, no brace, no relearning - just straight from paralysis to walking. WOW!
OK, now I need to get back to my OTHER writing. The finish line of MY individual piece of this autumn marathon is in sight (OK, maybe I shouldn't push the metaphor so far!). I'm finding, however, that the finishing kick is like "Heartbreak Hill" in the Boston Marathon. I was up until 2:30am last night (this morning) working on a paper, nowhere near the end . . . will spare you the rest of the details of what yet remains in my race to the finish line at this point but rather will just get back to running this part of my race now.
On the one hand I'm so grateful David encouraged me to finish, but . . . this was hard enough without trying to do it with my mind divided in its focus and without having to play catch-up after falling behind. I'll be much more grateful a week from today.
All of us are SO eager for the quieter times together as a family that, God willing, are coming soon.
This morning David DROVE to church, and I was asked why I had not shared THAT news, so I guess it is time for the "Look Who's Driving" update! (He's progressing so fast I can hardly keep up!)
Yes, David is once again on the roads - LOOK OUT! - just kidding. :-)
We had a lot of conflicting advice about this. One PT advised not doing so for a month or two, but the neurologist had told him to just try on a quiet street and see how it went. He is in no danger of seizure activity, and the Coumadin is protecting him from another stroke, so the only issue is whether his body is going to cooperate with him, whether his awareness of all sides is intact and if his response time is appropriate (given that his brain is busy with trying to reintegrate his left side). Well, it looks like we have all systems go in those categories, so he's back behind the wheel as of this past Friday - first time on the highway this morning.
Not only is he driving a car, but, what I think is more amazing because it involves balance, is that he is RIDING A BIKE! We went for a family bike ride yesterday. YEA!
In other good news he is also walking without a cane!
He is still wearing an AFO (brace). He walks with a pronounced limp and yet has to be careful, but he's doing great! We're so glad he is still under the guidance of physical therapists, however. On Friday one of them decided it was time for David, the runner, to try sprinting. David tried, and he promptly fell down - well, nearly - the physical therapist caught him before he hit the floor. He tried to take off sprinting, but his left leg was totally clueless and didn't cooperate.
They work him hard, and he comes home exhausted and sore but grateful.
It's a bit tough to know where the boundaries are between what he can do and what he cannot do.
While he was talking with a friend this morning at church he was using his hands to gesture as he spoke. He was talking about how tPA is the ONE drug that is effective for administration after stroke. To emphasize the word "one" he lifted his left hand to stick out his index finger and TWO fingers, rather than one, extended. We all had a good laugh. David is very able to laugh at himself.
The BIG PICURE is GREAT, but there are things that are more difficult to describe that remain frustrating. Whenever David's body shifts position while sleeping it wakes him up, because there is just something so different about that left side.
There are a lot of things he can't hold quite right that cause some problems. For instance, when we were washing dishes together last night he was holing the metal lid of a frying pan in his left hand, and the lip of it was cutting into his hand, because he cannot figure out how to hold things. He can hold it. He can see what he is doing. It comes absolutely naturally on his right side, with no thought. But he just can't get his left hand to do it quite the right way.
He also has a tendency to drop things.
One piece of his homework is having someone put a block in his left hand while he is not looking; he then needs to identify the shape of the block, triangular, cylindrical, etc. It is nearly impossible for him to tell the shape; in fact, it's nearly impossible for him to tell there IS something in his hand at all if he is not looking. Caleb was really messing with David the other night by putting the same shape in David's hand over and over (David, of course, assuming it would be different each time, thus making different guesses). Caleb would also mess with him by putting two blocks in his hand rather than one, and David could not tell that this was the case.
There are uncomfortable sensation issues too. We wanted to go to a movie as a family yesterday, but David could not go, because it is far too uncomfortable for him to even consider doing such a thing. He feels this very strong discomfort when trying to sit in a movie theater or when trying to sit in church. His arm still kind of does its own thing if he is not consciously moving it or looking at it, and the sensation he has in it is such that if it is against the back of a pew or seat it's extremely irritating.
I'm not explaining this well. I don't understand it well. I'm not sure David could explain it well either were he writing.
I'm writing in so much detail, because people are asking and want to know, and I'm being told I'm being derelict in my duty, so there you go - lots of details! :-) Thank you for wanting to know! Thank you so much for caring so deeply! We remain aware of what yet is not right, but mostly we are just so grateful he is making the progress he is - that he can move, that he has strength, that he CAN walk, that he CAN drive, that he can BIKE, that he is at a point where the PT would even suggest TRYING a sprint!
One of the passages mentioned in church this morning was about the paralytic that Jesus healed by telling him to take up his bed and walk. That passage hit us so strongly today in a way it never had before. What hit us was not what normally would capture our attention, the fact that Jesus healed him; that is, Jesus allowed whatever was wrong with his body to be healed. What hit us this morning was the fact that AS SOON AS HE WAS HEALED HE GOT UP AND WALKED. The second issue of the learning to walk was also immediately taken care of. We consider David's healing miraculous. He has been recovering well ever since being given tPA on November 2, but we have seen how long recovery and relearning after paralysis can take (and we're told David is progressing quickly!). When Jesus healed the paralytic, the man just got up, picked up his mat, and walked home right then! No walker, no cane, no brace, no relearning - just straight from paralysis to walking. WOW!
OK, now I need to get back to my OTHER writing. The finish line of MY individual piece of this autumn marathon is in sight (OK, maybe I shouldn't push the metaphor so far!). I'm finding, however, that the finishing kick is like "Heartbreak Hill" in the Boston Marathon. I was up until 2:30am last night (this morning) working on a paper, nowhere near the end . . . will spare you the rest of the details of what yet remains in my race to the finish line at this point but rather will just get back to running this part of my race now.
On the one hand I'm so grateful David encouraged me to finish, but . . . this was hard enough without trying to do it with my mind divided in its focus and without having to play catch-up after falling behind. I'll be much more grateful a week from today.
All of us are SO eager for the quieter times together as a family that, God willing, are coming soon.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Dan's Visit
As we knew it would be, Dan's visit was both helpful and FUN! Here are the brothers (Dan and David) AND the brothers (Caleb, Anthony, and Jacob). Thanks so much for your visit Dan!!
(For more pictures click here.)
Update
Yea! David's brother Dan arrived yesterday (Monday, December 3) from Baltimore! It is so good to see him and to have him living with us for a few days to help us as David is in his first week home and going to outpatient physical therapy and other appointments (and not yet driving) and as I am finishing off this particularly busy semester.
The one and only problem with having Dan here is that he is TOO MUCH FUN, and I just want to hang out instead of focusing on my work! It doesn't help matters that he is moving to Singapore just days after leaving here, so since I'm not sure when I will see him again I want to visit all the more!
Ah well, such is this season of life.
David finally got to see his primary care physician this morning. It is good to have a single person now interpreting the (seemingly?) conflicting information we've been getting from various specialists. This consolidation feels good, and it feels more like we have a definite plan we will be following - and someone who will explain WHY we are following the plan we are following.
The plan is for us to consult with a cardiac surgeon from Sacramento within the next 2 to 3 weeks and depending on how that goes to then possibly head to UCSF for a second opinion. Surgery will not take place for another 3 to 4 months, because there is a chance that there are still clots in David's heart that could be dislodged. He needs to be on Coumadin long enough to make sure any remaining clots have time to break up. His blood levels are not yet fully stable and need continued monitoring. At this point he will be going in once a week for a blood test. David is going to physical therapy 3 days a week, working with two different therapists, one for occupational therapy, and one for physical therapy.
David is not yet back at work (although he's doing a few things from home). He's eagerly hoping to get back to work one or two days a week (in between physical therapy days) when he begins driving again.
As I was writing this he commented that his foot feels heavy and cumbersome; then he added, "But I can walk!"
The one and only problem with having Dan here is that he is TOO MUCH FUN, and I just want to hang out instead of focusing on my work! It doesn't help matters that he is moving to Singapore just days after leaving here, so since I'm not sure when I will see him again I want to visit all the more!
Ah well, such is this season of life.
David finally got to see his primary care physician this morning. It is good to have a single person now interpreting the (seemingly?) conflicting information we've been getting from various specialists. This consolidation feels good, and it feels more like we have a definite plan we will be following - and someone who will explain WHY we are following the plan we are following.
The plan is for us to consult with a cardiac surgeon from Sacramento within the next 2 to 3 weeks and depending on how that goes to then possibly head to UCSF for a second opinion. Surgery will not take place for another 3 to 4 months, because there is a chance that there are still clots in David's heart that could be dislodged. He needs to be on Coumadin long enough to make sure any remaining clots have time to break up. His blood levels are not yet fully stable and need continued monitoring. At this point he will be going in once a week for a blood test. David is going to physical therapy 3 days a week, working with two different therapists, one for occupational therapy, and one for physical therapy.
David is not yet back at work (although he's doing a few things from home). He's eagerly hoping to get back to work one or two days a week (in between physical therapy days) when he begins driving again.
As I was writing this he commented that his foot feels heavy and cumbersome; then he added, "But I can walk!"
Wall of Fame
On the wall of English Oaks is a poster featuring David and his story. I thought I would post it here as well. It's part of their "Look Who's Walking" series.
English Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation Center is proud to announce a success story! Mr. David Meyer came to English Oaks from Memorial Hospital on November 11, 2007 after suffering a CVA. Being a marathon runner he redirected his determination and energy into long hours of rehabilitation! He has progressed to using a single point cane at the time of discharge. He will be returning to his wife and three sons upon discharge and eventually to his teaching job at Hickman Charter School. Mr. Meyer remarked that "God is good" and also spoke of how grateful he is to Earl and Jason for all their guidance as therapists! He will continue to work with both of them during his outpatient therapy.English Oaks Nursing and Rehabilitation strives to provide a caring and loving atmosphere for those in need of a healing environment. Our staff works hard to promote the best outcome for our patients.
Generations Healthcare is committed to excellence. Over 85% of patients who complete our rehab program are discharged to the community level.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Introduction and Link to Previous Posts
On November 2, 2007, my husband David had a major stroke that initially left him paralyzed on his left side. Had tPA not been administered in ER within the 3 hour window of the onset of his stroke, he would have remained paralyzed. He was hospitalized for 4 weeks, and my main blog went from being "Mostly Poetry" to being ALL DAVID, and with good reason!
David is now home and doing well - still has quite a path in front of him in terms of physical therapy in order to regain full use of his left side and in terms of fixing previously undetected heart issues which we have learned caused this healthy marathon running man to have a stroke at age 42.
I'm not sure whether life has shifted to a more normal state or if we are just getting used to this being normal. We are just doing what we can to make it as normal as possible. Part of bringing back some normalcy for me is going back to putting other things up on my main blog, things I normally post about: poetry, lists, pictures, other family news, thoughts, quotes and so on.
I know that people from all aspects of our lives and David's life have been checking my blog specifically to check in on him, so I am making a page just for David. I will continue to post updates to my main page also, but this way people that JUST want to check up on David and not have to wade through poetry or any other such thing as they search for updates can just come straight here.
Here is the link to all the posts during David's hospitalization:
ALL POSTS from David's Stroke and Hospitalization November 2007
Thanks for your care and concern for us. We have been and continue to be so strongly sustained through this time through the loving support and prayers that have been so graciously given to us.
David is now home and doing well - still has quite a path in front of him in terms of physical therapy in order to regain full use of his left side and in terms of fixing previously undetected heart issues which we have learned caused this healthy marathon running man to have a stroke at age 42.
I'm not sure whether life has shifted to a more normal state or if we are just getting used to this being normal. We are just doing what we can to make it as normal as possible. Part of bringing back some normalcy for me is going back to putting other things up on my main blog, things I normally post about: poetry, lists, pictures, other family news, thoughts, quotes and so on.
I know that people from all aspects of our lives and David's life have been checking my blog specifically to check in on him, so I am making a page just for David. I will continue to post updates to my main page also, but this way people that JUST want to check up on David and not have to wade through poetry or any other such thing as they search for updates can just come straight here.
Here is the link to all the posts during David's hospitalization:
ALL POSTS from David's Stroke and Hospitalization November 2007
Thanks for your care and concern for us. We have been and continue to be so strongly sustained through this time through the loving support and prayers that have been so graciously given to us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
