Bill, Wednesday July 31

The last day of July. Wow.

Here's an update from Ayn (soon after "C" & I left the hospital): "Speech pathologist just came by to deflate the trach. Bill got to have some grape ice chips. Everything looking good."

And a later addition: "Yes! More good news: they decided he no longer needs the constant tube feed and now will start hooking him up 5x per day instead"

Bill, Tuesday July 30

Smart Phone = Short Post

Today's highlight: a major haircut!  Well maybe more accurately described as a hair whack!

Bill, Monday July 29

Two rounds in the cardio chair today. Why is it called a cardio chair? I dunno.
Physical therapy, including being pulled to sitting position at the side of the bed (not staying there on his own accord).
How about a fist bump with a star burst! (Thanks to sister Brooke for showing him the move at her last visit).
Blood tests and infection markers are looking good.
Moustache trimmed.
Ayn asked, and Bill agreed, to have his hair shaved. That may happen tomorrow!
More pushing and pulling with his arms or legs on command.
We tried having him write on paper - just practice with lines, "L's," and circles.
He is trying to mouth words, but he doesn't have us trained well enough to understand.

On another note: we had a nice visit with medical student "Simon," who saw Bill early on in neuro ICU. Simon lives near the facility where Bill will be going, so we got all sorts of recommendations for eateries (I'm in big trouble, one is a bakery). In return, we encouraged him to retain his positive, personable approach as he continues in his training and career.

Bill, Sunday July 28

To explain yesterday's picture-only post, not too much to report!

Ayn, "sister-nurse Dianne," and I visited a skilled nursing facility yesterday. We got to see patient rooms, rehab rooms and equipment. An occupational therapist was available, and we liked her approach and demeanor. Of course we related what didn't work with Bill's last transfer.

(On that note, there was one aspect of "The Transfer Failure" that was not a problem: the respiratory therapist.)

But we're not rushing the move. He will finish the round of antibiotics Monday, and the morning doc said they will reevaluate if he needs more (ugh). But if Tuesday is a clean day, with strong blood tests, Wednesday might be the earliest we're comfortable with moving.

Yesterday his sister and grandma visited at different times; sister got a good visit (and a hug from him), but he fell asleep shortly after Grandma arrived.

We hope all is well with you, dear readers!

Bill, Saturday July 27

Thanks to Nilesh and the Oracle Team

Bill, Friday July 26: moved from ICU to "regular" room

If not for this blog, I might not have a clue what day it is!

Bill is able to step down the level of care needed, so he moved from ICU to a "regular" room. Less monitors are stuck to him. Ayn looks forward to sleeping on the comfortable window seat instead of on the ICU waiting room floor. I will never understand how she was able to do that -- almost three weeks!

Physical and occupational therapy continued today. He was in the "cardio chair" and they held him in an upright sitting position for almost ten minutes. Might not seem much, but quite a workout for him and a step up in his activity. He is able to follow commands to kick his right leg, point toes, and pull up.  Then we have some passive movements to keep joints and tendons loose until he moves up to working those on his own.

Bill's daughter visited in the morning. She was thrilled to see his progress. Compared to the last time she saw him (about a week), she was relieved to the point of tears. She gabbed at him about what she has been doing and her plans for the day.

Tomorrow we will visit the skilled nursing facility where we hope his next step is in the journey. Along with Bill's "nurse sister," we have to be careful to get all of our questions answered while not pelting them to the point of surrender, "oh no, we can't take him."

My husband had the very sweet thought of wanting to send a fruit basket to ICU staff as a thank you for all the wonderful care they provided.  But the hospital gift shop doesn't have anything of the sort; they suggested food services, but "Mercedes" said they also weren't set up for that. So if he wants to contact Fred Meyer or some other store, I wish him well, but I just can't divert my energy there. I'm amazed when people can cover all the bases!

We left a 'thank you' note on the whiteboard in Bill's ICU room -- does that count?

Bill, Thursday July 25 - updated

Bill still doesn't have much control of his left side, but look at all the stuff he discovered he could do with his right hand today:

1. Take the toothbrush (really a spongey thing), get it to his mouth, and scrub all around.
2. Put his glasses on
3. Take the washcloth and rub it around whatever is itchy on his face.

He can also lift his hand up for a high-five, or lift his fist for a fist bump. He doesn't quite move it in to meet our hand, so the depth perception isn't quite back yet.

"Hey," we can imagine him saying, as he rubs his chin and neck, "What happened to my beard?"

UPDATE

Ayn caught me up on another detail: she has been giving him gentle hugs all along. This evening she asked if he could hug her back, and he slid his right arm around her. She told him she loved him, and he mouthed, "I love you."