Bill: the Finale

The Finale of 55 weeks

I will catch you up on the last couple of weeks and then say goodbye. Bill and Ayn have moved to California, he is back to work full time, so there really isn't any need to continue talking about the minutiae of their lives.

Bill had lots of final appointments, including two for leg brace adjustments. Unfortunately his OT canceled because she was sick. But he had two PT sessions, a nephrology/hypertension appointment, another Botox treatment, prescriptions refilled.

And a fun time was had by all at the Post Office for passport applications.  Man that takes a long time to get through.   The highlight for me was a bit of comic relief, where the woman ahead of us, surprised by a glitch, exclaimed, "Holy Toledo, Batman!"

Movers hauled out their belongings Sunday, July 27.  They stayed at a hotel across from their old place a couple of days so Ayn could finish cleaning. As I write, they are in a hotel in the Bay Area, and the movers will arrive within a couple of days.

Just in time for their second wedding anniversary next week.  So please join me in wishing them the best in the next chapter of their life together.

Bill, Friday July 18: from video to audio; and an amazing retro trip

Physical therapy was another change-up.  Bill has had a lot of visual cues given to him for biofeedback to improve walking.  There is the machine to show how he is balanced, to encourage shifting more weight to the left side.  In their apartment, we put green dots on the floor as stride targets. 

Today Jeff added an audio cue: a metronome app to hint at a "normal" stride. And it was on a treadmill. 

A stop for a leg brace adjustment, then...

An amazing trip to Marquis acute care, Bill and Ayn's home away from home last year, two and a half months.  The last time staff saw him, he was mostly being moved from bed to wheelchair with a lift, although he was just learning to use a slide board to go from one to the other.

We first came across nurse Tori and CNA Heidi.  Bill got up from the wheelchair on his own, took a few steps, and their jaws dropped.  Then smiles.

Next we went to the central area. Michele went to find Dr. Creitz for us ( I had called earlier to make sure she would be there).  With more people assembled, he again stood and walked quite a bit. The doctor stood with her hands clasped tightly, almost as in prayer, with her chin resting on the hands. She closely watched his feet.  CNA Jowanna noticed from the dining hall -- another jaw drop, and running over for a hug. 

I pointed out that Dr. Creitz seemed speechless. "I'm just ... Wow... Thrilled..."

She moved next to me and dabbed her eyes with a tissue.  I asked "Allergies?"  She answered, "No, no, happy."  She gave Bill a hug, "My you're tall!"  Then she asked about medications and exercise and therapy and blood tests for kidney function.  She remembered everything about him.  "Remember, no Sipro," as if we would ever forget. 

Claire, speech therapy, came by.  We sure wish she had been there during all of Bill's stay, but having a baby interrupts the work!

Such an emotional but rewarding visit. I thought it was good for everyone to see how much improvement can still be made when a patient leaves them.

Bill, July 11: Hip Hop and back to work

On July 9 (the day after the "strokeversary") Bill saw his rehab doctor and is released back to full time work in a couple of weeks!  Dr. Degen said, over and over, that every one at RIO is so pleased to hear his progress.  Doc is glad he can release Bill for work, because some people come in and he has to say no (or they are wanting to drive again).

On July 11, Bill had physical therapy.  Started with walking, then 'squat walks' at the parallel bars.  Looking for a new challenge, Jeff asked, "Can you hop?"  Ayn and I looked at each other, "He's kidding,right?"  But Bill gave it a go, and there was a Billy Hop!

What a big month. Back to work, and in three weeks they will have moved. We will miss them so very much between visits.

Bill, July 9, 2014: one year

Yesterday was one year.  I couldn't bring myself to post any comments.  Would it be celebratory?  Would I be too morose in the memories?  Would it be a non-emotional, just-the-facts update? 

On the facts: Bill is trying out a forearm crutch to use instead of a quad cane.  There are pluses and minuses, but overall it seems to help him walk more upright -- 'tho I'm not sure way, since the hand is at about the same height. Also, they had a great two-day trip to Central Oregon to visit a friend for July 4, and the Steely Dan concert there.

As far as emotions or memories, I decided to go back and look at some of my early posts.  Oh my gosh, how did ya'll put up with my short, terse posts?  It looks like I was just barfing up a few words.  My struggle was with how long it took me to post from my phone, and where we could get internet connections. 

My rule was to avoid making the posts about me.  The reports were from my perspective, yes, but you did not need to hear I was devastated or angry or so f'n tired. Especially when I was so exhausted I might have spelled out f'n. Plus Ayn and I were working to have only positive vibes.

What are my emotions today?

Amazed at my oldest son and his awesome wife. What a team.

Buoyant

Calm.  Not with everything in life, but with Bill's situation.

Delighted

Excited for their future.

Friendship with my daughter in law.

Glad

Honored to have witnessed their journey.

Intrigued

Joyful

Kindness

Love

Modesty

Nourished (in the sense of enriched)

Optimistic

Pleased patient pride peace

Quiet qualified quirky

Reassured, relieved

Safe

Thrilled

Unbeatable uplifted 

Vulnerable - yeah, don't take anything for granted. It also means realizing I can't control everything. 

Wonderment

Xenial - being nice to strangers, paying it forward for all that has been given to us

Youthful yielding

Zany

Bill, June 20: changing the dance from a waltz to the two-step

Bill did a TON of walking today.  From the apartment, down the hall, standing in the elevator, out to the car. From the car, to the elevator, into the clinic and PT room ...  Actually, let's just say the only wheelchair time he had was the trip through Whole Foods!

One of his PT activities was the balance-feedback stand. He learned to weight shift by doing a "hip-check" (yes, like in ice hockey) instead of leaning his shoulders over.

Getting back to this post's headline, and the reference to dance.  His walking routine has been a three-step: cane forward, step left, step right. That's a waltz rhythm. Now he is challenged to make it a two-step: cane-and-left-step-at-the-same-time, step right. Once again, this video doesn't show up on my iPad, so switch to your PC for a really good show. He got really smooth later in the morning, trust me!

 

Bill, Fri. June 6: elliptical, biking, and stairs

You can see how hard Bill is working on the elliptical, above.  But dig how well he does on the "recumbent stepper:"

 

Sorry I didn't get a video of him on the free-standing steps; he was too fast!

 

Bill reports that his work hours went well this week, despite not having access to all the subsystems he needed to work in.  Yeah!

Bill, June 2: PT and PT

PT #1: Physical Therapy
PT #2: Part Time back to work!

Physical therapy Friday included: walking all the way from the waiting room, lots of stretching, movement.  The session was capped off by seeing if Bill's new SF-Giant-themed Crocs would work. Sort of, but they will need to try another size.  The good news is that the "heel cup" is deep enough to keep the brace stable, plus it has a heel strap.

Part time work starts tomorrow!  Bill can work up to six hours (per his doctor).  He already has an assignment from his boss.

Please send Bill your best wishes on this achievement.