Many of you will be glad to know that I'm actually at home for much of today. My sister came up from Indy to sit with Barbara, so I am here concentrating on getting some things accomplished. That means laundry, finishing up for Sunday, and playing with the poor, neglected dog a bit! As for the latter, Max is quite thrilled to have my company. Aren't dogs great?! I once read somewhere that the finest Christian example someone had ever met... was their dog! Their capacity for perfect love and devotion is amazing!
Believe it or not, we are still awaiting Barbara's surgical procedure. It keeps getting put off, and we haven't even met the doc yet. Supposedly, it will happen today at 5:30, but I'm not holding my breath. I believe the procedure is called a "debridement", which is not at all pleasant sounding. Why can't they ever come up with pleasant sounding names for these things like a "cherrylollipopment" or "betterdayectomy"? It seems that they will give Barbara her choice of anesthesia, and she prefers a sedative and a local as opposed to being completely knocked out.
Thank you to all who have visited. Your words and encouragement have been a great healing balm to her. In fact, I will give it a name: your visits are a "pickeruptomy".
Well, if you'll pardon me, I have "laundryfolditis" and need a bid dose of "getupoffmyposteriorose".
Before I go, though, keep this in your prayers: Barbara's case worker is trying to get her approved to go to a rehab facility in Chicago once she is released from acute care. We've been told that this place is the top rehab unit in the country, and that they specialize in helping arthritis patients. Despite the fact that this next stop would make it impossible for me to visit her every day (Chicago is close, but thanks to traffic, it still takes an hour+ to get there), Barbara has said that she wants to go to the best place possible. She tells us over and over again that she just wants to walk and crochet again!
Also pray for today's procedure, should it actually happen,
And pray that Barbara will stay happy and non-anxiety-ridden.
By the way, she now has some student nurses who will be caring for her from time to time, and because of all the care she will be getting, as agreed that I don't have to be there for the whole day. That will be a tremendous relief for me. While many of you have counseled me about taking time off, you need to realize how unreceptive that Barbara has been to that idea. It's always easier to know how someone else should respond than to put it into action for one's own self! I think she also understands that I do indeed want to be with her, but that I need some time away for both rest, and constructive work. So, things are looking up a bit there as well.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
January 24
A quick note here this morning to let you know that while nothing has been confirmed, I'm thinking that this will be the day that Barbara has the surgical procedure to repair the pressure wound on the back of her head. The cardiologist saw her last night, and I believe that he thought she'd be good to go.
Barbara keeps asking if anyone has said they'd come and visit. She is terribly lonely and depressed (even with my wonderful daily presence!). If you get a chance to stop by and see her, I can ASSURE you that you will be instrumental in her healing. Thanks! She is in the Select Specialty Hospital area of St. Margaret's in Hammond. You can get her room number at the front desk for St. Margaret's... it's all the same building.
Barbara keeps asking if anyone has said they'd come and visit. She is terribly lonely and depressed (even with my wonderful daily presence!). If you get a chance to stop by and see her, I can ASSURE you that you will be instrumental in her healing. Thanks! She is in the Select Specialty Hospital area of St. Margaret's in Hammond. You can get her room number at the front desk for St. Margaret's... it's all the same building.
Monday, January 22, 2007
January 22
Barbara and I have had a renaissance of sorts concerning our opinions of Select Special Hospital where we currently live. Today I spent considerable time in conversation with both the woman who oversees the staff and operations, and the CEO himself. I laid all my concerns out for them, including reports I'd heard from many of you. I have been impressed by the fact that they are willing to act decisively on all of our concerns. On top of that, the woman who oversees the operation took the time not only to rectify our problems, but proceeded to do an impromptu exam of Barbara's neck and collar after some concerns I expressed about the lack of care she was receiving in that area. Turns out the lady was a former nuero-surgical nurse. What she discovered horrified us completely. It seems that Barbara has a pressure sore on the back of her head the size of a fifty cent piece. Due to its nature, it could be determined that it pre-dated her arrival at Select. I could gross you out with details, but suffice it to say, we were very angry about it. It also hurts me to know that this wound goes back to nurses who in other ways gave such superior care. So, to make a long story longer, she will need a surgical procedure to remove damaged tissue and clean the wound. It won't be major surgery, but it will mean Barbara will once again have to be sedated. So, a cardiologist will visit to clear her heart for another challenge. Originally the procedure was to be done on Tuesday, but it looks like we're talking Wednesday or later now. The good part is, this type of problem supposedly heals quickly, and it is good that it was discovered before getting even worse.
Otherwise, Barbara continues to make good progress. Her therapy people have been excellent. She had had some very good nurses and aids. She even ate "solid" food today.
Please pray for the impending surgical procedure,
Pray that her stomach and digestive system will begin to behave,
Pray that she is able to eat the amount of nutrition she needs without need for more of that nasty liquid stuff to be pumped into her stomach,
Pray that ol' Greg here will have the patience to feed her over the course of the 2 hours it presently takes her to eat her small amount of food!
As you can tell, dear ol' Greg is getting testier by the day. While it is impossible for Barbara to understand this, and despite the fact that I want to be with her, the demands of spending all this time with her are wearing me to a frazzle. I feel like I haven't had a day off in months. Here's something else that has revealed itself to me. Remember how in earlier updates I'd mentioned that I now better understand the concept of being one flesh? Well, I have been amazed at how ignorant both health care professionals and other well-meaning people can be to all the ramifications of this. You see - while Barbara definitely has the worst end of the deal, I am right there with her on the worst end! I say this not to invite you all to a pity party, but rather, to help us all better understand the role of someone who comes along beside a loved one who is hurting. I can't tell you how many people have chided me for expressing my own frustrations. They say things like, "Well, at least you don't have to put up with what she is going through." That is a very untrue and uninformed way of thinking. Those of you who have been in my shoes know exactly what I'm saying. Can I get an amen?!?! I will elaborate more on this subject in the future; perhaps I'll write a book on it. I'm not kidding about that - I truly intend to write this stuff down. It's too important to allow it to turn to vapor.
PS - In case you need further clarification, Barbara is currently at Select Specialty Hospital which is located inside St. Margaret's Hospital in Hammond.
Otherwise, Barbara continues to make good progress. Her therapy people have been excellent. She had had some very good nurses and aids. She even ate "solid" food today.
Please pray for the impending surgical procedure,
Pray that her stomach and digestive system will begin to behave,
Pray that she is able to eat the amount of nutrition she needs without need for more of that nasty liquid stuff to be pumped into her stomach,
Pray that ol' Greg here will have the patience to feed her over the course of the 2 hours it presently takes her to eat her small amount of food!
As you can tell, dear ol' Greg is getting testier by the day. While it is impossible for Barbara to understand this, and despite the fact that I want to be with her, the demands of spending all this time with her are wearing me to a frazzle. I feel like I haven't had a day off in months. Here's something else that has revealed itself to me. Remember how in earlier updates I'd mentioned that I now better understand the concept of being one flesh? Well, I have been amazed at how ignorant both health care professionals and other well-meaning people can be to all the ramifications of this. You see - while Barbara definitely has the worst end of the deal, I am right there with her on the worst end! I say this not to invite you all to a pity party, but rather, to help us all better understand the role of someone who comes along beside a loved one who is hurting. I can't tell you how many people have chided me for expressing my own frustrations. They say things like, "Well, at least you don't have to put up with what she is going through." That is a very untrue and uninformed way of thinking. Those of you who have been in my shoes know exactly what I'm saying. Can I get an amen?!?! I will elaborate more on this subject in the future; perhaps I'll write a book on it. I'm not kidding about that - I truly intend to write this stuff down. It's too important to allow it to turn to vapor.
PS - In case you need further clarification, Barbara is currently at Select Specialty Hospital which is located inside St. Margaret's Hospital in Hammond.
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