Wow, that was some thunderstorm we had here last night.
Just a brief update here to let you know that things are going well for Barbara in rehab. With the exception of just a few, the nurses and aids at St. Catherine's rehab have been wonderful to Barbara. I may have mentioned this before, but Barbara does a wonderful job of using that charm and beautiful smile of hers to win over her helpers. Despite the fact that she can be a bit difficult at times (who wouldn't be in her situation?), she wins the hearts of most of the health care professionals who attend to her. Pray that she will be able to bat a thousand on this... there are a few that have been very inconsiderate. Overall, though, our experience has been very good.
Yesterday, Barbara was sat up in a tall, supportive wheel chair, and taken to the gym for therapy. She is literally growing stronger every day! The other day, she actually called me on the phone by herself!!! Praise God!!! Wow!!! She can also brush her teeth with some assistance.
To follow up on my health situation, I saw our nurse practitioner yesterday, and she confirmed that the episode that landed me in the emergency room was indeed an anxiety (or panic) attack. Also, I have a pretty nasty sinus infection. However, I am working with Barbara to create a plan that is beneficial to both of us to protect my health as I care for her. I must say, I have been quite blessed not to have gotten bed-hugging sick since this whole thing started. Since Barbara now stays occupied all morning with rehab, I will now wait until after lunch to go be with her. I will also plan to take more days off. Right now, the critical need is to prepare the home for her return. I continue to plead with anyone who might be able to be of assistance that your help on remodeling the bathroom she will use, or the provision of materials, would be of great assistance.
Pray that Barbara will astound her therapists and begin to make great strides (including the walking kind!),
Pray that God will help her to stay occupied on the days I'm away,
Pray that my health will improve, and for no more anxiety attacks. Those bad boys aren't pleasant.
I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family to support me. Not just a blood family, but my "in the blood" family here at GFM and beyond. You are all a treasure to me. Last night in our Bible study of Acts, we delved into the 16th chapter and discussed Lydia's conversion and the jailhouse rock experience of Paul and Silas. Let me encourage you not to just skip though stories like these, but dig deeply... there's stuff there that can be easily missed. We become so fascinated by the story, that it's possible to miss the message. The thing that really spoke to my heart is that the jailer washed Paul and Silas' wounds, and then he and his household were baptized. It makes sense to understand that both actions happened in the same water. That is how real healing takes place. Our source of all healing, spiritual, emotional, and physical is one water. And we work as agents of the Lord to be a part of each other's healing. Paul and Silas baptized the jailer's family, and the the jailer cleansed the missionaries' wounds. All in one water. Does that move you like it moves me? Just fantastic stuff.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
February 26
Life is just one adventure after another, is it now?
In a fit of jealous rage that Barbara got to be in the hospital, I myself endeavored to get myself committed this evening. Or, something like that.
Actually, after a rather stressful day, late this afternoon I begin having difficulty breathing. A blast from my asthma inhaler didn't help, and my chest continued to tighten. I finally got to the point where I couldn't hardly breathe, and I was very dizzy and disoriented. Barbara's nurse came in the room and quickly got me into a wheel chair and took me to the emergency room. I got to put on one of those nifty little hospital gowns (actually, somebody put it on me). Next, thanks to their concern about my heart, a needle was stuck into my hand. I had forgotten just how much those stupid things hurt, and that they don't stop hurting. They strapped me up to some oxygen, and then after x-rays, blood tests, and EKG, and 3 hours, they determined that I was one healthy young horse. Of course, it is always quite satisfying to be reminded that here in my early 40s, that I am indeed still young. Take that all you young of age that believe me to be among the geiserly. The very nice doctor who attended to me believes I had an anxiety attack. I'm supposed to check in with my family doc in the next couple of days (hear that, Karen?). The primary after effect that I still have this evening are 2 very sore back-of hands, and a couple of really sore, sticky, bald patches on my chest from ripping off EKG patches loaded with chest hair. Remind me to never get sick like that again.
Incidentally, speaking of being young... as I write this, I have on late night TV, and one of those overly angst-ridden young bands in on the air. Note to young artists: find some new shtick. The angst-ridden young hipster dude with the toboggan cap and low riding jeans act is getting a bit old.
But I digress.
The real intent here is to update you on Barbara's condition (hence the title, "How's Barbara Doing?"). Today we learned that the target date for Barbara to go home is March 14. Much to Barbara's dismay, the plan for her rehab assumes that she will still need something called "max assist" at home. This does not assume that our dog Max will make her well with the homeopathic curative ability of dog spit, applied with generous dog kisses. (I'm beginning to think by oxygen deprivation has affected my brain tonight. Either that, or I'm really, really tired.) The deal on Barbara is that they believe she will likely need a hospital bed at home, and will not be able to do much on her own. This news distressed her, but then I encouraged her that merely by surviving, she outperformed most doctors' expectations for her. We are also clinging to my prayer of early on that should God choose to heal her earthly body, that He would do it all the way. So, Barbara is determined to overcome all obstacles. Pray for us still, please!
*** HELP *** HELP *** HELP ***
Here's where we need prayers and more. We now face bringing Barbara back to a parsonage that is not at all handicap accessible. In fact, our home is a quad level, and we basically live on one floor where we have used the family room as a bedroom as well. There is a small bath with shower on this level. However, the door is not wide enough for a wheel chair, and the shower is approximately 6 inches or so off of the ground. In short, we need a bathroom that is equipped to accommodate Barbara's additional handicaps as she (hopefully and prayerfully) recoups over the months ahead. While our church people are extraordinarily loving, we are struggling with a gigantic financial crisis, and resources are few. If you, or someone you know, would be willing to help us come up with a quick plan, or would be willing to donate materials, would you be so kind as to contact me right away? I really don't want to leave my cell phone number here, but if you know me, I'm sure you also know someone who could get it to you.
Likewise, I'm going to need home health care help. Frankly, I'm concerned about going bankrupt from bills as it is, and I don't have any foreseeable resources to pay for help. While Medicare will provide a visiting nurse for 3 days a week, I will likely need much more help. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in pursuing a conversation about helping with Barbara's at-home care, would you contact me?
Wow, I've just asked for a lot there. I'm not the kind that can easily ask for help, but I'm at the end of my ability to know how to resolve these issues. If you cannot help with resources, you can help with prayer. Prayer is a mighty thing, and we serve a mighty God.
In a fit of jealous rage that Barbara got to be in the hospital, I myself endeavored to get myself committed this evening. Or, something like that.
Actually, after a rather stressful day, late this afternoon I begin having difficulty breathing. A blast from my asthma inhaler didn't help, and my chest continued to tighten. I finally got to the point where I couldn't hardly breathe, and I was very dizzy and disoriented. Barbara's nurse came in the room and quickly got me into a wheel chair and took me to the emergency room. I got to put on one of those nifty little hospital gowns (actually, somebody put it on me). Next, thanks to their concern about my heart, a needle was stuck into my hand. I had forgotten just how much those stupid things hurt, and that they don't stop hurting. They strapped me up to some oxygen, and then after x-rays, blood tests, and EKG, and 3 hours, they determined that I was one healthy young horse. Of course, it is always quite satisfying to be reminded that here in my early 40s, that I am indeed still young. Take that all you young of age that believe me to be among the geiserly. The very nice doctor who attended to me believes I had an anxiety attack. I'm supposed to check in with my family doc in the next couple of days (hear that, Karen?). The primary after effect that I still have this evening are 2 very sore back-of hands, and a couple of really sore, sticky, bald patches on my chest from ripping off EKG patches loaded with chest hair. Remind me to never get sick like that again.
Incidentally, speaking of being young... as I write this, I have on late night TV, and one of those overly angst-ridden young bands in on the air. Note to young artists: find some new shtick. The angst-ridden young hipster dude with the toboggan cap and low riding jeans act is getting a bit old.
But I digress.
The real intent here is to update you on Barbara's condition (hence the title, "How's Barbara Doing?"). Today we learned that the target date for Barbara to go home is March 14. Much to Barbara's dismay, the plan for her rehab assumes that she will still need something called "max assist" at home. This does not assume that our dog Max will make her well with the homeopathic curative ability of dog spit, applied with generous dog kisses. (I'm beginning to think by oxygen deprivation has affected my brain tonight. Either that, or I'm really, really tired.) The deal on Barbara is that they believe she will likely need a hospital bed at home, and will not be able to do much on her own. This news distressed her, but then I encouraged her that merely by surviving, she outperformed most doctors' expectations for her. We are also clinging to my prayer of early on that should God choose to heal her earthly body, that He would do it all the way. So, Barbara is determined to overcome all obstacles. Pray for us still, please!
*** HELP *** HELP *** HELP ***
Here's where we need prayers and more. We now face bringing Barbara back to a parsonage that is not at all handicap accessible. In fact, our home is a quad level, and we basically live on one floor where we have used the family room as a bedroom as well. There is a small bath with shower on this level. However, the door is not wide enough for a wheel chair, and the shower is approximately 6 inches or so off of the ground. In short, we need a bathroom that is equipped to accommodate Barbara's additional handicaps as she (hopefully and prayerfully) recoups over the months ahead. While our church people are extraordinarily loving, we are struggling with a gigantic financial crisis, and resources are few. If you, or someone you know, would be willing to help us come up with a quick plan, or would be willing to donate materials, would you be so kind as to contact me right away? I really don't want to leave my cell phone number here, but if you know me, I'm sure you also know someone who could get it to you.
Likewise, I'm going to need home health care help. Frankly, I'm concerned about going bankrupt from bills as it is, and I don't have any foreseeable resources to pay for help. While Medicare will provide a visiting nurse for 3 days a week, I will likely need much more help. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in pursuing a conversation about helping with Barbara's at-home care, would you contact me?
Wow, I've just asked for a lot there. I'm not the kind that can easily ask for help, but I'm at the end of my ability to know how to resolve these issues. If you cannot help with resources, you can help with prayer. Prayer is a mighty thing, and we serve a mighty God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
