Hello from the "recovery base." I'd love to hear from friends/family now that I'm more able to answer.
Times are slowly getting better and I'm excited about fun times after this recovery. Jennifer has been an angel helping me thru a very challenging time.
Good wishes, safe travel to all.
Sheryl
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Moving into the New Year
Happy New Year! I, for one, was thrilled to see 2008 come to a close!
Just a little update to let you know how everything is going...
Mom has been home since 12/23. I was in OK helping until last Friday, when I returned to Indianapolis. I'll be going back to OK 1/10 - 1/17 for another stretch.
In the meantime, mom has caregivers coming to help her with things that she can't do on her own... some meal preparation, light house-keeping, etc. She is getting stronger and stronger all the time, becoming much less dependent on the wheelchair (aka "Breezy"), using the walker instead. Soon, mom's doctors should upgrade her to outpatient status (now she's on home-health), which will allow her more freedom to go out to eat, to a movie, etc. Currently, she is still receiving PT and OT in her home a few times per week.
Mom is happy to be home with Thatcher and her birds, Perula and Romeo. She loves having visitors, so give her a call if you'd like to stop by sometime.
Here's to a much better, healthy and happy 2009!
love,
jennifer
Just a little update to let you know how everything is going...
Mom has been home since 12/23. I was in OK helping until last Friday, when I returned to Indianapolis. I'll be going back to OK 1/10 - 1/17 for another stretch.
In the meantime, mom has caregivers coming to help her with things that she can't do on her own... some meal preparation, light house-keeping, etc. She is getting stronger and stronger all the time, becoming much less dependent on the wheelchair (aka "Breezy"), using the walker instead. Soon, mom's doctors should upgrade her to outpatient status (now she's on home-health), which will allow her more freedom to go out to eat, to a movie, etc. Currently, she is still receiving PT and OT in her home a few times per week.
Mom is happy to be home with Thatcher and her birds, Perula and Romeo. She loves having visitors, so give her a call if you'd like to stop by sometime.
Here's to a much better, healthy and happy 2009!
love,
jennifer
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Post-Christmas Report from Sheryl
Christmas was special by my return home to enjoy family and friends after my hospital stay. Had one of my life-long friends, Linda, here for a couple days visit and Jennifer & Kuba for Christmas. Despite the past months of hospital stays, I feel refreshed being home and among family and friends again in a normal setting.
My boxer, Thatcher, is beside himself with my being home. He shadows me 24/7! Jennifer is extending her stay to help me for a few extra days, thank goodness. On Wednesday, however, I'll have my box of kleenex handy as she has to go back home to catch up for about a week. (Therefore, drop-ins welcome!) Geoff & Heather will be here on the 16th for 3 days, which will be great.
Look forward to catching up/reconnecting with those who have shown such support. I am having PT/OT in my home several times a week in effort to fully recover in a hopefully short stint of time.
Feel free to give me a call at my house, 405-285-5558, to catch up.
Sheryl
My boxer, Thatcher, is beside himself with my being home. He shadows me 24/7! Jennifer is extending her stay to help me for a few extra days, thank goodness. On Wednesday, however, I'll have my box of kleenex handy as she has to go back home to catch up for about a week. (Therefore, drop-ins welcome!) Geoff & Heather will be here on the 16th for 3 days, which will be great.
Look forward to catching up/reconnecting with those who have shown such support. I am having PT/OT in my home several times a week in effort to fully recover in a hopefully short stint of time.
Feel free to give me a call at my house, 405-285-5558, to catch up.
Sheryl
Monday, December 22, 2008
Home for the Holidays
Hi Everyone. Mom will be discharged from Mercy rehab tomorrow, heading home. The doctor thinks she'll be on "home health" for about 4 weeks before she'll start on outpatient therapy. I think home health sounds like house-arrest... she won't be able to leave the house except to go to church, the doctor or to get her hair done. House-arrest without the ankle bracelet! While mom has home health, she'll have OT and PT 2 - 3 times each in her home each week.
Since she'll be home-bound, I'm sure she'll be happy to see visitors! I'll be here until Sunday, 12/28, when I head back to Indy. Christmas Day will be a bit sparse for mom, since I spend that day at my dad's, so, if any of you are out and about, give mom a ring and stop by. There's plenty of home-made egg nog at her house, ready to be consumed!
I will, most likely, come back to OK again in a couple of weeks to help out one more time before mom is completely on her own.
Happy Holidays.
love,
jennifer
Since she'll be home-bound, I'm sure she'll be happy to see visitors! I'll be here until Sunday, 12/28, when I head back to Indy. Christmas Day will be a bit sparse for mom, since I spend that day at my dad's, so, if any of you are out and about, give mom a ring and stop by. There's plenty of home-made egg nog at her house, ready to be consumed!
I will, most likely, come back to OK again in a couple of weeks to help out one more time before mom is completely on her own.
Happy Holidays.
love,
jennifer
Friday, December 19, 2008
Going Home Soon
Hi Everyone. Mom's medical/therapy team had their meeting this morning, and it looks like mom will be going home on Tuesday! She will need to modify a few things in her house and will use a walker and wheelchair to get around until she is stable on her feet. Once home, she'll have home health-care checking in on her several times a day and doing her PT/OT at her house with her. After she is adjusted to home and is moving around more easily, she will begin out-patient therapy, which she will need for a couple more months. I will be in OK until 12/28, so I'll help her until then.
She saw an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Hale, today. He is looking at her left shoulder to see what they can do to increase her range of motion. He's asking PT to get more aggressive with their therapy, but might do another x-ray to check things out. He's also going to x-ray both feet to see if they can get mom into some more comfortable, less obstructive, foot supports. The boots she is wearing now are quite heavy and cumbersome, and the bottoms are angled, much like she's walking on little hooves. They'll also be fitting her with a new wrist brace for her right hand before she heads home, so that she'll be better able to use her hand. Then, time will tell if the radial nerve, which was damaged when the humerus fractured, will heal itself.
Today, they will move mom into an apartment on this floor, so that she can see what's it like to go back home. The room has a regular bed, couch, and a kitchenette with a fridge and microwave. She's excited to have a bigger room with more windows at least!
That's it for now.
love,
jennifer
She saw an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Hale, today. He is looking at her left shoulder to see what they can do to increase her range of motion. He's asking PT to get more aggressive with their therapy, but might do another x-ray to check things out. He's also going to x-ray both feet to see if they can get mom into some more comfortable, less obstructive, foot supports. The boots she is wearing now are quite heavy and cumbersome, and the bottoms are angled, much like she's walking on little hooves. They'll also be fitting her with a new wrist brace for her right hand before she heads home, so that she'll be better able to use her hand. Then, time will tell if the radial nerve, which was damaged when the humerus fractured, will heal itself.
Today, they will move mom into an apartment on this floor, so that she can see what's it like to go back home. The room has a regular bed, couch, and a kitchenette with a fridge and microwave. She's excited to have a bigger room with more windows at least!
That's it for now.
love,
jennifer
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Okie Christmas
Hi Everyone. I got back to OK last night and will be here through Christmas. Mom is doing well and might get to go home as early as next week! She will still have to have outpatient physical therapy, but getting home will be good for her morale. Although mom is happy to be back in OK, being in the hospital, so close to her home, at Christmas-time, is certainly taking a toll on her spirits.
Feel free to give her a call and come by and see her. Her afternoons and evenings are generally pretty free. Just be sure to call first, as she has a different therapy schedule each day.
love,
jennifer
Feel free to give her a call and come by and see her. Her afternoons and evenings are generally pretty free. Just be sure to call first, as she has a different therapy schedule each day.
love,
jennifer
Sunday, December 14, 2008
We're Back!!!
Hey Gang,
So we made it, but it would not be like us to do anything easy! At 9:45 on Fri morning, we rolled up to SFO in plenty of time to make our 11:40 departure. Well, our flight was delayed, meaning that we would miss our connector in Denver. "Are you in the car there," the attendant asked as she looked over at Mom, who had not yet gotten out of the car and into the wheelchair. "Yeah, that's us." "Well," she replied, "I can get you on a flight out of Oakland at 11:00 if you think you can make it." "Print the passes, we've got to roll!" We high-tailed it over the Bay Bridge to the Oakland airport. I pulled to the curb and went to check in. I almost kicked a kid out of his wheelchair, until I noticed his "Make a Wish" hat. Better to let him have it? With Heather's help, we got Mom into the chair and through security where she was thoroughly inspected. I sprinted through the terminal fast enough that Mom looked like she was in a wind storm. We made the flight and she did all her transfers with no problems. Back in OKC we found that our bags were lost. Great. Long story short, Mom's in the hospital, we got our bags, and all's quiet on the Okie front. Her address is Mercy Hospital, 4300 West Memorial Rd, RM 265, OKC, OK 73120. Give a call if you plan to stop by, as she has therapies throughout the day. Now on to Mom herself...
Look forward to hearing from everyone. I have bouts of acute cabin fever, but light at the end of the tunnel is now becoming visible. Got to do therapy now, so I'll catch you all later.
Sheryl
So we made it, but it would not be like us to do anything easy! At 9:45 on Fri morning, we rolled up to SFO in plenty of time to make our 11:40 departure. Well, our flight was delayed, meaning that we would miss our connector in Denver. "Are you in the car there," the attendant asked as she looked over at Mom, who had not yet gotten out of the car and into the wheelchair. "Yeah, that's us." "Well," she replied, "I can get you on a flight out of Oakland at 11:00 if you think you can make it." "Print the passes, we've got to roll!" We high-tailed it over the Bay Bridge to the Oakland airport. I pulled to the curb and went to check in. I almost kicked a kid out of his wheelchair, until I noticed his "Make a Wish" hat. Better to let him have it? With Heather's help, we got Mom into the chair and through security where she was thoroughly inspected. I sprinted through the terminal fast enough that Mom looked like she was in a wind storm. We made the flight and she did all her transfers with no problems. Back in OKC we found that our bags were lost. Great. Long story short, Mom's in the hospital, we got our bags, and all's quiet on the Okie front. Her address is Mercy Hospital, 4300 West Memorial Rd, RM 265, OKC, OK 73120. Give a call if you plan to stop by, as she has therapies throughout the day. Now on to Mom herself...
Look forward to hearing from everyone. I have bouts of acute cabin fever, but light at the end of the tunnel is now becoming visible. Got to do therapy now, so I'll catch you all later.
Sheryl
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)