Week Two at Harmarville
Week Two
Day Eight...
June 11, 2003
Day 8....two weeks since the accident.
Greg had another good night...the third in a row. He was a
little less sleepy today: I think he refused a Percocet in
the early morning to try to avoid the drowsiness.
He really got a workout today.
0800 Get up, dressed, face washed, teeth brushed.
0830 Breakfast with Michelle. Michelle is his occupational therapist (OT). Her job is to teach him how to
take care of himself in the event that he doesn't improve. She also does exercises with him for
strength. Today he ate scrambled eggs and drank milk from a cup with little help. For the US Airways
Reservations folks....he uses the same kind of apparatus that Carla Roberto uses.
0900-1000 Physical therapy (PT) with Chris. Stretches, electrical stimulation.
1000-1100 OT with Michelle. Each arm is placed on a "skate" and he has to move it back and forth 30 times.
Yesterday he did 10 repetitions 3 times resting in between.
Today he did all 30 at once.
1100-1200 Hand therapy with Jan. He picked up blocks and dropped them into a tupperware container.
Tomorrow .....stacking.
1200-1230 Darvocet and a short nap. His neck gets really, really sore. Sitting up and trying to keep his
posture straight is really draining.
1230-1:15 Lunch with Michelle
1:15-2:15 PT with Marcy. He lifted weights
2:15-2:45 OT with Michelle.
2:45-3:15 Recreational therapy with Mark...For those of you from Riverdale: Mark also worked with Keith
Theakston on skiing. Anyway...Francie brought the boys in for the afternoon and they got to play
UNO with their dad. He staged a come-from-behind win. Luke said he thought Dad cheated.
I left with the boys about 3:45 and Greg was taking a nap.
I wanted to share a note I got from our buddy Barry Fasenmyer.
"Hi Connie & Tom,
I just wanted to pass on a piece of information that you might find comforting.
Through connections I was speaking today with a person in New York City who
works in the field of specialized medical trauma. I explained Greg's
situation and where he was located. This person then asked by name "Is
he being seen by Dr. Brennes?" He went on to explain that Dr. Brennes
is one of the "best in the world" and that Harmarville is a "world
renowned" facility for spinal cord injuries."
We keep hearing this over and over. Thank God that this facility is here
and that Harmarville takes Greg's insurance.
I'd like to add someone to our prayers. Tyler is 18 months old.
He was a normal, active little boy. Suddenly he became very
lethargic. It turns out that somehow he was infected with the
herpes virus and contracted encephalitis. The doctors said
that they could remove the part of the brain that was
affected...but that is the learning center...so the parents
have opted to put him in God's hands. He is in intensive
care at Children's. His dad's cousin is Greg's respiratory therapist.
I'll close with a quote from Terri Peterson's email....
A verse that's helped me thru some yucky times-----Jeremiah 29:11 :
"For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, "plans to
prosper you...plans to give you hope and a future." God is so
good and He does have mighty plans for YOU and each one of US!!
His plans are perfect and I pray that He just fills you all with
hope to the point of overflowing....which reminds me of another
favorite verse: Romans 15:13, May the God of hope fill you with
all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may OVERFLOW
with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!!
Blessings to you all....I hope you know how much your prayers mean....
Connie
Day Nine...
June 12, 2003
Greg had a fairly routine day...dressing, tooth brushing, weight lifting,
hand therapy, electrical jolts...you know..same old; same old.
But oh what a night !!!! (Wasn't that a song?) Anyway....Linda
and Cora came with dinner and dessert. Big Wes showed up.
We all had dinner in Greg's room....he was chilling out in bed...
we were checking out the patio area right outside his room. The
phone rang..it was Jeff Campbell telling us to stay put..there
was a tornado warning. Before we got a chance to check out the
TV...the phone rang again. It was Dan, Greg's boss. He had
been on his way to see Greg when he ran into the debris from
whatever hit Green Tree. He said it was coming up Route 28, so he would not.
Tom and Francie were looking out the window o-o-hing and a-a-hing
the great
cloud formations...you know black, cone shaped, picking up
debris. I went out to the nurses' station and asked about the evacuation plan.
Susan said coincidentally they had had a workshop just yesterday on that very
subject....and ...? ? ? There isn't a plan......really.
Simultaneously Greg and I made a unanimous decision ...get him out of that bed !!!!
Quickly Big Wes and Francie sprang into action transfering him from the bed into the
wheelchair...It wasn't pretty, but it worked. I was all for rolling into the
interior but we decided to wait and track the storm on TV.
After we were sure the storm blew over, it was time for Wes and
Francie to transfer Greg back to bed.....hm-m-m should the bed
have been flattened out first?? Oops. Cora, Lin and I were
giving advice from the sidelines...a little to the left...oops..too far.
Anyway, at last Greg was situated. and probably glad to see us all leave.
I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds.
Blessings to all....
Connie
Day Ten...
June 13, 2003
Greg had a difficult day today. He is still feeling sleepy
throughout the day. Doc Kelly is going to reduce his dosages
of anti anxiety, pain and sleep medications. Please pray that
he'll still be able to sleep at night. He was also kind of depressed.
It's really amazing that he hasn't had more down days,
but it's still difficult to see him like that. ...very quiet.
From the standpoint of his therapy: He did well. His weights were
increased again, so he is continuing to build strength.
He played Connect Four with his therapist today. For those of
you who are unfamiliar with the game, it requires the player to
lift a small disk that kind of looks like a checker, and to drop
it into a small opening. It's amazing the different muscles you
use to do that. Greg could raise his arm (good biceps), but it
is difficult for him to grasp thin objects since he has very
limited finger movement. In addition, he can hardly move his
wrist to be able to angle the disk into the opening. He played
a whole game and he won....but he was exhausted afterward.
Everyday Francie reads him the cards and emails that are coming
to our homes and to the hospital. They give us wonderful encouragement.
I found this verse today....
"He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength
to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will
give up. But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength.
They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not
grow weary. They will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:29-31.
Blessings to all of you,
Connie
Day Eleven...
June 14, 2003
Saturday....
Greg woke up with a fever again. They did a chest xray and everything was ok.
They are also checking for a urinary tract infection. They're just making
sure that the fever is not caused by infection. As I think I mentioned
before, a fever is not unusual with a spinal cord injury.
Fever or no fever he still had physical therapy with Chris. Chris
doesn't give Greg much help with the weights....not like the girls.
So he got quite a work out.
The change in medication seemed to have helped him stay awake better
today without causing a loss of sleep last night. So that was good.
Still, depression just seems to be hovering around especially as night
approaches. We know that God has a plan and that His plan is perfect.
Still, this is a very difficult time for Greg. He misses the boys and
his old life. The new life hasn't yet been revealed.
"The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. And it is
good for the young to submit to the yoke of his discipline. Let them
sit alone in silence beneath the Lord's demands. Let them lie face
down in the dust; then at last there is hope for them. Let them
turn the other cheek to those who strike them. Let them accept
the insults of their enemies. For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever" Lamentations 3:25-31
Your prayers continue to be a comfort. Thank you.
Connie
Prayer Request...
Greg had a bad night and is running a 102+ fever today (Sunday).
They are doing blood cultures. Please pray for him.
Connie
Days Twelve...
June 15, 2003
Sunday...Thank you for your prayers this morning. Greg's temperature
lowered and he began to feel better as the day went on.
We did a little Father's Day celebration: Francie, the kids, Ben
and Polly (Francie's parents), my mom and aunt Mary, Heather and
Jamie. Then Dian Shandick, John Ballas and Amy McClelland came
up this afternoon as well. After they left, Rich Grassel arrived.
We were doing lots of praying today....GREAT !!
To top it off, a 12 page fax came from Allan Drake.
Greg seemed in reasonably good spirits today. Tomorrow I'll
be there at about 7:00 AM and his day will start..he has lots
of therapy scheduled. Francie hopes to spend some needed time
with the boys and maybe bring them up in the afternoon again.
Today they both hitched a ride on their dad's lap and took a
road trip through the hospital. What a joy for Greg!!!!
Talk to y'all tomorrow.....
Connie
Day Thirteen...
June 16, 2003
Greg had an ok night...Not much of a temperature. He had PT,
OT and RT. In RT (recreational therapy) he completed a
crossword puzzle. He used a device that he slipped his index
finger into and it kind of wrapped around his thumb enabling
him to hold a pencil. Pretty cool. He should also begin
therapy in the pool in the next week or so.
He also had xrays and other tests on his bladder and kidneys....everything
was good. The tech said that he had "beautiful kidneys".
We also had lots of education today. Things that you would never
dream that you'd need to know. Francie had a lengthy discussion
with Cricket. She's the person who will come and evaluate the
house for conversion. The changes needed are overwhelming.
For those of you who don't know, they live in a split entry house.
In order for Greg to be able to use the whole house (each level),
they will need to put in an elevator...estimated cost is $10,000.
Also, none of the bathrooms is wheelchair accessible, nor is the
kitchen...I'm not sure if he could get into the bedrooms either.
Their choices are to move, which they don't want to do., or put an
addition on the back of the house. Or so it seems. Unfortunately
Cricket can't come to look at the house until July 24th and Greg is
tentatively scheduled to come home on August 28th. He can't come
home until the house is ready.
You know, you see people in wheelchairs everyday and have very
little idea about the very basic challenges that they face.
Getting places, seeing to their most basic of needs. It's
pretty overwhelming.
On the bright side, Greg and Francie received several emails
today from people who they didn't know. People who had received
the word passed on from others who received it from several of
you....and everybody's praying. That's pretty overwhelming too.
Please keep praying
Blessings,
Connie
Day Fourteen...
June 17, 2003
Well, it's been 2 weeks so far at Harmarville. Greg had a good night
and a pretty good day. He fed himself Frosted Flakes for breakfast
by using a u-strap (I think that's what it's called). He also fed
himself potato soup and a sandwich for lunch. It's quite an effort.
He really pushed himself at PT and made good efforts at OT as well.
He took a little nap at midday..so when Jim Glatz arrived, Greg was snoozing.
But he woke up and chatted then Jim visited OT and some of PT with us.
We got the laptop out in the late afternoon, but ran into a snag.
The plastic pointer-hickey (I don'tknow what you call it) that he
needs to help him type won't work with the mouse that you just touch.
So we need to find a work around for that.
This morning Dr. Brenes came in and asked Greg to squeeze his knees in.
He said that you can sometimes cause movement by forcing electrical
signals into the legs. He said that he thought there was a "twinge"
on the right side. Greg's right side is stronger than the left.
He can move that wrist somewhat. Because those muscles are tighter
he tends to lean toward that side.
He can also lean from side to side to shift his weight (a big deal) and
also lean forward somewhat and still right himself. Some of the things
he does, we don't even notice because we're here all the time.
It will be interesting to see what some of you who haven't seen
him in a week or so notice.
Tomorrow, I'll go in early and Francie will try to bring the boys in later.
Greg really misses "the bubs". Maybe they'll even get to see him go into
the pool...Yep "POOL DAY" tomorrow.
Keep sending the prayer locations....We love seeing them.
Blessings...
Connie
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Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
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