Week Three at Harmarville
Week Three
Day Fifteen...
June 18, 2003
Most of you have received the email from Cora earlier telling you that Greg's
position at Servicelink has been terminated effective Friday. Benefits end
at the end of this month. Cobra will cost $578.00 /month and we don't know
how long it lasts or what happens after that. He has 90 days severance.
It was quite a blow....an unexpected one due to previous conversations with those folks.
There really isn't much to say or do but to trust God. Interestingly,
He (God) sent Jim Glatz right after we got the word. What a blessing.
Needless to say, although Greg had a decent day in therapy we are all still reeling.
We know that God has a plan and that what satan desires for harm God uses for good...Please
continue to pray for us. Pray that Greg and Francie can focus on the immediate issues...his
therapy and the kids. Jim has arranged for an elder from his church, Rick Tidball,
to help us get our arms around the financial situation. We have friends and
neighbors chomping at the bit to get started on house renovations...we need to see what God will do.
Strangely, on the one hand this is all very terrifying...on the other I feel kind of
excited...surely there is a mighty work of God to come from all of this.
What might it be !!!!!!
Blessings,
Connie
Day Sixteen...
June 19, 2003
Greg had a very good therapy day. His physical therapy assistant said
that he is a lot stronger than when he came. His hand therapist also
said that he is achieving more than she has expected. In another note
I'll tell you more about hand therapy. He also sat up by himself longer
today in the pool than he did yesterday. We celebrate each small
victory....at least I do...he is very hard on himself.
Thank you all for your prayers and for your emails.
I'll write more tomorrow.....
Blessings..
Connie
Day Seventeen...
June 20, 2003
Greg got WHEELS today !!! His chair is called a "Quickie"..it is red and
can recline him w-a-a-y-y-y back...kind of like an astronaut. He even drove
it all the way to the parking garage...I thought he was going to try to make
a getaway. He said he needed a sign that said "Moon Twp. or Bust."
On another interesting note, the guys from Service Link called again to say
that they would extend Greg's salary and benefits to the end of the year.
But no job guarantee.
Both Greg and Francie seem pretty upbeat. He knows that he needs
to concentrate on his rehabilitation. Interestingly, his PT tech,
Marcy, said that she thought he should go into a manual wheelchair....as soon as he gets stronger.
As you saw from Greg's note, his faith is still strong and the more attacks
that come..the more defiant against satan he becomes.
May God's name be praised !!!!
Connie
Day Eighteen...
June 21, 2003
Hi all...
It was a slow therapy day today. He only had one hour of PT and a
half hour of OT. Tom and I were there from about 715 'til 4PM.
Francie and the boys came up, then Bill and Vicki Anderson and
Sally Kane and Polly and Ben. I don't know who else may have come later.
Greg said that he had slept well, but last evening had some severe neck spasms.
Actually the spasms all over his body are increasing. He tries to tolerate them
as much as he can since they work his muscles.
Also..more news. Remember Danyelle? She was the 23 yr old who was
in a coma at AGH...they had removed part of her skull to let her
brain swell....Well, we met Danyelle today. She was sitting up
in bed and talking a blue streak. She came to Harmarville
yesterday. She has some fine motor skill issues and some
cognitive problems...they will do a complete evaluation in
the next few days. What a miracle !!!
Also, Danyelle's mom Debbie said that Danny Long has been moved to a regular room at AGH.
Keep your prayers coming.....
Connie
Days Nineteen...
June 22, 2003
Nothing much new today. It was a day of rest. I understand that
Greg lounged in bed this morning including having breakfast in bed.
How about that?
It was such a beautiful day that we spent a good part of the afternoon outside.
Jini and Tim Barefoot came bearing gifts from the crew at US Airways and
Parkway Center. Then Judy and Bob Allison, Aunt Jo, Uncle Colin
joined me and my mom and aunt Mary...plus Tom. Lots of visiting.
Also, we spent some time talking to Mark a new arrival. Mark was shot in
October and his spinal cord was severed. He is quite a character...very
colorful language and lots of stories...one more bizarre than the next.
As he was talking I thought about Rich Grassel's message today about
Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Each person here has a
special story. ...and many show concern about each other
even as their own situation is serious and sometimes bleak.
Danyelle came down to visit Greg before we got there. Talk about a miracle.
Well...you'll hear from me again tomorrow, God willing.
Blessings,
Connie
Day Twenty...
June 23, 2003
Wow...it's already been twenty days. It seems so short and yet a lifetime.
Greg had routine therapy today, but Dr Brenes ordered him some kind of special
splint to further strengthen his right wrist..Greg says that it makes it harder
to flex. Nothing really gets easier here.
He's also having a "sleepiness" problem again. So he'll talk to the
doctors tomorrow to see if any of his medications can be reduced.
He also needs to eat more protein. He says it's hard to swallow
because of the surgery ...all that stuff in there is still swollen.
So many of you have asked what you can do. Francie "blew up" her
vacuum cleaner...(believe me, that would never happen to mine) and
before she gets another one, we were wondering if anyone out there
has an old one that you might have been planning to get rid of.
Also, tomorrow I'm meeting with Rick Tidball to try to get the financial
picture. We will also be doing a needs assessment to try to determine
the overall financial need. Included in that will be at least a preliminary
assessment of what help various agencies may provide and what insurance
covers. Tom contacted John Pippy's office as well and they will be
sending some information. I'll let you know more as we move forward.
The most important need is prayer.
Blessings....
Connie
Day Twenty-one...
June 24, 2003
WOW..Three weeks have gone by already. Unbelieveable.
I don't have too much to report today because I only spent a few hours there and missed therapy.
Greg's blood pressure dropped to 80 over 50 something. Several times he felt very faint.
While low blood pressure is not unusual with spinal cord injuries, Doc Kelly still wants to watch it.
He increased some weights in occupational therapy today...so he's continuing
to build strength. But he's still feeling kind of tired. One of his doses
of clonopin (not sure about the spelling) has been eliminated.
Thanks to everyone who has been sending notes and leads on services.
I'm not always able to reply, but we appreciate all of them.
Danyelle update: She baked cookies today in Occupational Therapy.
Another interesting thing happened. Greg has the 13th Psalm up beside his
bed (and the 23rd). One of the nurses came in and read it and said
she wanted to pass it along to her mother-in-law who has just been
diagnosed with MS. Also, I can't tell you how many people have
remarked on the map in Greg's room. Most ask if the dots denote
places he's been. They seem thoughtful when we say they are
places where people are praying for him.
Thank you for your prayers....
Connie
PS to Pat, Sue, Tad, Tim, Brian and Pat....Greg apologizes for not saying
goodbye. and he wanted to thank you for coming.
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Week 6
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Week 9
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Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
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