Week Four at Harmarville
Week Four
Day Twenty-Two...
June 25, 2003
It's been 4 weeks since the accident. Strange that that's how I've been tracking time.
Greg got some medicine for his blood pressure so he was feeling pretty chipper
this morning. Of course, by the time he had his second hour of PT, he was
whooped...or is it wupt ??? Tom says it's whupped ...
Anyway, he was beat.
He had just about every therapy he could get today...PT, OT, HT (Hand therapy),
RT (recreational therapy in the pool) and BT (you don't want to know.)
He seems to be getting some very slight movement in the left wrist. Pray that it continues.
Tomorrow morning, bright and early, he has ADL (Assisted Daily Living?)
with Michelle. He'll have to put his t shirt on up to his elbows.
Try it without turning your wrists or moving your fingers...you can
only lift your right wrist until it's even with your arm. Let me know
how it works for you.
Dr Brenes said he could use a soft collar to sleep in now.
I'll let you know if he got it and how it worked out.
Greg got an email yesterday from Karen Herman. Karen lives in
Oakdale..I'm not sure how she heard about Greg. She is a
quadriplegic amputee. She had meningitis and had both legs
amputated above the knee and one arm amputated as well as some
fingers on her remaining hand. Some of you may remember a
newspaper article about her about a year ago. The hand therapist at Harmarville remembered her.
Connie
Day Twenty-three...
June 26, 2003
Today was very interesting. It started very poorly. I mentioned yesterday
that Greg was given a drug to help keep his blood pressure up. This morning
it was administered again. Unfortunately, he experienced its side effects.
The first patient that Doc Kelly has seen who did. He got very tingly all
over, very nauseated and lost his taste for sweet things. That last part
sounds kind of funny (and I'm sure we'll make lots of jokes about it in the
future). But for someone who has lost 25 pounds in 21 days and has no
appetite it wasn't good. He couldn't taste the sugar on his frosted
flakes and his orange juice tasted like it had gone bad...only sour
taste, no sweet. He started physical therapy but couldn't finish it,
and he didn't go to any therapy all day. He went back to his room
about 10 AM and slept for over 2 hours. It was the worst day since he's been at Harmarville.
Then he started to feel a little better. Jon, Julie and Jonathan Oberdick
arrived and visited for a while and the Campbells came later.
Jim Glatz arrived with some men who are involved with the Guatemalan
ministry that Union supports. I don't remember everyone's name except
for Padre Miguel, the pastor at the Guatemalan church. No words can
adequately describe what happened next. He and they prayed for Greg.
To try to retell it seems to diminish it in some way. It was astonishing.
We will see what God will do.
I've said before that I feel like there is a mighty work of God in all of this.
I don't know the end of the story and may not know it in this life.
I pray that no matter what happens, I don't take his blessings for granted again.
By the way....Greg regained his sweet tooth...God is good.
Thank you again for your prayers......
Connie
Day Twenty-four...
June 27, 2003
Hi all.....
Greg had a better day today, though he is still kind of sleepy. Doc Kelly
came in to talk to him about his appetite..or lack thereof. The doc suggested
an appetite enhancer....OH NO ..NOT ANOTHER MED !!! Greg declined. He ate his
Frosted Flakes..thank God sweet is back..and a sausage patty for breakfast.
For lunch he had the ham barbeque (no bun) and mandarin orange slices and
for dinner..berzas...It's a Spanish dish sort of like a soup with kale,
potatoes and longaniza (Spanish Sausage) My mother and my aunt went to Canton, OH to get it.
I noticed in OT he had increased his range with his right wrist. He can pull
it almost all the way back (to normal....not a-a-l-l-l the way back).
That comes from C6 enervations. Good news.
The spasms through his whole body have increased. Sometimes it feels
like his abdominal muscles are squeezing him. He says that most of
his body feels like it is in freezing cold water and has been frost
bitten. Interestingly, a few weeks ago, Toni Jenkins told me that
God had impressed upon her a vision of Greg walking and that He said
that Greg was "frozen" for a time. I wonder what God will do?
Thanks to the deacons at Riverdale for providing a vacuum cleaner for
Francie..and to Kitty Noschese for offering one.
There are so many people doing things that help in small and large
ways...but let me tell you..the best are the prayers.
Blessings,
Connie
Day Twenty-five...
June 28, 2003
Hey everybody....Greg had a half day of therapy today and spent the rest
of the time (until I left) outside or chilling in his room....His new room.
He and his roommate Rich were moved to 102/103. It actually has four beds,
but there are just the two of them right now. The hospital needed the old room for an infectious patient.
Dr. Brenes was in this morning (as was Doc Kelly). He had Greg squeeze
his knees again. He said that there were twinges in his right
quadricep (thigh) and down the inner thigh. These are not normal
voluntary movements but show that the electrical impulses are going
farther down. He is to continue practicing a little each night.
Also, he had his dosage of baclifin (not sure about the spelling)
increased to reduce the spasms that are keeping him from sleeping.
Once again:
New room...102 B (it's on the right side of the nurse's station)
New phone: 412-826-4122
Blessings...
Connie
Days Twenty-six...
June 29, 2003
Greg had a hard time falling asleep last night (leg spasms) and slept in today
until after 11 AM. When we got there about 330PM he was up and pretty chipper.
Unfortunately, he had an episode of autonomic dysreflexia. He can explain it
better. As I understand it, it's when there is some distress in the body that,
due to the paralysis, the person doesn't really feel. He got very flushed and
his blood pressure shot up. There is a risk of stroke. Fortunately, he
recognized the symptoms quickly and they took steps to relieve the condition.
So everything was fine.
Heather made us all paella for dinner. Greg ate two helpings...the
most he's eaten since the accident. He was feeling pretty full.
I'm looking forward to what this next week brings. Hopefully there
will be a balance with the medications and he will feel less sleepy in the morning.
Thank you for all your prayers.
Connie
Day Twenty-seven...
June 30, 2003
Hi all....
Today was a pretty decent day. Remember that I mentioned that Greg
was doing well with his right wrist? Well....she put a 4 oz weight
on it today. He was lifting it up to neutral again. They sure don't
let you rest on your accomplishments for long.
The therapists say that he is doing well. He doesn't necessarily
feel the same way. However, we were talking about how he has a
burning in his forearms now. That burning is from his nerves
"waking up". When he was in AGH, the burning was up around his
shoulders. The burning is like the burning you get when you've
had your hands or feet in ice cold water for a while....that
kind of numb-burning, if that makes any sense.
Overall though, he is pretty positive. The biggest factor seems
to be how he is feeling physically: fever, sleepiness, nausea.
When he feels well physically, he is pretty jolly. Today he was
practicing saluting in OT. Now, you'll kind of need to use your
imagination here...He can't straighten out his hands, so
they are kind of cupped. Plus, he can only raise his arms
so far...so his hand kind of reaches his eyebrow. He
looks a little like a drunken sailor (no offense to the Navy).
Anyway, he was saluting everyone who came in the door. There
was a flag in the room and he was saluting that..... I wish
I had a movie camera...He was glad I didn't.
Keep those prayers coming...God hears, and answers.
Blessings,
Connie
Day Twenty-eight...
July 1, 2003
Wow...4 weeks at Harmarville.
Good news ! Greg only lost 1 pound this week. I actually think he
may have gained some weight the last few days. He has been eating
much better and has had a can of BOOST at every meal. He likes it !!
The medication issues seem to be smoothing out. Each day
since last Thursday has been progressively better.
Tonight he was still out of bed when we left at about
830P. He walked us out...well we walked..he rode.
He has a very busy day tomorrow starting at 7:30 AM with
ADLs. He's doing "uppers" with Michelle. That means
putting on the T shirt. Have you tried it?
Today in OT, Francie practiced transferring Greg
from the wheelchair to a bed. She said her legs
were burning....but she did it !!! He's hoping
for some short getaways this month.
Each day I have been asked to add people to this distro.
We are up to 77 members. It has been suggested that
perhaps some of you might like the "back" reports.
If so, please let me know and I can send them in a
word document.
Finally, I'd just like to mention how blessed
we feel to have all of you. We were talking
about how God doesn't give us more than we can
handle. Greg mentioned that God sets things in
place to help you handle what he knows is
coming in the future....your family, who you marry,
your church, your friends, etc. The key is to trust
Him. To believe what He says.." 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."
Blessings...
Connie
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