Pat just called and talked to Mr. Roberson and to Terry, and she sounds the best I have heard.
She said that Don actually slept for four hours straight last night which is a big improvement. He is much more alert this morning and is expressing more positive thoughts than in the past. They are getting his medicine regulated so things are really looking up.
It still looks like two to four more weeks in the rehab hospital, but she thinks it will be closer to two weeks now. She is optimistic, but cautions that things could change.
Continue to keep them in your prayers.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
July 17th Update
Post submitted by Jim Owens from speaking with Pat on the phone:
Don continues to work hard in Rehab.
Here are the highlights:
They are using some electro-stimulation on his left arm, leg and shoulder periodically to "wake the nerves"
He is doing various exercises to promote movement and return of balance. One involves pushing a basketball across a board. He moves it very slightly, but Pat says the therapists are encouraged and consider this to be progressive.
With help from two therapists, he stood up for the first time today. They put a leg brace on him today, but he still needs lots of support to stand and move. They are working hard to get him to move his left leg. They consider any left side movement as progress.
Pat says his medical team will not give a definitive long term prognosis. They do say he may drive again and return to work, but they emphasize that these events will take a great deal of time to occur.
He starts his day at 8 AM with breakfast, and goes through his therapy regimen until
2:30. He often falls asleep in the wheel chair on the way back to the room.
They expect him to be in the hospital, in therapy, for 4-5 more weeks. At that time he would be sent home, and would continue out patient therapy.
Pat says he has not really felt up to having company. She feels that this is due to his medications and his being very tired from the therapy sessions. He has very little appetite, and many odors or smells like soap, lotions or perfumes are offensive to him. Pat feels that they are finally getting his medicines balanced, which will improve the these issues.
He continues to have difficulty seeing to the left, which the Docs call "left side neglect" he has to force himself to turn to see the left periphery. His catheter was removed today, which is a positive.
Pat continues to emphasize that the recovery process is going to be long. She says her spirits are buoyed by Don's progress and his willingness to work toward improvement.
Don continues to work hard in Rehab.
Here are the highlights:
They are using some electro-stimulation on his left arm, leg and shoulder periodically to "wake the nerves"
He is doing various exercises to promote movement and return of balance. One involves pushing a basketball across a board. He moves it very slightly, but Pat says the therapists are encouraged and consider this to be progressive.
With help from two therapists, he stood up for the first time today. They put a leg brace on him today, but he still needs lots of support to stand and move. They are working hard to get him to move his left leg. They consider any left side movement as progress.
Pat says his medical team will not give a definitive long term prognosis. They do say he may drive again and return to work, but they emphasize that these events will take a great deal of time to occur.
He starts his day at 8 AM with breakfast, and goes through his therapy regimen until
2:30. He often falls asleep in the wheel chair on the way back to the room.
They expect him to be in the hospital, in therapy, for 4-5 more weeks. At that time he would be sent home, and would continue out patient therapy.
Pat says he has not really felt up to having company. She feels that this is due to his medications and his being very tired from the therapy sessions. He has very little appetite, and many odors or smells like soap, lotions or perfumes are offensive to him. Pat feels that they are finally getting his medicines balanced, which will improve the these issues.
He continues to have difficulty seeing to the left, which the Docs call "left side neglect" he has to force himself to turn to see the left periphery. His catheter was removed today, which is a positive.
Pat continues to emphasize that the recovery process is going to be long. She says her spirits are buoyed by Don's progress and his willingness to work toward improvement.
Monday, July 13, 2009
July 13th Update
This is a verbal report from Pat.
On Saturday Don showed some symptoms—tingling, tongue was not right, dizziness. They did a CT scan and determined that no additional damage was occurring, just IMPROVEMENT!
The swelling is lessening and the hemorrhaging is being reabsorbed by the body. This will cause strange symptoms for a while and will be a 4-to 6-week process.
He is in physical therapy today.
The doctors say they want Don to concentrate on therapy and healing and to avoid all stress.
On Saturday Don showed some symptoms—tingling, tongue was not right, dizziness. They did a CT scan and determined that no additional damage was occurring, just IMPROVEMENT!
The swelling is lessening and the hemorrhaging is being reabsorbed by the body. This will cause strange symptoms for a while and will be a 4-to 6-week process.
He is in physical therapy today.
The doctors say they want Don to concentrate on therapy and healing and to avoid all stress.
Friday, July 10, 2009
July 10th Update
Post Submitted by Jim Owens:
I have just had a call from Pat. She started her conversation by saying that she had some good news. She reports that Don is feeling better today and is showing some signs of improvement. The therapists have been using a Hoya lift to belt him and transport him to the wheel chair, rest room, to get him to a standing position, etc. They have discontinued this and are now using two people to get him to a standing position and to help him walk. He can distribute weight and walk with the help of two people, and they are thinking about trying a leg brace today to help him to stand. She emphasizes, however, that he cannot walk or stand on his own, and although they are optimistic, he still has a "long way to go."
He can smile and wink now, and yesterday moved him to a regular diet. These are all positives, as this means he can swallow efficiently, and is regaining some use of his facial muscles on the left side. Pat says that he does okay with eating, but that his appetite is not great. The rash and reaction to the stroke medication has subsided, but he is still taking pain meds and muscle relaxers. She reported that he slept through the night on Thursday evening, which is a victory.
Pat says that Don's daily therapy really tires him out, and that his doctors and attendants are still saying that he is not up to seeing visitors yet. She promises to let us know when they, and she, feel he us up to company. They are telling her that they feel he has at least three more weeks of formalized therapy to accomplish, but this can change and become a longer period, depending on their weekly evaluations.
Pat is upbeat and stated that she is doing well and is encouraged by his progress. She emphasizes that his doctors and caretakers are telling her that the key for both of them, and for all of us who are concerned, is patience. Stoke rehabilitation is a long arduous process, and takes a lot of time.
I have just had a call from Pat. She started her conversation by saying that she had some good news. She reports that Don is feeling better today and is showing some signs of improvement. The therapists have been using a Hoya lift to belt him and transport him to the wheel chair, rest room, to get him to a standing position, etc. They have discontinued this and are now using two people to get him to a standing position and to help him walk. He can distribute weight and walk with the help of two people, and they are thinking about trying a leg brace today to help him to stand. She emphasizes, however, that he cannot walk or stand on his own, and although they are optimistic, he still has a "long way to go."
He can smile and wink now, and yesterday moved him to a regular diet. These are all positives, as this means he can swallow efficiently, and is regaining some use of his facial muscles on the left side. Pat says that he does okay with eating, but that his appetite is not great. The rash and reaction to the stroke medication has subsided, but he is still taking pain meds and muscle relaxers. She reported that he slept through the night on Thursday evening, which is a victory.
Pat says that Don's daily therapy really tires him out, and that his doctors and attendants are still saying that he is not up to seeing visitors yet. She promises to let us know when they, and she, feel he us up to company. They are telling her that they feel he has at least three more weeks of formalized therapy to accomplish, but this can change and become a longer period, depending on their weekly evaluations.
Pat is upbeat and stated that she is doing well and is encouraged by his progress. She emphasizes that his doctors and caretakers are telling her that the key for both of them, and for all of us who are concerned, is patience. Stoke rehabilitation is a long arduous process, and takes a lot of time.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
July 8th Update
Post submitted by Jim Owens:
I have just had a call from Pat Scott. She says that Don has had a better day today, but still has a rash and some pain from the reaction and fever he suffered on Sunday to one of the stoke medications that was being given to him. She says he has been through his therapy routine today, and is now being given some muscle relaxers for back spasms and to help him sleep.
He is receiving some electric muscle stimulation therapy to his left side limbs, and is doing repetitive motion exercises to encourage the regeneration of muscle memory.
Due to the fever and reaction to the medication, his therapy schedule was disturbed, and his evaluation process delayed. The doctors and therapists say that it is still too early to predict how he will respond to treatments, and how well he will progress in recovering feeling and movement on the left side. They are still working toward his being able to come home in two weeks, but this is not a certainty at this juncture and it could be four to six weeks.
We discussed visitation, and, although she and Don appreciate and know how much many of us would like to see him, she says his doctors are advising against it at present. Pat says he is very tired and continues not to rest well. She says that, candidly, Don just does not feel like company now. She pledges to let us know when he regains strength and feels like having visitors. I asked her about herself, and in typical "Pat fashion" says she is fine and holding up well. Her orthopedist has actually moved her therapy base to Wake Med, so they are actually able to be in therapy at some of the same times. She says she is going home to sleep in the evenings, as Don is not in a private room now, and staying the night at the hospital relegates her to sleeping on a sofa in the therapy wing lobby.
I have just had a call from Pat Scott. She says that Don has had a better day today, but still has a rash and some pain from the reaction and fever he suffered on Sunday to one of the stoke medications that was being given to him. She says he has been through his therapy routine today, and is now being given some muscle relaxers for back spasms and to help him sleep.
He is receiving some electric muscle stimulation therapy to his left side limbs, and is doing repetitive motion exercises to encourage the regeneration of muscle memory.
Due to the fever and reaction to the medication, his therapy schedule was disturbed, and his evaluation process delayed. The doctors and therapists say that it is still too early to predict how he will respond to treatments, and how well he will progress in recovering feeling and movement on the left side. They are still working toward his being able to come home in two weeks, but this is not a certainty at this juncture and it could be four to six weeks.
We discussed visitation, and, although she and Don appreciate and know how much many of us would like to see him, she says his doctors are advising against it at present. Pat says he is very tired and continues not to rest well. She says that, candidly, Don just does not feel like company now. She pledges to let us know when he regains strength and feels like having visitors. I asked her about herself, and in typical "Pat fashion" says she is fine and holding up well. Her orthopedist has actually moved her therapy base to Wake Med, so they are actually able to be in therapy at some of the same times. She says she is going home to sleep in the evenings, as Don is not in a private room now, and staying the night at the hospital relegates her to sleeping on a sofa in the therapy wing lobby.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Day 5 & 6 Update from Pat
Sorry for the delay in updating, but Pat has had her hands full.
Don was moved to the Rehab unit Wednesday PM. He spent his first night there, and started the rehab evaluation process this morning at 6AM. He is being encouraged to dress and bathe himself ( with help as needed). He is transported to therapy sessions and meals in the cafeteria via wheelchair. The purpose of the rehab evaluation is to establish a baseline from which they will work, and goals for him to achieve by certain times. He is going through physical therapy, speech therapy, head trauma evaluation, and mentality therapy. They will probably have his evaluation and base line done by tomorrow PM. Pat says this therapy is rigorous and wears him out. He works with each therapist for 30 minutes 2 times a day or more. His two doctors are Dr. Solomon and Dr. O'Brien. They are both very upbeat about Don and his ability and desire to work toward recovery. They state that his mental acuity is very good at this point.
Don's situation can certainly change, but the goal and hope at this point is that he will go home in two weeks. Pat is cautiously optimistic, and continues to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and continued support. As most of you know, they do not want anyone to dote, but she does ask that any cards be sent to their home, and not to Wake Med. Also, food and flowers are not the best idea now, as she is spending most of the time at the hospital, and goes home at unpredictable times. Food and meals will be much better appreciated when Don comes home.
Pat feels that attempts to visit right now is not a good plan, as his initial therapy schedule is intense, and she feels he will go right to sleep between all the activity. Therapy is seven days a week.
Today was the first interview with the neuropsychologist who was very encouraging. Assessments were performed so that there is a baseline to measure his progress.
Don is going to have to work really hard, and today’s news is the most encouragement they have had so far.
Don and Pat continue to express their gratefulness for all of your loving concern and prayers.
Don was moved to the Rehab unit Wednesday PM. He spent his first night there, and started the rehab evaluation process this morning at 6AM. He is being encouraged to dress and bathe himself ( with help as needed). He is transported to therapy sessions and meals in the cafeteria via wheelchair. The purpose of the rehab evaluation is to establish a baseline from which they will work, and goals for him to achieve by certain times. He is going through physical therapy, speech therapy, head trauma evaluation, and mentality therapy. They will probably have his evaluation and base line done by tomorrow PM. Pat says this therapy is rigorous and wears him out. He works with each therapist for 30 minutes 2 times a day or more. His two doctors are Dr. Solomon and Dr. O'Brien. They are both very upbeat about Don and his ability and desire to work toward recovery. They state that his mental acuity is very good at this point.
Don's situation can certainly change, but the goal and hope at this point is that he will go home in two weeks. Pat is cautiously optimistic, and continues to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and continued support. As most of you know, they do not want anyone to dote, but she does ask that any cards be sent to their home, and not to Wake Med. Also, food and flowers are not the best idea now, as she is spending most of the time at the hospital, and goes home at unpredictable times. Food and meals will be much better appreciated when Don comes home.
Pat feels that attempts to visit right now is not a good plan, as his initial therapy schedule is intense, and she feels he will go right to sleep between all the activity. Therapy is seven days a week.
Today was the first interview with the neuropsychologist who was very encouraging. Assessments were performed so that there is a baseline to measure his progress.
Don is going to have to work really hard, and today’s news is the most encouragement they have had so far.
Don and Pat continue to express their gratefulness for all of your loving concern and prayers.
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