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.