Ronda showed up just in time to help with Kathy. Okay, she did it all. I would have done it. I've done it before. I don't mind doing it, but it was sure alright that Ronda showed up when she did. Really, I think Kathy was cool with me leaving for a few. Not so fresh air.
When I got back, hair & body washed, new sheets. good food, glowing face...
Physical Therapy team is here to see if we can get Kathy into a wheel chair I'll check back in a bit!
*Time lapse sequence here*
WHOOOoooeeee! Just toured the hospital in a wheelchair. I took Kathy back to ICU to see her old rooms. She didn't remember any of it from before!?! The medical people remembered her though! They took some time to let Kathy get to know them & fill in a part of this story that Kathy doesn't remember. Stopped in front of an open door just to let her smell the fresh outside air!
Foley is out! It's a trick to get her on the potty chair & wheelchair, more so to get her back in bed after.
*Time lapse sequence again*
The day was awesome! The night has Kathy paying for it in a big way. Lots of pain again. She gets so tired doing such little things. Kathy is frustrated at wanting to do the ordinary things that escape her right now. I can't seem to make her feel better. I hope today was worth this.
Kristie and Michelle just got here! Kathy's spirits are lifting already! Pray for good sleep for the girls. Tomorrow is going to be another busy fun day because Kathy wants to start living again & will overdo it, but tomorrow night before bed will be a trial to get through. Sleep medication has worked for increasing the span between waking.
I'm leaving her in good hands with these girls. Baby-step her better!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Now accepting applications for cheerleaders
Smiling faces are not required. CUZ U WON'T BE ABLE 2 STOP SMILING ONCE U GET HERE!
Just got a look at her right ankle and it looks so good! The sutures look great and it looks like over half of the ankle meat stayed together when her foot was pushed off the leg bone! That explains the super positive results when Kathy's foot was reconnected!
Hopefully Kathy will be able to be moved to one of those wheelchairs with the leg extentions soon, so we can get her out of this room for awhile! The invite to visiters is open. If you know Kathy, you know she is a people person. She is looking forward to the planned visits and it will make her a happy girl if you decide to surprise her!
If Kathy shows she can move around better, even with the help of a nurse or a friend, she can have her Foley removed (catheter to the bladder). When that happens we'll have one less tube to keep track of!
Starting to do movements to prevent "ankle drop" & muscle atrophy. Not fun, but she's a trooper & knows how necessary it is.
Just got a look at her right ankle and it looks so good! The sutures look great and it looks like over half of the ankle meat stayed together when her foot was pushed off the leg bone! That explains the super positive results when Kathy's foot was reconnected!
Hopefully Kathy will be able to be moved to one of those wheelchairs with the leg extentions soon, so we can get her out of this room for awhile! The invite to visiters is open. If you know Kathy, you know she is a people person. She is looking forward to the planned visits and it will make her a happy girl if you decide to surprise her!
If Kathy shows she can move around better, even with the help of a nurse or a friend, she can have her Foley removed (catheter to the bladder). When that happens we'll have one less tube to keep track of!
Starting to do movements to prevent "ankle drop" & muscle atrophy. Not fun, but she's a trooper & knows how necessary it is.
More like Dawn than Dusk
First night since the first night that it's just Kathy and I.
It's all good.
We slept more through the night than any time since being here.
Since I met her, Kathy has always been a soy milk drinker... until now!
She has been craving 2% milk! I wonder if it's her body telling her it needs calcium & nutrients to repair her bones?
I'm sure Kathy will have dark days ahead as she works to regain her mobility, but with all the incredible friends she has, I think it will be more like dawn than dusk. With dusk, the light is fading, with dawn, the light is coming back and will get stronger.
Hmmm...that's kinda poetic. If this was a Facebook page, I would click "Like" on that!
Kathy has not seen this blog or had a chance to look at her facebook page yet.
The room is set up so we sit behind her when we use the laptop. I think that if she continues to keep feeling better, you will soon be getting responses directly from Kathy!
Kathy asked me to let everybody know she can't wait to see all the messages and Thanks everyone for taking time out of their lives to send her well wishes. She is up for visiters and would love to see all who can make the trip up. She also understands that it's a long way to travel, so don't feel pressured.
Kathy has asked me if I kept track of who sent flowers and cards and balloons and packages so she can send Thank You's and I have to admit that that was the last thing on my mind at the time. Now I'm in trouble! Seriously, she's mad at me because she doesn't want to appear ungrateful. See? I told you she's feeling better!
It's all good.
We slept more through the night than any time since being here.
Since I met her, Kathy has always been a soy milk drinker... until now!
She has been craving 2% milk! I wonder if it's her body telling her it needs calcium & nutrients to repair her bones?
I'm sure Kathy will have dark days ahead as she works to regain her mobility, but with all the incredible friends she has, I think it will be more like dawn than dusk. With dusk, the light is fading, with dawn, the light is coming back and will get stronger.
Hmmm...that's kinda poetic. If this was a Facebook page, I would click "Like" on that!
Kathy has not seen this blog or had a chance to look at her facebook page yet.
The room is set up so we sit behind her when we use the laptop. I think that if she continues to keep feeling better, you will soon be getting responses directly from Kathy!
Kathy asked me to let everybody know she can't wait to see all the messages and Thanks everyone for taking time out of their lives to send her well wishes. She is up for visiters and would love to see all who can make the trip up. She also understands that it's a long way to travel, so don't feel pressured.
Kathy has asked me if I kept track of who sent flowers and cards and balloons and packages so she can send Thank You's and I have to admit that that was the last thing on my mind at the time. Now I'm in trouble! Seriously, she's mad at me because she doesn't want to appear ungrateful. See? I told you she's feeling better!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
What is this, surgery #6 or #7?
Much better recovery after surgery this time!
Wound vacs are smaller this time too! Starting to shrink the fasciectomy size.
The down side (you knew there would be a down side, right?) is that I was left in the surgery waiting room while Kathy was wheeled up to her room. I waited. I waited...
I asked, was told her procedure was finished and she was in recovery. I waited... I WAITED!
I asked again, was told to wait in the waiting room while she checked on Kathy for me. I waited...
AND WAS TOLD SHE WAS TAKEN TO HER ROOM 20 MINUTES AGO!!!
Still a bit dopey when I got up here. Whew! I was worried she'd wonder where her people were at.
The new nurse (different one again) said Kathy talked about the chicken in her stomach. Not food. A LIVE chicken.
Kathy told me of a dream she was having that she had lots of plastic surgery at this hospital and knew just where to go.
She was pretty sure the nurse wanted to drop a Tonka truck on her head.
I'm starting to see why they lock this pain stuff up! Can you imagine the abuse?!?
It is a eye opener to get away for a day or so, then come back, the improvement is much more noticeable. The girls who are coming up this weekend are going to have fun as Kathy's pain lets more of her great personality come back.
I'm going to get my girl something to eat. Anybody know where I can find a corndog?
Wound vacs are smaller this time too! Starting to shrink the fasciectomy size.
The down side (you knew there would be a down side, right?) is that I was left in the surgery waiting room while Kathy was wheeled up to her room. I waited. I waited...
I asked, was told her procedure was finished and she was in recovery. I waited... I WAITED!
I asked again, was told to wait in the waiting room while she checked on Kathy for me. I waited...
AND WAS TOLD SHE WAS TAKEN TO HER ROOM 20 MINUTES AGO!!!
Still a bit dopey when I got up here. Whew! I was worried she'd wonder where her people were at.
The new nurse (different one again) said Kathy talked about the chicken in her stomach. Not food. A LIVE chicken.
Kathy told me of a dream she was having that she had lots of plastic surgery at this hospital and knew just where to go.
She was pretty sure the nurse wanted to drop a Tonka truck on her head.
I'm starting to see why they lock this pain stuff up! Can you imagine the abuse?!?
It is a eye opener to get away for a day or so, then come back, the improvement is much more noticeable. The girls who are coming up this weekend are going to have fun as Kathy's pain lets more of her great personality come back.
I'm going to get my girl something to eat. Anybody know where I can find a corndog?
Get through this Hell
Kathy is finally getting her wound vacs replaced with new & a thorough cleaning of the left leg fasciectomies.
Hasn't eaten since yesterday.
I'm glad she is unconscious during this.
I want to spit thinking about the procedure.
I pray that no more lower leg muscle has to be removed due to "die off".
The last couple days have given us reminders of how lucky we are that Kathy's injuries weren't worse.
Kathy's legs are still both part of her & with physical therapy, determination, hard work & support from those who love her, she will heal.
She is afraid of chronic pain from nerve damage. Working in pain management made her very aware of how bad that can be.
She is afraid of how bad the missing muscle "divits" and scarring will be.
She is afraid of not walking normally again.
As Kathy recovers, she will see it for herslf, but until then, I may need your help reminding
this AMAZING woman how PERFECT she really is!
As Kathy recovers, she will see it for herself
Hasn't eaten since yesterday.
I'm glad she is unconscious during this.
I want to spit thinking about the procedure.
I pray that no more lower leg muscle has to be removed due to "die off".
The last couple days have given us reminders of how lucky we are that Kathy's injuries weren't worse.
Kathy's legs are still both part of her & with physical therapy, determination, hard work & support from those who love her, she will heal.
She is afraid of chronic pain from nerve damage. Working in pain management made her very aware of how bad that can be.
She is afraid of how bad the missing muscle "divits" and scarring will be.
She is afraid of not walking normally again.
As Kathy recovers, she will see it for herslf, but until then, I may need your help reminding
this AMAZING woman how PERFECT she really is!
As Kathy recovers, she will see it for herself
I'm BaaAAAaack!
Ted again! Drum roll please. Kidding! I was crazy missing this girl! Nicole, my sister-in-law, helped me drive home through the night, so I could catch up on some work wednesday and again to get back up here. It doesn't feel right doing "normal" stuff when things are so far from normal here with Kathy.
Hey, as I reread the posts I'm seeing how the change in mood is much more hopeful & humorous. It's great to be able to see Kathy improving in so many ways!
Yeah, take away the worry of Kathy losing her life or limbs and it's easy to joke about bed wrinkles & bowel movements.
Kathy was terribly sad when Jess had to leave. What am I, chopped liver?!? Good thing Ronda showed up to save the day! I think I'm going to have to work on my approach.
Her left leg is unwrapped now. Finally able to see how well all the king's men did.
Let's see... Long openings on both sides of her left calf will be getting the wound vacs replaced with new ones today. Access repairs to the front & one side of the knee cap area. Back of the knee is stapled together clear across. Her right ankle is reattached and the right thigh is stapled together where the surgeon had to harvest veins to replace the ones destroyed in the left knee area. All that stitching is going to leave some wicked scarring that will make a great story for the grandkids one day. I'm thinking of a jungle excursion story with piranha and crocodiles...
Hey, as I reread the posts I'm seeing how the change in mood is much more hopeful & humorous. It's great to be able to see Kathy improving in so many ways!
Yeah, take away the worry of Kathy losing her life or limbs and it's easy to joke about bed wrinkles & bowel movements.
Kathy was terribly sad when Jess had to leave. What am I, chopped liver?!? Good thing Ronda showed up to save the day! I think I'm going to have to work on my approach.
Her left leg is unwrapped now. Finally able to see how well all the king's men did.
Let's see... Long openings on both sides of her left calf will be getting the wound vacs replaced with new ones today. Access repairs to the front & one side of the knee cap area. Back of the knee is stapled together clear across. Her right ankle is reattached and the right thigh is stapled together where the surgeon had to harvest veins to replace the ones destroyed in the left knee area. All that stitching is going to leave some wicked scarring that will make a great story for the grandkids one day. I'm thinking of a jungle excursion story with piranha and crocodiles...
Why the Backhoe??
Nurse shift change does not always work in our favor....We've been enduring the drip alarms this morning and as they go off and beep and beep and beeeeeeeeep, our calls go unanswered and though it seems like a miniscule thing I feel like I could threaten bodily harm. It's like a backhoe warning movement (back up already!!) I think Kathy only pretends to be as irritated as I, she is actually quite a chipper gal in the mornings; I on the other hand.....not my finest hour!
I'm realizing how much better things must be to be complaining about "alarms"!
Kathy is on the phone with Geico right now and it is not splendid news. We, friends, are going to have to pull off one hell of a fundraiser for this girl!! Absolutely blows my mind that anyone working in the health industry in this country could could be completely without health insurance. Kathy has paid it forward for a lot of years and now it's her turn to be on the the receiving end! Will be in touch very soon with fundraiser plans.
I'm realizing how much better things must be to be complaining about "alarms"!
Kathy is on the phone with Geico right now and it is not splendid news. We, friends, are going to have to pull off one hell of a fundraiser for this girl!! Absolutely blows my mind that anyone working in the health industry in this country could could be completely without health insurance. Kathy has paid it forward for a lot of years and now it's her turn to be on the the receiving end! Will be in touch very soon with fundraiser plans.
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