Yesterday--Yuck Today--Yay

Like the picture? It is a self portrait. I am actually surprised she let me take it.

Yesterday was stressful and blah for me. When I got to the hospital I didn't think Mom looked right. She was having really labored breathing too. I had to go down to the social workers office to work on some insurance things which are absolutely a nightmare. I don't know if I could do that for a living. There was a scare in the morning, they thought she might be having another stroke, but she was not. She had alot of mucus yesterday and alot of plugs. So she got a warmer for her aerosol and that has seemed to help break things up.

The hematologist is worried about her hemoglobin. He says it is too low and if it doesn't improve he wants to do a bone marrow biopsy. I am not too sure about that one. I asked him today what her numbers were and what he wanted them to be. He said yesterday it was 9.1 and today it was 8.8 and for her it should be around 11 because she is sick, normally a 12. He is going to keep an eye on it over the weekend.

By the way, here is what she has with her trachea.......TRACHEOMALACIA

The gastro doc checked her yesterday. Here is what they are working on now. She can't get moved anywhere while she has a NG tube. They don't really want to put a feeding tube back in her stomach while she still has a wound from the first tube. So...she needs to be able to eat. They did a swallow test on her last evening The speech therapist had to really coax her to get her to swallow, but she did it. The best news is that it went down the right way. They use blue applesauce and after swallowing in about 10 minutes they suction her to see if any went into her lungs and she passed and didn't have any for 24 hours. So now they are working on her swallowing, doing exercises with her.

I spoke up about she has not been out of her room yet like promised. John the Physical Therapist is going to work on that tomorrow and he will, he is good.

Today was a much better day. She was very awake and alert and smiley all day. Love to talk to her and see what kind of expressions I get. She really participates. She didn't want to get up tonight in her chair. She made that very clear by fighting her aide. I gave in and told them they didn't have to get her up. But when she started to push away the RT's hand because she didn't want to get suctioned, I did hold her hand down and make her mad. I reminded her she really has to have that done so she can breather and I got the eye roll. She was smiling the whole time I was putting her lotion on also. Must of felt good.

There is one thing she did that I am just amazed at. An aide was in and put a new bracelet on her. She picked up the papers the aide had laid on the bed. So I gave her a paper off the bulliten board and told her she could hold that. (she loves holding things) It was her swallowing exercises instructions and she held them up and I swear read them. I watched her eyes go back and forth. Then when she was done I told her there was more on the back. She laid the paper down, turned it over, picked it back up and seemed to read it and then gave it to me. They are always telling me how she won't follow commands, but they never seem to focus on what she does do. That bothers me.

Now, I need some help. She will be going to a nursing home when she leaves here. They are trying to get the insurqnce company to approve her coming to Decatur. I need honest answers about what snyone knows or has experienced at any of the nursing homes in Decatur and I want honest answers!!!! Oh there is one on the list for Sullivan rehab, not the Mason one. But Mason Point is on the list too. OK so maybe the surrounding areas too. The goal is to get her strong enough to attend a special stroke rehab program and there is a wonderful one in Springfield and then for her to be able to come home and live. Please, Please let me know!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh she got to hear Luca on the phone this evening and it was the biggest smile and twinkle in her eyes I have seen for quite awhile. It was good for her, another reason to get her closer to home.

Bunches of Love,
Angela

babiak3@yahoo.com
www.kindredhospitalsyc.com
www.payitgorwardhouse.org