Video of Dad; Update and Prayer Request

Well I was able to go today to dad's rehab and get video of him trying to walk. Sorry its not the most still video, I was trying to keep up with David while video taping.

I also happen to be there when Dad's Doctor came in. This was the first time I had met him, but heard wonderful things about him. He went on and on at how much progress dad has made and was so excited for him. Through us talking dad is able to now fully dress himself and has learned how to do that in his wheelchair. He can even put on and off his chucks (shoes), he is also able to shower himself. Dad has been having severe burning pain in his feet around 10pm at night once he was settled and not moving around anymore. The Dr gave him some medicine that you would give someone with Fibromialga (sp?) and it has taken the pain away. I mentioned how we were told a month into all this that he could have symptoms of that, which from the doctor's response had not been mentioned to him before.

Just from my visit today the main prayer he needs as far as physical therapy goes is continueing the task of learning how to walk again. As you can tell from the video he is making progress and also still has a long ways to go. He has been healthy and continued prayer that he stays healthy also.

In Addition....

Please keep us in your prayers with MeeMaw. Friday night at 10pm I got a call from my mom, saying that we needed to call 911 for MeeMaw (her mom) to be taken from her assisted living home to the ER. When I got to the ER MeeMaw was in so much pain he was gripping the handrails of the stretcher, back arched, clinched teeth/head, rigid body etc. Immediately she was given pain meds and an IV as we soon discovered on top of everything else she had a UTI which was making the back pain worse. She was also 95% of the time spaced out and completely unresponsive. Well here we are Thursday she was returned back to her assisted living home under their care along with Hospice and a group of doctors and nurses that will be going to her to help (last night she went back to the assisted living home). She is unable to get out of bed, she is at times unresponsive, when she is responsive it is mainly with facial expressions and rarely any words spoken. She is unable to feed herself and as of 1pm this afternoon unable to eat at all. She is breathing on her own and is on meds for the pain that are suppose to be closely monitored. It is no quality of life and I personally pray that God takes her home quickly.

It is 3:20pm on Thursday afternoon, I just talked to my sister in law and she just left MeeMaw's place. She said that MeeMaw looked comfortable in her bed, she was given a Boost type of drink and sipped on it and water while they were there. My sister in law mentioned that she had some memory at times and not at other. She smiled a little also. It seems that the afternoon is going better then this morning. My mom will be there around the evening so we will see what mom has to report back tonight.

Please continue to keep all of us in your prayers as we all have alot on our plates right now. We just feel pulled, pushed and knocked down and need the strength physically, emotionally and mentally to keep going. From all of us thank you so much for all the prayers and support!!

P.S. I know that there are way more people following this blog then are actually registered as a follower. If you want to send a message to dad or mom then you can email me at MsDejavu@yahoo.com. Please keep the messages for dad seperate then for mom. With them still not living under the same roof they will be dilevered to seperate places.

Exciting Updates!

Once again I am way late on updating this blog for you guys and I am so sorry. I am going to try to make a point to update it once a week even if it is to post minimal info.

Last Saturday we took dad out to eat!!!! He taught himself how to get in and out of the car with his slide board and was craving a hamburger and onion rings from chili's. We were going to bring it to him but he was determined to get out for a little bit if his nurse would let him. We were able to take him out and it was awesome! His sister was in town also from San Antonio so that made it extra special. Needless to say he was exhausted from the little outing and pretty much slept the next day and a half. Oh, another great accomplishment that happened when we were out.... (again trying to figure out exactly how to word this) dad could tell that he needed to have a bowel movement as we were leaving Chili's. He was able to control his internal body enough that he held it in until he was able to get back to his room and to his bathroom (about 10-12 minutes). This is HUGE!!!!! He is on no official bowel program, this is God's program.

Dad is also back to cathing himself and doing this daily with success. He also told me a couple of days ago that with his bowel movements he is able to successfully make it to the bathroom and is only having an accident in his diaper once every few days.

Things are going good in physical therapy. I walked in there yesterday at the very end of it and I really liked that the therapist was sitting with dad doing the arm strengthening exercises with him. I know when I was a basketball coach I would always run with my girls, do plays with them, etc...and it makes a difference. I felt the same with dad and seeing his therapist....it makes a difference.

Please continue to keep mom in your prayers. She continues to have a lot on her plate and things are not looking good for her mom, MeeMaw. I went Wednesday with mom to visit MeeMaw and she looked horrible. Last week MeeMaw got lost after lunch trying to walk back to her room, and she has a bump on the back of her head but doesn't remember how she got it. We talked with her about moving to a nursing home but she doesn't think she could survive the move. MeeMaw has been in the assisted living home for a year now and has a few workers that really look out for her. They make sure if she doesn't come down at meal time that she gets her food in her room and she even has one that prayers with her every night before MeeMaw goes to bed. MeeMaw continues to be in alot of pain with her back and her body all over feels horrible. Mom is in contact with her doctors to get MeeMaw on some stronger drugs to just keep her comfortable for whatever time she has left. After talking to the nurse of MeeMaw's internist...the nurse said that she is portraying herself like someone that has cancer. We do not know if MeeMaw has cancer, I don't know if something like that would show up on an MRI, but the Doctors have never mentioned anything about cancer. At 87 years old either way, our goal is to keep her as comfortable as possible. She keeps talking about wanting to go "home" and we don't think this is a house here on earth. Needless to say this is very stressful, especially for mom on top of just everything else going on. Mom is an only child and my brother and myself can only do so much as grandchildren.

Please continue to keep all of this in your prayers. Pray for all of our strength and endurance during this time....especially mom's. God Bless!!

Updates on Dad

Well I have been trying to think of the best way to put the following news, but I don't think I can get it more polite. So here it goes: Last Friday dad had that internal feeling that he needed to have a bowel movement. He then proceeded to get himself wheeled into the bathroom, was able to undress himself and get on the toilet where he then DID have a bowel movement. This happened twice in one day. This is HUGE!!!!!! for him to be able to do this. He was told that he would never have that feeling again and that he would always be in diapers.

In addition yesterday, Monday, he was able to take about 18 steps. (When we say steps at this point we mean little shuffle steps). His therapist is teaching him how to walk without holding on to anything and how to properly catch himself. He said that he was able to take a couple of steps at a time, then catch, couple more, etc. He mentioned the other day that he is getting to wear he can go from sitting in the wheelchair to a standing position. When not in official therapy he will sit in front of a window with some sunshine and practice this.

He is (as you can imagine) so excited about all the new progress. He actually called me all excited about it. (First time he has called me and not me call him during this whole time) Praise God!!!!!

There is still much needed prayer with the continuation of his progress. He is not making it to the bathroom for every bowel movement (my understanding is not even daily, but at least we have a start), and still needing to regularly be cathed (sp?)...and of course just all the therapy. One of the greatest future obstacles to please keep in your prayers, is that mom and dad do not have a bathtub (no full bath, only half bath) downstairs in their house. The earliest dad will come home is the end of May and the dilemma is with the bedrooms and full bath being upstairs.

Thank you so much for the continued support! My goal in the next couple of weeks is to get a video of dad walking in therapy and sharing it with all of you. God's Blessings!