Category: Magee

Categories
Brain Injury Magee

No gloves but lots of guilt…

One thing I didn’t share about yesterday was that at Magee, the gloves and gown are no longer needed to visit with Bob. It was really nice to be able to actually touch his arms, hands, and face with my hands yesterday.

But I didn’t make the trip today to visit with him. It’s the first day since the accident that I haven’t seen him. And I feel sick about it. I did get a full report (and I mean full) from his case manager earlier today with detailed statistics about what he was and was not able to do in OT, PT, and Speech. It was extremely overwhelming and a bit humbling to realize just how far he needs to go before he’s back at baseline.

A few times in ICU, I actually thought that if I gave him a big ole smooch, he would wake up (thanks fairy tales). Or that I would walk in and he would be sitting up and eating jello. Now, I guess I just hoped the report would be that he was up and walking. But the reality is that he doesn’t know what day it is, can’t thread his arms through a shirt, and can’t stay upright on his own without help. So I’m sad. And I feel awful that I didn’t see him tonight. Mikey and I did call his room and he said, “Hi. What’s up?” after being handed the phone by his 1:1 aide like nothing had ever changed.

But it has. And it’s just sad. I’m sad. And Mikey knows it. He hugs me more. Kisses me more. And will often rush to my side when he sees me get teary. I try not to cry any more in front of him but it still happens. And I just miss Bob. My Bob.

The accident happened the day before my birthday. I was wondering if he had bought me anything or planned an experience. Ferg said she remembered taking to him about it earlier at work on the day of the accident and that she thought it was an experience. I was going through mail tonight and looking at bills. On his credit card was a charge for spa finder that was enough for us both to get massages. He probably would have scheduled Brittany to take the kids for the day or overnight and we would have been pampered, had a wonderful dinner, and spent the night in AC. That’s my guess. I’m not sure I’ll ever know. I’m not sure he’ll ever remember what he was planning because that was a short term memory.

Please keep praying for him and our family.

Much love, Karen

One of last year’s birthday gifts. Delivered to work.

And our birthday date last year. He actually said he enjoyed it and would do it again. The art is hanging in our room now.

Categories
Acuity Brain Injury Magee

The only way to go is up…

What an amazing day! What started out with uncertainty is ending up fantastically! (be prepared for a boat load of exclamation points) I got word in the late morning that he was being discharged from Acuity and admitted to Magee. I have only been here for a few hours but have been moved to tears on more than a few occasions.

The building and staff have so much to offer us as a family with our healing. Everyone here is just as concerned about me as they are about Bob. He had dinner and really enjoyed his pudding tonight. He asked for ice cream and wouldn’t you know, they brought him ice cream! The doctors cognitive assessment was sooo much more intense. Count backwards by three’s from 20. Remember these three words (ball, piano, cardinal) and I’ll ask you to tell me them in a few minutes. Name as many animals as you can in a minute. What day of the week is it? What month is it? What were those three words I told you before? (he said giraffe) I also learned that I need to not always correct him when he gives wrong information, but redirect him instead. Whoops. I’ve messed up a bit in the last week and a half. But I didn’t know any better. It just frustrates him and his brain to feel like he has bad information.

The staff are intensely caring for his wounds and any scrapes and cuts he has. He has a wheelchair and has all of his clothes moved in. PANTS TOMORROW! I have met his case manager, his physician and resident, and his OT. Every one seems to be on the top of their game. And I also met the horticulture therapist, Jeanette.

It was open greenhouse tonight and she asked me to come up. I thought I was going to be moving bags of soil and planting flowers to just help out in the room. But no! I got to repot a few houseplants and I can take this to keep in Bob’s room!

Our tour guide, Ruth, came into Bob’s room to check on him and me. One of my student’s uncles works here (Keith) and I caught up to him in the parking lot. He was making sure I was ok and that Bob was being taken care of. It’s been an overwhelming day but with so many amazing things that happened and people to guide us along.

Being here is an unbelievable blessing. For Bob. For me. And for our family. Oh! I almost forgot. When I first got here today, I asked Bob if he remembered the foster baby we (and our village) are caring for and he called him by name!

Thank you for your continued prayers. I’m not thrilled to be on this journey, but I’m glad that the ride has brought us here and that you all are in the car with me.

Karen and Bob xoxo

Today’s theme:

Selfie on the sixth floor

The view from the sixth floor

Me trying to cultivate a green thumb

I was having so much fun

My finished repotting project for Bob’s room

Categories
Acuity Brain Injury Magee

A Three Hour Tour…

Suzie and I traveled to both Magee and Moss Rehabilitation Hospitals in Philadelphia today. Magee was a three hour tour with the lovely Ruth. And Moss was about an hour and half with Shoshana. We drilled them with questions and amazed them with our knowledge of rehabs and outcomes and my husband’s medical needs. We were impressed with both institutions and I will sleep on it before making a decision tomorrow. If Bob were more with it, he would be in full “Spreadsheet Schroeder” mode and have an excel sheet listing pros and cons of each. We did it old school on a piece of paper. The highlights of today include watching a young man on a TBI floor be encouraged by four therapists while in his wheelchair.

Therapist: “You see your room? Can you get there?”

Young Man: “Yes. Yes I can.”

T: “Let’s do this”

*high fives between all of them*

Cue the tears.

We are reviewing our pros and cons list over margaritas and half price apps.