Category: Brain Injury

Bob had a great day of therapy today. We went to Speech with Sarah because Ashley had a meeting and Bob spent time doing a math crossword puzzle and an activity where you were asked to answer questions about a map.

We immediately went to OT with Brian where the two talked about the meal he is going to make in the near future. I believe it is a ham and “something” omelette. I don’t really remember. But Bob did. And that’s what counts right now. He also had a ton of stretching and showed me how he can get in and out of a tub.

We also went to an education session that was led by nurses and OT staff about medication. Everyone got a printout of their current meds and we had a conversation about what they were for and side effects. Bob was impressed that I had two copies of his med sheets in PDF format on my phone. He always says, “you must know people” and “you talk too much”.

I think he REALLY felt like I talked too much at lunch with our friend Keith Newerla, who brought along Ron Siggs to join us. Keith brought Bob some Magee swag and we had a great time sharing Bob’s story. And by we, I mean me. Because again, I talk too much. Keith took me on a tour of the soon to be opened 2nd floor, and it is GORGEOUS. I hope I never need Magee, but PLEASE make sure Bob knows to send me there.

I had a meeting with Trisha, and we continued to discuss Bob’s discharge options as well as where his needs might best be met in the outpatient setting. I hope to have a hard and fast discharge date within the next few weeks. But as of this past Tuesday, his estimated length of stay is four more weeks. I know he’s going to continue to improve by leaps and bounds in that timeframe.

At the end of the day, I got to see Bob on the Vector for the first time. It was incredible to see him be able to walk essentially on his own. His PT Caroline had it set to reduce Bob’s weight by 5%. He was doing a great deal of work on his own and was really having issues only when he was being asked to change speeds or stop. Sidestepping and walking backwards also proved to be challenges for Bob today. I keep thinking that he shouldn’t need to have much more PT because he is almost able to walk on his own. However, the ability to balance and move your body through space in a multitude of ways is a lot more than simply walking in a straight line.

The ride home was 2+ hours, just like the ride there last night. It’s just going to get longer and longer and we move further to the summer. But it’s really worth it to spend time watching Bob’s healing in progress.

It’s only been a couple of days since I updated you but I just have to share that I am amazed by how many new memories Bob is making. I was originally frustrated that he couldn’t remember what he had eaten ten minutes before, but now he remembers and can recount for me what he has done in therapy for that day and even the day or two before. And when I ask most people what they ate for breakfast, very few can answer me correctly anyway.

He remembers that Ranit is on a “people tour” (which is our way of describing a vacation with multiple stops to visit friends and family in multiple states) and Melissa is in Punta Cana. He tells me Ashley loves the notes I leave for her on his homework. He tells me that Brian is a “health-nut” who told him to stop drinking fruit punch at night. He told me that he made oatmeal in OT the other day with Brian and got to eat it, but it needed sugar. And that they plan to have him cook himself a full meal in the OT kitchen in the near future. He wants to be back with his Weber in the worst way.

Bob remembers staff members names from day to day. He told me he practiced getting in and out of the car that is on the roof at Magee.

He also showed me the artwork that he was making. One was a marker drawing and one was watercolor. The art therapist came to his day room to work with patients there. He told me, “Our door is red, right? Your grandmother wanted it that color so she painted it herself, right?” And the artwork has a house with a red door and green-ish siding.

We played bingo tonight and we each won a game. He picked a canvas with Philadelphia artwork and markers to color it in and I picked a word search book. We made a killing. And the people doing the calling were no joke. No repeating of the call and they clipped through it SO FAST. I got distracted for about five seconds and missed two numbers. I had to ask Bob which ones I missed. 🙄

Bob also FaceTimed with Mike, Terry, Dani, and Colin last night. He is looking forward to a Father’s Day BBQ at the Andrews and Fourth of July with Dani and Colin. And watching the Super Bowl with Colin. Happy Graduation Day Dani!

My friend, Michael, at the Sheraton also checked me in tonight so I’m back in “da club” level. He always asks me how Bob and Mikey are doing. Mikey has had a rough week. Vomited early Tuesday morning. Nothing like “Momma are you?” at 4 am and you expect to just comfort him for a second and he says “I frowed (throwed) up”. And he has been spiking high fevers here and there. My mom and dad (Gaga and Poppop) have taken him in during the day since Tuesday.

So I’ve been keeping it together. By fraying and extremely thin threads, but it’s together. And others step in and help hold it in one piece. But it’s not easy. And I fear that my collapse is coming. Yes, I am doing the best I can to take care of myself. Yes, I am trying to rest as much as I can, but small children tend to disrupt sleep on a normal day. Yes, I am eating (and drinking). Yes, I am arranging at least one fun thing a week to do for me.

Thanks for your continued prayers. Bob needs prayers for his bladder, his lower back, and his left shoulder. We love you all.

For those of you who know Bob and I well, you are aware that tiny baby is not our first foster. But I went to the ER with him tonight like it was my first rodeo. Amateur. 🙄

Lesson 1: Don’t get to the ER mid-shift change. You will wait. Unless you have been stabbed repeatedly in the arm and you’re bleeding out in the waiting room. Shift change is between 7 and 8. I arrived at 7:10. Doofus.

Lesson 2: Always overpack infant needs. You think five diapers and one 9 ounce bottle will be enough for a quick check of your breathing? WRONG. Go pack three times that.

Lesson 3: You think it will be quick. It was quick one time. Three years ago. Forget it. Prepare to camp out. And you should have eaten before you left. You’re better than that. C’mon.

Lesson 4: You should have picked Shore Memorial over ACMC City Division because the last time you were in the ER here was March 20 after your husband’s near fatal car accident. And you thought you were prepared to return. But you really weren’t.

I was ok at first being in the ER, until we walked down the hall for X-rays. I passed the waiting room where I sat with Mike, Terry, and Pastor Chris and signed for Bob’s personal effects and ugly cried like crazy. How many other families have sat there waiting for news? How many of those messages have been life changing?

But X-ray is right across from the trauma bays. I don’t remember much detail from that first night, but I do remember the weight of my winter coat on my arm and the blacked out trauma doors. So I fought back tears as tiny baby and I went for a quick chest x-ray. (He’s gonna be fine, just some rapid breathing and we don’t mess around with stuff like that, but add him to your prayer list. I didn’t want you to worry through the whole post).

So it’s been a rough evening. I am waiting now for results in the ER just like I did 8 weeks ago. Kinda weird how that all works.

The past few days have been great for Bob. Tons of visitors between Friday and Sunday so I know that keeps him in good spirits. Therapy went well on Friday, but it hurt to watch him complete some “menu math” problems. He got them all correct, but it was a painfully slow process to watch and he even needed paper and pencil for calculations. He just doesn’t have the short term memory to keep it all upstairs.

He also enjoys reading back through the visitors log book that I made him right after the accident. He is always amazed that so many people came to see him when he was unconscious. And he loves the sketch Uncle Wayne made of him. Please keep writing in it if you are able to visit. It is going to be an amazing keepsake.

He walked even more during PT today with just Ranit helping. He is getting better and better physically every day.

I also surprised him with Pats cheesesteaks for lunch. He really enjoyed that and we spent most of our day outside enjoying the weather. My mom and Mikey came up in the afternoon and we had a ball eating dinner with daddy and blowing bubbles on the roof.

We swam the next day and visited some more before heading home. Bob felt bad that he was missing Mother’s Day. I assured him that it wasn’t a big deal. But I did miss him spoiling me. And Titi did help Mikey and tiny baby make a craft for me.

Bob got a new set of wheels today that he can power with his legs. He said he feels like he has run four marathons because no one will push him around anymore. Don’t worry my love, I’ll be there soon enough to push you around. 🤣