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Diane very thoughtfully commented that she'd like to order a manicure and pedicure for Mom, and she would definitely look forward to it in the future, but she's not entirely ready for something like that yet. I've worked little by little on sprucing up her toes and fingers since there was still a lot of dried blood and healing cuts, etc... but she tires of any poking and prodding very quickly and I usually am only able to get about 2 to 3 fingers or toes done at any one time. She's still very sensitive. Has she told some of you about what her mother (who we called "Grandmonie") used to say? Her "shock absorbers" are just not working as well these days. It's clear that Mom's shock absorbers are going to bounce back eventually, but she's still very fragile compared to her usual strength. She's lost a lot of weight and her arms and legs are atrophied and weakened from lack of use for over five weeks now, and today getting up for a while caused dizziness and nausea. We hope that working just a little bit harder each day will strengthen her.
Have I mentioned that when I first arrived in late October, Mom was like an infant? She needed us to do so many things for her and she was so incapacitated completely when her ribs were still so sore that she could barely shift her position. As the time has passed, she is regaining more movement to her arms and chest area, and progressing through what you might describe as "crawling" and a bit of "walking." and she is entering the toddler stage, able and eager to do a little for herself yet still very dependent and needs supervision. It won't be long before she's climbing out of her "crib." We are anticipating something like the terrible twos!!! Fortunately, Mom has allowed a little of this type of humor and is good-natured about my interpretation, but we do check in with her about those shock absorbers. She was a very good mother and took excellent care of us unconditionally, so I tell her it's the least I can do to return the favor.
If you've ever tasted that awful Dinty Moore canned beef stew, then you know the taste of what they tried to bill on her dinner menu tonight as "Roasted Sirloin Strip!!!" We just have to say that UAMS was relatively spectacular with the meals they bring to patients' rooms. I hope St. Vincent will improve. Dean and I know that Mom is not a very picky eater. She's pretty easy to please, so we agreed that if Mom didn't like it you know it must be bad!
John and Linda Fordyce
- Linda
- We are so blessed to have a great family and so many, many good, loving friends who are concerned and praying for Linda when she needs it. Thank you!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Vital signs were so perfect the other day that Linda wants to share them with all of you!
Blood pressure was 128/72. Heart rate, 72. Blood/oxygen levels were also much better. I think she had a little anxiety about the removal of the chest tube at first, but there have been no related complications. She’s receiving oxygen daily now and special respiratory treatments that will help improve her lungs. Her breathing seems quite normal and she hasn't had episodes of being out of breath. The Respiratory Therapist told us that the treatment she breathes periodically through a mask causes restlessness in some patients so they are willing to skip the evening treatments so that her sleep will not be interrupted. Anyway, someone comes in at all hours of the night to wake her up for this or that. I don't know how they can expect patients to get well if they can't get a good night's sleep. It's noisy up and down the hall day & night! Sleep is also a remedy. Most of the times I ever get sick is when I'm sleep-deprived, which seems to deplete my immune system. Mom says she wishes she could just lock them out at night or hang a "Do not disturb" sign on her door.
She was up in a wheelchair today and was able to see some of the hallway, get to know the neighborhood a little. She does feel a lot of fatigue after exercise, but she's determined to get out of bed more often and do more normal activities. It will get easier. It will take time.
She’s still suffering from intermittent pains, and we are so sorry when those episodes affect her. The latest is pain in her left shoulder and arm area as well as the left wrist. After not being able to move that arm for over a month, it’s like running a marathon to do a few simple exercises, and it seems so painful. The pain that was affecting her abdomen seems to have been resolved by the removal of the chest tube.
Linda’s dentist made a special visit today (on his day off) to examine a loose tooth, that has been hurting while brushing, that may have become loosened from the impact of the accident. He said it is stable enough to wait-and-see, not likely to become infected, but might have some inflammation later. John was the dentist’s boy scout leader once upon a time.
Blood pressure was 128/72. Heart rate, 72. Blood/oxygen levels were also much better. I think she had a little anxiety about the removal of the chest tube at first, but there have been no related complications. She’s receiving oxygen daily now and special respiratory treatments that will help improve her lungs. Her breathing seems quite normal and she hasn't had episodes of being out of breath. The Respiratory Therapist told us that the treatment she breathes periodically through a mask causes restlessness in some patients so they are willing to skip the evening treatments so that her sleep will not be interrupted. Anyway, someone comes in at all hours of the night to wake her up for this or that. I don't know how they can expect patients to get well if they can't get a good night's sleep. It's noisy up and down the hall day & night! Sleep is also a remedy. Most of the times I ever get sick is when I'm sleep-deprived, which seems to deplete my immune system. Mom says she wishes she could just lock them out at night or hang a "Do not disturb" sign on her door.
She was up in a wheelchair today and was able to see some of the hallway, get to know the neighborhood a little. She does feel a lot of fatigue after exercise, but she's determined to get out of bed more often and do more normal activities. It will get easier. It will take time.
She’s still suffering from intermittent pains, and we are so sorry when those episodes affect her. The latest is pain in her left shoulder and arm area as well as the left wrist. After not being able to move that arm for over a month, it’s like running a marathon to do a few simple exercises, and it seems so painful. The pain that was affecting her abdomen seems to have been resolved by the removal of the chest tube.
Linda’s dentist made a special visit today (on his day off) to examine a loose tooth, that has been hurting while brushing, that may have become loosened from the impact of the accident. He said it is stable enough to wait-and-see, not likely to become infected, but might have some inflammation later. John was the dentist’s boy scout leader once upon a time.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Helplessness
Tuesday evening, Mom was unable to work the call button. She tried pushing her call button for a very long time. Finally, she resorted to yelling and screaming but noone came. When someone eventually came, she was told that the call system had not been working all day!!! We hadn't known because we hardly ever need the call button when we are already there to help her in the daytime. She looked the person as straight in the eye as she could, lying flat on her back with her neck brace on, and said "You have a responsibility to let every patient on this floor know about this and someone needs to check on them regularly." Unfortunately, the message didn't seem to get through. When John learned of this Wednesday morning, he really let the management know how unacceptable this was. It turned out that upper management had not even been informed of the fact that the system was out! Later, when a technician was in Mom's room, she realized that someone had even lied to her about it. He said that he's on call and could have repaired this 24/7, but she had been told they'd have to wait until the daytime to call for repairs.
Overall, Mom has received rather excellent care from many wonderful professionals at both UAMS and Select Specialty Hospital, and she credits many for having saved her life! It is sad and disturbing when we come across the few staff members who don't practice traditional ethics and standards regarding patient care. Mom was just as concerned for the many other patients on the floor. Many have remarked that medical care used to be more like a calling. Has it become just a job.? How dare they leave helpless, bedridden people alone without any means to call for assistance!
Now, each night before John leaves, he makes sure the call button works but also puts the telephone near Mom's right hand and she has the number for the nurse's station memorized, but it is still difficult for her to dial it with only her four fingers. She's gradually getting some use from her left arm but the left wrist is extremely sore from being idle for more than one month.
According to contract, there will be a total of 21 days in this hospital--halfway there now--before Mom can move to either Baptist Rehabilitation or possibly home. I'm flying back to Saipan on December 10 so I really hope she can make a lot of progress by then. She is more frequently trying to sit up, stand, and walk a bit now. She is so tired of staying in bed! It is so much easier without that chest tube and IV, plus the healing skin graft is allowing her to work the left arm now. Physical Therapists and Respiratory Therapists visit her daily to encourage her to work.
Several friends have kindly agreed to come in for mealtimes since it is still rather hard for Linda to feed herself. This gives John a little longer break through lunchtime and the afternoon. Thank you so much to those of you who can give your time to help. You are wonderful! Thank you, also, for all of you who continue to have Linda in your thoughts and prayers. She is so thankful.
~Mindy
Overall, Mom has received rather excellent care from many wonderful professionals at both UAMS and Select Specialty Hospital, and she credits many for having saved her life! It is sad and disturbing when we come across the few staff members who don't practice traditional ethics and standards regarding patient care. Mom was just as concerned for the many other patients on the floor. Many have remarked that medical care used to be more like a calling. Has it become just a job.? How dare they leave helpless, bedridden people alone without any means to call for assistance!
Now, each night before John leaves, he makes sure the call button works but also puts the telephone near Mom's right hand and she has the number for the nurse's station memorized, but it is still difficult for her to dial it with only her four fingers. She's gradually getting some use from her left arm but the left wrist is extremely sore from being idle for more than one month.
According to contract, there will be a total of 21 days in this hospital--halfway there now--before Mom can move to either Baptist Rehabilitation or possibly home. I'm flying back to Saipan on December 10 so I really hope she can make a lot of progress by then. She is more frequently trying to sit up, stand, and walk a bit now. She is so tired of staying in bed! It is so much easier without that chest tube and IV, plus the healing skin graft is allowing her to work the left arm now. Physical Therapists and Respiratory Therapists visit her daily to encourage her to work.
Several friends have kindly agreed to come in for mealtimes since it is still rather hard for Linda to feed herself. This gives John a little longer break through lunchtime and the afternoon. Thank you so much to those of you who can give your time to help. You are wonderful! Thank you, also, for all of you who continue to have Linda in your thoughts and prayers. She is so thankful.
~Mindy
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Super Busy Tuesday
Mom was simply delighted while viewing these photos of this chimp's motherly interactions with two orphaned white tigers in South Carolina after Hurricane Hannah. See link for other photos:
It was a super busy Tuesday. I'm exhausted and my feet hurt! John & I were up since around 4am seeing Leslie off to the airport. I took the morning shift for the first time, and now I understand why some days John just falls asleep like a log even without supper! I'm going to start taking at least one or two mornings for him each week. Thankfully, he says it isn't this busy every day.
Everything tried to happen within the same couple of hours today: clarification about medication mixups and nurses not interpreting doctors' orders the same as they were explained to our patient--got that resolved; clearing up the discrepancies regarding the menu with the dietition; bathtime, which never really finished-was interrupted so many times; lunchtime-barely had time to eat; chest tube removal-finally! and a chest Xray that never happened (and a technician who just wouldn't wait her turn!), an ultrasound--she'll still need a better one with the bigger ultrasound machine later--gall stones not yet ruled out; skin graft dressing changing and a single staple removal-the last one-whew!; and, a thorough debriding of the dime-sized sore on the back of her head which we couldn't believe she didn't find painful!
There was a lot of stress today, but we survived and our patient is doing well. She really enjoyed the above pictures, and she also found time to read cards and receive some welcome visitors today.
~Mindy
Hostel update
The Firehouse Hostel has recieved another good piece of publicity. Check it out:
http://sync.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/nov/11/hostel-takeover/
and
Dean has generously set up his Ebay business to donate a portion of his sales to the hostel through an organization called MissionFish.
His site is http://stores.ebay.com/QUALITY-CORNER-STORE
Anyone with an Ebay sales business can sign up to do the same.
http://sync.arkansasonline.com/news/2008/nov/11/hostel-takeover/
and
Dean has generously set up his Ebay business to donate a portion of his sales to the hostel through an organization called MissionFish.
His site is http://stores.ebay.com/QUALITY-CORNER-STORE
Anyone with an Ebay sales business can sign up to do the same.
Sunday/Monday
It's nice to know so many of you are still concerned, still checking daily to see how Linda is doing. Many noticed that I hadn't updated for two days. We've just been so busy. I have been trying to get ahead on my graduate school reading whenever possible. Leslie has returned to NYC. Diane and her family are back in Eureka Springs. It was a nice reunion and Diane will post a photo of the four of us soon. Diane recently started a new part-time job as a personal assistant in Rogers while Shannon and Matt are in school. Leslie is the registrar for a Manhattan art gallery. Dean is still in Little Rock, staying very busy with his Ebay business, and visits Mom most evenings.
Linda's chest tube is finally to be removed today. Hoorah! We've also been noticing that her mobility is greatly improving. She can lie a bit sideways, enjoys shifting her legs a lot more and her right arm and four fingers are much more useful. She usually stands and sits up for a little while each day. You've got to watch out for that sharp, heavy cast though. Some of us have suffered mild bruising & scratching from it!
Today, she is going to have an ultrasound to check if some sporadic sharp pains in the right side of her rib area that move into the upper back may be from her gallbladder. Her rapid weight loss since the accident coupled by some pains that seem to occur shortly after eating any fatty foods like ice cream apparently add up to the possibility of gall stones. We hope that a simple explanation is found and that her pain can be resolved. A website said that gall stones are as painful as childbirth.
John attended a public hearing last evening for the MacArthur Park redevelopment, which includes the Firehouse Hostel & Museum. He was touched by the fact that everyone involved in the project has been tracking this blog and missing her presence. Linda misses you all too and really looks forward to getting back into her life! And, she will! What a miracle!
Linda's chest tube is finally to be removed today. Hoorah! We've also been noticing that her mobility is greatly improving. She can lie a bit sideways, enjoys shifting her legs a lot more and her right arm and four fingers are much more useful. She usually stands and sits up for a little while each day. You've got to watch out for that sharp, heavy cast though. Some of us have suffered mild bruising & scratching from it!
Today, she is going to have an ultrasound to check if some sporadic sharp pains in the right side of her rib area that move into the upper back may be from her gallbladder. Her rapid weight loss since the accident coupled by some pains that seem to occur shortly after eating any fatty foods like ice cream apparently add up to the possibility of gall stones. We hope that a simple explanation is found and that her pain can be resolved. A website said that gall stones are as painful as childbirth.
John attended a public hearing last evening for the MacArthur Park redevelopment, which includes the Firehouse Hostel & Museum. He was touched by the fact that everyone involved in the project has been tracking this blog and missing her presence. Linda misses you all too and really looks forward to getting back into her life! And, she will! What a miracle!
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