Loving Casey

Linda can only use four fingers on her right hand. Casey says, "Four fingers are all right with me."

It's good to be home with a friend.

Linda observes that Casey is very considerate of her injuries and hasn't tried to climb on her and paw her like usual. He has been very obedient when she asks him to get out of her way.

We want our Nana back!

Get better Nana!
These kids want you to come for Christmas and visit us in the woods again.
They miss you and want to go hiking and camping with you.
This is the best picture of you two with Matt and Shannon, Jag and Riker!

No more hospital gown!!!

I helped my mom dress in normal clothes for the first time since she drove off on her scooter that Wednesday morning of October 8th! She had two doctor's appointments with Xrays taken in between. She even got to eat out at a deli & coffee shop located in UAMS. She was out from 8am to 2pm today, and is exhausted and resting now.

Her first visit was with the phenomenal Dr. Yuen, the plastic surgeon who performed the skin graft and who has treated the WHOLE patient so well. She has a new dressing over the skin graft area with a larger wrap above her elbow and down toward the wrist, covered by a specially made splint that will protect her elbow better and prevent bending. He remarked today, that even though delaying the orthopedic surgery longer is not ideal because she is healing so well, she may have better recovery than they normally can predict. She is a very strong individual who has a great attitude and probably will do better than expected.

The Xrays were for the appointment with Dr. Ahmed, the neurosurgeon. The neck is healing well. She was told to keep wearing the neck brace another four weeks whenever she's up and around, to prevent sudden movements.

My flight schedule, for returning to Saipan, has changed. I will leave a day earlier. I depart on Tuesday morning. I will miss Mom and John. I wish I could stay longer, but I need to be with Thom, Garrett, and Brooke too. I'm grateful that the visiting home health aids will be able to see her three times a week, in addition to the visiting nurses. Dean will be available part-time. Also, several friends have offered to come over for short spells if John needs to go out for errands. And, Diane may come during the Christmas holiday. Mom is walking around better, but she is still off balance and it is so dangerous if she falls because she can't support her weight on her arms, so we like to follow her closely in case she needs some support.

Mindy

Home again and feeling fine

I just talked to Mom on her speaker phone and she sounds GREAT! The pain she had yesterday is gone and she is again in good spirits and feeling grateful for her progress, the help she has recieved, and the new cast on her right arm, even though they moved her thumb further out and told her she was not to be using it as much as she had been.

She said a nurse told her she bit her lip so hard it bled, even under anesthesia, because of the pain during the procedure. The pain afterward was great but she remembers a sweet nurse telling her they were giving her more medicine for the pain and it was going to be better.

It was better and she went back home last night. She has lots of new bandages from her shoulder to her wrist on that left arm but there is much less pain today.

We talked about my children and the good Thanksgiving food we had. She wanted more mashed potatos but they are gone. We discussed my coming back to help her more this month after Mindy returns to Saipan. I will be there before Christmas but when and how long is not known yet. We want to encourage John to take a much needed break and visit some of his family during this time. - Diane

Pain added to pain

This is Diane, I just got a call from Mindy at the hospital. Mom was being wheeled out of recovery and the report was a bit sad.

Rather than cut into her arm and perform the surgery that we had all expected today, the doctors decided to attempt manipulating her bones back into place. The orthopedic and skin graft doctors concured to postpone surgery due to a risk of infection and to avoid compromising the healing progress that has been made with her skin graft.

Unfortunately, what they did to her today caused her great pain and she immediately asked for the maximum amount of relief possible.

They will keep her for observation this afternoon and possible release her to return home if they determine she is in good condition to do so. Pray she may but also that the pain subsides and the heavy meds are not necessary for too long.

#2

Linda is #2 on the surgery list tomorrow morning, which might begin around 10am. It is likely that they will discharge her by the same evening rather than having her stay another night.

Off to UAMS again, to check in for surgery

John and Linda just left to drive to UAMS this afternoon. It's cold, wet, and windy outside; it felt good to her. I'm going to stay indoors. John will call me if I need to bring anything to the hospital that they need. We heard from Diane's husband, Steve, that there have been snow flurries up in Eureka Springs. I wonder if I will see snow in Little Rock before I return to the tropics in ten days.

As soon as I have any news about the surgery schedule, I will post it. ~Mindy