Hi all. St. Mary's came again this afternoon to look at my dad. They are going to come back on Friday morning to reevaluate him. They are being verrrrry cautious about taking him, we think because of what happened last time. We really want him to go soon though because he really wants to walk again and has been making so much progress. Anyway, I know people have been staying away until he is moved but he definitely still needs visitors at the hospital until he goes so if anyone has some time, it would be great if you could stop up in the next few days. I know he sleeps a lot but once he is awake, he will usually talk with you or try and do some exercises. Thanks so much!
We will post here when we find out for sure when he will be moved.
Also, one of the main restrictions with his diet right now is that his food, whatever it is, has to be soft.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Menu Suggestions - Post Here
Got lots of dietary questions from those of you out there who are culinarily inclined and I will do my utmost here to provide guidance:
The hospital feeds him regular menu items - he gets to choose from starters, "entrees" (no kidding, that's what it says on the menu), deserts and so forth. The only dietary restrictions seem to be that the meal is reasonably well balanced, low in processed sugar. High in protein, good carbs. Remember the food pyramid! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USDA_Food_Pyramid.gif
Ideas from the UK cancer research site (spice it up though, we won the war because our soldiers would eat the cooking!) http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=17012
And from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_diet
And my ideas:
Yogurt - I've seen him eat it over the weekend, he likes it.
Bananas - He's told me in the past that bananas are a very efficient fruit
Eggs - The feed him eggs in the hospital.
Beans and Greens - Wegmans sells them pre-made, damn good. Just watch out a couple of hours afterward...
Meatloaf
Quiche - Patty was going to bring him some tonight, and he does love his quiche (even though real men don't eat it)
Pasta - any shape will do (they have spaghetti on le menu du Strong)
Post yours as comments!
Regards,
Cousin Rick
The hospital feeds him regular menu items - he gets to choose from starters, "entrees" (no kidding, that's what it says on the menu), deserts and so forth. The only dietary restrictions seem to be that the meal is reasonably well balanced, low in processed sugar. High in protein, good carbs. Remember the food pyramid! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:USDA_Food_Pyramid.gif
Ideas from the UK cancer research site (spice it up though, we won the war because our soldiers would eat the cooking!) http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=17012
And from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_diet
And my ideas:
Yogurt - I've seen him eat it over the weekend, he likes it.
Bananas - He's told me in the past that bananas are a very efficient fruit
Eggs - The feed him eggs in the hospital.
Beans and Greens - Wegmans sells them pre-made, damn good. Just watch out a couple of hours afterward...
Meatloaf
Quiche - Patty was going to bring him some tonight, and he does love his quiche (even though real men don't eat it)
Pasta - any shape will do (they have spaghetti on le menu du Strong)
Post yours as comments!
Regards,
Cousin Rick
Disappointing Tuesday
Just got off the phone with Patty, and they are going to delay moving Walt to St. Mary's because of a calorie count. The family is very disappointed, having counted on the move all weekend.
Seems that Walt is not eating enough on his own. He takes a few bites of this-and-that, here-and-there and apparently he needs to take more than a few bites of these-and-those to go along with the this-and-that.
And most of all, those bites need to be counted. If Walt eats something while you are in the room, please tell the nurse so they can count the calories he's consumed.
Let us ponder the following:
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it, does it make a sound?
If Walt eats and the nurses don't log it, does it make a difference?
And while exercising the logical and philosophical workings of our minds, let us also consider:
What is an example of a high-calorie, high nutritional-value, soft-textured food?
Is it something that Walt would like?
Is it perishable without refrigeration?
Is it labled?
Feel free to post your recipes here. And let us know what the food critic in 7.34oo thinks.
To Patty, Brian, Lindsay and Tip: keep the faith!
Seems that Walt is not eating enough on his own. He takes a few bites of this-and-that, here-and-there and apparently he needs to take more than a few bites of these-and-those to go along with the this-and-that.
And most of all, those bites need to be counted. If Walt eats something while you are in the room, please tell the nurse so they can count the calories he's consumed.
Let us ponder the following:
If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it, does it make a sound?
If Walt eats and the nurses don't log it, does it make a difference?
And while exercising the logical and philosophical workings of our minds, let us also consider:
What is an example of a high-calorie, high nutritional-value, soft-textured food?
Is it something that Walt would like?
Is it perishable without refrigeration?
Is it labled?
Feel free to post your recipes here. And let us know what the food critic in 7.34oo thinks.
To Patty, Brian, Lindsay and Tip: keep the faith!
Sunday, May 27, 2007
St. Mary's
I just talked to my mom and she told me that since tomorrow is a holiday, they are not going to move my dad to St. Mary's until Tuesday. I don't really understand why but oh well. I still don't get why he is in the cardiac unit either! Anyway, we will keep you posted. Thanks for checking in!
Pumping Iron
Walt had quite a group of visitors Saturday evening--Patty, Brian 1, Brian 2 and Brian 2's daughter, Corrine, Rick, Kathy and me.
Patty put Walt to work doing his bike pedaling exercises and I got him pumping iron. I took up a couple of light dumbells for Walt to work his arms and grip. He handled a five pounder without difficulty and pounded out a few sets of hammer curls. It left him a bit winded but was a great start nevertheless. I wanted to let him try some overhead dumbell presses but nobody except me thought it was a good idea for him to be waving a five pound dumbell above his head injury. So we didn't do that. When Kathy & I left the hospital Corrine was getting out her "encouragement" stick as part of her "no pain no gain" therapy program.
Walt is currently scheduled to move to St. Mary's hospital on Memorial Day where he can obtain more intensive rehab . Check the blog or call the hospital to confirm his move if you decide to visit this coming week.
Patty put Walt to work doing his bike pedaling exercises and I got him pumping iron. I took up a couple of light dumbells for Walt to work his arms and grip. He handled a five pounder without difficulty and pounded out a few sets of hammer curls. It left him a bit winded but was a great start nevertheless. I wanted to let him try some overhead dumbell presses but nobody except me thought it was a good idea for him to be waving a five pound dumbell above his head injury. So we didn't do that. When Kathy & I left the hospital Corrine was getting out her "encouragement" stick as part of her "no pain no gain" therapy program.
Walt is currently scheduled to move to St. Mary's hospital on Memorial Day where he can obtain more intensive rehab . Check the blog or call the hospital to confirm his move if you decide to visit this coming week.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
From Patty
Patty says: Geno-great post. Where do you come upwith these pictures? Thank you to all who have visited the castaway. He has been sleeping alot this week-as some of you visitors know. He did say to me "when am I going to feel better"? I think he had a touch of sinus problems this week with a headache. He gets these normally. He does not like the food so I have been asked to bring him up some of his favorites. He is doing well on therapy. He rides a bike (HELP) when he sits in his chair. He is currently riding 4 times in 20 minutes-3 minutes at a time. Pretty good for a guy who slept for 5 days and could not stick out his tongue upon command for weeks. We are all so proud of Walter. Isobel-he loved you sweatshirt. He tore of the tags and put it on himself. I tried to help but he wanted to do it himself. He will do well at St. Mary's. They are coming on Fri. to evaluate him. Hopefully he will go there in the next couple of weeks. That is why we need to get him off the feeding tube and eating!!! I will start cooking some of his favorite meals but at the moment he is limited. It needs to be soft. If anyone has some good ideas-let me know. Thanks again to all for everything you have done for our family. It is most appreciated!!! Luv ya-Patty
May 24, 2007 11:40 AM
May 24, 2007 11:40 AM
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
My name is Walter Rabitz and I need a drink!
It was reported by one of the nurses that at 3 AM one recent morning, Walter announced loudly to nobody in particular that his name was Walter and that he needed a drink, presumably water. Maybe his bed in the hospital sometimes makes him feel like a castaway on an island.When I visited Walt this Wednesday morning he was in a "Posey" bed. The posey is a mesh screen that can be attached to the bed and zipped around it to keep a determined occupant like Walter from attempting to sneak out of bed and cracking his skull again. To get a better idea of the posey, think back to the old Tarzan movies where "Bwana" slept in a bed with mosquito netting all around it to keep the bugs and malaria away at night.
Yesterday when visiting with Walt, Pat, Corrine and Tip, I asked Walt if we could take some family pictures at the hospital. He said "yes". Maybe we'll soon be taking and posting some current photos.
Walt still goes back and forth from being "familiar Walt" to being "hazy Walt". But familiar Walt is there more frequently every day. We have witnessed his cognitive functions get better each day as well. He is remembering things from day to day, not just minute to minute. Many friends and family are working with him. Pat and I got a lesson in how to give him physical therapy from Corrine on Tuesday. It's great.
Another mystery has been solved. Recall that Walt has given Corine the nickname, "Coco". We were all baffled about how this came about. But I recently discovered that Coco is the trademark for a Kellogg's cereal (see the image below). Apparently Walt associates Corrine with his favorite cereal. I know it is a stretch but it's all I got.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Tuesday Report
Hi all.
Just back from the hospital with lots of good things to tell. One of the best is that Walt's kidneys are improving and the Dr's are hopeful that he will not need any more dialysis. Wahoooo. Keep your fingers crossed that the next few days stay stable.
He has all the catheters out now and seems to be managing things well.
I arrived about 8.45 just as breakfast had arrived. Walt found the food pretty unappetising but he managed to force a few mouthfuls down. I was pleased to see how proficient at feeding himself he had become in just a couple of days. He is still having some tube feeding as he is not eating enough yet to sustain himself. With the way the food tastes that might never happen!
The room he is in is often cold so when he unwrapped a present of a Sabres sweatshirt from one of his admirers he immediately put it on! This he did by himself!! Admittedly he did take off some skin from the scar on the top of his head but he did not seem too concerned.
We got the OK to take him outside in a wheelchair. That had to be put on hold till this afternoon because he needed a nap after doing his leg exercises. Now it looks like the Rochester weather has turned and made a trip outside far less appealing! Oh well, maybe a spin around inside the hospital will suffice. I will let you know how it goes.
Cheers
Corinne
Just back from the hospital with lots of good things to tell. One of the best is that Walt's kidneys are improving and the Dr's are hopeful that he will not need any more dialysis. Wahoooo. Keep your fingers crossed that the next few days stay stable.
He has all the catheters out now and seems to be managing things well.
I arrived about 8.45 just as breakfast had arrived. Walt found the food pretty unappetising but he managed to force a few mouthfuls down. I was pleased to see how proficient at feeding himself he had become in just a couple of days. He is still having some tube feeding as he is not eating enough yet to sustain himself. With the way the food tastes that might never happen!
The room he is in is often cold so when he unwrapped a present of a Sabres sweatshirt from one of his admirers he immediately put it on! This he did by himself!! Admittedly he did take off some skin from the scar on the top of his head but he did not seem too concerned.
We got the OK to take him outside in a wheelchair. That had to be put on hold till this afternoon because he needed a nap after doing his leg exercises. Now it looks like the Rochester weather has turned and made a trip outside far less appealing! Oh well, maybe a spin around inside the hospital will suffice. I will let you know how it goes.
Cheers
Corinne
Monday, May 21, 2007
Weekend
Hi all! I had a great weekend with my dad. I hadn't seen him in a week and a half because of all my final exams and I was very pleased with the progress he made in that time. He is much more engaged in responding to people and sharing his thoughts. His voice is still pretty quiet and he gets confused/agi sometimes but I could understand almost everything he said to me this weekend. His sense of humor was definitely not lost in the accident, as many of the things he said to me were inside jokes or funny things he would say before the accident.
He is starting to eat on his own - very small amounts - even though he HATES the hospital food. He even made me try some of his pudding before he would eat it! I guess I was the guinea pig. He sometimes gets a bit queasy after he eats because his body just isn't used to eating. He is still tube fed occasionally.
He is still getting dialysis three times a week but hopefully that will change soon. We really hope his kidneys start to become self sufficient because he will be able to get to therapy sooner. He wants to get out of bed and walk sooooo bad so I cannot wait until he starts getting the strength back in his legs. I know that will make him feel better.
He has been awake more often lately so if you can get up to see him, definitely try and do so. He loves friendly faces and is always willing to share his hospital food with you. Thanks again to everyone for all the love and support :)
After a bike ride down at Honeoye Lake last summer. Bennett's attire is his UB racing uniform - he did not pick the pink if you were wondering ;)
He is starting to eat on his own - very small amounts - even though he HATES the hospital food. He even made me try some of his pudding before he would eat it! I guess I was the guinea pig. He sometimes gets a bit queasy after he eats because his body just isn't used to eating. He is still tube fed occasionally.
He is still getting dialysis three times a week but hopefully that will change soon. We really hope his kidneys start to become self sufficient because he will be able to get to therapy sooner. He wants to get out of bed and walk sooooo bad so I cannot wait until he starts getting the strength back in his legs. I know that will make him feel better.
He has been awake more often lately so if you can get up to see him, definitely try and do so. He loves friendly faces and is always willing to share his hospital food with you. Thanks again to everyone for all the love and support :)
After a bike ride down at Honeoye Lake last summer. Bennett's attire is his UB racing uniform - he did not pick the pink if you were wondering ;)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Blowing zzzzzzzzzzzz's
The nice thing about visiting Walt at 7 AM is that there is lots of parking and a short wait for the elevators. Today I was ready for a good mental workout with Walt--he would be fresh and rested. I had brought a deck of cards to find out what he and I remember about card games. But it turns out that Walt was awake most of the night working out on the side bars of bed. By the time I arrived he was zonked.I was glad to see that Walt was not wearing a restraining vest nor were his arms restrained. He had only his mitts. He also had his day shift "watcher" at bedside, a pleasant woman named Dana.
The update from the nurse was good. At some point during the night they helped Walt stand by the bed--one person on each side. He really needs that kind of exercise because his once powerful legs have suffered from over two months of bed confinement. As many of you know, the trach is out, he gets to eat a little by mouth and drink some liquids from a glass. The nurse gave several examples of Walt's cognitive abilities slowly improving. For example, the previous evening the nurse promised to take off Walt's mitts after the nurse completed some duties elsewhere on the floor. When he came back about 20 minutes later Walt reminded him of his promise. These are small steps but they ease my mind about his recovery.
When the nurse was leaving at the end of his shift he said goodbye to Walt. Walt stirred ever so slightly, instinctively tugging at his mitts and moving his arms toward the bed's side bar to pull himself over--he won't quit even in his sleep.
gino
back on the bike
HI ALL,
Sorry for not writing sooner. The past few days have been very exciting at the hospital (in a good way).
Walt has been improving in leaps and bounds every day. it has been terrific seeing so many people at the hospital visiting. Unfortunately for some, they have arrived when Walt has been napping and can that man nap through anything!
On the physical side Walt is sitting in a chair and last night they had him standing briefly. He needs more physical therapy on his legs to help him be ready to walk. This afternoon they brought in a portable pedalling machine and he was able to pedal quite well as long as we held his feet on the pedals. he has a series of exercises he should be doing as much as possible so remind him when you are there. There are some sheets in his room with the illustrations.
He is drinking from a cup and beginning to eat. He is not liking the hospital food too much so is not eating enough to sustain himself so is still being tube fed as well.
His talking can still be very soft and difficult to hear but his conversations can be very coherent and articulate. He is also showing some signs of being able to hold things in his short term memory as well as pull things from long term memory. Yesterday he told me about an incident last year when I fell off the ski lift knocked him over and then slid across his skis and twisted his bad knee. I felt so bad we went back to the lodge and I bought him several beers to numb the pain! yesterday he also decided to give me a nickname and stared calling me Coco even though he was also calling me Corinne. I was interested to see if he would remember today. Sure enough I am still Coco, I wonder if I remind him of a poddle?
He still gets confused especially it seems when he is tired. His concentration span is also pretty short. Today he had to wear the mitts all day as he kept trying to launch himself out of the chair and pull at his tubes. He can get very frustrated with his limitations.
Everyone I have talked to at the hospital seems to have their own stories of conversations with Walt. Please write them down here so we can all enjoy having him back. It would seem that he has not lost his sense of humor.
Cheers to all
Corinne
Sorry for not writing sooner. The past few days have been very exciting at the hospital (in a good way).
Walt has been improving in leaps and bounds every day. it has been terrific seeing so many people at the hospital visiting. Unfortunately for some, they have arrived when Walt has been napping and can that man nap through anything!
On the physical side Walt is sitting in a chair and last night they had him standing briefly. He needs more physical therapy on his legs to help him be ready to walk. This afternoon they brought in a portable pedalling machine and he was able to pedal quite well as long as we held his feet on the pedals. he has a series of exercises he should be doing as much as possible so remind him when you are there. There are some sheets in his room with the illustrations.
He is drinking from a cup and beginning to eat. He is not liking the hospital food too much so is not eating enough to sustain himself so is still being tube fed as well.
His talking can still be very soft and difficult to hear but his conversations can be very coherent and articulate. He is also showing some signs of being able to hold things in his short term memory as well as pull things from long term memory. Yesterday he told me about an incident last year when I fell off the ski lift knocked him over and then slid across his skis and twisted his bad knee. I felt so bad we went back to the lodge and I bought him several beers to numb the pain! yesterday he also decided to give me a nickname and stared calling me Coco even though he was also calling me Corinne. I was interested to see if he would remember today. Sure enough I am still Coco, I wonder if I remind him of a poddle?
He still gets confused especially it seems when he is tired. His concentration span is also pretty short. Today he had to wear the mitts all day as he kept trying to launch himself out of the chair and pull at his tubes. He can get very frustrated with his limitations.
Everyone I have talked to at the hospital seems to have their own stories of conversations with Walt. Please write them down here so we can all enjoy having him back. It would seem that he has not lost his sense of humor.
Cheers to all
Corinne
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
From Patty
PATTY SAYS;CALLING ALL VISITORS-WALTER NEEDS VISITORS ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY FOR YOU TRICK WORKERS. HE IS TALKING LIKE CRAZY AND NEEDS YOU ALL FOR THERAPY. EVERYONE BRING AN EVERYDAY OBJECT AND ASK HIM TO IDENTIFY THE OBJECT. IF HE LIES THERE WITH NO INTERACTION, IT WILL TAKE HIM MUCH LONGER TO RECOVER. THERE ARE MAGAZINES IN HIS ROOM. TODAY HE ACTUALLY LOOKED THROUGH 8 PAGES AND WE IDENTIFIED DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE PAGES. HE WAS PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN THE AIRPLANES. YES COUSIN BRIAN, HE WILL BE READY TO GO UP WITH YOUR SON. TODAY, HE ALSO WROTE HIS NAME!! YES WROTE WALTER RABITZ. WOW! WHAT A DAY. HE CALLED ME AT 6:00 A.M. TO TELL ME HE WANTED TO COME HOME. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HIS QUICK KIDNEY RECOVERY SO WE CAN GO TO ST. MARY'S. AND PLEASE PRAY THAT HE WILL EVENTUALLY GET BACK HIS SHORT AND LONG TERM MEMORY. TODAY, HE THOUGHT I WAS JOE. BUT THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW TO LOOK FORWARD TO-I MIGHT BE PAT TOMORROW. YAHOO!!!
May 14, 2007 7:39 PM
May 14, 2007 7:39 PM
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Sunday afternoon
The hospital made it tough for visitors today. The only parking was on the top two floors of the ramp garage thus making parking spaces scarce. The rest was closed off for maintenance. Once inside the hospital there were 20+ people in the elevator lobby waiting for the single elevator that someone said was operating. I skipped the elevator after about 5 minutes and walked up the 7 floors to Walt's room. He was in his reclining mobile chair looking relatively quiet and comfortable even though he was wearing a helmet and his mitts. The orderly told me that Walt had come close to slipping the helmet earlier--that's good to the extent that it reflects that his coordination is improving. I also had the best conversation with him since he has been in the hospital. Walt spoke much more clearly--I understood everything he said and he demonstrated that he understood me and the orderly. Here's a sample.
Walt: "I'm cold. I want a cover."
The orderly put a cover over him. "Is that better?"
Walt: "Yes.".
Me: "Hi Walt. It's Gino." (Walt gave a friendly nod.)
Walt: "I smell coffee."
Me: "Yes, I have coffee--I bought it downstairs. I bet a coffee would taste good."
Walt: Nods his head "I'm thirsty."
The orderly soaked a mouth sponge with water several times and put it to Walt's mouth. He could swallow the water that he got from it without any problems.
Me: "Walt, would you like to see some pictures?"
Walt: "Sure." (Walt showed friendly curiosity.)
After confirming that he didn't want his glasses I showed Walt the same pictures I had brought up earlier in the week when Patty was there. The previous time Walt didn't show any interest. This time he was very attentive and smiled pleasantly as I showed pictures of family and friends from about 20 years ago.
Walt: "When were these taken?"
Me: About 25 years ago. (Walt smiled)
Me: "Walt, do you know this person (pointing at a picture of Patty from about 1980).
Walt: With a slight frown, "I'm not sure I remember."
Me: "It's Patty." (Walt nodded. I showed about a dozen more pictures and then he nodded off to sleep).
After a few minutes of sleep Walt got the shivers and the orderly asked him if he was okay. He woke up and said, "Thirsty." The orderly gave him more water from the sponge. I asked Walt to open his eyes. He did so then spotted the glass in the orderly's hand.
Walt: "Just give me the glass."
Orderly: "I can't Walter. I am not supposed to because you might get water in your lungs."
Walt: "Says who?"
Orderly: "The doctor says so."
Walt: Somewhat surprised, "Oh. Really."
Shortly thereafter he went to sleep again on that very pleasant Mother's Day afternoon.
gino
Walt: "I'm cold. I want a cover."
The orderly put a cover over him. "Is that better?"
Walt: "Yes.".
Me: "Hi Walt. It's Gino." (Walt gave a friendly nod.)
Walt: "I smell coffee."
Me: "Yes, I have coffee--I bought it downstairs. I bet a coffee would taste good."
Walt: Nods his head "I'm thirsty."
The orderly soaked a mouth sponge with water several times and put it to Walt's mouth. He could swallow the water that he got from it without any problems.
Me: "Walt, would you like to see some pictures?"
Walt: "Sure." (Walt showed friendly curiosity.)
After confirming that he didn't want his glasses I showed Walt the same pictures I had brought up earlier in the week when Patty was there. The previous time Walt didn't show any interest. This time he was very attentive and smiled pleasantly as I showed pictures of family and friends from about 20 years ago.
Walt: "When were these taken?"
Me: About 25 years ago. (Walt smiled)
Me: "Walt, do you know this person (pointing at a picture of Patty from about 1980).
Walt: With a slight frown, "I'm not sure I remember."
Me: "It's Patty." (Walt nodded. I showed about a dozen more pictures and then he nodded off to sleep).
After a few minutes of sleep Walt got the shivers and the orderly asked him if he was okay. He woke up and said, "Thirsty." The orderly gave him more water from the sponge. I asked Walt to open his eyes. He did so then spotted the glass in the orderly's hand.
Walt: "Just give me the glass."
Orderly: "I can't Walter. I am not supposed to because you might get water in your lungs."
Walt: "Says who?"
Orderly: "The doctor says so."
Walt: Somewhat surprised, "Oh. Really."
Shortly thereafter he went to sleep again on that very pleasant Mother's Day afternoon.
gino
Friday, May 11, 2007
Oh nurse, I think I killed him...
Went up to see Walt about 4 PM on Friday. He had a dialysis treatment earlier. A couple of nurses were doing some routine maintenance on him when I got there. They let me take off his mitts and show him some hand tools that I had brought. He dismissed the 'C'-clamp and multipurpose knife. He acknowledged the wire strippers and held on to the side cutters for a bit. He was pretty talkative. I heard him saying, "October, November, December...". Then he told me he was "having trouble with my coordination" as he tried to pull himself out of the bed. I thought that was a pretty coherent string of words. Anyway, he was not having any luck going to the left so he switched to pulling to the right and got right against the bars on the bed. I tried to gently persuade him to lay down again. His left arm is still quite strong so he started pulling his gown off instead. I think it was bunched up under him. Anyway, as he and I wrestled I noticed some goo on his gown and belly. There is a food tube that sticks out of his belly. They hook it up to a liquid food pump a couple of times a day. When it isn't connected to the pump the tube is capped off. Well, the cap came off and the contents of his stomach were squirting onto the bed and his gown and his belly. Of course, I did not know that there was simply a loose cap. I thought I had damaged him. He grabbed for his tube and I grabbed for his arm and screamed like a small child. The nurse and a tech came in pretty quickly and fixed the cap. Then they cleaned up the goo and changed his gown. They didn't even yell at me.
I was not deterred by that embarrassing attempt at rehab. I asked Walt if I could help him exercise his legs. He said ok. I helped him do some gentle leg presses and he counted with me. It works best when you ask Walt first whether he wants to do something. If he says "no" I don't do it. But he was okay with the exercises at that point. Next I brought a pad and pencil to Walt and drew some large geometric figures and then a tic-tac-toe grid. I asked him if he wanted to draw. It was worth a shot but I didn't hit anything. Walt ignored it. About then Walt's cousin Linda arrived and they interacted for a few minutes. Then he became interested in climbing out of the bed again. This gave me and Linda practice in repositioning him several times. I was surprised at how hard it is to slide 250 pounds of blubber up the slight incline of the bed. (I relish the day when Walt can read this blog.)
Walt was still working at getting out of bed when Pat and Brian came into the room. He responded to Patty's cheerful, "hello Walter" with a sour, "go away". On a lighter note, Patty told me that when the cleaner had come into the room the night before to empty the trash that Walt had called out, "waiter!". I wonder what he would have ordered.
Let me add that Patty is a pillar of strength. God bless her for doing everything possible for Mr. congeniality.
At some point during the mayhem of Walt trying to fling himself over the bed's side bars he suddenly quieted down, looked at me and asked for a beer. His left hand was extended in a classic pose, ready to receive a container of beer. We make a lot of jokes about Walt and beer but this was perfect. Then, I shit you not, he asked again. He had a wonderfully lucid moment.
One of the things that Patty learned when she got there was that the hospital could not obtain a person to stay in the room with him overnight. They were planning to put him in a vest that would let him move but effectively keep him in bed. I hope that goes well.
Speaking of confusion, Patty said someting to me about Walt doing something with his "blokes" on Thursday. It didn't sound like something I wanted to know about so I pretended to understand what she meant and changed the subject. It wasn't until I read Corrine's posting this evening that I discovered that "blokes" means "men" in Australian. The blokes were Tom, Rich and John. That was a relief.
I left around 5:45. Corrine and her daughter had just got there, Patty was peppering the staff with questions, and the nurses swooped in to give Walt a cleaning. My rehab efforts with Walt had ranged from modest success to complete flops. Nevertheless, those interactions can only help. Each of us brings something to the table when we visit. We all know Walt in ways that are unique to each of us and to Walt. I know that Walt loves Stanley Kubrick movies. I know that he enjoys certain Beethoven music (9th Symphony-4th movement). He likes speculative fiction writers like William Gibson and Phillip K. Dick. Each of you know things and have shared things with him that I don't know about. That is why it is important for those of you who are able to visit and interact and to help him bring awareness of those things back.
Gino
I was not deterred by that embarrassing attempt at rehab. I asked Walt if I could help him exercise his legs. He said ok. I helped him do some gentle leg presses and he counted with me. It works best when you ask Walt first whether he wants to do something. If he says "no" I don't do it. But he was okay with the exercises at that point. Next I brought a pad and pencil to Walt and drew some large geometric figures and then a tic-tac-toe grid. I asked him if he wanted to draw. It was worth a shot but I didn't hit anything. Walt ignored it. About then Walt's cousin Linda arrived and they interacted for a few minutes. Then he became interested in climbing out of the bed again. This gave me and Linda practice in repositioning him several times. I was surprised at how hard it is to slide 250 pounds of blubber up the slight incline of the bed. (I relish the day when Walt can read this blog.)
Walt was still working at getting out of bed when Pat and Brian came into the room. He responded to Patty's cheerful, "hello Walter" with a sour, "go away". On a lighter note, Patty told me that when the cleaner had come into the room the night before to empty the trash that Walt had called out, "waiter!". I wonder what he would have ordered.
Let me add that Patty is a pillar of strength. God bless her for doing everything possible for Mr. congeniality.
At some point during the mayhem of Walt trying to fling himself over the bed's side bars he suddenly quieted down, looked at me and asked for a beer. His left hand was extended in a classic pose, ready to receive a container of beer. We make a lot of jokes about Walt and beer but this was perfect. Then, I shit you not, he asked again. He had a wonderfully lucid moment.
One of the things that Patty learned when she got there was that the hospital could not obtain a person to stay in the room with him overnight. They were planning to put him in a vest that would let him move but effectively keep him in bed. I hope that goes well.
Speaking of confusion, Patty said someting to me about Walt doing something with his "blokes" on Thursday. It didn't sound like something I wanted to know about so I pretended to understand what she meant and changed the subject. It wasn't until I read Corrine's posting this evening that I discovered that "blokes" means "men" in Australian. The blokes were Tom, Rich and John. That was a relief.
I left around 5:45. Corrine and her daughter had just got there, Patty was peppering the staff with questions, and the nurses swooped in to give Walt a cleaning. My rehab efforts with Walt had ranged from modest success to complete flops. Nevertheless, those interactions can only help. Each of us brings something to the table when we visit. We all know Walt in ways that are unique to each of us and to Walt. I know that Walt loves Stanley Kubrick movies. I know that he enjoys certain Beethoven music (9th Symphony-4th movement). He likes speculative fiction writers like William Gibson and Phillip K. Dick. Each of you know things and have shared things with him that I don't know about. That is why it is important for those of you who are able to visit and interact and to help him bring awareness of those things back.
Gino
Thursday was Blokes day.
Hi All,
Rick and I just got back from the hospital. Walt was already in Dialysis and sound asleep so we decided best to let sleeping walt's lie. So I will tell you about yesterday instead.
Rick and Gino had been up in the morning but found Walt asleep as he had been sedated after a very restless night. I hear that they had a very nice visit...with each other.
By the time I arrived in the afternoon Cousin Jim was there and Walt was awake. he seemed a bit depressed at being in hospital and limited in what he could do. We reassurred him that he had alreay come so far in just a few days and took off the mitts they put on him. If you visit and he has the mitts on please ask if they can be removed while you are there with him, he hates them with a passion and they also inhibit his recovery.
Jim and I were then able to do some leg and arm streches and exercises. Walt enjoys doing these even though I think some times they are uncomfortable. We were also encouraging him to use the stress ball particularly in his right hand as this has the least movement. It has regained a lot in even a couple of days.
Patty then arrived, then came John, Tom and Dick. Walt was responding well to everyone and was handling the crowd better than a few days ago. He still looks at me strangely but then again I have been looked at strangely all my life!! Anyway with all this blokiness I decided to leave them to it so they could talk bloke stuff.
On the medical side Walt is now breathing on his own and was at 94% which is a good result. His Dialisis results are improving slowly as well.
Cheers To you all.
Corinne
p.s. bloke is Australian for man
Rick and I just got back from the hospital. Walt was already in Dialysis and sound asleep so we decided best to let sleeping walt's lie. So I will tell you about yesterday instead.
Rick and Gino had been up in the morning but found Walt asleep as he had been sedated after a very restless night. I hear that they had a very nice visit...with each other.
By the time I arrived in the afternoon Cousin Jim was there and Walt was awake. he seemed a bit depressed at being in hospital and limited in what he could do. We reassurred him that he had alreay come so far in just a few days and took off the mitts they put on him. If you visit and he has the mitts on please ask if they can be removed while you are there with him, he hates them with a passion and they also inhibit his recovery.
Jim and I were then able to do some leg and arm streches and exercises. Walt enjoys doing these even though I think some times they are uncomfortable. We were also encouraging him to use the stress ball particularly in his right hand as this has the least movement. It has regained a lot in even a couple of days.
Patty then arrived, then came John, Tom and Dick. Walt was responding well to everyone and was handling the crowd better than a few days ago. He still looks at me strangely but then again I have been looked at strangely all my life!! Anyway with all this blokiness I decided to leave them to it so they could talk bloke stuff.
On the medical side Walt is now breathing on his own and was at 94% which is a good result. His Dialisis results are improving slowly as well.
Cheers To you all.
Corinne
p.s. bloke is Australian for man
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
No Flashing today
Hi everyone.
I finally got the hospital but Walt had escaped to Dialysis. Not to be deterred I tracked him down on the 8th floor. He had just started a 4 hour session. He was sleeping from being sedated as last time he had been trying to get out of bed, pulling at the sheet and gown and flashing the nurses. Sorry to tell you Walt but they don't seem too interested....Anyway the sedation wore off pretty quick and I was able to take the mitts off and sit with him for a couple of hours. He did a few of the ankle flexes and some stress ball squeezing before it all got too much and he dozed off again.
Tomorrow should be a good day for work as he is usually pretty perky after dialysis.
Walt is talking quite a bit but he is very quiet so it is difficult to make the words out. He continues on oxygen support and has a lot of mucus in his throat. Patty tells me that they are waiting for a bed in the Neurology unit on the 5th floor. That will be a good move, though the staff in Cardiac have really demonstrated a lot of "heart" in the way they take care of him. (don't groan too loud)
talk to you all tomorrow. it seems that The Walt Watch has gone truly International with people keeping track all round the world.
Cheers
Corinne
I finally got the hospital but Walt had escaped to Dialysis. Not to be deterred I tracked him down on the 8th floor. He had just started a 4 hour session. He was sleeping from being sedated as last time he had been trying to get out of bed, pulling at the sheet and gown and flashing the nurses. Sorry to tell you Walt but they don't seem too interested....Anyway the sedation wore off pretty quick and I was able to take the mitts off and sit with him for a couple of hours. He did a few of the ankle flexes and some stress ball squeezing before it all got too much and he dozed off again.
Tomorrow should be a good day for work as he is usually pretty perky after dialysis.
Walt is talking quite a bit but he is very quiet so it is difficult to make the words out. He continues on oxygen support and has a lot of mucus in his throat. Patty tells me that they are waiting for a bed in the Neurology unit on the 5th floor. That will be a good move, though the staff in Cardiac have really demonstrated a lot of "heart" in the way they take care of him. (don't groan too loud)
talk to you all tomorrow. it seems that The Walt Watch has gone truly International with people keeping track all round the world.
Cheers
Corinne
Tuesday was Workout Day
Hi all, sorry i did not get to post on Tuesday. It was a very energetic day with Walter. We stared to really work at gently stretching the achilles tendon and also bending his knees and moving his arms. Walter was able to count along with me, (we were doing 15 repertitions) And then he took over counting for himself which was very exciting. He is talking a lot but unfortunately his breathing is not such that the words are very audible.
We worked hard and he was about to have a nap when the real physiotherapist arrived. poor bugger was soooo tired but he rallied and they were able to get him to sit on the edge of the bed and keep himself upright with his hands. This unfortunately made him dizzy but he did it anyway. One step closer in his goal to get out of bed.
The funniest thing that happenned was when I was introducing him to Rosemary the one to one aide that was going to be with him for the evening. He told her to go away. When we asked him why? Walt said "Cost". As we know Walter is fairly frugal with the $$$. He was OK to have her stay however when we explained that the hospital were paying.
I am off to the hospital now, hoping to get some exercises in before Dialysis.
Please give me a call and I would be very happy to explain the simple things I am doing with Walt so you can help if you like when you visit. Photos and things you can bring to show Walt as Gino and Tom are doing are also great.
Keep the comments coming as Patty, Lindsay and the rest of us check in several times a day and it is great to hear from you.
Cheers
Corinne
We worked hard and he was about to have a nap when the real physiotherapist arrived. poor bugger was soooo tired but he rallied and they were able to get him to sit on the edge of the bed and keep himself upright with his hands. This unfortunately made him dizzy but he did it anyway. One step closer in his goal to get out of bed.
The funniest thing that happenned was when I was introducing him to Rosemary the one to one aide that was going to be with him for the evening. He told her to go away. When we asked him why? Walt said "Cost". As we know Walter is fairly frugal with the $$$. He was OK to have her stay however when we explained that the hospital were paying.
I am off to the hospital now, hoping to get some exercises in before Dialysis.
Please give me a call and I would be very happy to explain the simple things I am doing with Walt so you can help if you like when you visit. Photos and things you can bring to show Walt as Gino and Tom are doing are also great.
Keep the comments coming as Patty, Lindsay and the rest of us check in several times a day and it is great to hear from you.
Cheers
Corinne
Monday, May 7, 2007
Let me Out Of here!
Had a busy afternoon with Walt today. He had dialysis this morning so he was asleep when I arrived. i got to meet Marie who is the aide that is sitting with him during the day. Apparently she had had a very busy morning trying to keep him in bed!!
Gino and I had been talking this morning about what we could do to help his rehab along until he can get into St Mary's again. If you can help out with any time please email me and we will work out a schedule, the things we are doing are very simple at the moment. my email is: cepetterson@rochester.rr.com
Fortuitously the physiotherapist arrived while I was there and showed me the exercises we can do with his legs and ankles to get him ready for walking again. Well touching his feet certainly got Walt awake again! (Walt haaaaates to have his feet touched) Once he understood what we were trying to do he started working with us a bit.
He can get very anxious and keeps pulling at his sheet and gown trying to get out of bed. Please reassure him that he is OK and that he has to stay there until he is better. You may have to keep moving his hand down. If he is quiet or asleep ask the nurse if you can remove or loosen the restraints as it this is very good for him but he is very quick so keep an eye out.
Walt is more than ready to start the Rehab so lets hope that he can get the medical problems out of the way soon.
Another really positive day.
I also got a kiss goodbye but don't tell Patty!
Cheers
Corinne
Gino and I had been talking this morning about what we could do to help his rehab along until he can get into St Mary's again. If you can help out with any time please email me and we will work out a schedule, the things we are doing are very simple at the moment. my email is: cepetterson@rochester.rr.com
Fortuitously the physiotherapist arrived while I was there and showed me the exercises we can do with his legs and ankles to get him ready for walking again. Well touching his feet certainly got Walt awake again! (Walt haaaaates to have his feet touched) Once he understood what we were trying to do he started working with us a bit.
He can get very anxious and keeps pulling at his sheet and gown trying to get out of bed. Please reassure him that he is OK and that he has to stay there until he is better. You may have to keep moving his hand down. If he is quiet or asleep ask the nurse if you can remove or loosen the restraints as it this is very good for him but he is very quick so keep an eye out.
Walt is more than ready to start the Rehab so lets hope that he can get the medical problems out of the way soon.
Another really positive day.
I also got a kiss goodbye but don't tell Patty!
Cheers
Corinne
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Up Up and Away????
Well Walt is wide awake and keeping the staff at Strong hopping! Rick and I called in this morning on the way to the airport (Rick was leaving on another business trip). When we arrived at Walts room it looked like a party. He was awake and talking. Some of it we could understand.
He asked Rick for a knife to cut the restraints and was not happy when told that he couldn't. He then asked to talk to Patty on the phone but when she gave him a scolding about behaving himself he said goodbye and handed the phone back to me. We were all so excited to see him feeling better after the nightmare couple of weeks. The staff were wonderful with him, they seemed as happy as we were to see him awake.
His short term memory is affected at the moment so he does not seem to remember why he is there and is wanting to get out of bed. This means that he needs to have people with him constantly or the staff will have to sedate him which then slows down the whole therapy process. Perhaps we could start a shedule so that we can cover as much time as possible. Let me know if you can put in some time. my email is cepetterson@rochester.rr.com .
Now we hope that he stays well enough to begin the rehabilitation process.
Love to all
Corinne
He asked Rick for a knife to cut the restraints and was not happy when told that he couldn't. He then asked to talk to Patty on the phone but when she gave him a scolding about behaving himself he said goodbye and handed the phone back to me. We were all so excited to see him feeling better after the nightmare couple of weeks. The staff were wonderful with him, they seemed as happy as we were to see him awake.
His short term memory is affected at the moment so he does not seem to remember why he is there and is wanting to get out of bed. This means that he needs to have people with him constantly or the staff will have to sedate him which then slows down the whole therapy process. Perhaps we could start a shedule so that we can cover as much time as possible. Let me know if you can put in some time. my email is cepetterson@rochester.rr.com .
Now we hope that he stays well enough to begin the rehabilitation process.
Love to all
Corinne
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Patty says: What a crazy wild ride. This am at 5:00 my phone rang (again) but it was the call I have been waiting for since March 13th. The nurse said that this was not an emergency but Walter wanted to talk to "his wife". She put him on the phone. He said "Hi" and said many many more words but seeing that he has oxygen in his nose and the trach cover over his hole in his neck it is quite hard to understand him. The nurse said that he woke up very scared and wanted to know what happened. She has never seen him before she said so I think that she got kind of scared too. He tried to get out of bed again and she said it took 5 people to keep him in bed. The is very different from 5 days of delirium to say the least. My poor sleepy Brian got out of bed and we headed to my home away from home-Strong. The birds seemed pretty happy at that hour but as you all know it is not my happy time of day. We did get a good parking spot though. Walter was awake when we got there and started telling me some kind of story. He seemed very frustrated ( I wonder why) but I did understand him say "Honey". He did give me a sweet kiss. He was calm again and I told him to give his nurse a kiss and she got one too. She was really great with Walter and I hope to get her again tonight. (as long as I do not receive another 5:00 wake up call). I still wonder if he will remember what I told him about his accident. With his brain injury, of course, we have no way of knowing what goes through his mind. I can say though that his brain should work fine once he gets to therapy. I think he really needs St.. Mary's now but is not medically ready. So please keep praying and hoping for Walter's speedy recovery.
On a personal note, I want to thank everyone again for visiting Walter. It is imperative that he gets stimulation from visitors at this time. Thank you to Peggy and Bob and Gino for reading to him. Thank you to my neighbors/friends for their home visits to cheer me up. Julie, Brian and Nan-I love you! Gail, thank you for that bottle of red. It was sooo good and what a pretty bottle. I need to order a case of that!! Walter would love it too! Norma, thank you for our years of friendship and fun. And the wonderful cooking that you did for me. You are hired as my personal cook. Bernie and Dick-I loved your beautiful flowers. They made my dark days bright. I love you guys!! Thanks to Rick and Corinne for the blog!! Next year at this time this whole thing will be "The year from hell gone by." And Walter will be enjoying his retirement with me on the front porch and our beautiful deck that he built.
On a personal note, I want to thank everyone again for visiting Walter. It is imperative that he gets stimulation from visitors at this time. Thank you to Peggy and Bob and Gino for reading to him. Thank you to my neighbors/friends for their home visits to cheer me up. Julie, Brian and Nan-I love you! Gail, thank you for that bottle of red. It was sooo good and what a pretty bottle. I need to order a case of that!! Walter would love it too! Norma, thank you for our years of friendship and fun. And the wonderful cooking that you did for me. You are hired as my personal cook. Bernie and Dick-I loved your beautiful flowers. They made my dark days bright. I love you guys!! Thanks to Rick and Corinne for the blog!! Next year at this time this whole thing will be "The year from hell gone by." And Walter will be enjoying his retirement with me on the front porch and our beautiful deck that he built.
Cinco de Mayo!
Today is one of my dad's favorite days of the year - Cinco de Mayo! Every year, he stocks up on Corona and makes Mayan Roses and celebrates the day with the Callipare's, our neighbors across the street. He even has a Cinco de Mayo shirt that we bought him from Old Navy!
Since he cannot celebrate the day, please have a drink for him today or say a toast for him. Here's hoping that he's drinking Mayan Roses while wearing his Cinco de Mayo shirt on his deck next year :) Maybe we'll even get him a sombrero...
Since he cannot celebrate the day, please have a drink for him today or say a toast for him. Here's hoping that he's drinking Mayan Roses while wearing his Cinco de Mayo shirt on his deck next year :) Maybe we'll even get him a sombrero...
Friday, May 4, 2007
The Cardiac Kid
Walter has been moved to the Cardiac ward. 7-3400. Yes, that's right, the place where people recover from heart attacks and transplants.
Not that Walt has either of those conditions.
Make sense? It does to Strong Memorial Hospital...
Well, even if it doesn't make sense to you, I heartily urge you to visit Walt in his new surrounds. It can get lonely for him in that room, so have a heart and pay a visit. Upon your arrival at the unit, the staff typically greets you with a heart-felt "welcome!". Even though some of them have been transplanted from other wards, when something needs doing they all pitch in together. They certainly have alot of heart!
Anyway, Walt is stable - there's not alot more to say about his condition right now. For those of you who pray, keep praying! For those of you who hope, keep hope alive! It works.
Because when you feel it in your heart, it can't be wrong.
Not that Walt has either of those conditions.
Make sense? It does to Strong Memorial Hospital...
Well, even if it doesn't make sense to you, I heartily urge you to visit Walt in his new surrounds. It can get lonely for him in that room, so have a heart and pay a visit. Upon your arrival at the unit, the staff typically greets you with a heart-felt "welcome!". Even though some of them have been transplanted from other wards, when something needs doing they all pitch in together. They certainly have alot of heart!
Anyway, Walt is stable - there's not alot more to say about his condition right now. For those of you who pray, keep praying! For those of you who hope, keep hope alive! It works.
Because when you feel it in your heart, it can't be wrong.
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