Dad stood up today!

What a day!  With the help and encouragement of Angela, a mild-mannered occupational therapist, Dad put his boots back on and pulled himself up to version of standing on his own two feet!!!  And he not only used his feet to stand, but he also put those booted feet on the floor for balance  as he slid into and out of his wheelchair with minimal help!  He also had a good time "walking" his wheelchair around the room with his feet, realizing how quickly he could maneuver himself out into the hallway, or into the kitchen or the deck on a future adventure... tomorrow maybe?? 

 So many possibilities for independence have opened up for Dad this week.  And with his amazing rate of healing and these first successful attempts at ambulation, the stair chair installation and bathroom remodel have jumped into full swing!  All bets are off as to the date Dad might be able to come home.  God knows when his homecoming will happen and we think it will be sooner than later.  

Please continue to pray for Dad as he works to strengthen his muscles and increase his endurance so he can move to a walker.  Surprisingly, Dad felt no pain in his feet or his wrists during today's activities.  But that dog-gone hip was the pain culprit.  Not being able to rehab his hip until two months after surgery makes the therapy pretty painful.  Hang in there, Dad!

On a personal note, I am so thankful to have witnessed today's major milestones with my dad.  I drove over to his care house this morning only because he wasn't answering his cell phone and I wondered if he'd run away or something!  Alas, the volume had been muted, which one more lesson on cell phone operation corrected easily.  Soon after my arrival, Angela the therapist arrived  for her first visit and the happy miracles began to take place.  To see Dad's face as he moved on his own, and put weight on his feet for the first time in months is a site I will never forget.  And I think that he didn't mind me doing a "happy dance" in the corner and shedding a few tears of happiness in honor of his successes today.  It won't be long until he joins me in the "happy dance" using his own two feet!   Kelli

  

A ride of a lifetime

Okay, I have to admit this story is mostly about ME/Kate, Grandpa is in it sometimes, it isn't all about me! Today Grandpa had his big appointment which you can read all about below this! I got to ride in the front seat of an Ambulance today that Grandpa got transported in. The gurney was a auto one so it was a way easier to pull up wheels by the press of a button. The driver was talkative and respectful. We talked about traveling back and forth Seattle to Portland, weather, and traffic. I know such fun and exciting topics. During all this Grandpa was usually talking to the guy in the back with him or just laying there on a gurney. At one time she got confused or lost and Grandpa tried to help, he did a little. It ended up that she was going the right way. Thank goodness I was there otherwise she would have missed the turn onto his wall. Guess how I knew? Aunt Kelli, she is wonderful, this is how she remembers which road it is. She remembers by a retaining wall that is being built, Thanks Auntie. We successfully arrived at the house. I had a super-duper, first ride in an ambulance. I bet my daddy's proud! 

~Kate =p

WOW, he's free!!!

Today started with slightly limited expectations, but it really was a big, triumphant day!  Another field trip in an ambulance took Grandpa to the OHSU center on the river to see the orthopedic surgeon who operated on his feet and wrists.  His main caretaker, Estera, said, as he was being wheeled out the door by the very kind paramedics, "Maybe you'll get your leg braces off."  We were very quick to not get anyone's hopes up, but we didn't have to!  

Sitting in the large exam room full of family with Grandpa in the middle, the surgeon's physician's assistant came in and took off the wrist braces and boots, and when arms and legs were all "naked," as Grandpa would say, "They stinketh!"  Then, all of our jaws dropped and eyes lit up when she said that he could move around his wrists and ankles and ........ put weight on his feet!!!  We were all cheering, clapping, and dancing, especially because we all thought that the process would take a lot longer! With a written statement from the very nice woman (the surgeon's P.A.), Grandpa can put as much weight on his legs as he can take and he can sleep without his boots!  With some more physical therapy on Thursday, the prospect of getting around by himself, by strengthening his muscles in his arms and legs, is now tangibly within reach!  He can walk around in the boots and lift himself with his wrist braces on, but his range of motion and "independence" is very much improving!  

 

While Grandpa was getting x-rayed, Kate, Aunt Kelli, and I rode the tram up to the main campus of OHSU and back down!  It was so cool - a mix of a funicular, the London Eye pod that you ride in, and the elevators of the Eiffel Tower!  It was very fun to see, and it would be very fun for Grandpa too!  When we came back down to see Grandpa, we got to see those x-rays for the first time, and it was very interesting - all of those screws and pins, it was kind of cool-looking! 

 

After that big excursion, we returned to his care house to a very lovely and relaxing meal, which even included a big hunk of chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream!  If it hadn't been raining, it would have been a nice picnic on the lovely deck, but Kate wheeled Grandpa outside anyway.  He didn't even melt!  When it got toward bedtime, Kate wheeled him back into his room to wait for Estera to get him from his wheelchair to his bed.  When she came in, he hugged her around the neck, and he got up on his feet to pivot onto his bed!  The first weight on those feet in 3 whole months!  It was relatively smooth, and we left him to read his book, listening to the rain fall on the leaves outside his window!  What a big day, and a great answer to all of our prayers!  Who'da thunk that Grandpa would be able to walk this soon?!?

~ Sophie : )

Since ICU...

Yesterday I drove to Portland, OR from Seattle and I went to pick up my Grandma who was with my Grandpa. I walked into the house and... WOW! The house was so beautiful and large. The last time I saw Grandpa was in ICU when he wasn't talking. I was so excited and happy to see him, because he was going to be more like the Grandpa I know! I walked in and gave him a hug. I cried I was so happy, I gave him another hug. He said he got a new cell-phone, I looked at it and it was a nice phone! I added my sister's number who stayed at home and my other sister added herself. He looked so good and healthy and himself! He said that he gets hot chocolate and cookies at 10:00 p.m. if they are awake. I said I smell something chocolate, he said "The kitchen is down the hall 2 and a half miles and then you turn left!" I started laughing, and said I agree this is a big house! We said we would visit him today, he said "I'll give you a tour!" I can't wait! I gave him a big hug and kiss and I went to stay at my Grandma's house.

~Kate (Granddaughter)

A NEW ROUTINE

Time is settling in to a routine that will be good for all of us.  Howard gets to spend time on the terrace in the open air and surrounded by trees.  We can join him there whenever his developing schedule allows.  He is being well served by Providence Home Care and they have already supplied a registrar/nurse (who came to his bedside) to get him all checked in for the benefits they offer such as physical therapy beginning monday.  More on this later.

Tuesday we will join him in the ambulance or in the chase car to keep back to back appointments with the surgeons who did the great work on his feet, ankles,and wrists.  For the much shorter trip to our beloved Dr. Hrbek (our primary physician) on Wed. for a check on all the meds he has been taking.  For this much shorter trip he will be carried by wheelchair van and be able to see out the windows.  At last someone who knows him well is taking a good long look at all that suspicious stuff like anti-anxiety drugs and find out just what he needs.

The Castle on the Mountain

A week and a half of furious wrangling, haggling, telephoning, meeting, phoning and faxing reached a tumultuous climax today when the MetroWest cabulance rolled into a driveway on Mt. Scott and delivered Howard to a new home. And we're not talking "rehab facility" here; we're talking about honest-to-goodness front doors, carpets, bedrooms, kitchen and best of all, a deck with a view. Forget about the fake flower bouquets and no Hallmark channel (we'll fix that); this is a castle fit for a rehabbing prince. It's run by two Romanian ex-patriots who must have trained in a rock quarry, if their impressive "lift and carry" routine to get Howard into bed is any indication. These ladies are tough, and we think Howard has met his match in more ways than one. He's in good hands! The "Peaceful Care House" sits in bucolic Happy Valley in a neighborhood of million dollar homes with views to match. There's no welcome sign or any other indication of a "facility". It's just a big, beautiful house with five private rooms, gorgeous landscaping, and a sterling local reputation. Getting Howard there over the past few days is the real story, an HBO mini-series of dramatic conflict featuring Medicare, Providence Insurance, the Town Center Village care facility, and the Shepherd extended family. We'll save you all the gory details and leave it with a victory for the mysterious workings of our God, common sense and a better future. And our Rehabbing Prince?  Let's just say that when Joe, Deb and the whole clan showed up at the new digs with chocolate birthday cake for Debbie and Andrew, Howard lit up like his old self and enjoyed the family for three hours in his new wheelchair! He's got his first-ever cell phone, and he may give you a call just as soon as he learns how to use it. If you're in the card-sending frame of mind, he'll take his mail care of Peaceful Care House, 10254 SE Isaac Drive, Happy Valley, Oregon, 97086. We think it's no coincidence that he's arrived at "Happy Valley", and Howard's eyes were  showing his old sparkle and a  "bring it on" attitude toward the physical therapy to come. PS - There's a certain birthday coming up on the 21st, and the new deck comes with a propane grill. Burgers, anyone?

Rehab Soap Opera

Forget the soaps on TV, just tune in to the daily saga of Howard's room at Town Center Rehab. Don't believe me?  Here is a typical day in room 145:  Norma arrives for the morning shift to find out she's been assigned to the other side of the rehab section, but she sneaks over to Howard's room anyway, just to wake him up and make sure he's ready for the parade to breakfast.  She knows what she's risking to give her special morning greeting to Howard....a tongue lashing from the supervisor for being out of her section and dirty looks from the aide who finally got her chance to get Dad ready for his day.  

Within a few minutes, another staff member comes by with pictures of her children to show Dad.  Howard is careful to ooh and ahh equally for all the photos he's shown but he has a special spot in his heart for a young aide who recently confided in him that she uses her breaks to pump for her infant at home.  Too personal you say?  This same young lady takes pride in giving Howard a full "shower" in his bed, without getting his hands or feet wet, but successfully scrubbing and polishing him so he almost sparkles.  

It's not long until the youngest of the aides slides into Howard's room to see if he needs anything and then proceeds to stand just out of view of the hallway traffic to send a few text messages.  She chats with Dad while texting, demonstrating her multi-tasking abilities.  Dad is pretty sure this texting young'n is getting to be more than friends with the strong young man who lifts him in and out of bed to his wheelchair.  They make up Dad's favorite lifting team.  It seems the only time she smiles is when she's in room 145, and Dad's pretty sure it isn't just his charming personality that makes her happy....  

The nurses qualified to give medicines usually get Howard's best flattery, as he is quite proud of his ability to talk them into an extra pain killer or sleeping pill when it's needed.  ALL of the meds nurses think Howard likes them best!  If they ever stop and compare stories, Dad's drug supply may decrease dramatically.  

We didn't even tell you any roommate stories on this post...stay tuned for the next episode of Rehab Soap Opera.