Lots of News

K - to start off dad has definitely turned a corner for the better. We are seeing daily changes this week as well as the doctors & therapists. Very exciting. Do know as I tell you of these changes that they are slight. A squeeze is really a gentle grip. I don't want anyone to think that we are about done - I think we are looking at several months of recovery.

Okay - with that out of the way DAD IS DOING FANTASTIC!!!!!

Rachael and I started out the day taking some pictures of dad's kittens and printed them for him. Got a good smile out of him when he saw. They were tiny when he went into the hospital over four weeks ago. Also yesterday they did do the greenfield filter so they are now ready to do the colonoscopy (hopefully today). When Rach and I got there dad gave me a kiss and right away wanted me to hold his left hand. SQUEEZE - it was so cool! Then he wanted me to place my one hand under his upper arm and pull up his hand - I could feel his muscles twitching and could feel his hand and wrist also moving and helping. I had tears - and he was grinning ear to ear. Dad has always been a bit of a show-off! I just loved it. He was so proud! Then - for the frosting - he started wiggling his toes on the right foot. He was looking down there drawing my attention to it. Very cute.

Early afternoon dad got really frustrated trying to tell us something. Shortly after they gave him some meds for the nausea (from the chemo), more meds for pain, and then some for anxiety. Communication is very hard! It is so frustrating for dad as well as mom, nurses, techs, and doctors. He has a lot to say - but with no sound, just his lips moving, it is very hard to figure out what he wants or needs or just wants to say. He can become anxious when he gets really frustrated. - K, so he has all these meds in him and in comes the Respiratory therapist to have dad breath on his own for a while (they have been doing this a little each day this week). So dad was really concentrating to breath good breaths and in comes the PT (physical therapist) to do her work. She started out with the left hand and arm. She was EXTREMELY encouraging. Went on and on about how much strength dad had already gained. She could feel new muscles in his upper arm twitching as they did the movements together. All over she could feel small muscle improvements throughout her time. Rach and I were sitting off to the side - and I had tears just flowing down my cheeks! - It was just so wonderful to see him improving!!!

So now remember dad is breathing on his own AND doing PT. He breathed on his own for A HALF HOUR!!!! He started looking a little panicked and the PT asked if he needed to stop - he looked at her and you could tell he was thinking. She asked again - and I could see a tiny tear slip down his face - then I asked dad "Dad - are you wondering if you need to quit one and which one is the more important - PT or breathing?" He nodded his head. She said - "Mr Berends - you did a GREAT job. We can defiantly quit for today and I'll come back tomorrow. This is going to take time. I can tell you are doing the exercises and yes - lets quit for today!" Dad breathed a large sigh of relief. He is such a trooper.

Last night dad was kicked down a level of care. He was moved to another room in a less critical care area. There are still two patients to one nurse - but it means he is improving. He still needs to be suctioned to get the goop out of his lungs. No feeds yesterday. And he continues to have bowel problems. But we are doing much better.

Yesterday they had mom meet with the social worker and they are beginning to look at where in our area they can release dad to. They are looking at Pip Hospital in Plainwell. He could be able to go there as soon as next week!!

Today they had planned to do a swallow study, PT & OT will be coming, the colonoscopy (but it has now been delayed until this afternoon), and --- there was something else that escapes me now. I talked to mom a couple of minutes ago and she was a little upset. They had loaded dad with the goop you need to normally drink before the colonoscopy - but it goes in one of dads tubes - but it was not passing out the bottom end. They were going to take care of that and do a light bath so mom went out of the room to eat lunch and take a break. When she got back after an hour -they hadn't even been in to check on dad during that time - let alone help him relieve himself. I guess there was a patient that needed to be attended to - but mom is laying the guilt trip on herself. So dad was tense and very uncomfotable. Again the bowel muscles aren't working properly.

A couple of other details. They expect dad to be on the chemo for up to 6 months! The chemo also comes in pill form. That is why they want to do the swallow study. They expect dad to fail the study - they just want a gage to see how he might do. That is also in preparation for sending him elsewhere. At Pip Hospital it would be called Long Term Acute Care. There would be a respiratory therapist on-site to help continue to ween him. And of course they really want dad to begin in taking through his mouth.

It was a great day for Rach and I. I hope to load a couple of pictures. Enjoy.