Vickie was rather tired today.Fever seems to be keeping down and less suctioning is needed.Tonight she seemed to be feeling depressed.It may be that reality is setting in and she is starting to worry about her future.Now more then ever, she needs to be reminded how far she has come, and what a strong person she is.On this Thursday, the family is meeting with the staff at the care facility to see what her care plan is going to be now that the 1st 30 days are almost completed....(Pam)

Vickie was quiet during the day and not very responsive. This evening she was alert and talking, in her own way of course.
When she was handed a card she received this evening she held it up and looked it over. Not sure if she was reading it or not, but it looked good.
The respiratory infection is still there but not getting any worse, maybe better.
And a little side matter, today is our 36th anniversary. It will be celebrated at a later time.

Vickie had a pretty mellow day today.Fever was up in the afternoon but back down in the evening. She looked rather comfortable and was even able to laugh (smiled really big) when two of us sisters had a laughing attack..it was great to have her join in like old times again!!!The antibiotic seems to be working,so everyone keep positive thoughts that it stays that way.(Pam-Vic's sister)

8/28

This update is from Vickie's sister Pam,giving Tom a night off.Rather quiet day..Vickie seems to be feeling a tiny bit better.Still very tired but very much alert and aware of everyone and everything most of the time.Fever seems to be keeping at just slightly raised.Hopefully in the next week or so her infection will be under control so extended therapy can begin.She is trying her very best at it now but tires out rather quickly(PT will be back Monday.She really needs all the comfort and encouragement all her family and friends continue to give her.

Another typical day for Vickie. Physical therapy in the morning, some time in the wheelchair and then lots of sleep in the afternoon.
The lung infection won't go away. Because of the infection she must have the suction treatment done constantly. It's obviously distressing for her.
This evening she was alert at times and wanting to communicate, mostly about her discomfort.

Vickie was alert and trying to talk to us tonight. Unfortunately lip reading is not our forte, so we end up frustrated with our inability to communicate clearly.
The therapist mentioned that if the respiratory problem would go away, removing the trach might soon be possible. This would definitely aid the communication gap.

Vickie had physical therapy this morning. No significant changes. The infection is still present and is being treated.
Tonight she was alert but seemed somewhat agitated. Don't know if it's caused by one of her medications or just the way it is.

This was a quiet day for Vickie. Limited therapy today.
Vickie has a staph bacterial infection that is now prevalent in area institutions. She is being treated for it with gentamycin. The nursing staff are now suggesting when visiting Vickie, visitors wear gloves and masks that are available in the room, for their own protection.

Vickie had both physical and speech therapies this morning. It went well, her abilities are increasing a little each time.
She was more alert today than the last few days.
The fever persists, but is being treated.
The lung congestion just won't go away, it's one of the reasons for keeping the trach tube in. We think if the trach were removed, the communication problem would get much better.

It was an uneventful weekend for Vickie. No physical therapy to get her going. This morning the speech therapist was in to see her, but Vickie wasn't very enthusiastic.
Vickie's respiratory problems are still a factor and she has been running a fever again.
We think some of the medication she's taking might be causing her to be drowsy.

One thing we all agree on, the staff at Rest Harbor is taking very good care of Vickie. From our point of view, Rest Harbor is probably the best of the facilities available to us.

It was just another typical day for Vickie. She had therapy in the morning and plenty of rest in the afternoon.

Vickie had a quiet day, no physical therapy. She was able to sit in her wheel chair for awhile anyway.
We've noticed she's becoming more aware of herself. She now scratches her nose and stomach when it itches.
Vickie has issues with her trach hose. She keeps trying to pull it off and she has succeeded several times. Her annoyance level with her circumstance is increasing.
In it's own way this is probably be a good thing.

Vickie's therapies this morning were so rigorous she slept most of the afternoon. We didn't get much of a reaction out of her during the day today. Late this evening she seemed to get her second wind and was back to listening to what was said to her and then giving and showing appropriate responses.

Vickie continued with her therapy today. There were no significant changes in her behavior. She is still making progress in her ability to respond and let us know what's on her mind.
I suspect we have reached a point in Vickie's recovery where the day to day improvements are small and unless there's a dramatic change, they go unnoticed by those of us who visit daily. We now just assume she will be a little better each day.

Not sure whether it's the aggressive therapy or if it's just the natural order of things but Vickie seems to be much more aware and more ready to communicate, albeit in her own way.
She was in her tiltback wheel chair again today for three hours and for some of that time she was outside in the sunshine.

Vickie was able to acknowledge some of the visitors she had this morning,with hand gestures and mouthing words that everyone could understand.

Today marks the beginning of the third month.

This morning Vickie was lifted out of her bed with the sling hoist and lowered into her tilt back wheel chair. It's obvious the lift process makes her very anxious. We wheeled her down the hall to the sunroom where she stayed for several hours. Awake some and then falling asleep. It was encouraging to see her sitting with her head up even if it had to be supported by the neck support and strap.
She's was a little more responsive today than yesterday. She keeps mouthing words but we can't read lips very good so it must be as frustrating for her as it is for us. She seems to have a lot to tell us but just can't get it out.

For the first time in nearly two months, Vickie had a shower this morning. Another new adventure for her, we think she liked it. Finally, we can close the windows.
She seemed less responsive today generally, but she did perk up some for new visitors.

It was an extraordinary day for Vickie. Her therapists put her in a wheel chair and brought her down stairs to sit in the sunroom. She spent nearly two hours in the chair before returning to her room to rest.
Vickie's alertness level is increasing. She's more responsive each day. When a special visitor comes to her room she can even manage a weak smile, if the timing is right.

Vickie had the first of her intensive physical therapy sessions today. Among the exercises, one had her sitting on the edge of her bed. Apparently she didn't enjoy it at all. She's been in a prone position for nearly two months now, with no activity.

Despite the increased level of activity, Vickie was still awake into the late afternoon. She had a visit from her new speech therapist. He was optimistic about her ability to regain some of her speaking skills. The family is being encouraged to take an active part in her communication therapy.

The one constant in all of this is change, Vickie was moved to room #33 this afternoon. She has a better view of the parking lot now.

Vickie slept thru most of her ambulance ride to Rest Harbor at the corner of Powell Valley Rd and 282nd. She was awake and didn't seemed to be stressed when she got to room #32 on the second floor.

She was alert and somewhat more responsive during the day. She seems to be sleeping a little less now and staying awake longer. She's also paying more attention to what's going on around her and interacting more with visitors and staff.

From our initial contact today it looks like the staff is able to provide the care and treatment Vickie will require during her stay, as well they should considering the mind boggling amount they charge.
They have promised an aggressive physical therapy program to get Vickie on the road to recovery.

Vickie will go to Rest Harbor, a skilled nursing facility east of Gresham, tomorrow before noon. We've been assured that they have the equipment and trained personnel to take care of Vickie properly. We'll see about that.
Vickie was awake and somewhat responsive again tonight. She is starting to communicate her needs and problems, but in the most elementary ways. We believe she is once again making noticeable progress.

Tonight Vickie was the most alert and responsive that I've seen in 2 weeks. She was able to write several names on a paper. She tired of this exercise after a few minutes. However her penmanship is still holding her back from that gold star.
The last of the long hair that remained after the surgeries was cut off tonight. All she needs is some purple color to complete the look.
I suspect that she will be leaving Emanuel very soon. The serious side medical issues are under control for now. We are hoping the next stage in Vickie's recovery won't be as short and traumatic as the last one.

Vickie was resting this morning. Later in the afternoon she was awake and very responsive to visitors.
She had another ct scan this afternoon, checking for sizures or problems. None found.
The Dr. of the day put her back on a Delantin type drug and the rash returned. If it isn't one thing it's another. It's starting to look like we have to start all over every third day as far as the staff is concerned. There doesn't seem to be an overall game plan.

Vickie seemed to be pretty much the same this morning. This afternoon was a different matter. Around 1:30 she had a severe breathing problem. As it turned out a blood clot from her lung had worked itself out and up to the trach canula, lodged there and caused a crisis for herself and her sister who had just came in the room. What timing. This is twice in a week that a sister has arrived just in time to call for help at a critical moment.
An X-ray of her chest was done. No results from that yet.
Vickie was back to her old sleepy self this evening.

Little change today. More tests this morning looking for the cause of the fever which has just about gone. The new antibiotics might be working, despite not knowing the identity of the organism that's responsible.
Tried to get Vickie to write with a pen tonight, she made a few scratches, not much enthusiasm yet. There will be no star beside her name for penmanship.

Vickie seemed "brighter" today. More responsive, not as much as a week ago, but better than she has been since our weekend near-disaster.
The Fever and respitory problems are still being aggresively treated.
A major side issue concerning our perception of Vickie's hospitalization regimen has perhaps changed for the better thanks to some timely intervention.

Not much change today. Still being treated for the respitory problem. Vickie seems to be trying to respond but can't quite get it out. Sister says she got a smile out of her this morning.
More tests today, won't know the results for awhile.
She gets a lot of attention from the staff, so somethings going right.

There was not a lot of change today. The respitory infection is still a problem. The staff moniter Vickie constantly and keep it under control enough that she isn't stressed by it. They keep taking samples trying to determine the identity of the bug. Today she started a new antibiotic.
I must visit at the wrong time of day, she's always asleep when I'm there, but others tell me she was alert and responsive when they saw her. Hmm?
The nursing home decision is going to be made in a day or so. Vickie will probably go to a different facility that seems to be able to provide the care she requires. It will be in a less convenient location for me but that's not so important right now.
I'm speculating she won't leave Emanuel before the end of the week, but I could be wrong.

More tests were done today, trying to find what's causing the respitory problems Vickie is experiencing. She still has the fever from last weekend.
She wasn't responsive this afternoon when I visited, but her sister said she was this morning.
The issue of Nursing facilities is still unresolved. We're exploring other options.
My opinion is they are all the same, marginally competent if you don't require extraordinary care.

This morning Vickie was resting, with no noticeable breathing problems. She was not very responsive, I think the events of the last couple of days have taken a toll on her recovery.
This evening she had another CT scan to check for unseen problems. We probably won't know the results until later tomorrow. Hopefully this is only a temporary setback.
She seemed more responsive tonight and was able to communicate a little.
We'll have to wait and see what decisions are made for her care in the near future. Some changes will have to be made so as not to repeat our experience this weekend.