Vickie made it to the Dr’s late this afternoon for her pro-time test; the results were right where she needed to be.
A taco salad was Vickie’s choice for dinner tonight with plenty of chips and salsa.

The absence of serious problems leaves little to comment about.
Vickie is still improving slowly. Her appetite is increasing, as is her attention to what is going on around her.

Vickie enjoyed dinner at sister’s home this evening.

It’s now three weeks that Vickie has been in her home and six weeks since the last surgery. Her condition is still improving.

Vickie hosted a family holiday gathering today in her backyard.

One of the most significant changes in Vickie’s behavior is her increased appetite. She now eats almost as much as she did before her medical problems arose. The tube feeding is a thing of the past.
In the last few days her sleep pattern seems to have stabilized to a more normal routine. It seems she is back on the road to recovery at last, given the short period of time everything has turned around.

Vickie slept in this morning. After lunch she supervised the yard work for several hours. This evening she entertained visitors before calling it a day.

After an uneventful day, Vickie went out for Chinese food (cashew chicken).

Vickie slept more today than usual, maybe she was tired from her activities yesterday. Otherwise she had a pleasant day.

Vickie kept her appointment with her Dr. today. Everything seems to be under control, so no significant changes in her medication or treatment. This is the first time she has traveled since returning home two weeks ago. She made the trip without any problems.

An enchilada and a piece of apple pie were on Vickie’s menu for dinner tonight. The change in her behavior from before the last hospitalization is almost startling.

It was a regular day for Vickie, no new problems. She is eating more quantity and will rely less on the tube feeding as she progresses.

Vickie spent a little time outside in the warm sun this afternoon. She had her first shower in over a month this evening. She is adjusting back to the situation she was at before the last crisis, only without the constant problems that plagued her then.

Vickie ate two small meals while sitting in her wheelchair today. It’s the first time she has been out of her room since she returned home twelve days ago.

Vickie’s pleasant day was capped off with a visit from her two youngest grandsons.
Still no new problems. It seems now that some of the recovery we were hoping for over the last year, could still happen.

Vickie stood up next to her bed for a short time this afternoon with plenty of assistance of course. This weekend after some more practice sitting up and standing, she will use her wheelchair briefly. We also intend to begin giving her more opportunities to eat regular food on a limited basis.

The therapist that can give the ok for Vickie to resume eating wants her to have more extensive tests to determine her ability to swallow. We probably will forego such tests and gradually begin to give Vickie food as long as it doesn’t appear to create a problem.

Vickie has been home one week now and it’s been four weeks since she was hospitalized the last time. The constant nausea episodes have not returned at all. She has a much more relaxed mood now and she is much more aware and responsive.
Our short term goal is to have Vickie eating normally and using her wheelchair so she can get out to experience life again.

We are getting anxious to have Vickie eating and not spending all of her time in bed. The therapists and Dr. will have to determine when she is ready to advance. She seems to be ready now.

Three sisters took turns caring for Vickie today. She was in a good mood for most of the day.

Breaking with the Dr.’s instructions, Vickie had a small snack and a small amount of juice today. She is supposed to be fed with the pump and tube only, but she said she was hungry and thirsty. Eating or drinking doesn’t seem to be a problem for her.

Vickie has been home for three days now without any setbacks.
She is still bedridden due to the extensive surgery of three weeks ago.
Her mental abilities are as good or better than they were before the latest hospitalization.

Vickie had another quiet day with still no new problems.
Visiting nurse and a therapist are seeing Vickie at home to help with her care.

Vickie had a sleepless night and was very quiet during her first day at home. We are still adjusting to her new feeding procedure and her different medication and care regimen. So far, none of the nausea problems that plagued her before have reoccurred.

Vickie was transported back to her home this evening.
The VNA helped with the new pump feeding system, similar to the type used in the hospital and other chores that are new to us.
Vickie seems content and relaxed. She was away from her home for three weeks.

Vickie slept much of the day. She seems to be back to her old schedule of staying awake at night and sleeping during the day.
Vickie will probably return home tomorrow evening if there are no new issues.

Vickie was able to spend some time in the courtyard this afternoon; she thought it was warm out. She is getting bored and says she wants to leave.

Vickie slept much of the day and was otherwise very quiet.
There were no new developments or problems

Despite what many believe, the medical system does not always operate like a finely tuned machine. Vickie will remain at LEH until Monday. There were no new problems with Vickie, just poor communication between staff.
Whether Vickie returns to Rest Harbor is in question now. Unless some major financial issues are resolved, it’s possible she will go to another facility.

The overseers at Emanuel have determined that Vickie has stayed at their center long enough. She is to be discharged tomorrow as soon as a skilled nursing facility is able to accept her. She will probably return to Rest Harbor where she spent the last part of 2004.
As a little bit of irony, it was one year ago today Vickie arrived at Rest Harbor. It won’t be the same this time.
As of today all of the anti-biotics ended. She is still being fed with the tube.

Again just when we think we have everything figured out, something unexpected happens. Vickie was tentatively scheduled to have her temporary shunt replaced with a more permanent one today. The Dr. ordered a CAT scan this afternoon to ensure everything was as it should be. The test showed, in the Dr.’s opinion, Vickie didn’t need the shunt; the natural drainage system was working fine.
The importance of this turn of events can’t be stressed enough. Since it’s quite possible the shunt that was inserted last summer was the cause of Vickie’s constant nausea problem.

Vickie was much brighter today, more talkative and alert to her environment.
Possibly, the shunt replacement procedure could be tomorrow.

Sleepy at times and somewhat agitated at other times bests describes Vickie’s day.
Still no definite date for the shunt procedure.

Another quiet day. Vickie is still experiencing some discomfort from her surgery. The tube feeding is going well.
Sometime this week, the shunt replacement is expected.

No significant changes for Vickie today. Still using the tube feeding. She spent much of the day watching TV.

A quiet day for Vickie. She no longer receives nourishment by IV. All feeding is thru her tube. Still not allowed to eat normal.
She has new foot splints to prevent bedsores on her feet, a new problem.

Vickie was alert and responsive today. She was able to sit up in a special hospital chair for half an hour this morning.
The tube feeding is doing better now. Hopefully she will be allowed to feed herself soon.

Vickie seems to be recovering from her ordeal. This evening she watched TV from her bed and made comments on the news. She is able to talk a little so we know we haven’t lost anything.
The medical issues are still unresolved, but that is subject to change as her condition stabilizes. Next week will be the most important since that is when the shunt replacement is tentatively scheduled. We haven’t heard from the financial overlords yet, but we know they are hovering impatiently.

Vickie was able to sleep well today, something that has eluded her during this latest hospitalization. The tube feeding has started and so far no negative reactions. When she was awake we had glimpses of her old self.

Vickie continues with pain medication. She is being fed thru the PEG tube, at a slow rate to see if she can tolerate it.
She is experiencing several minor complications due to inactivity and confinement to the bed.
Vickie still has lung congestion, when she tries to cough; it causes discomfort in the area affected by the surgery.

Vickie’s condition seemed to be much improved from Saturday. She isn’t complaining about pain as much as before. She is still having strong pain medication.
She has been receiving respiratory treatment and the congestion is not as noticeable. She now has a rash on her body, probably from an anti-biotic, just like last year.
This evening Vickie was a little more talkative and aware of what was going on around her.

Vickie had a quiet day with visits from different family members.
Vickie seems to be experiencing more pain. She is now receiving a very strong pain medication. She also has serious lung congestion.

This afternoon Vickie was moved to TRAC U.
She was responsive and able to communicate some. After the extensive surgeries she is still listless and in considerable pain.
The visiting rules are much more relaxed now with few restrictions. There is a visitor’s logbook in her room, just like last year. In fact she is only a few rooms down the hall from where she stayed this time last summer.

Vickie is still in ICU. She will be there for an indefinite time. She receives pain medication, which keeps her drowsy most of the time.

This morning Vickie had a cranial procedure to determine if she did have an infection associated with her shunt. The results showed positive for infection.
Late in the afternoon Vickie went to the operating room to have the shunt removed. When it was pulled out it was apparent that something else was wrong. The surgeon realized the lower end of the tube had caused a perforation in her colon, a very unusual situation. Additional surgeons were called in to do abdominal surgery. They did a colostomy. This will remain until Vickie’s body heals enough to tolerate surgery to repair the damage. In the meantime she will remain at Emanuel for several weeks primarily for infection prevention.

A series of severe seizures this morning sent Vickie, by ambulance to Mt. Hood MC. After multiple tests and exams it was determined she needed more specialized care. She was transferred to Emanuel late in the afternoon.
The initial but not final diagnosis is an infection near the brain caused by her shunt tube or possibly some sort of gastro irregularity. It may take some time to identify the exact cause. Hopefully the nausea problem can be treated correctly for good this time.
As of late this evening Vickie had not awakened from her morning ordeal, so she was supplied nourishment by IV.
She is in the east ICU wing, which has very restricted visiting times.

Beginning with breakfast, Vickie suffered from a severe case of nausea that was still causing her much distress at bedtime.

This afternoon Vickie attended a birthday picnic for one of her older sisters. She ate plenty of the great potluck foods. It was more like a family reunion and Vickie enjoyed the occasion.

Vickie had lunch and visited at a sister’s home during the afternoon.
A bedtime nausea episode spoiled what had been an enjoyable day.

Despite a restless night Vickie recovered well. She ate a sizable breakfast [for her]. After a long morning nap she did lunch, again cleaning her plate.
After her Chinese dinner, Vickie stopped at her younger son’s home for a piece of his birthday cake and a short visit with the grandson.

Vickie had her first outpatient physical therapy today. Although she was a sleepyhead because of the AM appointment, she still performed well. From now on she will have afternoon sessions, hopefully she will be more alert and better able to participate fully.
Again Vickie spent the evening at sister’s home for free dinner. Three of Vickie’s sisters coordinate with each other in her care and visits.
At bedtime the nausea came on again. It was over quickly and she soon fell asleep. Perhaps she can make it all night without further problems.

Early morning nausea didn’t prevent Vickie from having a pleasant day. Her appetite continues to improve despite all the setbacks. An evening at a sister’s home along with dinner was a good ending to the day.

Finally, a good day from start to finish. Vickie had a good appetite and only a few minor problems.

For some unknown reason Vickie slept a good portion of the day. Late in the afternoon she finally awoke for good. She then traveled to a sister’s home for a visit and dinner.
Vickie is spending more time away from her home and without the company of her main caregiver. It seems to be a more convenient arrangement for everyone involved.

Vickie recovered nicely from the previous nights discomfort. She ate a good breakfast. Later she traveled to sister’s home for lunch and dinner. Despite the very warm July afternoon she had a good day.

A visit from Vickie’s two youngest grandsons helped alleviate the discomfort from dinnertime nausea for a while. She was unable to eat her meal or retain the much needed anti-biotic. The episodes are becoming much too frequent.
It has been thirteen months since the onset of Vickie’s illness. Her recovery seems to be going much slower and with more setbacks than we anticipated. If we can somehow get past this almost continuous nausea problem maybe the healing process will get back on track.

Vickie kept her Dr. appointment this afternoon. She still has an infection that refuses to go away. More antibiotics will be tried.
At bedtime another episode of nausea, something else that won’t go away.

Beginning early morning, Vickie experienced one of the worse periods of nausea in several weeks. After plenty of sleep during the day she was able to resume normal activities.
She spent the evening traveling to a couple of her sister's homes for dinner and visits.

For some unknown reason Vickie spent an extraordinary amount of time sleeping today. This evening she was herself again.

A very restless night and then the nausea at daybreak was a poor start for Vickie's day. With some extra sleep she returned to her regular self later in the day. The episodes are becoming more frequent again but the severity and duration are not nearly as bad as they were previously. She always rebounds quickly now. Still, there is no apparent cause or cure.

An early morning bout of nausea didn't stop Vickie from having a good day. She was in good spirits for a visit from a friend and a sister this evening.

Vickie had a good afternoon visiting at her sister's home, topped off with a excellent dinner.

Another non-problem day. Vickie had a good visit with some of her neighbors as they helped with some neglected landscape work in her yard.
Vickie's appetite has improved noticably in the last week or so despite the ongoing problems.

Vickie finished a good day with dinner at the chinese resturant. Later in the evening a bout of nausea caused some discomfort as she was getting ready for bedtime.

Vickie had her first outpatient therapy session today. We will have to make some changes concerning how she consumes her meals and drinks. Vickie has difficulty drinking without choking, making her mealtimes somewhat risky if not handled properly.

Vickie was able to get away from her home for a while this evening. Still doing well.

Vickie had a regular day with a few problems that were resolved. She still has her appetite and she is keeping a better sleep schedule.

Vickie recovered from a bout of nauesa in the morning in time to have a good brunch.

Vickie spent the afternoon at another sister's house without mishap. A ramp was hastily constructed to accommodate her wheelchair.
She is still eating with more gusto, definitely a good sign.

In our ongoing efforts to broaden Vickie's experience level, she traveled to and spent the entire afternoon at a sister's home without her primary caregiver's assistance. She enjoyed her time away from home along with a good meal and the attention of the resident dogs.

Still another day without serious problems. Vickie is developing, what for her is a voracious appetite. She also enjoys snacking which previously didn't happen.

Vickie traveled to a small local outdoor music venue this evening with a sister. A one time episode, possibly motion sickness caused a delay but didn't interfere with her enjoying the event.

Vickie made it thru the day without any significant problems, for a change.

It seems Vickie can't get a good break. In route to her Dr's for tests this afternoon, she became sick again. She followed thru with the appointment despite the illness. After a few hours she was able to get settled down and sleep.

Another of the early morning onset nausea episodes disrupted Vickie's morning. There seems to be a regularity about this situation, still without an explaination for the cause or a viable way to prevent their occurrence. Later in the day she always returns to her normal self.

Vickie was able to travel to and spend the afternoon at a family gathering without assistance from her primary caregiver. She enjoyed the visit, especially with the young ones. We are trying to expand her experiences to help her become more aware and self sufficient.

There were no changes in Vickie's condition today.

Vickie liked her fried shrimp and her cashew chicken when she dined out this evening, however she thought the tea was not as hot as it should have been.

Vickie had another pleasant day. She is still eating good.

Vickie's appetite is slowly increasing, to the point now that all her nutrition is from meals.
She has started on a new anti-biotic to aggressively treat the persistent infection.

An early morning nausea episode was a bad start to Vickie's day. The incidents seem to becoming more frequent again. We still don't have a definite cause. Later in the morning she recovered and behaved as if it never happened.

Vickie managed to get thru another day without any problems quite well.

Other than getting extra sleep, Vickie had a good day.

As has been the case previously, Vickie seemed to recover from the problems of the night before quite well.

A bout of the nausea this evening ruined what had otherwise been a pleasant day.

Today is a bittersweet anniversary for those of us close to Vickie. It was one year ago this morning that she was first stricken. On that morning we couldn't imagine the chain of events that would transpire over the course of the year.
Vickie is still making progress albeit slowly, but considering the alternative we gladly accept the situation we have now.

Vickie had another pleasant day. She is still eating well and her sleep pattern is improving.

Vickie returned to her normal self today, no new issues to contend with.

Just when things appeared to be going well, Vickie suffered another nausea episode early in the morning. She slept most of the day recovering from the nights distress.
She did rebound some this evening, managing to eat a fair amount for dinner.

Vickie is slowly regaining her appetite. She no longer needs extra nourishment. Her sleep pattern is also improving.

Vickie had another good day.

Vickie enjoyed another day without serious problems.
Vickie's new leg braces arrived today. These are to help maintain her legs and feet in proper alignment for that time in the future when she can begin walking again.

Again Vickie's condition seems to have stabilized. No problems today. She is attempting to eat meals normally. She still has erratic sleep times.

Vickie had a pleasant day, with some extra sleep.
A possible cause of the nausea may be an infection, which will be treated with anti-biotics.

Despite the miserable time Vickie had Sunday, she was back on track today.

Nausea beginning early in the morning completely ruined Vickie's day. A very high fever and no ability to retain fluids, nourishment or any medication through out the day created a serious setback. She was finally able to get some rest at the end of the day.
As has been the situation previously, there is no apparent cause and little can be done to prevent or alleviate the episodes.

Vickie had another pleasant day. She continues to be more alert and responsive. Her appetite is definitely improving.

Vickie has successfully completed four days without serious problems. Her appetite is slowly returning so she is not needing the tube for nourishment now.

Vickie continues to have trouble free days. This gives everyone directly involved a much needed break and cause for a little optimism.

Vickie made it thru a second day without any serious problems.