March 11, 2012

Well it has been quite a while and so much has happened in the last 5 months.  We have had a full time caregiver up until last week.  In the end I think she was a bigger help to me than to Ken.  We have only been by ourselves for a week and he is doing much better than I am.  We will find our routine soon I am sure and I will relax.  Every day Ken does something that shows me that he is recovering.  As I write this he is in the office/guest room with me listening to music on his iPhone!  Yes I finally convinced him to join me in the iLife!  This is the first time he has wanted to listen to music since the stroke.  Before the stroke he listened to his music all the time. every now and then he is singing along with the music which is going to help him with his speech recovery. 

My adjustment has been a little rougher.  For the last 5 months I could go to work and not worry so much because Barbara was here with him.  If something was wrong she would call me. Now Ken can call me but he can't tell me or anyone else if something is wrong.  I have lots of technology in place. I can track his location through the iphones, he has a alert system responder on his key chain that brings a live person on the line with him when he presses it. I can Facetime him through the phone so I can see him and he could show me if something is wrong.  Even with all this I am still nervous.

For the last 5 months I have only had to buy the food.  Barbara took care of the cooking and cleaning.  I am having some difficulty adjusting to planning meals again and figuring out how the floors are going to get vacuumed.  I found this first week to be overwhelming.  My first breakdown was last Sunday after Barbara left and then I had mini episodes every other day.  Thank God we have good friends and family who can assist.  I have to get better at saying when I need help though! 

We are going to Michigan for a week on March 22nd.  I can't wait!  I have not been home in a year.  That is the longest period in my entire life! 

Writing this feels good.  I am returning to blogging as of today.  I hope I still have some followers out there.
Talk to you soon!
Michele

It's been a while!

Hi everyone!
 Hope you all are still out there.  We are doing well.  There has been a lot of adjustment in the last month but I think we have finally found a rhythm.  After many calls to the insurance company Ken is back to doing all of his therapy at National Rehab starting this week.  The Metro access van picks him and Barbara (our live -in caregiver) up and brings them back usually without incident but sometime a littlle late.  Barbara is a welcome addition to our home bit it does take some getting used to having someone to help out around the house.  I know we all say we want someone to assist us but it is hard to ask someone to do things for you.  I am adjusting though :)  For me it is a lot of planning.  I had to start a whole calendar just for Ken's appointments.  Work is still very supportive and flexible and I am figuring out that it can't all be done in a day.

Speech is still very difficult for Ken but we are figuring out new ways to communicate.  It is often frustrating for both of us but we have agreed to have patience with each other.  We get out and do things, just the two of us still even it is small stuff.  This morning we headed to Target where I introduced him to the miracle that is the motorized scooter.  He scoffed at it at first but then he realized that he could zip around the store on his own and it was fine!  His driving skills are still pretty good! 

I feel calmer than I have before. I am gaining weight though so I intend to get back into someone's gym this week.  There is one very close in the neighborhood and hopefully it is cheap!

Stay Tuned!

Wednesday, October 12 Part 2

We are home finally!  Ken had been ready to go since the early morning but we had to wait for the doctor and other therapists to provide the discharge instructions and they never brought his walker.  After we waited over an hour and no one could get us an answer from the insurance company about where it was we left.  It is a good thing that I bought him a transport wheelchair or he would have had to remain at the hospital I guess.  They say that they are going to deliver the walker to us at home but I don't know when.  This is really the first issue I have had with the insurance company but it is a big one.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Today is the big day! I am picking Ken up at 11:00 am to come home for good.  We are both very excited and I am a little nervous.  I want everything to be in order for him at home.  We did not get approved for the day program rehab at this time because his speech is not where it needs to be yet.  We will be focusing in on this at home so that he can be assessed again in about a month.  In the meantime he can do outpatient rehab for speech, OT and PT.  It will mean more traveling to various locations for appointments rather than having everything in one place.  He got a new brace for his ankle that doesn't fit so well in his regular shoes so I had to break down and buy the shoes with velcro closures.  All of the hospital staff recommended them but I have been resistant to the velcro.  They are not really cute but I suppose this is no time for vanity:)  I anticipate that the next few days will be busy as we readjust to life at home. 

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Picked Ken up at hospital; bright and early this morning.  We were home by 8:30.  The walk from the closest spot to the house was tiring for him.  Once he rested for a few minutes he checked out the entire apartment.  Then I made breakfast for him and we took a nap.  I was exhausted too.   It is a lot of work looking out for all the obstacles there could possibly be.  After the nap we did his shower so we could check out how it is going to work at home.  We don't have all the equipment we need yet but we did pretty well without it.  Only one minor slip.  No injuries unless you count my minor heart attack:)  I shaved him and got him dressed in regular clothes instead of the sweats he wears at the hospital.  He looks good!  His clothes are too big because he is still down about 30 pounds.  That's okay we will just have to go shopping!  It's 2pm and we are waiting on visitors for the afternoon.  He says he is very happy and so am I!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Happy Saturday!
This was a busy week with work and being at the hospital to be trained on Ken's therapy sessions.  He will be coming home tomorrow on a pass so he can check out the new place and we can make any final adjustments before he comes home for good.  We are both excited.  He is so tired of the hospital.  I can see it in his face.  Yesterday when I arrived just before noon he was looking so down.  We skipped the regular hospital food for lunch and went down to the cafeteria where he could eat around other people and eat something different.  He perked right up at the bbq chicken and mac and cheese.  We spent some time outside before we started a full afternoon of therapy sessions.  He is walking so much better but it really tires him out so he is in bed by 6pm.  Tomorrow's pass is from 8am to 8pm and I was planning a full day of activity but I think we will actually just stay around the house so he can adjust to here.  I will even have to cook!  It has really only been two months since the stroke but it feels like forever.  He has made tremendous progress  in this short time but we have a ways to go.  I think being at home will be motivating for him.  It is amazing how life changes  Enjoy each day!

October 3, 2011

Finally an update!

Well, it has been a whirlwind few weeks.  I cruised for a week to Grand Turks and the Bahamas where my brother got married.  Congratulations to Dalas and Dawn!  The wedding was absolutely gorgeous and the time to rest and get some sun finally was wonderful. In the week I was gone, Ken continued to make wonderful progress.  His Aunt came to stay with him and I think he needed the break from me as well.  I have to remember that taking time away from each other is good for both of us.  The weekend after returning from the cruise we moved from Silver Spring to Fort Washington. The condo is ground floor, with appropriate width doors and two bedrooms and two full baths. My wonderful mother stayed with me for the last two weeks to make sure I got moved and settled. I could not have done it without her!  I also want to the all the friends and family that came over and helped put things away. 

The great news is that Ken will be coming home on October 12th!  We are both very excited and I will spend the next week getting trained for his care at home.  He will need 24 hour care when he comes home for at least 8 weeks. The other blessing is that a family friend has agreed to move in with us for this time and provide the care so I can continue a normal work schedule.

I do have to admit that I am a little afraid about the future. Mostly because it is not something I can control. Isn't it good I can recognize this!  God has taken care of us this far and he will continue to so I am going to go with the flow.  Who knows why this happened to us but through it we have the opportunity to do everything differently. What I have learned is that things change so fast and you have to be flexible, adjust and grow.  The care of my husband is my number one priority and so everything else has to line up with that, work has to be next because it is what provides for his care. I am working on managing my work life better so that I can be there for my husband.  Thank God that my employer understands and is supportive but I have to be as present there as I am for Ken. Some days are harder than others but overall it is getting easier. 

Well, I pledge to continue to update every other day at least. If you see me falling behind, email me at Saltersmrs@aol.com.

Michele

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Good afternoon! Yesterday evening while hanging out with Ken at the hospital I would swear that I saw his right leg move. When I asked him if he movd his leg, he said yes and then laughed but wouldn't repeat the movement. When I was putting him in bed I would swear I saw him move his right hip. Again ther was no repeat of the movement. Today when I get to the hospital he was just coming back from physical therapy where HE WALKED 100 FEET! He was using a walker but he was able to move his right leg. I knew it! I didn't want to get too excited yesterday but I am ecstatic today. It is quite possible that he won't come home using a wheelchair. This is a tremendous blessing! I also paid the first month's rent and security deposit on our new apartment today. It has taken a while but we have found a nice ground floor 2bed/2bath condo. We will be moving to Fort Washington later this month. Ken finally looked at the pictures of the unit yesterday and seemed to like it. Things are moving!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Happy Labor Day! Hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend. Ken's aunts from New Jersey and California came to see him today with his dad, uncle and sister. He had a good time seeing them. He continues to do well in therapy but we know the recovery process will not happen overnight. He was in a good mood all weekend. We went to the hospital church service on Sunday. At the end of the service they went around and had people share their joys and expectations. It was really interesting to hear the stories of the other people. There is one man who is paralyzed waist down and he was the caretaker for his wife who uses a wheelchair due to arthritis. He is very concerned about her and how they will function but he is joyful about the small successes he is having. I can't imagine if both of us were unable to care for each other. There is so much hope here and I know we are at the right place. Today while Ken was using the bathroom he was able to stand independently and he scooted his right leg over when transferring to the chair. I can't say whether the right leg moved on its own or whether hens figuring out how to compensate and use the strong part of his body to do what he needs to do. Either way it is a really good sign. He is very aware of the right side and spends some time looking at the right arm and leg. Hopefully his brain reconnects to them soon. I am preparing for my brother's wedding cruise next week. I am a little worried about being gone for a week but Ken assures me he wil be fine. I started letting the nurses and techs do more for him this weekend. Mostly so I could get used to the idea. Ken has no problem with them helping him. The break will probably be good for both of us. I will finally get to a beach! I have been trying all summer and haven't made it yet. Today is officially one month since the stroke. We have been through a lot in 31 days - strokes, earthquakes, hurricanes...wow. This can only happen once in a lifetime. Many good things are coming I am sure! Good night!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Wow, time flies. I can't believe it is September already. Ken's procedure went well yesterday and he was back to his therapy schedule today. He has learned to maneuver the wheelchair independently so we spent some time outside this evening after dinner and toured the hospital. Tonight was really fun actually, we laughed and joked. His automatic communication comes in spurts and includes some cuss words which I find entertaining. They removed some stitches from his scalp yesterday as well and everything appears to be holding well. Hopefully the rest will come out tomorrow. The swelling in his leg is coming down so hopefully the clot is dissolving. I really miss having my husband at home with me. It won't be long and he will be able to come home. He is so strong and determined and I know he will fully recover from this.
Sleep well!

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Good morning! I am at the hospital early this am because they found a clot in Ken's right leg yesterday. After additional tests last night they started a heavier dose of blood thinners and will be putting in a filter today to keep the clot from reaching his lung or brain and causing further damage. This type of clot development is not uncommon if you are not moving for a while similar to the clot that can develop during a long airplane ride. He had swelling in his right leg that wouldn't go away and he complained of pain when I was putting lotion on his leg. We pointed this out to the doctor which led to the tests. Continue praying and I will post after the procedure.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Well, I finally have power in the house now. The one thing I have learned in the last month is to appreciate every day as it comes. We spend so much time looking ahead that we miss the things happening around us that we should be grateful for. In the last month my husband had a stroke,and we survived an earthquake and a hurricane in the same week. To top it all off my brother, Dalas was in a car accident tonight. He is ok, just a few cuts and bruises, Thank God! He had the dogs with him and Bo and Pink are fine as well.

Ken was a little down yesterday. I think he realizes his limitations more and the storm didn't help. The nurse told me that he was worried abut me during the storm. He is the one that takes care of things. In the short time we have been married, I have come to depend on him. Took me a while to find the flashlights in the house yesterday. He was better today and we had a good conversation with the director of the stroke program, Dr. Conroy. He has some swelling in his right leg that we are watching carefully. They will be doing a Doppler test to see if there are any additional clots in his leg in the morning. Hopefully it is just a minor issue and not a clot. Because he is so young they are being aggressive in his rehab and will be doing electronic stimulation to the muscles in his right arm soon. The good thing is that he is still aware of his right side and is learning to use his left hand and leg to support the right. His speech is returning very slowly. We are seeing a new word or pattern each day but not a complete thought yet. This is probably the most frustrating thing for him. He is thinking something but can't express the thought.

Take time out of your busy lives to appreciate each day and the small joys!
Good night!

Saturday part 2

The hurricane has arrived! Luckily I had arrived at my brother's house already. The power is out here now as well. I am exhausted so I am turning in. I tucked Ken into bed before I left the hospital so he should be safe for the night. I hope this is all over by the morning. I do get to spend some quality time with my puppy so that is good
Good night!

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Still waiting on the hurricane. I have everything but the kitchen sink in my car so I am prepared to stay overnight at this hospital if needed. I probably will go to my brother's tonight and spend some time with my dog who I haven't seen in three weeks. Ken had a full morning of therapy and he is comfortably in bed now waiting on dinner to arrive. More attempts to communicate something to me today that I don't get completely. It has something to do with the rain.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Happy Friday! I missed a few days and I apologize for that but we did have an earthquake and we are now preparing for a hurricane on top of everything else. Ken is becoming more independent each day. Today he transferred from the wheelchair to the bed by himself. The hospital would prefer that he not do this because there is a risk of falling but I appreciate his independent spirit.

I have to tell you all how blessed we are. We are surrounded by people who are praying for us, helping us get the things we need, sending cards, flowers and gifts, and visiting Ken. I cannot express how grateful we are for all of this.

Stay safe this weekend !

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Well I hope you all survived the earthquake! What a shock! Ken and I are both fine. My first full day back at work and there is an earthquake. Is this a sign?? So I was able to get to the hospital early since the office closed. Ken had a pretty rigorous physical therapy session. He did very well at standing, bearing weight on his right arm and leg and taking small steps. The effort wore him out so he fell fast asleep right after dinner.

When he first had the surgery the sight of his head being slightly sunken in was very shocking. Then the swelling filled it out too much and that was hard to get used to. The swelling is down considerably now and the sunken side is a welcome sight. It means that he is healing and the more the swelling reduces the more function he will regain. He is in good spirits and I am grateful for that. Tomorrow is his treatment team meeting and we will set a potential discharge date. I am excited to see what they determine. More to come tomorrow!

Good night!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Today was my first day back to work.  I lasted an hour.  My Director is wonderful and sent me out to do something for myself and get some rest.  This was really needed.  I went to lunch and came home and took a nap.  I feel so much better.  Ken had a full therapy day today.  His swelling is coming down noticeably now.  Each day he is more alert and interactive.  Tonight was the first time I saw that his memory is okay.  The Social Worker had left me some papers earlier in the day on the nightstand and he made sure I found them before I left.  He was tired tonight so I was able to get home a little earlier.  It is funny how he tells me to go home by waving his hand at me.  Each day I see him coming back more and more.  We still have a long way to go but we will be alright!
Good night! 

Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22, 2011

I am behind a day. Sorry about that! Here is the wrap-up.
Saturday - when I arrived at the hospital Ken was not in his bed. I took another step and found him on the floor next to his bed. Apparently, he thought he could get out of bed on his own. I pressed the call button and started checking him out. He did not hit his head (this is good because he has no skull on the left side). He was laying on his right side which is the weaker side. When I asked him where he was going he very clearly said "I don't know" and began laughing. Once he was up and determined to be okay we had to have the talk.
Me - so you know that they are going to have to restrain you in the bed now.
Ken - shrugs his shoulder and laughs.
Me - I'm just saying, don't be mad at me or them because you brought this on yourself.
Ken - more smiling and laughing.
Me - finally laughing too!

I am glad he retains his independent streak. The staff thought I was so calm but really this was to be expected once they showed him how to get up. I take it as a good sign but we can't risk further injury so the restraint is on when I am not there.

Sunday - a pretty laid back day. No therapy on Sunday's. We read the paper and some magazines and then got up in wheelchair in am before lunch and again when family came to visit before dinner. After dinner he was able to get out more words than I have heard previously. It wasn't a complete sentence but it was close so I am hopeful that he will progress quickly. I am back at work tomorrow so I left just before 8 tonight. We always pray together before I leave each night. I look forward to this time.

The goal is 100% recovery but we will accept 98%!

Friday Part 2

Today was a good day. Ken had a full day of therapy and I got out to have lunch with wonderful friends and a gorgeous new baby girl, Rhea! I think the break was good for both of us. Ken was evaluated by the occupational therapist, speech pathologist and physical therapist. In just a day I can see the changes in his independence level. He is feeding himself with the exception of the cutting of the food. Tonight he operated the controls to raise and lower his bed so he can go to sleep. Hospitals have really become so user friendly in recent years. This place has a snack room with milk, juice, yogurt and Graham crackers (my favorite snack next to cheese) for Ken and family. They have free wireless access and are generally very accommodating to family members. The hospital administrator walks around the facility and introduces himself to family and patients. I feel really good about the facility as a whole. Ken is fortunate to have a nice roommate as well. Mr. Miller has been very accommodating. He has been at the hospital for two weeks and will be going home on Tuesday. I am not sure why he was here but he is a pleasure to talk to and I get him snacks from the vending machine when I go down. He is quite fond of snickers candy bars!

My focus for the next week is housing so if you know of anyone renting a ground floor condo in Maryland let me know. It could also be two story if there is a bedroom on the main floor.
Good night!

Friday, August 19, 2011

I arrived at the hospital at 7:00 am to help with breakfast which didn't actually come until 8:00. I really could have used that extra hour of sleep. They bring Ken's schedule for the day with breakfast. It is packed full. He has therapy from 9:00 - 4:30 today with meal and rest breaks built in. I am glad because he needs to be busy. He was never a person to just sit around. He will have therapy 6 days per week. I am going to use the time to take care of errands and get some rest for myself.

National Rehab is listed as #13 on the list of the best rehab hospitals in the country.