Going Home Soon
Hello again,
I can't seem to have consistent internet connections here at the apartments where we're staying, so it's been hard to be able to update the blog.
After my last report where we were able to get about 5 night's in a row of sleep, Tom started having the same tightness, only it moved down from his upper chest area to his lower chest--around the diaphragm area. We have started experimenting with taking the medications at different intervals and different amounts, and this seems to help a bit. We don't get long, blissful nights of uninterrupted sleep, but at least it's manageable and we're not zombies all day from no sleep at night.
He is scheduled for an operation to instal a device (under his abdominal wall) that will cut down, and hopefully eliminate, his muscle spasms. It will slowly dispense an anti-spasm drug to his spinal cord fluid, "bathing" the spinal cord in the drug. We have met several people here who have had this pump installed and are happy with the results. We're hoping it'll help with the tightness in the chest, but that is a nerve problem we're told, not a muscle one.
Good news! He finally got his new wheelchair today! It runs great and is very smooth in operating. It is especially nice for making turns as he can turn directly from a stopped position, just as if a standing person turns around. This is very helpful for negotiating cramped spaces like elevators or our hallway at home.
Tomorrow we go home! We'll come back on April 20 for the pump installation operation and he'll be hospitalized for about 5 days. Then he'll recoup from that and hopefully come back to Shepherd for more outpatient physical therapy later on when he feels good. That should be in May or so.
Our friend is lending us his old handicap accessible van that has a mechanized lift in it. It needs modified for Tom's particular wheelchair, and we're hoping that won't take too long. We're anxious to get on with normal life, whatever that will be.....
Once again I have to apologize for not sending out thank you notes to those of you who have sent cards, letters, and particularly money. All of those have lifted us up emotionally, physcially and financiallly.
Gotta run, the bus is here to take Tom back to the apartment.
Michele
posted by Michele Cox @ 3:08 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
I am happy to hear that you are finding answers to some of the problems. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, Lisa, Don & girls
Tom,
Don't know if you remember us, but Dennis and I usher upstairs at the Fox. We usually usher on the left with you and Rita.
I have been keeping up with you through the website and Abbey. We ushered last Saturday and Abbey filled us in on how you are doing. We are so glad that you have finally gotten to go home.
I know that someday soon we are going to see you back at the Fox. Please know that you have been and will continue to be in our prayers.
Pat and Dennis Vaughn
Hi Michele & Tom,
Glad to hear some things are going very positively for you and with asjusting as issues arise you are managing to cope with the changes and come out on the good side.
Your family and friends don't want or need thank you notes, you have thanked everyone, Michele, by just keeping us informed about how your are both doing, it's not like you have nothing else to do with your time, none of us need a personal thank you note, save the stamp, we sure don't need it, and you need the time to just catch your breath.
Good to know you are getting a chance to get home.
Tom I know it's a little early but when I thought of it "Happy Birthday" cousin, always remembered you, Uncle Ray and Mom as the family's April Babies.
Love,
Rosemary
Michele,
No one should expect you to write thank you notes for anything. As someone said, you posting information on the blog site is all we need. You and Tom need to stay focused on the positive. Take your energy and put it towards getting rest, working on getting Tom comfortable so he can move forward with therapy. And you need to take your time and energy towards keeping yourself rested yet energized. So, anyone who doesn't understand that your thanks are out there in the air to be captured by all doesn't understand where your focus needs to be.
As always and ever, you and Tom and the family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Cathy Farmer
It has been a long, difficult time for you all but once you get home to your own surroundings you will feel better I am sure. I have not been good about keeping in touch for which I apologize. That pump surgery sounds like the answer to some of your prayers. What a long way medical science has come. Not far enough yet, but still, a long way.
I am going to visit Pat & Frank next week. I am the last in a list of visitors they have had.
Best wishes to all of you and special prayers for you all on Easter.
Jane Rosen, Springfield, PA
Thinking about you today and hope all goes well with the surgery and recovery. Hope your adjustment at home has gone well, too. You are always in our thoughts and prayers.
Love, Lisa, Don & family
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