Thursday, September 1, 2022 7:24 PM

 

Hello. Thank you for joining us today! Can't believe its September!

  Within minutes of arriving in Larry's room I had 3 visitors. His physio from this morning came to say "Hi!", let me know about his session, where they were able to do a few minutes more with him. The 2nd was Dr. Nicole who said she would be performing the insertion of the feed tube into the stomach, via scope, tomorrow morning. If the CT shows that there is any problem with intestines in the way, she has another option. Hopefully it can happen on the weekend, if there aren't too many emergencies, otherwise it will be Mon. or Tues. Her very positive & encouraging words, quickly dissolved the dread I was left with yesterday. The 3rd visitor was the medical doctor from the unit. Mary-Lynn & I spoke earlier about getting together with her to ask questions & state concerns. She was very open to meeting with us tomorrow. As I've said before, we are so grateful for Mary-Lynns expertise in caring for people with brain injuries & confined to bed & wheelchair, through her many years of experience caring for clients. I told her today that I am fully relying on her to be on watch & a vocal advocate for Larry's sake, in receiving the good care that he needs. She knows the lingo to use in drawing attention to concerns for her brother's welfare.

  I was quite crippled with a fibromyalgia flareup last night. I generally ignore it, but it won as far as immobilizing me. I stayed in bed 8.5 hrs which included 4 episodes of sleep. After a hot shower, my body stopped screaming & I was ready to go. Seeing my reflection in the glass door as I approached Larry's unit, pleasantly surprised me. I didn't look like I was 100 yrs old & I could hear in my mind, my 'good posture vs slouch' coaches, saying "Good stuff!"

 It was dialysis day. Larry's dialysis as well as his unit nurse were men. They were both lovely.

 A pretty quiet day, with much less coughing. When Larry would finish a coughing jag, he reminded me of my Mom who suffered a similar chronic annoying cough. My mom would finish her last cough with "Shoot", "Shut up!", "Gee Wiz" or "Enough already!" I laughed each time, & he'd snicker too. Although he wasn't awake much, I sure enjoyed his verbal communications. He's often cheeky. He repeated to me what I always say to him "Speak slowly, I don't understand you!" (I always speak slowly & clearly, close to his ear.) Of course there's "Please rub my back!" as he rolls on his side, pulling himself up to the bed-rail, using his muscles. I think he knows I won't respond, as I often used to, with, "I'm too tired!", or "My arthritis hurts my hands too much!" He said "Why are you so good to me?" I answered by asking "Why were you so good to me through my chemo & radiation!" He said something cheeky, then with a bit of a smile & twinkle in his eye "I love you!"  So those words are my comfort for tonight. My heart is very peace-filled. Thank you for encouraging me & lifting me up when I can't! xoxo