UPDATE

Dad has been busy with his rehab.  He just had a brain scan this week, and the doctors were very pleased!  His swelling is gone, and things look great!  Now it is just a matter of getting his memory back and his speech back.  He is doing well with that also.  The therapists are very pleased with his progress.  In fact they are sad because he may not need to be there as long.  I think they like him!  The sad news that we have is that my mom's brother, Paul, passed away today.  He was a good man, and we are sad for his family.  My mom is not too happy because she has been asked to speak.  (She will do a great job!)  We feel very blessed and thankful for wonderful family and friends!

The BUSY weekend!

So....the energizer bunny is trying to go full speed!  What a surprise!  Mom and dad went on a walk, went to Paces for a rainbow, and did some banking, all in one trip!  Dad was very tired when he got home!  He also went to church yesterday!  He got up this morning and paid some bills online.  Mom is hoping they were the right bills and that they went to the right people.  I guess they will see in about a month!  The rest of the week is filled with Doctor's and therapist appointments.  We pray that his recovery continues....and that mom has the energy to keep up with him!

Home at last!

Dad loves being home!  He is able to eat better...at least food he enjoys more.  He has 3 pages of exercises he is supposed to do until next week when he sees his therapists.  He isn't supposed to do all the pages everyday, just some of them.  He walked today...however he must do it earlier.  It was much too hot!  He has made one mistake, according to his son, in his recovery.  He offered to help unload the dishwasher...it can now be his job!  Everyday gets a little better.  Both he and mom are taking things in stride.  His hair continues to grow!  It is pretty prickly right now.  Thanks to everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

At last...Pictures!

Some pictures of  the battle wounds!  Dad is home.  He is tired, but all is well.  He looks great with his new do, don't you think!  Thanks to everyone for all you have done!

Sourdough success!

It took a wheechair (for the ingredients), a cart, also for the ingredients, and one tired wife, but the sourdough pancakes were a smashing success!  Dad made them for the therapists, and there were none left!  However, the therapist said he can't cook at home without mom's permission right now!  He still has significant short term memory loss.  He is tired tonight as he had no down time today.  They worked him hard, and did lots of assessments.  He will be going home tomorrow sometime.  I have been asked several times for pictures.  Mom is still somewhat heistant, but I will go armed with a camera tomorrow.  He thinks he wants to post when he gets home....we will wait and see!

Last Weekend in the Hospital

Well...dad officially has cabin fever!  He is ready to go.  He needs to make his pancakes tomorrow for lunch, and then he should be released on Tuesday.  He is speaking, though he still has his own vocabulary.  He did discuss paradigm shifts with his son tonight on the phone.  He was sure we all understood.  He will have continued therapy that will help his speech neurotransmitters reconnect.  He looks good, and is gaining is weight back.  We look forward to continued progress, and we appreciate all the prayers, thoughts, gifts, etc.  He has so many thoughtful friends and neighbors.

Kicking it up a notch

So, in speech therapy today, Dad decided to skip ahead 3 or so levels.  He could tell the therapist things today that he had not said previously, so they kept going.  By the time they finished and got back to his room, the doctor came in and told him that they were going to release him a day early!  Keep it up dad!  He also held a conversation with is brother on the phone.  Another amazing feat!  Mom loves those little victories.  He also walked up and down 40 steps, so he is getting stronger.  Each day is bringing new progress.  We need to look at his progress over a period of time, because then it seems quite remarkable.  We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  Enjoy the beautiful weather. 

No more staples!

Twenty staples later, dad's head only has scars.  He is free from the staples he had in his head.  He is still doing therapy....but he does want to do it his way.  If he has written a sentence that doesn't make sense, the therapists try to make him do it again.  He asks them what is wrong with his sentence.  He "happens to like it that way!"  Oh boy, we do have some work to do.  He carried on a pretty coherent conversation with his brother.  If he really concentrates, he does better.  We are still looking at a release date next week.  We hope all is well with those who read this. 

Sourdough!

Dad has a new rehab...social!  One of the things he needs to do is teach the other patients something he knows.  Doors, bread, pancakes, they were all possibilities.  Sourdough pancakes won!  He will teach the wonderful technique (which we all believe is rigged) on Monday for lunch.  The bad news for mom is that she has to lug everything into the hospital.  She also has to set the sourdough start.  Should be interesting!  He still says things that we have to decipher, but that will only change with time.  He is walking well.  Godo thing, because he has about 6 hours a day in different rehabs.  We love him, and pray for his continued progress!

"They took away Rudolph"

If you are reading this, you know that my dad has not only excellent grammar, but also an amazing vocabulary.  This can be a detriment to someone with a traumatic brain injury.  So many words....and jumbled inside your brain!  When mom arrived today, she found dad frustrated because they had "taken
away Rudolph!"  The only thing we can figure is that they took away his wheelchair.  That is the good news.  He can now walk to rehab and go wherever he needs to go without a strap.  Way to go dad!  The bad news is that the neuro pathways needed for communication are still a ways away.  It makes for interesting conversations!  He is scheduled for release from rehab on August 24.  From there, he will do intensive outpatient therapy in Sugarhouse.  Mom will act as chauffeur.  Thanks to everyone for your care and concern.   

New day, new therapy

Thanks to all of you who are keeping up on the blog. Mom went to a meeting for caregivers of traumatic brain injuries. Thank you...I think to the presenters. She came away knowing why dad does some of the things he is doing, but also a little concerned for the future. A fun story...dad got up this afternoon and got into his wheelchair. Mom asked where he was going, and dad explained he was headed to therapy. Mom was unaware of any more therapy today. Dad got himself to the elevator and through the hall maze. One of the employees stopped him. Then she proceeded to find out the he did indeed have therapy! It was just in a room that he had not been to. They found the room, and all was well. Dad is in there! We just need to keep praying and supporting him in his recovery!

OOPS!

I hope the title doesn't scare you.  It was my oops!  Don't roll out the red carpet or start buying yellow ribbons, dad will not be released from the hospital until after August 24.  I lost a week somewhere.  He continues to progress slowly.  I hope another week of therapy brings good changes.  Thank you for all your support. 

The Weekend!

I am sorry for missing yesterday.  I came home from the hospital, got very involved, fell into bed, and then remembered that I had not sent out a blog.  You can fire me if you would like.  I can tell everyone that dad had a great dinner last night.  It included pumpkin roll for dessert.  He is definitely getting more alert.  He is still working on coming up with the right word for things.  He gets frustrated, and he so wants to converse.  He is working hard in therapy.  His headaches are more mild.  Mom is looking better.  I think sleeping in her own bed is a great thing!  I think the hospital room is going to get small and boring shortly, but he will have to stay until the doctors are ready to release him.  Keep praying for his continued recovery.  I think we are still in for a long haul!  He has loved the visits from friends and family.  A note if you are going to visit.  He does spend about 4 hours a day in therapy.  It is usually in the morning until the mid-afternoon.  You many want to plan accordingly.

Onward and Upward

Mom is very encouraged today with the conference the doctors had.  They feel if he continues with his progress, he will be able to go home the middle of next week.  He will continue with his therapy on an outpatient basis.  They are encouraged with his physical attempts.  his speech is still much slower.  Mom is finally getting much needed sleep.  Dad's gout is flairing  up, but he was dealing with that before.  Loves and kisses from mom and dad!

Slow...and probably long!

Thanks first and foremost to all mom and dad's family and friends for your concern!  Mom expressed today that she KNOWS dad's recovery is because of so many prayers.  She feels them, and she thanks you all!  Dad is sleeping well, which I am sure helps in the therapy process.  He is eating better, and swallowing much better than a few days ago.  He has graduated from a hospital gown, and can wear sweats!   The words are still coming slowly, but he wants to be part of the conversation.  (If you visit, know that some things will make sense, and some will be wayyyy out there!)  The brain scan the hospital did to check his headaches showed nothing unusual.  He still has blood on his brain, so that is the best guess for the headaches.  Mom is feeling better, and has decided that she can go home nights to sleep.  This is a very good thing!!  I'm sure you all want to know that my Jenni turns 21 tomorrow, so if I don't post, I am serving cake and ice cream!

So who do we worry about....mom or dad?

I had the opportunity to be with dad through some of his rehab evaluations.  He did a great job, not to say that he is ready to set the world on fire, but it is coming!  He could repeat words, but he still had a hard time coming up with them.  Things like days of the week, or months of the year, but the therapist said that would come.  He is walking further with less help, and he can use both his right and left hand.  He is eating well, but with that comes the desire for good food!!  He shaved his own face today.  We are watching dad because he does have a pretty good headache again.  The nurses are checking on what the doctors want done.  Mom has had to go home because she is running a fever.  Not good!  She feels rotten again.  Instacare gave her some antibiotics.  I think she is physically and emotionally exhausted.  Not that she didn't already have her own health issues.  We appreciate everyone's concern.  We have a long haul ahead.  Two weeks ago tomorrow this whole thing came to a head (ha ha).  We need some brevity! 

Another great day!

Today brings good news!  Dad has been moved to the rehabilitation unit on the second floor of the University of Utah hospital.  The doctors decided that he was ready.  He is eating much better, and he knows what he likes and dislikes.  The doctors are saying that his mobility will probably come back faster than his speech.  He is exhausted from all the evaluations today, but he is glad not to be attached to any monitors!!   We are excited for his continued miraculous progress, and are grateful for all the continued prayers and support.  And, mom is not sick anymore!  Way to go mom!   

PS.

Mom's cell phone has been found!  Maybe wait to call her for a day or so.  Hopefully she will feel better!

A BIG Thank you!

We would like to thank all those who fasted for Dad.  His recovery between yesterday and today has been nothing short of miraculous.  He ate a good breakfast this morning and was able to walk with less help.  He began stringing words together that make sense...almost like a sentence!  The doctors believe that his medications are stable, so he has been moved to the acute neuro unit.  He is allowed more visitors and will not be tethered to as many machines.  This is the good news.....the frustrating news is that mom is sick!!!!  We are hoping it is food poisioning, but the next few hours will tell.  She has gone home, and hopes to feel better tomorrow.  I think she is awfully run down, even though everyone has done their best to help her.  We appreciate everyone's support!  We look forward to further progress!!

One day better

Sunday brought a few new signs!  Dad is much more alert today.  We laughed, and he seemed interested in what we were saying.  He was able to say one word or so before he got frustrated.  We reminded him that patience is a virtue.  The funniest experience was when Jenni (his granddaughter) decided to use poor grammar (on purpose of course).   She said mom and me, as well as these ones and those ones.  He looked and said, "well, we're trying!  He is eating a little, though the food has not been his favorite.  We told him he needed a frypan so he could make some sourdough pancakes.  He liked that!  The physical therapist walked him about 50 steps again today.  That tires him out.  While the hair on his head is gone, it is growing rapidly on his face.  He is still in neuro critical care until his medications are stable and they can take him off his monitors.  We need prayers for his continued recovery.  We appreciate all of the prayers and fasting this weekend.  We are blessed to have many fine friends and relatives.  

Saturday's visit

When Lisa visited the hospital today, Dad slept most of the time (which was good, because he needed a good deep sleep).  But when he woke, she was pleased to see that he was alert.  He still cannot communicate much verbally, but he was able to make it clear which books on CD he wanted by making a keep and a take back home stack.  He was able to recognize both the books and the authors.  In the keep pile, he ranked his choices 1 to 4.  He certainly knows his books!!!!  When the nurse evaluated dad, he was not able to do all the nurse asked him to.  While he was not able to do some of the things he did on Thursday, the nurse explained that as the swelling goes down, hopefully his abilities will increase again.  Mom has misplaced her cell phone, which Dad laughed about, so please tell everyone to check this blog first for information.  We are fasting for a full recovery.  Feel free to join us.  We love you dad!!  

Long Haul at the hospital

Many of dad's friends and family have asked us, his children, to blog so you can stay updated.  This is my first attempt, so we will see how it goes.  Dad had surgery Monday, and then again on Wednesday for the bleeding on his brain.  We see some progress, after Wednesday, but it looks like we are in this for the long haul.  He is still in the neuro-critical care unit at the U of U, though they have changed his room to a little less full time nursing care.  He seems to be able to respond yes or no to questions when they are asked.  He seems to recognize us.  He smiles, and seems to want to talk, but is unable.  The physical therapist walked him about 50 steps with help yesterday.  He tried to go more ( I know, what a surprise), but the therapist reminded him that he had to go back the same way he came.  There are still only 2 people allowed in the room at a time, and mom is usually one of those people.  Prayers would be appreciated.  He can have no flowers, or  anything like that.  We appreciate everyone's concern, and will try to  let you know how he is doing.  After all, we are "doing it for dad!"