Well, it is hard to believe that I have driven to the hospital for the last time this morning.
2 suitcases and a box are wrapped awaiting UPS. We will be buying our clothes back on the other end!
John is showered and freshly shaven and hardly looks as if anything has happened. We are READY!!!!
Now the wait begins for the doctor to dismiss him. I feel like hugging him!!
The other night I decided to change the pace a bit and took my first segway tour-of downtown Houston.(I didn't allow enough time to get there-didn't realise that Downtown Houston is really that far DOWN!) What fun once I got the hang of it . The sidewalks were mostly deserted at 6 PM as were the streets. The old and new architectures were fascinating in addition to the stories the guide told. I was with 4 people from Brisbane. Many laughs and lots of fun.
We spend tonight in the appartment then drive the rental car to the airport in the morning. From there we are in someone else's hands.
Love to each and everyone of you for all that you have done to make this process so much easier; we will be forever grateful.
Jackie and John
Friday, June 29, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
June 25th 2012 update
Well, I can take a(n) hint... Recent calls to me have been the philosophy that 'no news is good news.' That is absolutely correct.
Mea culpa for my delay.
I have wonderful news for all of you.
I can't remember where I left off; I think it was announcing that John was safely out of surgery.
He went uphill and I went down. I was too exhausted at night to write! I think sitting in one room all day and going to bed at 9 is too much for me! At least John has thrived.
He has delighted with each plateau whether it is finally graduating from ice chips(thanks for the suggestion of a little bourbon in the chips!) to liquid diet-always starting with the lemon ice and ending with the beef broth(ugh). Then came the solid food; he asked me to join him-what was heaven to him was, well, hospital food to me. (Carry in for me from now on.)
I was thrilled when his doctors (as many as four) pronounced him too weak in the legs to go home and kicked him upstairs to physical rehabilitation. Of course, that was not his strong suit before the operation!
He is proving to be a "miracle man" (so named by his nurses) as much from his medical procedures from the past few years as well as his speedy recovery from the 10 hour operation. (I saw him each day after open heart surgery and that was a much slower recovery. This seems like lightning speed in comparison.)
He has graduated from being belted about the chest with a yoga belt to be walked around the nurses station to no belt at all and therapists are pushing better posture! Need I say more.
Each day he walks more and faster. I have to get on the inside-next to the nurses' station so that I can keep up with him. (Little like being the inside horse at a horse race!)
He still has to call to use the facilities or move out of the bed tho he is moving from bed to chair whilst reading the huge sign CALL DON'T FALL.
His rehab schedule is 3 hours a day - for someone who has not exercised since I have known him this is a whole new world. Promises to keep it up so be sure to speak to him at the gym. (Don't fall over Martin!)
Balance is still a problem (or issue as problems are now called). And those breathing apparatus(i) are constantly in use. He has three different kinds.
One day I raced to the hospital because Rehab was sponsoring a special program-I'm thinking standing, dressing, normal day routine. Turned out to be WAGS-where people bring in dogs and show their tricks. Boy, was I wayyyyyyyyyyyyy off.
A Pyrannee took a particular liking to John and insisted on putting his slobbery face in his lap; John's use to bulldogs so it was no big deal. He LOVED it.
Sunday is a longgggggggggggggggg day in the hospital; no piano music waffing thru the halls, no spell of popcorn and sooooooooooo few people. I discovered the 24th floor with a panoramic view of Houston. It took about 3 different elevators, but it was like being on top of the world.
Both girls, Charlotte and Anne, as promised have seen that I exercised everyday-as if the mile hike from the garage to the 8th floor isn't exercise enough.
We try to walk the park across the street from the apartment(or over at Rice University) -I walk and the girls run. Let's just say that we start out together. I love the sound of the gravel crunching under my sneekers. Temps have been in hi 90's-100's so we have switched to the pool or the skybridges between the medical bldgs.
John has showered and the gray grunge look is gone. He feels like a new person. A few more days and we will be back with you.
We plan to check out of the hospital Friday and fly home Saturday. Hooray! We will both be glad to be home!
I know this is getting old, but many many thank yous to all of you who have called, visited, held us in your prayers and sent such positive thoughts our way. We couldn't have done it without each of you. John and I are so very grateful. We were all in it together. Our project is almost complete.
From Houston with love, Jackie
Mea culpa for my delay.
I have wonderful news for all of you.
I can't remember where I left off; I think it was announcing that John was safely out of surgery.
He went uphill and I went down. I was too exhausted at night to write! I think sitting in one room all day and going to bed at 9 is too much for me! At least John has thrived.
He has delighted with each plateau whether it is finally graduating from ice chips(thanks for the suggestion of a little bourbon in the chips!) to liquid diet-always starting with the lemon ice and ending with the beef broth(ugh). Then came the solid food; he asked me to join him-what was heaven to him was, well, hospital food to me. (Carry in for me from now on.)
I was thrilled when his doctors (as many as four) pronounced him too weak in the legs to go home and kicked him upstairs to physical rehabilitation. Of course, that was not his strong suit before the operation!
He is proving to be a "miracle man" (so named by his nurses) as much from his medical procedures from the past few years as well as his speedy recovery from the 10 hour operation. (I saw him each day after open heart surgery and that was a much slower recovery. This seems like lightning speed in comparison.)
He has graduated from being belted about the chest with a yoga belt to be walked around the nurses station to no belt at all and therapists are pushing better posture! Need I say more.
Each day he walks more and faster. I have to get on the inside-next to the nurses' station so that I can keep up with him. (Little like being the inside horse at a horse race!)
He still has to call to use the facilities or move out of the bed tho he is moving from bed to chair whilst reading the huge sign CALL DON'T FALL.
His rehab schedule is 3 hours a day - for someone who has not exercised since I have known him this is a whole new world. Promises to keep it up so be sure to speak to him at the gym. (Don't fall over Martin!)
Balance is still a problem (or issue as problems are now called). And those breathing apparatus(i) are constantly in use. He has three different kinds.
One day I raced to the hospital because Rehab was sponsoring a special program-I'm thinking standing, dressing, normal day routine. Turned out to be WAGS-where people bring in dogs and show their tricks. Boy, was I wayyyyyyyyyyyyy off.
A Pyrannee took a particular liking to John and insisted on putting his slobbery face in his lap; John's use to bulldogs so it was no big deal. He LOVED it.
Sunday is a longgggggggggggggggg day in the hospital; no piano music waffing thru the halls, no spell of popcorn and sooooooooooo few people. I discovered the 24th floor with a panoramic view of Houston. It took about 3 different elevators, but it was like being on top of the world.
Both girls, Charlotte and Anne, as promised have seen that I exercised everyday-as if the mile hike from the garage to the 8th floor isn't exercise enough.
We try to walk the park across the street from the apartment(or over at Rice University) -I walk and the girls run. Let's just say that we start out together. I love the sound of the gravel crunching under my sneekers. Temps have been in hi 90's-100's so we have switched to the pool or the skybridges between the medical bldgs.
John has showered and the gray grunge look is gone. He feels like a new person. A few more days and we will be back with you.
We plan to check out of the hospital Friday and fly home Saturday. Hooray! We will both be glad to be home!
I know this is getting old, but many many thank yous to all of you who have called, visited, held us in your prayers and sent such positive thoughts our way. We couldn't have done it without each of you. John and I are so very grateful. We were all in it together. Our project is almost complete.
From Houston with love, Jackie
Sunday, June 17, 2012
June 17th 2012
This is from John's lips-I took dictation.
I sat up all yesterday afternoon. Enjoyed watching the US Open. Am rooting for Jim Furyk.
Ice chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Been moved from third floor(post-op) to fifth (recovery.)
Am hoping that the staff is as good here as it was on 3rd.
My son, Trevor, and his wife, Karen, stopped by for a visit. JB( other son) and family have called. Anne, Jackie's daughter from Istanbul, is coming tonight to replace Charlotte who leaves tomorrow.
I am most appreciative of all the calls and messages and look forward to seeing you all when we return to SSI.
John
I sat up all yesterday afternoon. Enjoyed watching the US Open. Am rooting for Jim Furyk.
Ice chips for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Been moved from third floor(post-op) to fifth (recovery.)
Am hoping that the staff is as good here as it was on 3rd.
My son, Trevor, and his wife, Karen, stopped by for a visit. JB( other son) and family have called. Anne, Jackie's daughter from Istanbul, is coming tonight to replace Charlotte who leaves tomorrow.
I am most appreciative of all the calls and messages and look forward to seeing you all when we return to SSI.
John
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