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
No comments:
Post a Comment