Nana’s Notes:

(I made healthy brownies [for Papa] at home, cleaned things up a bit, & went to Walmart to get waterproof mattress pads & disposable pads before coming to rehab.)

When I got to rehab in the afternoon, Papa was just getting back from his swallowing test.

He’d had a full morning of rehab and was in good spirits and not too tired when he returned.

The results of the swallowing video showed much improvement.  Papa’s diet can be upgraded to soft rather than chopped, & thin liquids (must tuck chin when swallowing).  Speech therapist will start giving swallowing exercises.  She wants to do another video swallow in about six weeks.  There’s still some trickle with liquids.

 

Nana’s Notes:

Therapy sessions before lunch.

Afterwards friends came to visit.

More friends visited.

Papa doing well.

We played “Zilch” & “Uno” & looked at his old red picture album.

 

My Reflections:

One of my favorite mugs gets broken.  Seems all too telling of life right now:

Sometimes life just doesn’t feel all that good.

But when I turn from broken mug to this, it can’t be all bad:

Right?

You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both, and there you have…..

Yep, The Facts of Life theme song.  Just like that.

Deep.  Very deep, I know.

But, ain’t it the truth, sometimes?

*No pertinent texts, emails, photos or stories to tell from today.  Some days there’s just not all that much to write home about.  And sometimes that’s not a bad thing.

Nana’s Notes:

Papa bothered by something when I got to rehab, but he didn’t want to talk about it while others here.

Being a family observation day, I went to all therapies with him & was trained to transfer him to and from bed to bathroom.

Recreational therapist wants to do a community outing next week.  Papa doesn’t want to go because of bathroom problems [issues].

He reluctantly went to horticulture with recreational therapist to see butterflies.  Worked out well.

Later Papa told me what was bothering him was that they would be sending him home in a couple of days which meant he wouldn’t be getting any better.  Now he realizes that isn’t the case [realizes that he will be staying longer to get more help].

He was doing well otherwise, but was very tired.  He’s very bothered about bathroom issues – peeing often & not always begin able to make it to the bathroom in time; bowels messy & difficult.

 

My Reflections:

Picked up some flowers to plant by our front walk:

They’ll get planted one of these days….

Nana’s Notes:

Good day.

Busy therapy.

Special socks for swelling.  

Did a doppler test on legs to check for blood clots – none found.

Papa taught the cognitive therapist how to play “Kings on the Corner.”

Kari & kids visited in the afternoon.

Received more mail at rehab today – birthday & get-well cards.

 

Email: (from Nana to friends & family)

Hi,

This has continued to be a good week for Papa.  He is feeling good and in very good spirits, even though he had an issue yesterday with very low blood pressure and heart rate.  They have changed one of his medications to address that.  He is also having some swelling in his feet and ankles but that is also being dealt with.  There is still the balancing act between cancer/rehab and heart issues.  He seems to agree that he is improving and is encouraged.

He has also decided to pursue radiation and chemo treatment.  We have appointments next week for radiation preparation and a chemo oncologist consultation.  Treatment will likely begin the following week.  Still targeted for discharge from the rehab in a couple weeks.

Thank you for your prayers.  We appreciate your continued support.  We pray for continued improvement in speech and mobility and that treatment will have minimal side effects and positive results!  I praise God for the coordination of Papa’s decision to do treatment and the oncology office calling me and arranging for the appointments.  They happened on the same day without my doing anything about it.  It is the business details that get to me and God worked that all out!  Halleluia!

Love,  Nana

 

Email: (from me to J’s sister)

Thanks, really appreciate your prayers and offer to help out with the boys.  

Have been bringing the boys with me to rehab thus far, and it’s worked out with taking my dad outside, or down to the family-oriented room that’s kid friendly (or the boys have enjoyed playing on Papa’s iPad in his room).  So far the novelty hasn’t worn off on them.  When appointments for my dad come up though, I do need help with the boys.  Not sure what the next months will hold, but I’m sure there will be more apts. and such to come.  It’s good to have back-up to call upon, and I’ll definitely keep you posted on that.  Wanting to be there for my dad, but having to juggle coverage for the kids, is definitely something that stresses me out (don’t want to put anybody out).  Anyway, really appreciate your willingness to help and will be taking you up on that, I’m sure!

Currently, I’m encouraged that things are a bit more stable with my dad.  His spirits are definitely better, and with him talking more understandably and having a bit more strength, he’s seeming more like himself.  Definitely still has a long way to go, but is so much better than he was just a couple weeks ago.  Feel like I go from feeling at peace with things, to feeling anxious/overwhelmed/completely stressed-out, at a moment’s notice.  If I look too far ahead at all the “what-if’s” and medical statistics, I find myself internally freaking out, so I’m trying to just be present in the moment and trust that God will work out the future however He sees fit.  Keeping myself busy with the kids and home projects helps too!  I know there are no guarantees in life, it’s just times like this where that fact stares you in the face more adamantly. 

ALL that to say, thanks for your prayers and encouragement.  Really appreciate it!

Love,

Kari

 

 

Nana’s Notes:

I got to rehab about noon.  Papa was lying in bed – surprise!

Papa said his therapy sessions went really well, but then he got weak.  Blood pressure & heart rate were low.  They have taken him off one of the medications that lowers heart rate (in hospital he’d been in AFib all the time).

After resting, he was better.  Had lunch sitting up in bed – went to speech therapy and was fine.  Kari & C Bear & Little M were here when we got back to the room.

Later a friend came to visit & other friends came while she was still here.  They brought a basket of grapes.  Papa was told he could eat the grapes, but not the skin.  I peeled some for him.

Papa’s speech therapist had him writing familiar names in therapy and he continued that in the room (as she encouraged him to do).

Other friends plan to visit tonight.

Our long-time [cross-country] couple friends called as they do most every day.

 

My Reflections:

Another trip to rehab.

Another nap in transit:

 

Text: (me to J’s step-mom)

Papa seems better in spirits.  As of yesterday, he’s willing to pursue treatment.  Has appt. w/ chemo doc next week.

Nana’s Notes:

Good day.

Good mood.

Friends visited.

Speech went very well.

Outside for a walk, I met Papa’s psychologist – we had a good talk.  She’s impressed with improvement & doesn’t see a need for depression medication [for Papa].  Talked about radiation & chemo treatment and she said there is supposedly minimal side affects.  Papa willing to try it.

I went home tonight.  Lots of mail – birthday & get well cards.

 

My Reflections:

Today I paint our front door.

       

(With a huge sense of accomplishment considering how many months it’s been on our “to-do” list.)

I’m all about home projects these days…

So when J leaves for a bike ride after dinner, I decide to tackle something else.

This something else:

With an ax.

When J returns, he’s met with this:

…. and me,  hauling away its remains to the brush pile.

Pretty sure the rest of the shrubs are quaking in their roots.

 

Pet Therapy

Art Therapy

Music Therapy

Collaborative Therapy

Ax Therapy?

Perhaps I’m onto something here… (assuming we’re just talking your random small tree or bush, of course).

I text a photo to a friend of what I’ve done.

“Have any ideas for what you’ll put there now?,” she asks.

Some nerve.

It hadn’t really crossed my mind.

But now that she mentions it,

a tree might look nice.

 

You know, kinda like the one I just chopped down.

Still might have a few kinks to work out for this whole ax therapy thing….

Nana’s Notes:

Papa in good spirits in AM.  

Ankles & feet started swelling a couple days ago.  Nurse talked to doctor who said they’d watch it.  This morning when we mentioned it (they were more swollen), the nurse looked at them, called the doctor & got her to come look.  They took him off sodium water to flush his tube & put him on plain water.  Also put him on Lasix.  Want to monitor his liquid intake & output.

He felt like he is declining after therapy – not as strong – doubts he’ll be better.

Tired in afternoon, but still smiling.  

Kari & family visited when dinner was here – boys played electronic games & J Jr. showed Papa how to play “Cut the Rope.”

 

Email: (from Nana to friends & family)

We had the appointment with the radiation oncologist last week.  He wanted us to set up an appointment for this week for preparation to start the treatment next week and also an appointment with the chemo oncologist to get that started.  Papa felt very overwhelmed and didn’t want to do anything.  We encouraged him to at least make the appointment, which he could cancel if he decided against it.  But he was not ready.  Since then we have been discussing it.  He doesn’t think it is worth it to do it, but he is still considering it.  He still is doubtful he will get back to the quality of life he wants so doesn’t want to extend it.  Please pray for wisdom for all of us that the best decision will be made.

Papa does continue to get stronger, walking some now with help and improving in his speech.  He had a hard time in speech therapy this morning understanding the words the therapist wanted him to say and being able to repeat them.  However, when he saw them written, he was able to say some of them.  A couple days ago he was very tired and discouraged but yesterday and today have been better.  He is experiencing swelling in his ankles and feet which is being addressed today.  He looks great, and just to look at him you would never know he has a problem. 

Thank you, again, for all your love and prayers, Nana

 

My Reflections:

Today I spend some time at home with my boys.  We have rest time every afternoon and it always starts off with me reading to them for a bit.  But today it’s J Jr. reading to the rest of us. This truly is my favorite time of the day:

 

Later, J arrives home from his fishing trip, much to the sheer delight of us all (it’s been a long several days without him!).  We all head over to visit with Papa for a bit, and right away J is impressed with how much Papa’s speech has improved since he last saw him.  It is indeed remarkable; this visit we can understand almost all of what Papa is saying, better than we’ve been able to understand him since his speech fell apart just a month ago.

 

Good day, good visit, good to have J home!

Nana’s Notes:

Papa in better mood this AM.  Had PT in morning and speech in the afternoon.

We had a good time visiting – Papa had a more positive attitude, but still not really thinking treatment is worth it; but he is somewhat open to it.

Friends visited.  Papa seemed to enjoy it & not too tired.

A little later other friends came.  Another good visit.  They tried to encourage Papa as he talked about questioning treatment.  Our friend shared some of his own experiences & feelings after his accident & therapies, etc.

Papa suggested we play a game after they left.  Played three games of “Kings on the Corner” & played “Zilch” [dice game].  He added the scores & did well.  Was tired at the end & gave up on adding the last score – then dinner came & he ate well.  Ate well all day.

Tried “Cut the Rope” on iPad – difficult to figure out.

Another friend visited.  Friend said he could help anytime – he is in this area a lot.

Email: (from me to the mom of J Jr.’s school friend)

Have been meaning to email you and am finally getting to it!  Just wanted to apologize for J Jr. missing [your son’s] party.  We’ve had a whirlwind month of my dad being diagnosed with brain cancer and then surgery for that and hospital and rehab stays.  A few days after [your son’s} party, we realized we’d completely forgotten about it in the midst of everything else that was going on.  J Jr. was disappointed to have missed it!  Just wanted to let you know.  We hope [your son] had a fun day celebrating : )

Take care,

Kari

 

Nana’s Notes:

Happy Birthday!

I brought balloons & made a cherry cake.  Kari & kids came & brought the cake & lunch – a cheeseburger for Papa.  He enjoyed that a lot!

Had lunch outside & cake in the family room.  Kari downloaded some of Papa’s favorite songs [from The Statler Brothers, Don Walser, Johnny Cash, Jim Reeves] on the iPad for his birthday.  He was pleased.

Had PT & OT therapy in the morning for an hour, speech therapy after lunch.  He was very tired after that!  Discouraged & said he didn’t want visitors to come except me & Kari (& grandkids only for 1/2 hour).  It tires him out too much & is hard to talk & listen.

He talked with Kari in afternoon about treatment & said he didn’t really want to do it – not worth it. Kari shed some tears.

 

My Reflections:

It’s Papa’s birthday.

Celebrating at rehab isn’t ideal, but Nana and I still want to make it special for Papa.  So Nana makes a cherry cake with cream cheese frosting (Papa’s birthday treat of choice is always Nana’s homemade cherry pie, but that’s just too difficult for him to chew right now).  And the boys and I pick up lunch for everyone on our way over (we go all-out and get Papa a cheeseburger – think this is the most excited we’ve seen him over a meal in a looooong while!).

 

J would have joined in on the festivities, but he’s away on a fishing trip that’s been planned for months.  He catches a big one (to honor Papa’s big day, of course):

 

We take the main event inside – the cake!  And it proves to not disappoint (in Papa’s reaction to it & its yumminess factor):

 

After eating our cake, the boys occupy themselves with the foosball or ping pong table several feet away.  They’re out of ear-shot and I take the opportunity, sitting there at the table with Papa, to ask him if he’s still considering taking his own life (because this is standard conversation at one’s birthday celebration, right???).  But I’m concerned and need to know where he’s at with his thinking on this.  And he tells me no, he’s not thinking like that anymore; he’s willing to press on.  And I breathe a sigh of relief, because as much as I’m able, I can tell he’s being sincere.  He has a will to live.  Yet another reason to celebrate on this day!

With lunch and cake and foosball complete, we round out the celebration in Papa’s room, the big boys showing Papa their skills at Cut the Rope, a favorite game of their’s on Papa’s iPad:

 

Little M tries to hold out as long as he can, but you know what they say:

 

All in all, a good day celebrating Papa growing another year older!