Family & Friends:

Craig is continuing to gain functionality back each day, particularly in the leg. He has a brace for his arm to help support the weight of the arm so it doesn't put so much strain on the shoulder joint. Recovery in the arm has been slow, but Craig's getting better and better with his left hand. He was finally allowed to shower this morning instead of having bed baths - first time since August 16th. The physical and occupational therapy staff now have photos of all the areas of our home so they can ensure Craig will be able to handle moving around in the house.

Both the doctors at the Cleveland Clinic and Craig's own doctors at University Hospital are continually adding to the list of treatment possibilities that he may be eligible for in October. The plan is to reassess his physical state, do an MRI, and evaluate treatment options again the week of October 13th. They hope to release him from Hanna House rehab facility to home on or about October 3.

We had a good week of my mother visiting from Toronto. She and I got some shopping done and took dinner down to the hospital twice for the three of us to eat together. Craig was in heaven with the prime rib dinner in particular! We played Scrabble one evening, and Craig was much improved from the last time we played. The weather has been gorgeous, so he's been enjoying trips out to the garden. Other friends continue to visit him, too, which is good.

I'm continuing the process of ensuring our lives and home and finances are in order and all the legalities are covered. It's definitely a stressful occupation, but I'm doing my best. Keeping up with my exercising is turning out to be smart - pushing Craig up ramps in his wheelchair takes some muscle power! We've been visiting a friend of his with cancer who is over in the regular part of the hospital (big ramp in the basement tunnel) and there is one in front of his building for doing the trip to and from the garden. We were on TV recently about spirituality and cancer, with a segment that was filmed before this last hospital adventure. You can see the brief video clip at this link: http://www.newsnet5.com/video/17516205/index.html

Love,

Susanne

On TV 9-19-08

3 weeks before Craig was back in the hospital for brain tumor removal, we were interviewed by a local TV anchor about cancer and spirituality. You can see the brief segment at this link: http://www.newsnet5.com/video/17516205/index.html Susanne

MRI Results - 9-17-08

Craig and I met this evening with Dr. Nock, his oncologist, and Dr. Sloan, his surgeon. They are both happy to see Craig making steady progress and improvement with regaining functionality. The doctors reviewed Monday's MRI images with us, particularly the area around where the tumor was removed. That area looked only slightly different from the last MRI, but not enough to draw accurate conclusions. The change in image could be swelling, healing tissue, still lingering infection, tumor, etc., etc. No one can say for sure. They are going to increase steroids slightly and have added a second antibiotic, but essentially they want him to stay put in therapy, not begin chemo, etc. (which would stop his forward progress in therapy), and wait for 3-4 weeks to ensure the infection is gone and that he has the most amount of time possible to regain use of his arm and leg before starting any treatment. An MRI will be scheduled to happen then, too. We go over to the Cleveland Clinic on Friday for a second opinion. The surgeon delegated removing Craig's stitches to his nurse - to now happen tomorrow. Craig now sleeps with a hand brace to help keep his fingers flat and not curled, and I'm to order him a shoulder brace to help keep his arm more supported. He did receive a pint of blood on Monday to improve his blood counts...that seemed to give him more energy. He enjoyed visits from his sister Nancy's children Zack and Holly on Sunday and Nancy's eldest daughter Nicole and granddaughter Sierra on Monday/Tuesday. My mom arrives tomorrow for few days. Love, Susanne

Craig Progressing in Rehab - 9-13-08

Family & Friends: Craig is progressing well with the therapy with each day bringing new triumphs. His shoulder, right hand, and right leg all have significant movement. The right foot and right arm are still lagging behind a bit. However, he is now using the special shoe with the leg brace on it, and he walked, with assistance, 26 feet yesterday! With assistance, he can also now wheel himself into the bathroom and brush his teeth at the sink and use the regular toilet instead of the bedside commode. Probably most importantly, Craig is now thrilled to be able to read. He seems to be a bit slower at it than before, but he is now steadily making his way through a novel that we had started reading to him. The therapist estimates that Craig will be in therapy for approximately 3 more weeks. On the challenging side, 6 weeks after the last chemo session, and without me supporting his blood counts with nutrition and supplements, his counts are quite low. I'm working with the dietician at the rehab center closely, and Dave Farnsworth is bringing in lunches with higher nutritional content, so we hope that will help. However, Craig is experiencing some shortness of breath and a lot of fatigue from low red cell/hemoglobin, etc. counts. The doctor there is monitoring the situation closely to see if a blood transfusion to boost up the counts will be wise this weekend or next week. One of the unfortunate side effects of the fatigue from low blood counts combined with intense therapy, and likely linked with occasional stress from worrying about what is happening outside of the hospital, is that Craig is experiencing occasional "episodes". I call them that, because no one is completely sure yet what is happening. His speech slurs, sometimes the right side of his face droops, he gets light headed/disoriented, and his vision blurs. It has happened three times and lasts just a few minutes. I've been working with the doctors this week to understand what is happening. It seems likely that these are seizures, although they look like mini-strokes when he has them (the nurses assure me that they are not), and may simply be signs of fatique. His seizure specialist thinks that what Craig's seizures look like may have changed since tissue that affects seizures was removed along with the tumor. Part of what is difficult for me is that all three episodes have happened when I've been there. Craig was doing well enough this past week that he wanted me to be sharing how I was doing and what was happening with finances, etc. and not just putting on a happy face when visiting. But, I think we now need to revisit this - because I think that's just adding stress when he has enough already to manage! He says he gets stressed when he doesn't know what is happening though... So, who knows?! The episodes also seem to happen when he has multiple visitors and/or is trying to eat at the same time as visitors are present, but it's not consistent. Or they happen when he is just plain exhausted (sometimes he wants to sit in the wheelchair with visitors instead of laying down and pushes himself too hard]. For months seizures have been an issue when Craig gets too tired/stressed, so the pattern does seem familiar. So...we'll see what works out. My father, stepmother, daughter Jennifer, and son-in-law Frank have been working hard with me on getting our home in good order and maintenance caught up, finances understood and money budgeted, car in good shape, etc. The brakes on the car started acting up this week, so son-in-law Hooman will fix them today. He, Michelle, and Karida arrive today for the weekend. The rest of the family visitors leave tomorrow (Sunday). So, we are all tired, but things are falling into place. The staff at Craig's company have been great on helping me understand Craig's benefits and doing what is needed to ensure they keep supporting him. We appreciate their caring. Love, Susanne Recent Photos: Grandson: www.claricomm.com/Aidan_Aug_Sept_2008.pdf Craig Hospital: www.claricomm.com/Craig_Hospital_August_Sept_2008.pdf Family Gatherings: www.claricomm.com/Family_Gatherings_September_2008.pdf

Craig - Major Progress - Update 9-8-08

After 3 days of intense physical, occupational, and speech therapy, following by three alternative treatments on the weekend, I'm delighted to report that Craig's right leg is now significantly moving! He was also able to support his weight on it long enough to stand on the weigh scale on Sunday (which showed he has gone from 184 back up to 191 since arriving...the goal is at least 200). The right fingers are also beginning to move, and there is more circulation happening in the arm. He is getting around reasonably well in the wheelchair and sitting up in it more and more each day. He got in two trips outside to the garden as well on the weekend. So, he's well positioned to go forward into an intense week of therapy and re-evaluation on Friday. Mentally/emotionally Craig is back in the mode of "I want to live a long life" and "I don't want to live it in a hospital bed"! So, he's very motivated to go forward. He's talking well and making more and more reconnections with numbers and concepts each day. Generally he's recognizing all visitors and delighted to see people. Craig hopes to feel comfortable enough with the telephone to tell us the number and turn his phone on sometime this week. He has now called me three times, so his comfort level is increasing. Susanne

Craig Doing Well in Rehab - 9-3-08

Here's the update I just did for family (sorry...not enough mental energy to do different updates for different audiences!: Yesterday my father and stepmother came into town from Alberta, Canada, for two weeks. They visited Craig, and Sharlene did some kind of Chinese massage on Craig's leg and arm that seemed to be beneficial. Good followup from the work daughter Leah and sister Nancy did on him on the weekend. Dad and Sharlene are already hard at work on everything that needs doing at the house. Sharlene is cleaning top to bottom and outside, and Dad is reorganizing the whole garage. Dave Farnsworth, Craig's son, came over for awhile today and provided needed assistance, too. As of late yesterday afternoon, I got Craig re-located to University Hospital's rehab center called Hannah House (http://www.uhhospitals.org/case/OurServices/CentersandPrograms/GM/AddictionRecoveryServices/tabid/1200/Default.aspx), which is attached to UH, but the entrance is over on Adelbert (parking in the Rainbow Children's parking garage probably best; there is also a $5 lot next to the building, but if there are no parking spots, you still have to pay that much to get out). If you see a receptionist in any building, you can ask for a blue discount parking card...sometimes it works. Craig's on the 4th floor, room 423. The last few days he has been low on appetite, depressed, etc., so I've already seen a dramatic turnaround in 24 hours. Assessment and therapy began today, and the arm has stretched out once according to an aide who observed it. He's more confident, goal oriented, actively moving, etc. The staff is excellent - very encouraging and committed to his success. We appreciate all the healing energy flowing his way! NOTE: Visiting hours are very different while Craig is in active rehab, because there is no visiting during therapy sessions. Visiting during lunch at 12:15 is okay, although he needs to rest awhile after eating. Dinner is at 5:15, and from then until about 8:30 p.m. is okay...but watch for flagging energy at the end of the day. Feel free to offer to read to him (we are reading The Map Thief; there are also other books in his bedside drawer). Weekends have no structured therapy sessions, so hours are open. It will be a good time to get him out and about the building and the grounds in a wheelchair. There is a garden across from the building. There are various activities available...this will be our first weekend, so we'll just feel our way through. Someone suggested the game of Uno as a possibility to help Craig with numbers...if you have it, bring it along. Cognitively, each day has seen improvement. Craig is conversing much better, reading a little bit, and making more connections. He is recognizing and remembering visitors, although a bit challenged at times still with names. I and his friend Nik have read to him from a novel the last few days, and he is easily following and remembering the story line. He gave an excellent summary of the story so far to his friend Rick tonight. Craig is still being challenged with numbers (couldn't do our house number yesterday) and some troubles with sequencing as well as words for some objects. For instance, the intake nurse yesterday asked him to describe the steps in making tea, something he has done hundreds of times for me in our marriage. He couldn't think of the names for "mug" or "box of tea", but he knew the tea bag came from the word he couldn't remember. He remembered to add honey or agave to the mug. He struggled with remembering to add water, but when he struggled, he indicated that the next thing to add was "tender, loving care"! And, he knew to stir it up, too! So, we got a good chuckle out of the endeavor. Craig didn't act nearly so fatigued today, fed himself all meals with his left hand with almost no help, cleaned his plate, and was much more active. They dressed him in regular clothes, and he no longer has a catheter. They checked him for swallowing problems today and deemed him recovered and back on a regular diet (he's been on soft food with less choking hazard). That made him delighted! I met with the dietician for an hour today after Craig's lunch at her request, filling her in on the last year and his pattern of weight gains and losses. He arrived in rehab at 184 pounds, down from 205 a few weeks ago. He was 230 before surgery last summer. So, he needs more weight to be able to respond well to therapy and any future challenges. He will be quite cooperative with milkshakes or any other items they dream up for him to have! In spite of the weight loss, he is getting compliments on his newly shaved head/hair do (Nik did the hair removal honors on Saturday). Three weeks with no hair washing made shaving a great idea! And, now he matches his son David! On the homefront, I'm doing my best to figure out the finances. Last year and this one right before tumor removal, Craig's financial judgment turned out to be a bit off. So, I'm scrambling to respond to automatic bill payments twice as large as the money in the account! Wish me luck tomorrow as I ask the credit card company to give some of it back! And thanks for family who helped with the rescue. PLEASE DO NOT MENTION THE FINANCIAL STUFF TO CRAIG IF YOU SEE HIM...he doesn't need the worry. However, I did tell him that it wasn't fair for him to choose a skill testing question for accessing one of the accounts that asked me what his high school mascot was! Not something I could easily figure out! Especially since he was in two different high schools... I'm also compiling information on treatment options and working with the doctors to clarify what they are and the benefits and side effects so we can be in decision-making mode towards the end of the month when they'll do another MRI scan. We also have a second opinion set up next week with the Cleveland Clinic, although I don't know yet whether Craig can go or how that will work. With Craig on restricted visiting hours, I hope to be able to normalize life here a bit more...probably just getting down to the hospital once a day instead of the 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 hours I've been doing. Having visitors keeps Craig uplifted and encouraged, so we appreciate all those who have been able to brave the horrid construction and traffic and come down - Euclid Avenue is such a mess (if you know a back way - take it). He is looking forward to being able to handle the phone again soon so he can talk to others, too. The last two weeks have seen many losses and disruptions for Craig (and me) - the ability to think and read, write, work, walk, go to the bathroom easily, move, and more. We finally decided to sell his truck as well. And, his spirit keeps shining through. He's decided there is more left for him to do in this world, and he's working hard in rehab to regain as much functionality as he can. With love, Susanne