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