I’ve been downstate in Decatur for a few days but drove up today so that I can take mom to the care planning meeting tomorrow.  I stopped by Radford Green on the way up, and got to watch Dad with the OT guy (who is adorable – looks like a surfer dude!)   Dad is making excellent progress.  He no longer needs assistance transferring from the wheelchair to the walker, and can get himself from the wheelchair to the bed unassisted.  Here he is pumping iron for the benefit of his cheering section and West Coast Audience:

Dad is a little weary this morning after walking a marathon from his room down the hall to a window, resting, walking all the way down to the other end where the nurse’s station is, and then turning back to his room.  He still needs an assist to get up from the wheelchair to the walker, but is walking unaided.  There will be a group calisthenics session this morning at 11:30.  I’m going to pop out then, pick up some groceries with mom, and bring her back for a visit this afternoon.

Mom and I went to see Dad today.  He is in good spirits, reporting that the food is “much better than he would have expected.”   He likes the oatmeal with brown sugar in the morning, and had his first roast beef sandwich in a while for lunch today. (Roast beef was not permitted him at the hospital.)  He’s also able to actually use the bathroom (with assistance) which is a welcome bit of progress after the week being tied to the bed by all the monitoring.

Sheila and I went over to the rehab place on Friday morning.

For folks who want to write or call, he is

John Curran
Room 331
Radford-Green at Sedgebrook
960 Audubon Way
Lincolnshire, Illinois 60069

His room has a phone, the number is (847) 613-3931 

Dad looked great.  Funny, he had a better sleep without all the wires everywhere, and he declared the breakfast “excellent.”   He basically held court all morning with various care providers.  His PT and OT assessments went well.  He’s already much stronger than when he was assessed in the hospital, and the PT says “there is a lot of potential here!”

Mom and I went over again later in the afternoon.  He was in a bit of pain in his neck and shoulders.  We’re not sure whether that’s a recurrence of the mystery pain he had last Friday, or just the result of the workout he had for his assessments.

Mom, Sheila and I are taking some time to catch our respective breaths.  Mom has arranged rides to visit dad over the weekend.  I am in the city with Jim till some time Sunday afternoon, then I’ll go back to Mom’s.  Sheila has at last flown home from her rather extended HS reunion trip.

We just got word that Dad will be moving this afternoon to the rehabilitation wing of  RadfordGreen at Sedgebrook in Lincolnshire.  This is great – mom has friends who have been there, the place is a 15 minute drive from 175 Danbury, and it comes highly recommended by one of the lovely techs who have been helping Dad here at the hospital.

Those prayers we offered when the Chaplain came by and offered us all Holy Communion, and those of all of you lovely people, continue to help us along. Thanks for your love and support!

Sheila and I are at the hospital this morning, where Dad has improved markedly.  The rehab placement has not yet come through, but maybe today.  He is out of the bed, and in the chair  for his breakfast, literally “sitting up and taking nourishment” to use a favorite phrase of his.  Having decided that they have conspired to take all flavor out of eggs at this establishment, he has opted for oatmeal this morning.  The oatmeal comes with a cinnamon sugar topping, so there is hope.

Dad looks terrific this morning, very much alert and oriented and no doubt cheered by the prospect of being released today, and before that, a SHOWER.  It’s the little things…  Hoping the person at the approval desk at the insurance company had a great night’s sleep and an excellent breakfast and will soon move our little project along to the next phase!

We checked off a bunch of boxes today.  Dad is off all IV meds, and has been medically cleared to leave the hospital.  OT and PT evaluated him and agree that inpatient rehab is needed to get his strength and balance back in order to return safely home.  We have identified a few likely places for him to go, but apparently the wheels are grinding slowly in the getting insurance approval step, which means Dad will be here at the hospital for another night.

Dad is continuing to eat well, but the lack of sleep has him more disoriented as the day wears on.  We are hoping he gets a decent night’s sleep and perks up a bit in the morning.

Tune in tomorrow for more exciting developments!

No word on PT, guess that’s for tomorrow.  Unless they need this fancy step down room, Dad will get to stay here tonight.  Shift change has happened and we’ve met the nurse and tech for the evening.  Sheila and Mom went down to the cafeteria and brought up dinner for the 3 of us.  Dad, of course gets room service.  The difference between tonight, when he enjoyed a dinner of tilapia, green beans, and ice cream, and last night, when he really wasn’t interested in even 2 bites of meat loaf, and had trouble swallowing his water, is gratifying.

We will spend the time till 8p watching Clemson v. Wake Forest.  Then Sheila, Mom and I will be kicked out and so return to 175 Danbury Ct.

All kinds of tests have come back with encouraging results.  We are waiting on some blood cultures, but otherwise, Dad looks good. He’s tired, because it’s hard to get more than a catnap in with all the interruptions.

They did a brief evaluation of Dad’s mobility.  It’s pretty terrible – he has lost some strength and some balance. It’s helpful that he, too, understands how limited he is right now.  A PT evaluation has been ordered, and we will await those recommendations.  This evaluation may push his release to tomorrow, and he may be released to a skilled nursing facility to build up his strength rather than to home.

We will keep you posted!