Aloha to our Ohana,
The past five days of travel and separation from Theresa have been difficult and even lonely at times. I know in my heart that Theresa is in the best of hands at Craig Hospital and that our Lord is watching over and protecting her as He does with His entire flock. And I understand the reason for leaving her for a few weeks is so she can perform the various rehab therapies independent of my encouragement or distraction. Still, there is a nagging feeling that I should be by her side throughout this journey even though there are other important matters to attend to back home. In the end, the only way to resolve this is for me to pray to God for reassurance that I made the right decision. Only time or some sign will tell if that is so.
Due to the last-minute ticketing of my return flight, it turned out to be a 2-stopover 15-hour ordeal and that didn't include the ground transportation either. Still, it felt nice to come home although I have yet to win that darn Halfway to Hawaii contest on United (only 6 minutes off this time.) Cousin Darien lei-greeted me at Kona airport and drove us to my house in Waikoloa. Along with some friends' contributions, she had even stocked the fridge with home cooking and other basics to get me through until I find the time to go shopping. Checking the home phone, there was a pleasant surprise as Theresa had left a nice voice message, probably from when she was trying out her replacement phone over the weekend. So although she couldn't be home with me, Theresa found a way to be there in spirit.
I was looking forward to getting some much needed sleep before heading in to work the next day however that was not to be. Around 0330 Hawaii time, there was a call from the orthopedic surgeon handling Theresa's non-spine fractures. As an aside, Theresa has over 20 fractures so there are two orthopedic surgeons assigned to her: one for the spine and neck, and the other for all other body parts. In this case, the call was concerning Theresa's right heel bone or calcaneus that was crushed in the accident. The surgeons at Queen's in Honolulu had largely ignored that part during their six-hour marathon effort to stop the bleeding from her broken femurs. The calcaneus injury seemed minor at the time so all that was done was to clean out the bone fragments and let it heal on its own. In the ten weeks since that surgery, after taking more films at Craig Hospital and then consulting with some of the top foot surgeons in the field, it was determined that not only was Theresa's calcaneus not healing properly, but if left untended, it would result in loss of range of motion and probable pain when walking. Since Theresa's right leg is not rated as weightbearing yet, another surgery at this point would not set back her rehab schedule too much. So the decision was made to reopen the foot and perform surgery to rebuild the calcaneus and the ankle structure that connects to it. This was the reason for the early wake-up call, to get my authorization to proceed. I asked to speak with Theresa to get her thoughts and she pretty much said she trusts me and knows I am making the best decision for the both of us. Thank you to our Lord for this sign of faith and reassurance from my loving wife.
By 0430, Theresa was being prepped for surgery while I attempted to contact a friend in Denver to be with Theresa when she came out of recovery. Over the next four hours, it was impossible for me to fall asleep again so I waited by the phone and prayed continuously for our Lord to send His healing powers to Theresa and to guide the hands of the surgeon. Finally, when I was at the office, the orthopedic surgeon called around 0930 to explain what he'd found and fixed, and apologized for the delay because once he got in there, it was more complicated than the x-rays showed. The news looks good so far, Theresa's calcaneus is healing and more importantly, plates and screws were inserted to support the ankle and allow for better flexibility which should allow Theresa to dance the hula again one day. Our friend Kelly came through once again and said she would be there; afterwards, she e-mailed that Theresa was doing okay but was very tired so Kelly sang a few songs to her, said a prayer and left her to rest. I continue to offer praise to our Lord for blessing us with His grace. He sends help in many forms and this day, it was a skilled surgeon that did the right research and knew what to do, and a friend who could be there with Theresa when I could not. Our Heavenly Father, thank you for this sign that all will be well, and the reassurance that my returning home was the right thing to do.
Mahalo,
David
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Update from David
Aloha to our Ohana,
Talk about turning adversity into a positive experience. On the previous two tries, Theresa had difficulty remaining still during the MRI sessions because of the constant pounding noise inside the tube which resulted in incomplete scans. On the third attempt, Theresa remained still as best she could however by mid-scan, she was beginning to fidget again. But this time, something special happened; instead of just becoming restless, there was a noticeable rhythmic nature to Theresa's movements. And when her leg and hip swaying became too pronounced, the MRI tech asked Theresa to try to remain still and low and behold, she was able to. After the scan had successfully ended, Wanda asked Theresa what allowed her to block out the pounding noise and Theresa said she couldn't filter it out so she imagined the sound as that of the Ipu Heke, a percussion instrument used in hula. Thus Theresa used her hula skills yet again as another form of therapy, this time to withstand the previously unbearable noise of the MRI. That Theresa could be inspired to do this, I am most thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ for answering our prayers for reassurance and healing.
Weekends at Craig Hospital are mostly a time of rest for the patients and their therapists. The nurses and aides are still about and performing their caring duties, as are the physicians on call that are rounding on the units, however the only scheduled therapy is in the form of recreation. Last Saturday, it was baking cookies in the T-Rec room but since Theresa was still on a tube feed, there wasn't much appeal for baking when she couldn't enjoy the end result. This weekend, I had just returned from my unplanned side trip and upon rushing back to Theresa's room, found a plate of beautifully decorated snowman cupcakes. My loving wife had spent the afternoon making and decorating them, and watching me enjoy one brought a smile to her face. Theresa lost interest as I consumed the remainder of the plate so using her stronger arm, she rotated the mobility chair to face away from me.
Other recreational activities include movie night (Inception was the feature film -- perhaps not the best choice for the brain injured patients already battling various delusions, but I'm not the cruise director here) manicures, facials & massages, gardening in T-Rec's own greenhouse, and weekly excursions that include the mall, pizzeria, and local sports and cultural events. When Theresa is well enough for an offsite pass, we plan to partake of some of these outings.
Last night, some volunteers even brought their Newfoundlanders to visit the patients. While our Canadian friends may see some humor in this as people from that region of the Maritimes can be funny without knowing it, I'm not setting you up for a Newfie joke. These Newfies are of the canine variety and look like a cross between a St. Bernard and a Mastiff, except that they're all black and slobber. Theresa had a great time petting a few of them and one Newfie, a 140 lb one was particularly curious about Theresa's foley line and even got his paw caught in it when he tried to shake hands; no harm done to either party. Later on back in Theresa's room, she spent a good five minutes trying to wash the Newfie hair and slobber off her hands. It's kind of interesting to watch because Theresa's right side is definitely stronger so she extends her left arm as far as she can and then uses the right hand to pull the left hand to reach the water. The right hand then washes the left but that side doesn't reciprocate as well so the right hand ends up trying to wash itself. The outcome is both hands are clean and for that, I am thankful to God for this small yet significant step in our healing journey.
Yesterday was full of surprises and definitely a milestone for us. For the past week, Theresa has done well with her tracheostomy tube red-capped, allowing her to speak and swallow naturally. As she refamiliarizes herself with these sensations, she is aspirating less often and so there has been almost no need for the respiratory therapist to suction out her lungs several times a day. Thus the decision was made to remove the trach tube and let the hole in her throat close and heal by itself. The pulmonologist and respiratory nurse practitioner came in for a final check-up and not a minute later, Theresa was free of anything in her throat for the first time in 9 and 1/2 weeks. But the surprises for the day didn't end there. At the joint OT/PT session, the goal was to put some weight on Theresa's left leg now that those hip and femur fractures and the torn knee ligaments have healed to partial weightbearing status. So with Theresa sitting well balanced on the edge of an elevated mat, a walker with a left arm support was placed in front of her. The therapists then aided Theresa in shifting her weight to her left leg as they held her up. These repetitions were visibly tiring for Theresa as she struggled to complete them, getting up no more than halfway to a standing position. For the last two reps, Theresa seemed to have almost nothing left but after finishing and catching her breath, she indicated to the therapists that she wanted to try once more. And then, with a combination of perspiration and inspiration, Theresa pulled herself to an almost upright stance for a split second. Both therapists and I were speechless, no one expected this on the first day and I think Theresa even surprised herself. The effort certainly tired her out but it is yet another sign of the remarkable healing powers that God has blessed upon our dear wife, sister, daughter and friend.
The next few weeks will be a challenge for both Theresa and me as I am returning to Hawaii for work and to deal with various insurance, legal and household matters. I left Theresa with a replacement phone (hers was damaged beyond repair in the accident, although it was at the bottom of her purse) and asked Wanda to show her how to use it. Instead of needing a lesson, Theresa gave one by quickly recalling how to turn on the phone and look up the contacts so I expect her to ring me up regularly. Wanda and Rosa are also leaving for Calgary today however Theresa will not be alone here. Kelly, a local Denver friend of my former classmate Dawn is arranging a care chain among their friends so someone will visit Theresa every day. In addition, throughout February we are expecting extended visits from friends and colleagues from out of town so Theresa will always have someone caring nearby. This is in addition to the support and prayers of our friends worldwide for which we are truly thankful. Theresa's healing continues at an amazing pace and we know in our hearts that it would not be so without everyone's support and the grace of God.
Mahalo,
David
Talk about turning adversity into a positive experience. On the previous two tries, Theresa had difficulty remaining still during the MRI sessions because of the constant pounding noise inside the tube which resulted in incomplete scans. On the third attempt, Theresa remained still as best she could however by mid-scan, she was beginning to fidget again. But this time, something special happened; instead of just becoming restless, there was a noticeable rhythmic nature to Theresa's movements. And when her leg and hip swaying became too pronounced, the MRI tech asked Theresa to try to remain still and low and behold, she was able to. After the scan had successfully ended, Wanda asked Theresa what allowed her to block out the pounding noise and Theresa said she couldn't filter it out so she imagined the sound as that of the Ipu Heke, a percussion instrument used in hula. Thus Theresa used her hula skills yet again as another form of therapy, this time to withstand the previously unbearable noise of the MRI. That Theresa could be inspired to do this, I am most thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ for answering our prayers for reassurance and healing.
Weekends at Craig Hospital are mostly a time of rest for the patients and their therapists. The nurses and aides are still about and performing their caring duties, as are the physicians on call that are rounding on the units, however the only scheduled therapy is in the form of recreation. Last Saturday, it was baking cookies in the T-Rec room but since Theresa was still on a tube feed, there wasn't much appeal for baking when she couldn't enjoy the end result. This weekend, I had just returned from my unplanned side trip and upon rushing back to Theresa's room, found a plate of beautifully decorated snowman cupcakes. My loving wife had spent the afternoon making and decorating them, and watching me enjoy one brought a smile to her face. Theresa lost interest as I consumed the remainder of the plate so using her stronger arm, she rotated the mobility chair to face away from me.
Other recreational activities include movie night (Inception was the feature film -- perhaps not the best choice for the brain injured patients already battling various delusions, but I'm not the cruise director here) manicures, facials & massages, gardening in T-Rec's own greenhouse, and weekly excursions that include the mall, pizzeria, and local sports and cultural events. When Theresa is well enough for an offsite pass, we plan to partake of some of these outings.
Last night, some volunteers even brought their Newfoundlanders to visit the patients. While our Canadian friends may see some humor in this as people from that region of the Maritimes can be funny without knowing it, I'm not setting you up for a Newfie joke. These Newfies are of the canine variety and look like a cross between a St. Bernard and a Mastiff, except that they're all black and slobber. Theresa had a great time petting a few of them and one Newfie, a 140 lb one was particularly curious about Theresa's foley line and even got his paw caught in it when he tried to shake hands; no harm done to either party. Later on back in Theresa's room, she spent a good five minutes trying to wash the Newfie hair and slobber off her hands. It's kind of interesting to watch because Theresa's right side is definitely stronger so she extends her left arm as far as she can and then uses the right hand to pull the left hand to reach the water. The right hand then washes the left but that side doesn't reciprocate as well so the right hand ends up trying to wash itself. The outcome is both hands are clean and for that, I am thankful to God for this small yet significant step in our healing journey.
Yesterday was full of surprises and definitely a milestone for us. For the past week, Theresa has done well with her tracheostomy tube red-capped, allowing her to speak and swallow naturally. As she refamiliarizes herself with these sensations, she is aspirating less often and so there has been almost no need for the respiratory therapist to suction out her lungs several times a day. Thus the decision was made to remove the trach tube and let the hole in her throat close and heal by itself. The pulmonologist and respiratory nurse practitioner came in for a final check-up and not a minute later, Theresa was free of anything in her throat for the first time in 9 and 1/2 weeks. But the surprises for the day didn't end there. At the joint OT/PT session, the goal was to put some weight on Theresa's left leg now that those hip and femur fractures and the torn knee ligaments have healed to partial weightbearing status. So with Theresa sitting well balanced on the edge of an elevated mat, a walker with a left arm support was placed in front of her. The therapists then aided Theresa in shifting her weight to her left leg as they held her up. These repetitions were visibly tiring for Theresa as she struggled to complete them, getting up no more than halfway to a standing position. For the last two reps, Theresa seemed to have almost nothing left but after finishing and catching her breath, she indicated to the therapists that she wanted to try once more. And then, with a combination of perspiration and inspiration, Theresa pulled herself to an almost upright stance for a split second. Both therapists and I were speechless, no one expected this on the first day and I think Theresa even surprised herself. The effort certainly tired her out but it is yet another sign of the remarkable healing powers that God has blessed upon our dear wife, sister, daughter and friend.
The next few weeks will be a challenge for both Theresa and me as I am returning to Hawaii for work and to deal with various insurance, legal and household matters. I left Theresa with a replacement phone (hers was damaged beyond repair in the accident, although it was at the bottom of her purse) and asked Wanda to show her how to use it. Instead of needing a lesson, Theresa gave one by quickly recalling how to turn on the phone and look up the contacts so I expect her to ring me up regularly. Wanda and Rosa are also leaving for Calgary today however Theresa will not be alone here. Kelly, a local Denver friend of my former classmate Dawn is arranging a care chain among their friends so someone will visit Theresa every day. In addition, throughout February we are expecting extended visits from friends and colleagues from out of town so Theresa will always have someone caring nearby. This is in addition to the support and prayers of our friends worldwide for which we are truly thankful. Theresa's healing continues at an amazing pace and we know in our hearts that it would not be so without everyone's support and the grace of God.
Mahalo,
David
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Update from David
Aloha to our Ohana,
In just four days here, Rosa and Wanda have made a good contribution to Theresa's healing journey. The day of their arrival, I reminded Theresa that I would be away for a few hours to pick them up so she decided to look her best. Working with the occupational therapist, Theresa did a great job of relearning how to brush her teeth but her hair was another matter. I don't remember how long she had let it go before the accident but in the past nine weeks, Theresa's hair has grown Rapunzel-like and is now below the shoulders. With both arms still in splints, Theresa can only reach far enough to brush the front half of her hair which is fine for now because there are knots in the rear that would confound even a seaman. Still, we are thankful to our Lord for this sign of wellness among all of the other miracles His healing powers have brought for Theresa.
The greeting between mom and sisters was heartfelt and tears were shared by all. Compared to Wanda's prior visit when Theresa was still comatose in the Queen's Medical Center ICU, this time was completely different. Not only was Theresa conscious and happy to see them, but she could smile and talk and hug and kiss too. This so relieved Rosa that she began to believe Theresa's brain injury was already behind her and she's ready to return to her life before the accident as soon as the spinal cord injury and fractures have healed. Unfortunately, Rosa's hopes were dashed at the family conference the following day when Dr. Weintraub along with the rest of Theresa's specialized care team reviewed their findings and progress notes from the first two weeks at Craig Hospital. The display of X-rays, CT scans, MRI, etc. clearly shows the seriousness of Theresa's injuries from head to heel and there is still much healing to go.
While Theresa has come a long way and has made good strides since arriving in Englewood, her multiple fractures are still partially non -weight bearing which limits the type of rehab therapy that can be accomplished. The specialists are waiting on the outcome of a few more diagnostic tests this week before deciding if Theresa's cervical collar can be removed. Among these is a crucial MRI to determine if the bone graft and fusion of Theresa's cervical vertabrae has healed sufficiently enough to say farewell to the collar that has been a pain in her neck and a source of constant frustration for the past two months. So with this in mind, Theresa was scheduled for the MRI the prior afternoon but because she already had a busy day of multiple therapies, she was restless and could not hold still long enough for the scan. It also didn't help that the radiology tech didn't allow Wanda in the room to try to calm Theresa down so on the next day's attempt with Wanda at her side, Theresa was able to stay steady for the head scan but not the neck one (you try staying still for 15 minutes inside an echo chamber with someone pounding a drum by your ears.) The third attempt will be made tomorrow and thankfully, it should be a shorter duration scan because it's only the neck that's left. I pray that Theresa receives the assurance and love that our Lord is sending her way to allow her to remain calm during this procedure.
Besides the return of her voice with the capping of the tracheostomy tube, Theresa is finally able to enjoy solid food again. Aside from the blue-dyed products consumed during the swallowing tests, Theresa has now enjoyed a semblance of real food that includes a grilled cheese sandwich, chicken noodle soup and even a couple of bites of cherry pie. During the week, she has had a constant craving for IKEA meatballs with lingenberry sauce but the Denver IKEA store is still in the construction stage so it's unlikely we'll be able to fulfill that request during this stay. It was still a joy to watch as we wheeled Theresa to the hospital cafeteria hot line and she asked the somewhat perplexed server for Swedish meatballs and noodles when only pork chops and pasta was being served. Like two years ago when Theresa had an unquenchable craving for lamb chops during her aneurysm recovery, this obsession with IKEA meatballs is another sign that Theresa is on the path to healing once again and for this, I continue to be thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am also grateful for the timing of Wanda and Rosa's visit as my back has been acting up for the past few days. The combined weight of the mobility chair, oxygen tank, respiratory emergency kit and other attachments (plus Theresa) approaches 300 lbs so it looks like I may have strained myself by using improper lifting techniques. So far, accupressure and some healing massage oil are keeping me mobile but if it gets worse then at least I'm in the right place to find proper treatment. Also, it turns out that I had to leave for a few days to deal with banking issues elsewhere but I know Theresa is in good hands with her mom and sister as I am keeping in touch by phone. Tonight, I missed their evening call but picked up a loving voicemail left by Theresa in which she said she had a good day with her therapists and family but wishes I was there too. She ended by saying she loved me, then corrected herself by adding "very much." Well Theresa, I love you very much too as do so many of our friends around the world, and God loves all of us.
Mahalo,
David
In just four days here, Rosa and Wanda have made a good contribution to Theresa's healing journey. The day of their arrival, I reminded Theresa that I would be away for a few hours to pick them up so she decided to look her best. Working with the occupational therapist, Theresa did a great job of relearning how to brush her teeth but her hair was another matter. I don't remember how long she had let it go before the accident but in the past nine weeks, Theresa's hair has grown Rapunzel-like and is now below the shoulders. With both arms still in splints, Theresa can only reach far enough to brush the front half of her hair which is fine for now because there are knots in the rear that would confound even a seaman. Still, we are thankful to our Lord for this sign of wellness among all of the other miracles His healing powers have brought for Theresa.
The greeting between mom and sisters was heartfelt and tears were shared by all. Compared to Wanda's prior visit when Theresa was still comatose in the Queen's Medical Center ICU, this time was completely different. Not only was Theresa conscious and happy to see them, but she could smile and talk and hug and kiss too. This so relieved Rosa that she began to believe Theresa's brain injury was already behind her and she's ready to return to her life before the accident as soon as the spinal cord injury and fractures have healed. Unfortunately, Rosa's hopes were dashed at the family conference the following day when Dr. Weintraub along with the rest of Theresa's specialized care team reviewed their findings and progress notes from the first two weeks at Craig Hospital. The display of X-rays, CT scans, MRI, etc. clearly shows the seriousness of Theresa's injuries from head to heel and there is still much healing to go.
While Theresa has come a long way and has made good strides since arriving in Englewood, her multiple fractures are still partially non -weight bearing which limits the type of rehab therapy that can be accomplished. The specialists are waiting on the outcome of a few more diagnostic tests this week before deciding if Theresa's cervical collar can be removed. Among these is a crucial MRI to determine if the bone graft and fusion of Theresa's cervical vertabrae has healed sufficiently enough to say farewell to the collar that has been a pain in her neck and a source of constant frustration for the past two months. So with this in mind, Theresa was scheduled for the MRI the prior afternoon but because she already had a busy day of multiple therapies, she was restless and could not hold still long enough for the scan. It also didn't help that the radiology tech didn't allow Wanda in the room to try to calm Theresa down so on the next day's attempt with Wanda at her side, Theresa was able to stay steady for the head scan but not the neck one (you try staying still for 15 minutes inside an echo chamber with someone pounding a drum by your ears.) The third attempt will be made tomorrow and thankfully, it should be a shorter duration scan because it's only the neck that's left. I pray that Theresa receives the assurance and love that our Lord is sending her way to allow her to remain calm during this procedure.
Besides the return of her voice with the capping of the tracheostomy tube, Theresa is finally able to enjoy solid food again. Aside from the blue-dyed products consumed during the swallowing tests, Theresa has now enjoyed a semblance of real food that includes a grilled cheese sandwich, chicken noodle soup and even a couple of bites of cherry pie. During the week, she has had a constant craving for IKEA meatballs with lingenberry sauce but the Denver IKEA store is still in the construction stage so it's unlikely we'll be able to fulfill that request during this stay. It was still a joy to watch as we wheeled Theresa to the hospital cafeteria hot line and she asked the somewhat perplexed server for Swedish meatballs and noodles when only pork chops and pasta was being served. Like two years ago when Theresa had an unquenchable craving for lamb chops during her aneurysm recovery, this obsession with IKEA meatballs is another sign that Theresa is on the path to healing once again and for this, I continue to be thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am also grateful for the timing of Wanda and Rosa's visit as my back has been acting up for the past few days. The combined weight of the mobility chair, oxygen tank, respiratory emergency kit and other attachments (plus Theresa) approaches 300 lbs so it looks like I may have strained myself by using improper lifting techniques. So far, accupressure and some healing massage oil are keeping me mobile but if it gets worse then at least I'm in the right place to find proper treatment. Also, it turns out that I had to leave for a few days to deal with banking issues elsewhere but I know Theresa is in good hands with her mom and sister as I am keeping in touch by phone. Tonight, I missed their evening call but picked up a loving voicemail left by Theresa in which she said she had a good day with her therapists and family but wishes I was there too. She ended by saying she loved me, then corrected herself by adding "very much." Well Theresa, I love you very much too as do so many of our friends around the world, and God loves all of us.
Mahalo,
David
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Update from David
Aloha to our Ohana,
It's now just over eight weeks since the accident and other than mouthing a few silent phrases, I have sorely missed Theresa's beautiful voice in all this time. With the progress that Theresa has made with her respiratory therapy since arriving at Craig Hospital last week, her tracheostomy tube has been downsized to the point where the speech pathologist can now try putting a Passy-Muir valve over the opening to allow her to speak. So at the recent speech therapy session, with Theresa having already swallowed water, applesauce, graham crackers and Cheerios (all dyed in blue) without evidence of aspiration in the past week, I looked forward with great anticipation to the first words out of Theresa's mouth. It seemed tortuously slow as the therapist made Theresa do yet another swallow test, then checked the placement of the valve and finally told Theresa to take a deep breath and make some aaaah, eeeee, ooooo sounds. She did this with a very hoarse voice and then after clearing her throat again, the therapist asked Theresa to say something. And the very first words out of Theresa's mouth in more than two months were "My ass hurts!"
While I am very grateful to our Lord for restoring Theresa's voice, sometimes it does feel like a mixed blessing as Theresa can now vocalize whatever she is thinking at the moment. She's already told several nurses, aides and therapists that they remind her of her mother-in-law (I think it's because my mom is prim and proper and so are some of these people) but to tell a 20-something that they remind her of a 70+ year old woman isn't the best compliment. And with the brain injury causing some confusion, amnesia and emotional lability, what comes out of Theresa's mouth sometimes is unexpected. All the facts are there but the specifics are jumbled, such as her insisting that our cat is named Tiberius, or that we're currently in a hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, or that we moved to Hawaii in 1989. I am assured in my prayers that this will improve as her mind receives God's healing love and sure enough, there are times when she is perfectly rational; like yesterday when she made a fine argument to the Ear, Nose, Throat specialist as to why she did not want him to use a certain decongestant because it's known side effects include tachycardia, shortness of breath, and a few others I never even knew about.
Theresa's sister Wanda and mom Rosa will be arriving tomorrow and staying for 9 days. It will be a relief to have them here, not just to watch over Theresa and encourage her in the therapy sessions, but it will allow me some spare time to sort through requests for information from the various auto insurance, health insurance, legal, banking and other entities that seem to thrive on paperwork. While these services are all necessary and contribute in their own way to Theresa's healing process, sometimes it's almost unbearable having to expend so much effort dealing with these matters. So I pray to our Lord to provide that strength of will each night and the following morning, I am grateful for the restful sleep and ready to return to Theresa's side for another day of healing and love.
Mahalo,
David
It's now just over eight weeks since the accident and other than mouthing a few silent phrases, I have sorely missed Theresa's beautiful voice in all this time. With the progress that Theresa has made with her respiratory therapy since arriving at Craig Hospital last week, her tracheostomy tube has been downsized to the point where the speech pathologist can now try putting a Passy-Muir valve over the opening to allow her to speak. So at the recent speech therapy session, with Theresa having already swallowed water, applesauce, graham crackers and Cheerios (all dyed in blue) without evidence of aspiration in the past week, I looked forward with great anticipation to the first words out of Theresa's mouth. It seemed tortuously slow as the therapist made Theresa do yet another swallow test, then checked the placement of the valve and finally told Theresa to take a deep breath and make some aaaah, eeeee, ooooo sounds. She did this with a very hoarse voice and then after clearing her throat again, the therapist asked Theresa to say something. And the very first words out of Theresa's mouth in more than two months were "My ass hurts!"
While I am very grateful to our Lord for restoring Theresa's voice, sometimes it does feel like a mixed blessing as Theresa can now vocalize whatever she is thinking at the moment. She's already told several nurses, aides and therapists that they remind her of her mother-in-law (I think it's because my mom is prim and proper and so are some of these people) but to tell a 20-something that they remind her of a 70+ year old woman isn't the best compliment. And with the brain injury causing some confusion, amnesia and emotional lability, what comes out of Theresa's mouth sometimes is unexpected. All the facts are there but the specifics are jumbled, such as her insisting that our cat is named Tiberius, or that we're currently in a hospital in Madison, Wisconsin, or that we moved to Hawaii in 1989. I am assured in my prayers that this will improve as her mind receives God's healing love and sure enough, there are times when she is perfectly rational; like yesterday when she made a fine argument to the Ear, Nose, Throat specialist as to why she did not want him to use a certain decongestant because it's known side effects include tachycardia, shortness of breath, and a few others I never even knew about.
Theresa's sister Wanda and mom Rosa will be arriving tomorrow and staying for 9 days. It will be a relief to have them here, not just to watch over Theresa and encourage her in the therapy sessions, but it will allow me some spare time to sort through requests for information from the various auto insurance, health insurance, legal, banking and other entities that seem to thrive on paperwork. While these services are all necessary and contribute in their own way to Theresa's healing process, sometimes it's almost unbearable having to expend so much effort dealing with these matters. So I pray to our Lord to provide that strength of will each night and the following morning, I am grateful for the restful sleep and ready to return to Theresa's side for another day of healing and love.
Mahalo,
David
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Update from David
Aloha to our Ohana,
The battery of tests and evaluations continue for Theresa and this is in addition to the physical, occupational, speech (swallow, cognitive, memory, etc.), recreational and other therapies on her daily schedule. Besides the 0700 ultrasound testing last week, her days have usually started around 0900 and go right through to 1600 with a few breaks in between. But any testing at the Swedish Medical Center next door trumps all scheduled therapies so take this morning for instance. The nursing aide and I had just transferred Theresa to her mobility chair (a type of fancy wheelchair that reclines) and moved the oxygen, feeding machine, etc. in preparation for going to the therapy gym when the order came to take her over to Swede for more CT scans, X-rays and an EEG (brain wave activity) scan. That meant our 15 minutes of effort was undone as we now had to transfer her out of the mobility chair and onto a Zoom pram self-propelled stretcher for the 10-minute jaunt next door. One thing we can be thankful for is the tunnel linking the two hospitals. Without it, we would be braving this winter climate where the overnight low was -4F (-18C) last night; see attached photo for proof.
For Theresa, all of this morning's moving around was barely a bother as she mostly slept through it, only waking up to assist us by rolling to her side when asked, and probably wondering why we were being so inefficient. The day's testing went smoothly except for the strobe light portion of the EEG procedure. That irritated Theresa enough that she tried to cover her eyes with her arms so it was up to me to hold them out of the way, and keep my eyes averted as the strobe was truly overstimulating. Even holding Theresa down wasn't enough as her struggling motion continued to throw off the EEG sensors. I said another silent prayer to God for Theresa to receive His reassurance and healing powers and this finally allowed her to calm down and complete the testing. By the time we returned to her room, Theresa was still so disoriented that she was unable to attend her therapies until the late afternoon. Hopefully that is one test we won't need to repeat anytime soon.
While Theresa's days are usually 7-8 hours in duration, mine are surprisingly longer as it is Craig Hospital's policy that the family member or eventual caregiver upon discharge learn how to care for their loved one while in hospital and once back home. This means I am reviewing video presentations and then taking hands-on courses in seizure management, respiratory care (including bagging, tracheostomy care, sterile suction techniques), mobility chair handling, weight shifts, skin care and probably a few others that I haven't heard of before. This occupies my day and night even more than at Queen's Medical Center (last night's course ended at 2000) so the frequency of these updates may be reduced as my free time permits. Still, our Lord has graciously given me the will and energy to make it this far so I trust and pray He will continue to do so.
Over the past week here, one of the major goals has been to downsize Theresa's tracheostomy tube so she can eventually swallow and begin to speak. This was attempted on our last day in Honolulu but it was too early in the healing process and Theresa just gasped for air. So up until this point, when Theresa is sufficiently conscious to communicate, she has written me a few notes when hand signals, facial gestures and lip reading don't get the message across. I'm keeping all of these notes for her to read one day; some of them demonstrate her current state of confusion, like "where is my bedroom?" but one really touched me over the weekend -- "Don't worry, I'm dizzy but I love you and will be with you forever" This so touched me that I cried inside and praised our Heavenly Father for all He has done for us. Even in Theresa's current state, her true spirit comes through and that is another gift from God.
Mahalo,
David
The battery of tests and evaluations continue for Theresa and this is in addition to the physical, occupational, speech (swallow, cognitive, memory, etc.), recreational and other therapies on her daily schedule. Besides the 0700 ultrasound testing last week, her days have usually started around 0900 and go right through to 1600 with a few breaks in between. But any testing at the Swedish Medical Center next door trumps all scheduled therapies so take this morning for instance. The nursing aide and I had just transferred Theresa to her mobility chair (a type of fancy wheelchair that reclines) and moved the oxygen, feeding machine, etc. in preparation for going to the therapy gym when the order came to take her over to Swede for more CT scans, X-rays and an EEG (brain wave activity) scan. That meant our 15 minutes of effort was undone as we now had to transfer her out of the mobility chair and onto a Zoom pram self-propelled stretcher for the 10-minute jaunt next door. One thing we can be thankful for is the tunnel linking the two hospitals. Without it, we would be braving this winter climate where the overnight low was -4F (-18C) last night; see attached photo for proof.
While Theresa's days are usually 7-8 hours in duration, mine are surprisingly longer as it is Craig Hospital's policy that the family member or eventual caregiver upon discharge learn how to care for their loved one while in hospital and once back home. This means I am reviewing video presentations and then taking hands-on courses in seizure management, respiratory care (including bagging, tracheostomy care, sterile suction techniques), mobility chair handling, weight shifts, skin care and probably a few others that I haven't heard of before. This occupies my day and night even more than at Queen's Medical Center (last night's course ended at 2000) so the frequency of these updates may be reduced as my free time permits. Still, our Lord has graciously given me the will and energy to make it this far so I trust and pray He will continue to do so.
Over the past week here, one of the major goals has been to downsize Theresa's tracheostomy tube so she can eventually swallow and begin to speak. This was attempted on our last day in Honolulu but it was too early in the healing process and Theresa just gasped for air. So up until this point, when Theresa is sufficiently conscious to communicate, she has written me a few notes when hand signals, facial gestures and lip reading don't get the message across. I'm keeping all of these notes for her to read one day; some of them demonstrate her current state of confusion, like "where is my bedroom?" but one really touched me over the weekend -- "Don't worry, I'm dizzy but I love you and will be with you forever" This so touched me that I cried inside and praised our Heavenly Father for all He has done for us. Even in Theresa's current state, her true spirit comes through and that is another gift from God.
Mahalo,
David
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Update from David
Aloha to our Ohana,
I don't know if every new patient at Craig Hospital receives the same warm welcome and white glove service that Theresa has experienced but if so, then this is definitely a sign of a world class facility. The enthusiasm, friendliness and high energy level of the staff is infectious and most conducive to the healing of the traumatic brain and spinal cord injury patients here. In the past two days, I have almost lost count of the number of evaluations, procedures, therapies and other treatments that are on Theresa's schedule but it must be over 20. From x-rays of all of her fractures, to CT scans, MRI, NIVA (ultrasound for blood clot assessment), renal imaging, and a host of others, the acute care and rehab specialists are gathering data to set up a starting point for Theresa's rehab program.
Still recovering from the 12-hour door to door transfer, I'm sure Theresa would have preferred a day or two to get over the jetlag but that was not in the plan for now. Early Friday morning, I received a call from Theresa's nurse asking me to come to the Swedish Medical Center which is the level one trauma center connected to Craig Hospital by an underground tunnel. Theresa was scheduled for another ultrasound but asked for me to be there with her. Upon arriving, I saw she was already on the exam table and restless, causing the test to be restarted each time there was movement. So I stood beside her, held her hand to reassure her all was fine, and said silent prayers every few minutes asking that Theresa could remain relatively still for this 40-minute test, as should I. Now I know what those Survivor contestants feel like in their final endurance challenge. Well, it was a trial but we both passed, Theresa succeeding in laying still while I struggled to stand still and not lean against the table. Thank you God for giving us the strength and faith to survive this test.
Saturday was more of a day of rest, with only four therapies on the books. Theresa did fine in the trach tube deflation trials, which is the next step in weaning her off the breathing tube. Another longer test is scheduled for Sunday and if she passes that, then the respiratory therapist can look at downsizing the trach tube further, allowing Theresa's beautiful voice to finally return after seven weeks of silence. We also had visits from two sets of friends today, one being a hula sister of Theresa's that splits her time between Waikoloa and Denver. While Janelle danced the hula in the room, Theresa followed along in bed, moving her arms and swaying her hips and legs in sync. It was a sight to behold watching the smile on Theresa's face as she practiced her unique brand of hula therapy again.
Theresa's patient room here is huge as it's intended for two occupants, but the other side is currently empty. Back at Queen's Medical Center, there was only enough wall space to hang a small plumeria watercolor painted by Chris, another of Theresa's hula sisters. It sure brightened up the room but Theresa would have to squint to see it. So today, with a big empty side of the room free, the nursing aide Marisa and I hung up the Get Well Soon card that was created by the Keiki (children) of Waikoloa Community Church. Before asking why it takes two of us to hang up a card, take a look at the attached photo because this one is 4x8' in size! The other image that I put up is one of Jesus Christ with rays of red and blue-white light emanating from His heart and the caption "Jesus, I trust in you." This was a gift from Lleander and sometimes when I look at it, I swear the glorious light is coming out of the image and sweeping over Theresa's bed like a protective shield. We are most grateful for the support of our church ohana and for this visible sign of the healing power of our Lord.
Mahalo,
David
I don't know if every new patient at Craig Hospital receives the same warm welcome and white glove service that Theresa has experienced but if so, then this is definitely a sign of a world class facility. The enthusiasm, friendliness and high energy level of the staff is infectious and most conducive to the healing of the traumatic brain and spinal cord injury patients here. In the past two days, I have almost lost count of the number of evaluations, procedures, therapies and other treatments that are on Theresa's schedule but it must be over 20. From x-rays of all of her fractures, to CT scans, MRI, NIVA (ultrasound for blood clot assessment), renal imaging, and a host of others, the acute care and rehab specialists are gathering data to set up a starting point for Theresa's rehab program.
Still recovering from the 12-hour door to door transfer, I'm sure Theresa would have preferred a day or two to get over the jetlag but that was not in the plan for now. Early Friday morning, I received a call from Theresa's nurse asking me to come to the Swedish Medical Center which is the level one trauma center connected to Craig Hospital by an underground tunnel. Theresa was scheduled for another ultrasound but asked for me to be there with her. Upon arriving, I saw she was already on the exam table and restless, causing the test to be restarted each time there was movement. So I stood beside her, held her hand to reassure her all was fine, and said silent prayers every few minutes asking that Theresa could remain relatively still for this 40-minute test, as should I. Now I know what those Survivor contestants feel like in their final endurance challenge. Well, it was a trial but we both passed, Theresa succeeding in laying still while I struggled to stand still and not lean against the table. Thank you God for giving us the strength and faith to survive this test.
Saturday was more of a day of rest, with only four therapies on the books. Theresa did fine in the trach tube deflation trials, which is the next step in weaning her off the breathing tube. Another longer test is scheduled for Sunday and if she passes that, then the respiratory therapist can look at downsizing the trach tube further, allowing Theresa's beautiful voice to finally return after seven weeks of silence. We also had visits from two sets of friends today, one being a hula sister of Theresa's that splits her time between Waikoloa and Denver. While Janelle danced the hula in the room, Theresa followed along in bed, moving her arms and swaying her hips and legs in sync. It was a sight to behold watching the smile on Theresa's face as she practiced her unique brand of hula therapy again.
Theresa's patient room here is huge as it's intended for two occupants, but the other side is currently empty. Back at Queen's Medical Center, there was only enough wall space to hang a small plumeria watercolor painted by Chris, another of Theresa's hula sisters. It sure brightened up the room but Theresa would have to squint to see it. So today, with a big empty side of the room free, the nursing aide Marisa and I hung up the Get Well Soon card that was created by the Keiki (children) of Waikoloa Community Church. Before asking why it takes two of us to hang up a card, take a look at the attached photo because this one is 4x8' in size! The other image that I put up is one of Jesus Christ with rays of red and blue-white light emanating from His heart and the caption "Jesus, I trust in you." This was a gift from Lleander and sometimes when I look at it, I swear the glorious light is coming out of the image and sweeping over Theresa's bed like a protective shield. We are most grateful for the support of our church ohana and for this visible sign of the healing power of our Lord.Mahalo,
David
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Update from David
Aloha to our Ohana,
The lateness of this update is because we traveled all night and arrived in Denver, Colorado just a few hours ago; and am I ever jet-lagged! After almost seven weeks at The Queen's Medical Center, and thanks to our Lord's healing powers, Theresa's fractures and internal injuries have healed to the point where she is cleared for travel, although it still had to be of the non-weight bearing variety. Theresa did very well on the somewhat bumpy 7-hour flight, sleeping in the reclined seat most of the way with a flight nurse riding shotgun to administer to her medical needs. While other passengers were dining on the chicken tortellini, Theresa had to make do with the IV drip bag hanging from the ceiling, but I'm sure we'll make up for it on the return trip. The chief purser was nice enough to allow Theresa's seat to remain reclined even for take-off and landing, which probably made the crossing feel like relaxing in a Barcolounger compared to the discomfort of the cardiac chair. We would like to give special thanks to those friends and supporters locally and worldwide that donated to the Friends of Dr. Theresa Wang fund through First Hawaiian Bank, PayPal or in person. Your generous gifts helped to cover a significant portion of the medflight transfer costs.
Even before the flight, Theresa was quite animated, smiling and waving at the airline staff and the TSA at the Honolulu airport, showing her excitement that we are heading on the next leg of our healing journey. With the current functioning of her wrist, Theresa really has that floppy hand wave reminiscent of the Queen down pat. A few people in line recognized Theresa (probably from the media photos) and happily stepped aside to let the stretcher go by. Overall, the transfer went smoothly with the exception of a delay at the Denver airport because the medical transport attendants had a difficult time convincing TSA to let them and their stretcher through to the gate. TSA wanted them to wait for us at the passenger greeting area after an airport porter brought Theresa out on a wheelchair. If the TSA weren't part of the Department of Homeland Security, some of them wouldn't be fit to be mall cops (no insult intended to mall cops.)
Even with all of the transfer arrangements in place, this trip almost did not happen because of a mix-up with our health insurance coverage. Thankfully, with the tireless advocacy of numerous people behind the scenes, God answered so many of my prayers yesterday that I don't feel right asking Him for anything else anytime soon, but I still will. With each small setback, I prayed for a resolution and by the end of each prayer, a solution appeared either by phone, e-mail or inspiration. Literally beyond the last minute due to the 3-hour time difference, approval finally came through that our insurer would cover Theresa's rehabilitation program at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a quiet suburb of Denver. The reason Theresa needs to go there is because of the nature of her brain and spinal cord injuries. There really is no other facility in Hawaii or even the west coast that can offer the degree of specialized rehab therapy needed by Theresa. This hospital has helped the likes of Christopher Reeve, many football and hockey players, and even some of the Columbine High School shooting victims. That their Director of Traumatic Brain Injury, Dr. Alan Weintraub, would evaluate Theresa on Christmas Day and recommend her for their rehab program is another act of providence for which I am truly thankful.
So this afternoon, following seven weeks of critical and acute care at The Queen's Medical Center, Theresa checked into Craig Hospital. She was evidently tired from the flight and medical transports but once she was transferred to her new bed, Theresa still showed enthusiasm by responding attentively to the initial evaluations of the various nurses, therapists and Dr. Weintraub himself. When the physical therapist asked if Theresa had any questions, she silently mouthed her reply "When can I start dancing Hula?"
Over the next few days, the specialists here will evaluate how Theresa's fractures and other injuries are healing and make a plan as to when she can begin the treatments. Even late this afternoon, they were fitting Theresa for a mobile chair so she won't have to lay in bed until the imaging of her injuries is reviewed. I think they may regret letting Theresa loose on the floor, given how much grief she caused those wonderful people at Rehab Hospital of the Pacific just two years ago.
While it saddens us to leave behind Hawaii and the large ohana that adopted us as their own, the absence will only be temporary. Based on the experience of the Craig Hospital staff, Theresa's stay here should last 2-3 months, so she will emerge just in time like the green shoots of spring to return to her beloved Hawaii. We would not be here today without the support of so many friends, and strangers that have become friends. While there isn't enough bandwidth to properly thank everyone that helped us in our time of need in Honolulu, here are some friends that deserve special recognition: Geoff, Ward, Roy, another Roy, Benjamin & Laura, Kristie, Danny, Gerard, Mary, another Mary, yet another Mary, Jill, Ian, Darien, Norma, Florian, Wendy, Belinda, Ryan, Leslie and dear Lleander. And of course, we would not be where we are today without the continuing prayers of our worldwide ohana; with so much love and praise, God must be listening.
Mahalo,
David
The lateness of this update is because we traveled all night and arrived in Denver, Colorado just a few hours ago; and am I ever jet-lagged! After almost seven weeks at The Queen's Medical Center, and thanks to our Lord's healing powers, Theresa's fractures and internal injuries have healed to the point where she is cleared for travel, although it still had to be of the non-weight bearing variety. Theresa did very well on the somewhat bumpy 7-hour flight, sleeping in the reclined seat most of the way with a flight nurse riding shotgun to administer to her medical needs. While other passengers were dining on the chicken tortellini, Theresa had to make do with the IV drip bag hanging from the ceiling, but I'm sure we'll make up for it on the return trip. The chief purser was nice enough to allow Theresa's seat to remain reclined even for take-off and landing, which probably made the crossing feel like relaxing in a Barcolounger compared to the discomfort of the cardiac chair. We would like to give special thanks to those friends and supporters locally and worldwide that donated to the Friends of Dr. Theresa Wang fund through First Hawaiian Bank, PayPal or in person. Your generous gifts helped to cover a significant portion of the medflight transfer costs.
Even before the flight, Theresa was quite animated, smiling and waving at the airline staff and the TSA at the Honolulu airport, showing her excitement that we are heading on the next leg of our healing journey. With the current functioning of her wrist, Theresa really has that floppy hand wave reminiscent of the Queen down pat. A few people in line recognized Theresa (probably from the media photos) and happily stepped aside to let the stretcher go by. Overall, the transfer went smoothly with the exception of a delay at the Denver airport because the medical transport attendants had a difficult time convincing TSA to let them and their stretcher through to the gate. TSA wanted them to wait for us at the passenger greeting area after an airport porter brought Theresa out on a wheelchair. If the TSA weren't part of the Department of Homeland Security, some of them wouldn't be fit to be mall cops (no insult intended to mall cops.)
Even with all of the transfer arrangements in place, this trip almost did not happen because of a mix-up with our health insurance coverage. Thankfully, with the tireless advocacy of numerous people behind the scenes, God answered so many of my prayers yesterday that I don't feel right asking Him for anything else anytime soon, but I still will. With each small setback, I prayed for a resolution and by the end of each prayer, a solution appeared either by phone, e-mail or inspiration. Literally beyond the last minute due to the 3-hour time difference, approval finally came through that our insurer would cover Theresa's rehabilitation program at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, a quiet suburb of Denver. The reason Theresa needs to go there is because of the nature of her brain and spinal cord injuries. There really is no other facility in Hawaii or even the west coast that can offer the degree of specialized rehab therapy needed by Theresa. This hospital has helped the likes of Christopher Reeve, many football and hockey players, and even some of the Columbine High School shooting victims. That their Director of Traumatic Brain Injury, Dr. Alan Weintraub, would evaluate Theresa on Christmas Day and recommend her for their rehab program is another act of providence for which I am truly thankful.
So this afternoon, following seven weeks of critical and acute care at The Queen's Medical Center, Theresa checked into Craig Hospital. She was evidently tired from the flight and medical transports but once she was transferred to her new bed, Theresa still showed enthusiasm by responding attentively to the initial evaluations of the various nurses, therapists and Dr. Weintraub himself. When the physical therapist asked if Theresa had any questions, she silently mouthed her reply "When can I start dancing Hula?"
Over the next few days, the specialists here will evaluate how Theresa's fractures and other injuries are healing and make a plan as to when she can begin the treatments. Even late this afternoon, they were fitting Theresa for a mobile chair so she won't have to lay in bed until the imaging of her injuries is reviewed. I think they may regret letting Theresa loose on the floor, given how much grief she caused those wonderful people at Rehab Hospital of the Pacific just two years ago.
While it saddens us to leave behind Hawaii and the large ohana that adopted us as their own, the absence will only be temporary. Based on the experience of the Craig Hospital staff, Theresa's stay here should last 2-3 months, so she will emerge just in time like the green shoots of spring to return to her beloved Hawaii. We would not be here today without the support of so many friends, and strangers that have become friends. While there isn't enough bandwidth to properly thank everyone that helped us in our time of need in Honolulu, here are some friends that deserve special recognition: Geoff, Ward, Roy, another Roy, Benjamin & Laura, Kristie, Danny, Gerard, Mary, another Mary, yet another Mary, Jill, Ian, Darien, Norma, Florian, Wendy, Belinda, Ryan, Leslie and dear Lleander. And of course, we would not be where we are today without the continuing prayers of our worldwide ohana; with so much love and praise, God must be listening.
Mahalo,
David
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Year's Update from David
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou (pronounced how-oh-lay ma-ka-hee-key ho) to our Ohana,
For those that haven't figured it out yet, that means Happy New Year in Hawaiian, and the year started with a bang as this is the last time that non-commercial fireworks are allowed in Honolulu. Being so close to the downtown area and Waikiki, the official fireworks display was spectacular and lasted at least 15 minutes. It seemed like some of the locals were trying to outdo the pros with their consumer and homemade versions of bright lights and big bangs, rattling windows and setting off car alarms all over. Not much sleep was had amid the noise and smoke but if I really have to blame anyone, it would be one of my ancestors for mixing sulphur with charcoal and potassium nitrate to produce gunpowder. Thanks to our Lord, Theresa was able to sleep through most of the commotion but the noxious smelling smoke did find its way into the ventilation system and likely caused at least one incriminating stare.
We did receive a pleasant surpise on New Year's Eve and that was an unannounced visit from our friend Danny Akaka (not the senator, just his son.) Danny and family were in town to welcome the arrival of a new niece and dropped by shortly before the fireworks started. Theresa responded well to them with a hand wave, a smile and even some tears. The eight of us held hands as Danny led us in a pule (prayer) in the Hawaiian language, thanking our Lord and asking for peace and goodness for all in the new year.
Aside from the festivities of the past week, the daily schedule for Theresa hasn't changed too much. The OT/PT sessions are coming along however I get the impression that Theresa is ready to do more than sit on the edge of the bed for up to 18 minutes while performing leg and arm flexes. She's beginning to open her eyes more (notice that's plural) and look around the room but only long enough to catch her bearings. This too will improve with time and faith in the healing powers of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Theresa's other nemesis here is the cardiac chair, or as I'd think she would call it if she could speak, the chair of unending pain. Not so far-fetched as Theresa previously had a hard-driving physical therapist that she not so affectionately nicknamed Mean Jean. While innocuous looking, (the chair, not Jean) once the patient is transferred and belted into what appears to be a heavy duty stretcher, levers are thrown and the surface contorts into an uncomfortable economy class seat; but in Theresa's worst nightmare, the recline button is missing. Theresa has always fidgeted on airplanes so with the upright chair now using gravity to exercise her posture, it must be causing unbearable soreness in all those fractures and torn ligaments that aren't as painful when laying down. Theresa can tolerate the chair of pain for 1-2 hours by which time she's restless and shifting around, has undone the seatbelts, and pretty much made herself into an impression of Stephen Hawking. While no one wishes to see Theresa suffer this way, it is strengthening her endurance for the long journey ahead that will likely include a transpacific plane ride. Even for this pain and suffering that Theresa is enduring, we are most thankful to God for it is another milepost on her healing journey.
Maybe Theresa has a sense that something is changing and she needs rest to build up her energy reserves because for the past two days, her dark path of agitation seems to have run its course. While still participating in the therapies grudgingly (not that anyone enjoys it), Theresa is so much more peaceful back in bed and is sleeping better through the day and night. Even when she is conscious and responsive, her movements are subtle -- no more wild waving of the arms or kicking of the legs, almost like she's in hibernation and exerting the minimum energy necessary. I truly believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is watching over Theresa and reassuring her that all will be well.
Mahalo,
David
For those that haven't figured it out yet, that means Happy New Year in Hawaiian, and the year started with a bang as this is the last time that non-commercial fireworks are allowed in Honolulu. Being so close to the downtown area and Waikiki, the official fireworks display was spectacular and lasted at least 15 minutes. It seemed like some of the locals were trying to outdo the pros with their consumer and homemade versions of bright lights and big bangs, rattling windows and setting off car alarms all over. Not much sleep was had amid the noise and smoke but if I really have to blame anyone, it would be one of my ancestors for mixing sulphur with charcoal and potassium nitrate to produce gunpowder. Thanks to our Lord, Theresa was able to sleep through most of the commotion but the noxious smelling smoke did find its way into the ventilation system and likely caused at least one incriminating stare.
We did receive a pleasant surpise on New Year's Eve and that was an unannounced visit from our friend Danny Akaka (not the senator, just his son.) Danny and family were in town to welcome the arrival of a new niece and dropped by shortly before the fireworks started. Theresa responded well to them with a hand wave, a smile and even some tears. The eight of us held hands as Danny led us in a pule (prayer) in the Hawaiian language, thanking our Lord and asking for peace and goodness for all in the new year.
Aside from the festivities of the past week, the daily schedule for Theresa hasn't changed too much. The OT/PT sessions are coming along however I get the impression that Theresa is ready to do more than sit on the edge of the bed for up to 18 minutes while performing leg and arm flexes. She's beginning to open her eyes more (notice that's plural) and look around the room but only long enough to catch her bearings. This too will improve with time and faith in the healing powers of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Theresa's other nemesis here is the cardiac chair, or as I'd think she would call it if she could speak, the chair of unending pain. Not so far-fetched as Theresa previously had a hard-driving physical therapist that she not so affectionately nicknamed Mean Jean. While innocuous looking, (the chair, not Jean) once the patient is transferred and belted into what appears to be a heavy duty stretcher, levers are thrown and the surface contorts into an uncomfortable economy class seat; but in Theresa's worst nightmare, the recline button is missing. Theresa has always fidgeted on airplanes so with the upright chair now using gravity to exercise her posture, it must be causing unbearable soreness in all those fractures and torn ligaments that aren't as painful when laying down. Theresa can tolerate the chair of pain for 1-2 hours by which time she's restless and shifting around, has undone the seatbelts, and pretty much made herself into an impression of Stephen Hawking. While no one wishes to see Theresa suffer this way, it is strengthening her endurance for the long journey ahead that will likely include a transpacific plane ride. Even for this pain and suffering that Theresa is enduring, we are most thankful to God for it is another milepost on her healing journey.
Maybe Theresa has a sense that something is changing and she needs rest to build up her energy reserves because for the past two days, her dark path of agitation seems to have run its course. While still participating in the therapies grudgingly (not that anyone enjoys it), Theresa is so much more peaceful back in bed and is sleeping better through the day and night. Even when she is conscious and responsive, her movements are subtle -- no more wild waving of the arms or kicking of the legs, almost like she's in hibernation and exerting the minimum energy necessary. I truly believe that our Lord Jesus Christ is watching over Theresa and reassuring her that all will be well.
Mahalo,
David
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