A major disappointment this evening. Robert came back from his xrays at UBC not feeling well at all. He has a pretty high fever and another bladder infection of the same type he had before. He needs to be on an IV to treat this type, and they do not insert IVs here at GF. The doctor was finally up to see him tonight and is sending him back to VGH to have an IV put in. Robert will likely end up spending a day in emergency, tnen possible up to a ward. He may be back here in two days, or he may have to wait a week or more which means he would lose his bed here. Apparently another bed is opening up some time next week and he would get it but this feels like a setback after he had been settling in here so well and progressing with the physio. Pray that he only has to stay at VGH a couple of days and that this bladder infection clears up once and for all. He no longer has a catheter, the big cause of bladder infections, so hopefully, this will be the last one. We are waiting for an ambulance (not one with red lights flashing) to take him over to VGH. Pray that this infection clears up quickly, and that we would not give in to discouragement over this turn of events.
I am thankful that Tom is here this week to help deal with this all of this.
Thanks for your prayers which are needed urgently.
Chris
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Sunday
So Dad's flight was delayed an hour or so last night and he didn't end up getting to see Robert until about 10pm with a quick howdy-hi and then off for the night. Sundays are pretty slow around this place, we went for a family walk in the sunshine and made a trip to Safeway and had lunch together. Mom and Dad went back to the hotel for naps this afternoon and it is just Robert and I. He is napping too so here I am. He just said he had a headache for the first time in 7 weeks - I guess they must really be weening him off all those crazy drugs (either that or he is going into withdrawl from them switching his drugs! The don't call it "rehab" for nothing...) We are all looking forward to the big family dinner tonight - I haven't seen anyone from Mom's side since my wedding over 2 years ago so it's TIME.
Prayer requests...
- Robert is fighting another bladder infection and we don't want it to escalate or he'll be making a trip back to VGH. He's slogging back the Cranberry juice : P
- Continued strength as Monday will be back to physio and working out. Pray for energy and motivation for Robert.
Prayer requests...
- Robert is fighting another bladder infection and we don't want it to escalate or he'll be making a trip back to VGH. He's slogging back the Cranberry juice : P
- Continued strength as Monday will be back to physio and working out. Pray for energy and motivation for Robert.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
It's My Birthday!!! Wooo Hoooo
Well I made it to 20. And it feels good. Jen showing up yesterday was probably the best present I have gotten in a long time, maybe since the GT snow racer whan I was 7. Today has be a very good day. last night I had a hard time falling asleep due to pain in my tail and bum bones. This has been a pretty constent problem latley so If you could pray for relief in this area that would be great. But back today, I was allowed to leave the hospital for awhile, so mom jen and I went for a walk/roll around the area and then went to safeway, just so I could remeber what some normal people activities feel like. Then this evening I think were having pizza. The real celebration will be tomorrow when dad is here and will be going out for supper with my mom's family. Well I would like to thank everyone for the birthday wishes and for the continued prayer. Now I have a party to get back to!!
Robert
Robert
Friday, September 26, 2008
A Happy Friday!
Hello all - it's Jen. I showed up this morning to surprise Robert for his birthday. It worked - he was surprised!
It is so good to see him and see how much progress he has made since I left him at the end of August. I wish you could all see him - he is wearing people clothes and sitting up in a chair and hoisting himself in and out of bed and into his chair, doing lots of physio and pumping iron like Chuck Norris on a "Total Gym" commercial. I am so incredibly proud of him and how fast he is progressing, what a guy. Hero material. Medals for bravery and courage!
Tomorrow is his 20th birthday and I am overwhlemed with gratefullness to have him alive to see that day and doing so well. He has already overcome so much and I know it is thanks only to God and to Robert's incredible effort and character. I saw the PPC card and many of your other cards and gifts (CHOCOLATE whoooooohoo) that you have all sent - you are all so kind.
Send your birthday wishes!
It is so good to see him and see how much progress he has made since I left him at the end of August. I wish you could all see him - he is wearing people clothes and sitting up in a chair and hoisting himself in and out of bed and into his chair, doing lots of physio and pumping iron like Chuck Norris on a "Total Gym" commercial. I am so incredibly proud of him and how fast he is progressing, what a guy. Hero material. Medals for bravery and courage!
Tomorrow is his 20th birthday and I am overwhlemed with gratefullness to have him alive to see that day and doing so well. He has already overcome so much and I know it is thanks only to God and to Robert's incredible effort and character. I saw the PPC card and many of your other cards and gifts (CHOCOLATE whoooooohoo) that you have all sent - you are all so kind.
Send your birthday wishes!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Thursday
Today began the various assessments from the doctors and physios. Nothing really new was discovered. A few areas where there is evidence of nerve damage show slight improvement, with alot more improvement needed so that Robert will function normally. We know that nothing is impossible with God.
Also, The doctor is going to play with the medications a bit to try to cut down on ones which might not be helping, and replace them with something else. It seems like enduring alot of pain is going to be part of the process .... and the more Robert does, the more pain he will have, at least for awhile. They want to cut back his meds because of the negative side effects like severe constipation, drowsiness, lethargy ....but also want to keep the pain level manageable. Pray that God will do something supernatural in the pain department. Again we were reminded of the severity of Robert's injuries, and how the pelvic injuries had been of the life threatening variety, so I thank God once again that Robert is alive and recovering.
Alot more is expected of Robert here .... his main difficulty with that is being able to tolerate time up in the chair ... they were working on the chair today to try to make it as comfortable as possible. He is expected to be dressed in the morning, make it to physio and ot appoointments and be up for meals. This is going to be good .... in time.
About his roommate ....turns out he doesn't speak a word of English.
The afternoon was lightened and brightened by the delivery of a huge birthday card from the family at PCC. Robert really enjoyed the picture and the comments .... so did I ... once I could see through the blur of my tears. :) Thanks so much to all of you for living up to the "We Care" banner we had for so many years. You are all loved and appreciated very much.
An extra push in prayer would be great to help get Robert off to a great start in this next phase of his recovery process. Thanks everyone.
Chris
Also, The doctor is going to play with the medications a bit to try to cut down on ones which might not be helping, and replace them with something else. It seems like enduring alot of pain is going to be part of the process .... and the more Robert does, the more pain he will have, at least for awhile. They want to cut back his meds because of the negative side effects like severe constipation, drowsiness, lethargy ....but also want to keep the pain level manageable. Pray that God will do something supernatural in the pain department. Again we were reminded of the severity of Robert's injuries, and how the pelvic injuries had been of the life threatening variety, so I thank God once again that Robert is alive and recovering.
Alot more is expected of Robert here .... his main difficulty with that is being able to tolerate time up in the chair ... they were working on the chair today to try to make it as comfortable as possible. He is expected to be dressed in the morning, make it to physio and ot appoointments and be up for meals. This is going to be good .... in time.
About his roommate ....turns out he doesn't speak a word of English.
The afternoon was lightened and brightened by the delivery of a huge birthday card from the family at PCC. Robert really enjoyed the picture and the comments .... so did I ... once I could see through the blur of my tears. :) Thanks so much to all of you for living up to the "We Care" banner we had for so many years. You are all loved and appreciated very much.
An extra push in prayer would be great to help get Robert off to a great start in this next phase of his recovery process. Thanks everyone.
Chris
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Settling in
Here we are at GF Strong. I located the computers in the basement of this place ...quiet down here at the moment.
So Robert got moved at 11:00 this morning. Everything went just fine. He said it was nice to drive in a vehicle and actually be able to see out the window! He's in a room with an older East Indian fellow ....haven't really talked to him yet as he's kept to himself and goes off to his various appointments. This place feels quite different than the hospital. Everyone is wearing clothes (as opposed to those nasty hospital gowns), and few people are in bed. Well, Robert is, but once they've assessed him, I'm sure his reprieve will be over. He has been promised visits and indepth assessments by doctor, physios, ots, after which they will set up goals and a program forhim. Continue to pray for all these people as they work together to put together the best possible program for Robert. In about a week, everything should be in place. So no physio today .... just getting in and out of bed a few times, using the sliding board. Robert's getting pretty good at it.
I have a new address for Robert, but left it upstairs .... so tomorrow I'll pass that along. It's always a day brightener to get mail.
That's about it for today. Thanks for praying.
Chris
So Robert got moved at 11:00 this morning. Everything went just fine. He said it was nice to drive in a vehicle and actually be able to see out the window! He's in a room with an older East Indian fellow ....haven't really talked to him yet as he's kept to himself and goes off to his various appointments. This place feels quite different than the hospital. Everyone is wearing clothes (as opposed to those nasty hospital gowns), and few people are in bed. Well, Robert is, but once they've assessed him, I'm sure his reprieve will be over. He has been promised visits and indepth assessments by doctor, physios, ots, after which they will set up goals and a program forhim. Continue to pray for all these people as they work together to put together the best possible program for Robert. In about a week, everything should be in place. So no physio today .... just getting in and out of bed a few times, using the sliding board. Robert's getting pretty good at it.
I have a new address for Robert, but left it upstairs .... so tomorrow I'll pass that along. It's always a day brightener to get mail.
That's about it for today. Thanks for praying.
Chris
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Surprise move
Robert got word first thing this morning that he is probably getting moved to GF Strong ..... tomorrow! We have not received the final word yet, but everything is pointing in that direction. Because he is able to partially weight bear, and because a bed is open now, he can continue his recovery and get on with more rehab there. This is exciting, as well as a little scary. Another new system to learn, and a whole new set of people to meet .... but a huge step in getting closer to coming home.
Today the transfer from bed to wheelchair went much more smoothly, and the standing at the parallel bars was also showing improvement over yesterday. He is taking alot of the weight on his arms, but today was able to put more on his right leg. The hamstrings in the left are so tight, that it causes him tremendous discomfort to put much weight on that side. But that will improve with time, I'm sure.
Anyways, praise God for this new development. Pray that the transition will go smoothy, and for wisdom and skill for his new physios and caregivers. Be spurred on to pray for continued healing of all affected bones, muscles, and nerves.
If you don't hear from us tomorrow, it will be because there's too much going on with settling into a new place.
Blessings on all of you praying bloggites,
Chris
Today the transfer from bed to wheelchair went much more smoothly, and the standing at the parallel bars was also showing improvement over yesterday. He is taking alot of the weight on his arms, but today was able to put more on his right leg. The hamstrings in the left are so tight, that it causes him tremendous discomfort to put much weight on that side. But that will improve with time, I'm sure.
Anyways, praise God for this new development. Pray that the transition will go smoothy, and for wisdom and skill for his new physios and caregivers. Be spurred on to pray for continued healing of all affected bones, muscles, and nerves.
If you don't hear from us tomorrow, it will be because there's too much going on with settling into a new place.
Blessings on all of you praying bloggites,
Chris
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)