A bit of relief today. Mom said they opened the drainage tube off and on to relieve Dad's discomfort. I'm glad. I'm sure he was too.
He sat up for about 45 minutes this afternoon before wanting to get back in bed, and they let him. Sounds like it was a quiet, non-eventful day for him. Nice to have those occasionally.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday, October 9, 2010
It's Tube Bad
Sorry about the awful pun in the title. (Wait, no I'm not. :-) Mom said today was very difficult for Dad, because the doctor ordered that his drainage tube remain shut off for the whole day, hoping that his stomach will adjust.
The result was severe discomfort and repeated vomiting. Yet, this evening when Mom left, the drainage tube was STILL shut off. Mom and I are hoping that the doctor, who sees the nursing home patients all of once a month, will read the nurses' notes and come to the conclusion that it might be a good idea to leave the drainage tube on, so Dad can be a little more comfortable!!!! I know the doctor means well, but please, if it's not working, let's make some adjustments.
So I guess today's biggest prayer requests are 1. God's hand of comfort for Dad, 2. wisdom for the doctor, and 3. patience for the rest of us!
The result was severe discomfort and repeated vomiting. Yet, this evening when Mom left, the drainage tube was STILL shut off. Mom and I are hoping that the doctor, who sees the nursing home patients all of once a month, will read the nurses' notes and come to the conclusion that it might be a good idea to leave the drainage tube on, so Dad can be a little more comfortable!!!! I know the doctor means well, but please, if it's not working, let's make some adjustments.
So I guess today's biggest prayer requests are 1. God's hand of comfort for Dad, 2. wisdom for the doctor, and 3. patience for the rest of us!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Gonna be heading North! :-)
Mom was able to get out and about for awhile this morning. Aunt Betty took her to do a few errands, including a bit of early Christmas shopping!! "I had fun," she told me. :-)
She reports that Dad had a "pretty good" day today too, though there is still discomfort in his abdomen. Each day, they close off the drainage tube from his stomach for several hours at a time, to see if his stomach can handle it. So far, it can't. Mom asked the doctor if they planned to take any more "pictures" (x-rays or scans) to see what the cancer is doing, and the doctor said no, because the results would not change the treatment plan.
Dad took two fairly long walks today, and drank 4 oz. of apple juice. Both good things!! He also sat up for five hours this afternoon, which was painful due to his pressure sore. He would like to get back into bed sooner, but sometimes has to wait awhile until the nurses can help him.
Mom carried Josey, their cat, in her arms to visit Dad again. This was the third or fourth such visit, and Josey is now accustomed to it and staying calm and relaxed. :-) That pleases both Mom & Dad. Aunt Betty offered to push Dad in the wheelchair to their apartment for a return visit to Josey, but Dad hasn't felt up to that.
God has provided tickets for me to come up to Maine from Oct. 20-26! Thanks, George and Kathy. God has also provided the use of a car--thanks, Scott and Tracy! I'm always amazed and thankful how He works things out. It will be great to be with Mom & Dad for even a little while.
She reports that Dad had a "pretty good" day today too, though there is still discomfort in his abdomen. Each day, they close off the drainage tube from his stomach for several hours at a time, to see if his stomach can handle it. So far, it can't. Mom asked the doctor if they planned to take any more "pictures" (x-rays or scans) to see what the cancer is doing, and the doctor said no, because the results would not change the treatment plan.
Dad took two fairly long walks today, and drank 4 oz. of apple juice. Both good things!! He also sat up for five hours this afternoon, which was painful due to his pressure sore. He would like to get back into bed sooner, but sometimes has to wait awhile until the nurses can help him.
Mom carried Josey, their cat, in her arms to visit Dad again. This was the third or fourth such visit, and Josey is now accustomed to it and staying calm and relaxed. :-) That pleases both Mom & Dad. Aunt Betty offered to push Dad in the wheelchair to their apartment for a return visit to Josey, but Dad hasn't felt up to that.
God has provided tickets for me to come up to Maine from Oct. 20-26! Thanks, George and Kathy. God has also provided the use of a car--thanks, Scott and Tracy! I'm always amazed and thankful how He works things out. It will be great to be with Mom & Dad for even a little while.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Helping Mom
Wanted to share with all you faithful friends that are caring and praying, that this has been the most difficult week for Mom since Dad's ordeal began. She was summoned to meet with the facility's social worker to discuss Dad's progress and plans for future care.
One thing Mom learned distressed her greatly. I wish I had told her sooner, because I knew it from my Medicare training. It is this: Medicare will cover Dad's nursing home care for up to 100 days, but ONLY as long as he continues to make progress with his therapy. When his therapists feel he has come as far as is possible, Medicare coverage will cease. Thankfully, that point has not yet been reached. Dad has made good progress in his walking over the past couple of weeks. But whether he will gain enough strength to go home is still very doubtful.
If Dad has to go from "Skilled Nursing" (therapy) to "custodial care" in the nursing home, Mom will start having to pay about $5,000 a month. Their savings will be gone within a year. So the social worker gave Mom a Medicaid application, the size and scope of which was completely overwhelming to her. It also requires financial documentation back to 2008, which will take considerable effort to locate, due to Mom being "organizationally challenged."
So . . . I am planning to go to Maine soon, for about a week, to help Mom. I'm looking at the week of Oct. 17. Would appreciate prayer that God would help me find the cheapest flights! :-) Mom insisted on sending a check for the ticket. She doesn't want to be a burden. But she seems greatly relieved just to know that I'm coming.
There is another possibility that I hope to discuss with Dad's doctor when I am up there. When Dad's Medicare Skilled Nursing coverage ends, if his doctor certifies that he is considered terminally ill with less than six months expected to live, he would qualify for Medicare's Hospice benefit. If so, that would pay for his care. The care must be given at home, because it doesn't cover room and board; but all the caregivers needed to help Mom would be covered.
Quick update on Dad's physical condition: (if you're still reading--this is a long one!) The Ledgeview doctor, who visits the patients once a month, saw Dad today for the first time, and was concerned that the nutritional liquid being delivered through the feeding tube doesn't seem to be moving to the small intestine as it should. A drainage tube is still present (that caused nausea when it was shut off a couple of days ago), and more liquid is still draining than should be.
Another obstacle is that a pressure sore has re-opened, making it very painful for Dad to sit up. He was only able to sit up for an hour at a time today.
So . . . we continue to commit my parents to our heavenly Father and trust Him to work everything out. We appreciate your thoughts, and ask for your prayers for wisdom and guidance and strength!
One thing Mom learned distressed her greatly. I wish I had told her sooner, because I knew it from my Medicare training. It is this: Medicare will cover Dad's nursing home care for up to 100 days, but ONLY as long as he continues to make progress with his therapy. When his therapists feel he has come as far as is possible, Medicare coverage will cease. Thankfully, that point has not yet been reached. Dad has made good progress in his walking over the past couple of weeks. But whether he will gain enough strength to go home is still very doubtful.
If Dad has to go from "Skilled Nursing" (therapy) to "custodial care" in the nursing home, Mom will start having to pay about $5,000 a month. Their savings will be gone within a year. So the social worker gave Mom a Medicaid application, the size and scope of which was completely overwhelming to her. It also requires financial documentation back to 2008, which will take considerable effort to locate, due to Mom being "organizationally challenged."
So . . . I am planning to go to Maine soon, for about a week, to help Mom. I'm looking at the week of Oct. 17. Would appreciate prayer that God would help me find the cheapest flights! :-) Mom insisted on sending a check for the ticket. She doesn't want to be a burden. But she seems greatly relieved just to know that I'm coming.
There is another possibility that I hope to discuss with Dad's doctor when I am up there. When Dad's Medicare Skilled Nursing coverage ends, if his doctor certifies that he is considered terminally ill with less than six months expected to live, he would qualify for Medicare's Hospice benefit. If so, that would pay for his care. The care must be given at home, because it doesn't cover room and board; but all the caregivers needed to help Mom would be covered.
Quick update on Dad's physical condition: (if you're still reading--this is a long one!) The Ledgeview doctor, who visits the patients once a month, saw Dad today for the first time, and was concerned that the nutritional liquid being delivered through the feeding tube doesn't seem to be moving to the small intestine as it should. A drainage tube is still present (that caused nausea when it was shut off a couple of days ago), and more liquid is still draining than should be.
Another obstacle is that a pressure sore has re-opened, making it very painful for Dad to sit up. He was only able to sit up for an hour at a time today.
So . . . we continue to commit my parents to our heavenly Father and trust Him to work everything out. We appreciate your thoughts, and ask for your prayers for wisdom and guidance and strength!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Tough evening
Dad had a difficult time with nausea this evening. Seems that a drainage tube had been shut off, and as a result, his poor stomach had more than it could handle.
When I spoke to Mom around 7 pm, she was exhausted. One of the nurses told her that when Dad was sitting in his chair, she could wheel him to their apt. to visit Josey. But tonight that sounded like an insurmountable task, that would take more energy than she could summon. So she had gone home to go to bed.
This is one of those times when I wish I were closer. I could push Dad to visit Josey . . . maybe someone else can help do that. And maybe Mom will feel stronger tomorrow.
When I spoke to Mom around 7 pm, she was exhausted. One of the nurses told her that when Dad was sitting in his chair, she could wheel him to their apt. to visit Josey. But tonight that sounded like an insurmountable task, that would take more energy than she could summon. So she had gone home to go to bed.
This is one of those times when I wish I were closer. I could push Dad to visit Josey . . . maybe someone else can help do that. And maybe Mom will feel stronger tomorrow.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Another trip to l'hôpital
Dad's feeding tube came completely out of his abdomen yesterday evening, precipitating an ambulance ride about 6 pm. The tube was replaced with a new one with a larger diameter, which the nurses like, because it is less prone to blockage. Dad handled the whole thing quite calmly, according to Mom. :-) She went along with him, and they got back to Ledgeview about 11 pm.
Today he had another good day. He sat up for at least six hours this afternoon! He did tell Mom that his stomach felt "strange" and that it was bothering him, but not painful. So we hope that tomorrow it will be back to "normal"--the new normal!
Today he had another good day. He sat up for at least six hours this afternoon! He did tell Mom that his stomach felt "strange" and that it was bothering him, but not painful. So we hope that tomorrow it will be back to "normal"--the new normal!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Two good days!
Friday and Saturday have been good days for Dad. :-) On Friday, he had a trip to the hospital because his feeding tube got blocked, but the doctor was able to correct it. Mom said the doctor was annoyed because he thought the nurses at Ledgeview could have handled it . . . oh well!!!
Dad has been sitting up a LOT more -- 6 to 8 hours total. And he is gaining strength: Friday he walked about 80 feet, and today he got up from his chair and back into bed with only minimal help from the nurses. Thanks for your prayers on his behalf!
He is drinking small portions of his liquid diet. Yesterday he drank about 1/2 of his strawberry shake, and today he had 4 oz. of apple juice. He is still getting 75 ml/day through the tube.
Mom took Josie, their beloved cat, to visit him yesterday. And today he enjoyed a visit from our good friends, Pastor Cleo & Shirley Winningham. Pastor W. was our pastor in Gorham in the 1980's.
Nice to have some good days! Thanks to his caregivers and to the Lord!!
Dad has been sitting up a LOT more -- 6 to 8 hours total. And he is gaining strength: Friday he walked about 80 feet, and today he got up from his chair and back into bed with only minimal help from the nurses. Thanks for your prayers on his behalf!
He is drinking small portions of his liquid diet. Yesterday he drank about 1/2 of his strawberry shake, and today he had 4 oz. of apple juice. He is still getting 75 ml/day through the tube.
Mom took Josie, their beloved cat, to visit him yesterday. And today he enjoyed a visit from our good friends, Pastor Cleo & Shirley Winningham. Pastor W. was our pastor in Gorham in the 1980's.
Nice to have some good days! Thanks to his caregivers and to the Lord!!
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