Monday May 18

Today I finally got a chance to talk to dad's doctor. Well actually it wasn't the doctor but the Nurse Practitioner. We talked about a few things. She talked like they would be taking dad's PIC line out because well they aren't really using it. He has no IV's now. Dad has been upset because he said he wasn't getting any physical therapy (I thought he had at least one session last week) so I talked to the NP about that and about getting dad out of the bed and into a chair at least once a day every day. I think getting out of the bed will help him emotionally and maybe some physically. This was agreeable to everyone and dad did get a good dose of physical therapy today and will again tomorrow. He may not get it every day but at least 3 times a week. The NP let me know they weren't a Rehab facility but a hospital and that real physical therapy would take place in another facility. She suggested that after leaving where dad is now that he would go to a nursing home for a short period to get his strength up then go to a Rehab as Rehab's won't take anyone unless they can do therapy at least 3 hours a day. I let her know that the nursing home stay was OUT of the question, if he couldn't go straight to a Rehab he would be coming home.

So.......dad is feeding himself and eating all they bring him. Dad is sitting in a chair for several hours a day now and getting physical therapy. He is still getting a nutritional supplement through his feeding tube, no one can tell me when this will stop just yet. Dad's wound looks good (for a wound) and his trachea "hole" is healing up nicely. He is finally strong enough to handle a phone so I have left him his cell phone. They have changed his antidepressant from Lexapro to Paxil and Effexor. I am happy with this.

What else...........hummm.......Oh, I did make dad's nurse mad this morning. LOL You know how they keep a chart right inside the hospital room right by the door? I was standing there looking through it and she walks by, sees me and grabs it out of my hands and tells me that is confidential stuff. Come on, they have to know if you leave it in a room someone is going to look at it, and besides there really isn't that much you can get from looking at it, it's just nursing notes and such.

Keep those prayers going up for dad and me.

Kathy