ICU visit.

Remember when I posted about Dad meeting the people who saved his life? Well Dad loves to share this story, so here he is letting us all know how his visit to the ICU went.

Therapy

Dad wanted to start contributing to to blog so here is a little video snippet of Dad doing one of his many, many therapy exercises.

It's only short, but don't worry, there's plenty more to come!

~With Integrity

Official Release Date. August 31 (yes that's mom's birthday too).

75 Days in Hospital

37 Day in ICU

Surgery’s to fix his leg.

Surgery’s to put his face back on. First his nose. Then chin, then orbits.

Surgery time for the damage caused to his retina. Surgery time for the damage caused to his retina, again. Did I mention Surgery time for the damage caused to his retina?

Surgery time for dad is counted in days, not hours.

To have a quick glimpse at dad’s medical records, X-rays, CT’s and other array of exams, one has to dig through a mountain of paper work several feet thick.

He has fallen, and All the Kings horses and All the Kings Men have been putting him back together again. In the beginning few hours the doctors were polite in the words they used, however they didn't expect dad to leave the ER trauma table, much less get out of ICU. Leaving the hospital? That is proof of miracles happening now!

August 31, 75 days after most of the hot air was knocked out of Dad, he is going to be rolling out of the RVMC Rehab ward and gently floating down I-5 back to his home.

We are going to be fastening our seat belts because this journey is going to be bumpy for a bit. For those of you folks who offered some kind of help, now is the time to make good on those offers. We no longer have full time kitchen or medical staff waiting on dad hand and foot. There will still be several visits of home health therapists and other care team members, but being home things are going to be different. He is finally coming home and we are now starting to see just what kind of help we could use as this journey takes another turn.

~With Integrity

Dad is doing so good.

He has had some great visits from people and this done his spirits good. I know lots of you would love to visit dad, please feel free to do so. If you do, please call first and please do remember that he gets tired easily.

I had a great day with Dad today. I am very blessed to have this time with him and be able to strengthen our “man-to-man” relationship. He was asking me questions about his accident, so I started digging and asking him what he could remember. It was kinda scary for both of us, but in the long run I feel it was good therapy for us too. Dad asked me some very thought provoking questions. Questions like, did I have any guilt for not being there when he fell? If I knew he was falling would I have tried to catch him? We had a good bonding time and we were able to shed some manly tears also. Dad wanted to know what I was thinking the first few days of his accident when the doctors didn’t know if he was going to make it much less get up and hobble in a walker just 2 short months later. I reminded him of the blog and he asked me to read it to him. I started at the beginning and choked down tears as I revisited some tender, heart wrenching emotions. Dad was so greatly moved by the responses and comments you all have left. He wanted me to tell you especially a heartfelt thank you for your prayers and suport. As I read these comments to him, he would stop me and comment about the person or something special he remembered. It was so amazing, please continue to comment with memories or encouragement. It would mean so much to our family to be able to read them to Dad.

FYI. Dad has another eye appointment tomorrow morning. Let’s keep it in prayer that the retina is healing and the eye pressure is where it needs to be. Also, it looks like dad’s release date might be changed...not because of anything bad, mostly they just want to make sure he is 100% ready to go home. This will give his tummy some more time to heal from the removal of the feeding tube as well. So as for now his official release date is Aug 31st. Mom’s big birthday present is Dad coming home. Think I’ll get Sarah to bake a cake :-) we can tell dad its a welcome home cake.

~With Integrity

Can't get enough of this Hospital Stuff.

It seems the Foster Family just can’t get enough of the “Hospital life.” I personally would rather more of the “good life,” but for now it seems more trips to RVMC are in order. Friday I was feeling the effects of what I thought was too much sun, and not enough H2O. Little did I know something more sinister was waiting around the corner. At about 2:30AM I awoke to a clatter in my brain. A pounding so sharp accompanied by blinding lights that I thought Sarah had accidently hit me with a baseball bat while I was asleep. My personal Dr/wife came to my rescue by reassuring me she had not pounded me, and offered me some sleeping assistance medication. A warm glass of milk, and a few hours later with no sleep and only more stabbing pain, Sarah organized a drop off point for our kiddos and off to the hospital we went to try to ease the pain before my eyes exploded from my head. At the registration desk I was asked if I had ever been to RVMC before. I remember laughing. Not a maniacal evil laugh because it was funny, more a laugh of the unavoidable irony. After many hours and a battery of tests, the pain was just as excruciating, but the hospital meds left me unable to move and sleepy as could be. So I dozed between tests and questions and stabbing pangs throughout my entire body. They even called in the neuro surgeon guy to look me over.

While I was sleeping the sleep of a drugged man, Sarah took a break from the ER and took our youngest, Haven, up to visit her Grandpa. Apparently dad was super excited to see her and requested a snuggle. Haven didn’t mind obliging one bit.

Late Saturday night they released me to go home with what they classified as a “non specific headache.” No visit to RVMC is complete without a tour of Dad’s floor and an old fashioned handlebar mustached howdy, so before we left we journeyed to the 6th floor for a visit. Evidently I even posed for a pic with dad. I’m the one with the orange sweatshirt and the silly drugged smile. Uh, the guy with the blanket in my lap to keep me warm...um, how about the one without sunglasses on. :-)

After a groggy Sunday and Monday I feel better. Kinda. Mostly like I was run through an old fashioned clothes dryer. My personal physician/wife says its due to overwhelming amounts of stress from keeping tabs on dad, my grandma passing away, life spinning by, and any other forms of stress I can add to my bag. I just think she’s nuts and I keep looking for her hidden baseball bat. Perhaps I could take a vacation from this so called thing called stress.

Dad’s coming home soon !??!?!

Yup you heard right. It looks like officially Dad will be leaving the hospital home and coming home on the 28th of August. An early birthday present for Mom. (BTW her birthday is the 31st of August and yes I have a present for her, do you?) Should be fun. His eye pressure is starting to look good and he is able to bend his knee far more. His leg is still not up for any weight, but its one small step in the right direction.

~With Integrity

Special Thanks to the Care Team! Whoever and Where ever you are...

On Friday dad got an awesome opportunity for both him and some of the members of his care team. He was able to sneak down to the ER department and visit with some of the staff who were on duty on June 18 when dad first arrived. I know it was good therapy for dad to say his thanks and shake hand with some of the rescue folks, but I also wanted to make sure that everyone on Dad’s care team was thanked. This is a pic taken when Dad was in ICU and letter from some of Dad’s care team.

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In this photo is the crew that transported Eldon by helicopter. Chelsea Swensen, RN and Dean Rising, FP-C, the pilot was Austin Swan but not available for the photo.

I would like to stress that the care provided at the scene by the first responders and Paramedics prior to our arrival was outstanding and was instrumental in the quick transition by flight to RVMC. Eldon’s case is a good example of multiple agencies coming together as a team to really make a positive impact in patient care.

Best of luck

Dean G. Rising, EMTP, FP-C

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How cool is it to know that dad has had a positive impact on people all through his life. Even in his most critical moments he was able to reach out to people and connect in his own special way.

I am sure we all think the big guns when we think care team. The Mercy Flight team, the fire department from GP who were the first on scene. Dad’s Ballooning crew, the eye, bone, and other specialists, and a passel of doctors, nurses. But do we remember to say a super duper special thanks to the folks who help dad wake up in the morning, remember his daily regiment of pain medication and eye drops. The slew of folks who help dad get in and out of bed, eat meals, be on time for therapists of various sorts, get showered, ready for bed, and everything else in between. Now we mustn’t forget the folks who prepare dads meals, wash his laundry and taxi dad from one location to the next. What of the people who have been praying for dad’s healing? I am sure I have missed some of the folks doing something that has been related to the healing journey dad, so let me say SUPER DUPER THANKS to all of you.

Now as your job with dad finishes and you can move on to the next people who need as much dedicated care, our lives will become more, shall we say interesting? Without the specialized care and support we have begun to rely on life is going to be more full. As if that’s even possible. Between our families (mom, and my brood of 4) we get to do all these tasks, plus look after ourselves. Sounds a bit overwhelming. I wonder what this is going to look like.

~With Integrity

What a Wednesday!

For some reason the eye drops have been causing what dad calls a burning and stabbing pain. So another quick trip to the eye guy to check on it. He says its fine, but somehow there is a tiny scratch on dads eye. It’s OK, something normal and will heal without any consequences or ramifications, but there will continue to be the “ouchy” feeling until it heals a bit more. So dad, like a trooper is working through it. During dad’s rehab therapy today, many comments were made about how many hurdles he has jumped over in the last week alone. It looks like the time will be coming up soon for Dad to make the transition from the rehab wing in the hospital to the less than hospital grade rehab facilities at home. Excitement and fear exude from that thought. It will be good to have dad finally home after such a long battle, but this is when the rubber will really hit the road. The journey of recovery is by no stretch over. In fact, it’s just starting.

~With Integrity

Whew! Jam Packed Couple of Days filled...

Usually one finishes that sentence with, fun, painting the house, exciting adventures, making applesauce... You fill in the blank. Mine was a bit different. Many emotions followed by dazed and confused looks. As you know, Monday was supposed to be a simple day of Dad going to his eye guys for a follow up from his last eye surgery. Apparently, God had scheduled some different events for us to weather through.

The first event lined up was just after 4 am. God called Kisser Gram (my Grandma, Mom’s mom) home. Sleeping soundly and peacefully for the first time in many months, Gram heard the trumpets of heaven and left. When my phone rang, I just knew. Its not that it was an unusual time for my phone to ring. Often someone from the hospital calls or Dad calls, so I have become more adjusted to the after hours phone usage. But somehow the ringtone this time was different. If I could only differentiate when telemarketers called life would be, well, I would answer less irritating phone calls. But I digress. Hearing the news about Kisser Gram from Mom was difficult, but truthfully it was almost a relief. For I know Kisser Gram is in Heaven doing what she loved the most. Conversing with our Creator. So after some tears, prayers, and a scattering of emotions I composed myself enough so I could scramble out the door to meet dad at the hospital to take him to his “routine” follow up appointments for his eye.

My thoughts and emotions drifted as I drove over to the hospital, but I shook them away as I pulled in the parking lot. I didn't want to miss the good news about dad’s eyes. A wave of emotions flooded the room when the Doctor said, “oh” as he was looking through dad’s eye. Dad asked what was cause for worry before I could choke down the emotions. The retina surgery we just went through. The torture of keeping dad face down. The agony, was it all for nothing? The Doctor said hopefully we can get the tear to hold before it becomes to big and we lose any chance of vision. It was only a little tear, and the gas bubble placement won’t mean dad has to be face down this time. Good thing we caught it this soon. We need to repair this now. Surgery was scheduled for 6 hours then. I think I stood there like a stunned mullet, staring at the doctor. He asked me if we had any questions. All I could say was, “surgery again now?” “Yes,” he replied. OK.

Call mom. She’s dealing with funeral arrangements. Don’t call mom. As I asked myself, it was either out loud or Dad was thinking the same thing, because he asked me what I thought about calling mom. Dad’s thinking was remarkably clear and focused. He joked with me about who would be in more trouble if mom found out somehow without us telling her. It was a relief to have dad’s thoughts so clear.

The rest of the day and night was blurry as we rushed to the retina surgery center in Ashland and had Dad’s retina repaired again. Dad got to ride with the wonderful Mercy Flight folks back to his hospital room where we had a restless and uncomfortable sleep till 7 am Tuesday when we again saw the doctor for another follow up. This time Dad’s only restrictions are sleeping on his back, and no straining at all for about a week. Ok, we can handle that. now what? I am torn. Part of me is grateful God has so much faith in me, because I know He will not allow me more than what I can handle, however often times I wish there was less to carry. It’s a good thing I don’t have to do this alone. I just need to remember to give this to God and let him keep it... If only I didn’t keep trying to take it back from Him.

~With Integrity

Stand proud and tall

*UPDATE* - Just finished with the eye Dr. Looks like dad has a tear in the retina on his left eye. He will be going in for surgery this afternoon in a last ditch effort to restore some sight in his left eye. He was also told today that there is no hope, ever, for sight in his right eye. Please pray for a miracle.

*Original post*

Well, Dad has gone and done it! He stood up! He stood up and hopped on one foot! He stood up, hopped on one foot and even shuffled down the hallway with the assistance of a walker and therapist! Dad is cruising through this rehab side of his accident and to celebrate he had some pizza. Well, it was hospital food, but it sure looked like pizza.

We have some appointments today for more info about his eyes. The doctors are taking another stab at determining what is happening to his right eye, but the good news is that his left eye is looking remarkably good. It is tracking, dilating, and doing all the things a healthy functioning eye should do. He gets blurry glimpses through his peripheral occasionally. It’s described as looking underwater, but dad seems to be coping well with his newfound lease on life.

We had some good kid and Grandpa time with Dad. Our 4 delightfully rambunctious and squirmy kids all attempting to be quiet, was probably louder than a heard of buffalo stampeding by. Dad’s hospital wing will never be the same. The other patients and staff alike smiled as we tried to reign in the forces of children happy to see their grandpa and wanting to share that joy with the world. Dad had the biggest smile. I know it was good therapy for dad. It was great for us too.

On a different note, early this morning my Grandma passed away. My mom’s mom. Please keep our family in your prayers. We will keep you updated on any service plans. Thanks.

~With Integrity

Good day.

As I stood in line at the hospital cafeteria waiting for my gruel, someone casually asked me how my day was. I replied without thinking, “Good thanks.” That simple yet automatic reply started a chain reaction in my brain. I realized that yesterday was a good day for dad too. It was a long day. One day after his latest eye surgery, and we are already going on a big outing. We visited 2 different eye specialists.

Just a side note, 57 days in the hospital and this is the fourth time Dad has left RVMC. Two times he left for relatively quick surgeries designed to “restore” his sight, and his other two trips were for follow up visits after his surgeries.

This last jaunt was the most uplifting for everyone, including dad’s eye guys. They both were very happy with how his left eye is looking after his most recent surgery. The gas bubble that was placed in Dad’s eye to assist with the healing process was removed successfully. Then a special salty fluid was used to replace the gas bubble to allow for healing. Within a few short hours Dad’s eye was already showing signs of improvement. Although Dad’s eye guys were cautious of talking about complete healing they were positive and extremely hopeful about some sight being restored and Dad’s eye working more. During one exam Dad’s spirits soared about a hundred feet when his realized the that his eye guys said he didn’t have any more movement restrictions and his eye was healing and looking good. No more laying face down! He can sleep on his back! Also, his eye guys are planning to take another good look at dad’s right eye next week and reevaluate how it looks.

Dad was in such a good mood that he wanted to go for a walk, so instead of catching a taxi back to the hospital we wheeled him over the bumpy sidewalk though the bright and shiny day back to his hospital room. There he excitedly told his care team how good his day was so far. As Dad was settling in for his morning nap, we learned more good news. Dad’s leg appears to be healing as expected. We will learn in the next few days more accurately what that means, but good news is always welcome as we dance forwards and back in the recovery process.

Sometimes I forget how simple the good things are in life. A comfortable bed to sleep in, fresh air, warm sun, and laughing children. They all have lumps, bumps and storms that come and go, but they are all good.

Nine days of silence.

Wander back with me to July 26, Monday. I will never forget the sound of silence that occurred that afternoon. It went like this. Our well trusted "eye-guy" came to see Eldon and check his eyes. We greeted each other, chatted a bit about how we felt Eldon's recovery could only get better if the fallen lens implant was repaired. Then sat respectfully as Eldon's eyes were examined. Waiting, wondering, watching, and listening. The examination over, the "eye-guy," looked squarely at us and in a no nonsense yet gentle manner said, "there is no hope of restoring sight in the right eye." There was not a whisper of sound. I was sure the thundering pounds of my heart could be heard all through RVMC. Then I heard it, the sound of a deep sigh expressing the pent up waiting, and wondering. The quiet utterance of one word "wow" as to understanding the magnitude of the injury. Eldon broke the silence. As for the rest of us, our eyes were filled with tears.

A torn retina in the left eye and a small window of time for restored sight made for rapid surgery decisions. Set for Tuesday evening, became rescheduled for Wed evening.

Now we faced the creative challenge of finding a comfortable sleeping position for 2-3 weeks. It took hours, creative minds, and many crumpled up pillows, pieces of foam and wadded up blankets, folded, stretched out and wadded up again. Laughter became our strength in this project, as we attempted this task, while Eldon seemed to take it in stride.

Wednesday, August 4, was a week. Retina is healing as it should. There is pressure in the eye, causing the iris to push against the cornea. Sigh! Getting weary, legs, knees, backs and shoulders are sore. Again hearts ache. Stay with the program, and the " eye-guy" will keep an eye on the pressure. A Doctor’s appointment on Monday, August 9 gave us the information that there is liquid in the eye not draining as it should. Presented with another small window for sight, surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, August 11.

A story of trust from the book, And The Angels Were Silent, from a favorite writer of mine, Max Lucado;

“Reach up and take your Father's hand and say what my daughter Andrea said to me, ‘I'm not sure where I am. I'm not sure which is the road home, but you do, and that's enough.’”

“For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear: I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13

From my scribblings,

Sandy