12:00 PM, November 5, 2014 Well, another day and we are still standing. So to speak. Andrew has been cleared medically to go to TIRR. For those of you unfamiliar with TIRR, it stands for The Institute of Rehabilitation and Research. It is a 134 bed facility that deals with patients that have had severe trauma like Andrew. It is the place Gabby Giffords went to after she was transferred to Memorial Hermann, the hospital Andrew is now currently in. Knowing that she was sent here from Arizona makes us very hopeful for his long term recovery. When he was still in ICU I remember thinking often about that and hanging on to the fact that her room had been only three over from his. That gave me so much hope. Will we go this evening? I dont know. It is not like Andrew and I are set for a night on the town. Of course if he and I were to go out with him in his hospital garb---him dragging his mom---maybe people would feel for him and buy him all the drinks he wants. At this point water would put him over the moon. Beer might shoot him out of the stratosphere. The FEES test still wasnt done....there is an order that was already placed. It just hasnt been executed. So for now he nose feeds. However, he DID get a shower this morning. What a joy that was. Twenty days he had to wait. Imagine that for just a minute. Then think about not eating or drinking for 20 days. It boggles my mind. 6:15 PM, November 5, 2014 We are still in Room 529. Biding our time. I am hoping now that we dont get moved tonight. Andrew has developed a severe headache---he rated it a 9. One of the things I know for sure about Andrew is that he takes after Joe and his Grandma Betty. He is not big on taking aspirin or other meds for pain. So when he asks, I know to listen, as do the nurses. When I told the nurse he said his pain was at a 9, Shareese said she would call his doctor right away. She did and he sent an order in immediately. Even when Andrew has said his pain was a 6, 7, or 8, he has usually waved taking the meds. I have put a cold cloth on his forehead that seems to help. Now he is resting. Some of the pain is possibly stemming from the fact that many of the staples and sutures were removed today from the laminectomy that was done on October 16. The doctor waid that was a lot of time for them to really adhere to the skin. So they didnt slide out easily. Google it if you want to know exactly what the laminectomy entails. This is in addition to the suboccipital craniectomy that was done at the same time are both reasons for high pain. Coupled with the T1 and L1 fractures, I am amazed watching him get up and walk-even getting out of bed. Prayers are needed tonight for the pain to subside, the energy to work on his throat exercises-he just didnt have it in him today, and I wouldnt mind a few being thrown in for smooth sailing in everyday type of things. As a friend noted today, regular life doesnt leave in a crisis. We have done the missing phone business-----still no word on that. Then, it has taken only three days to try and make a payment for Andrews internet account. Because I dont know the passcode, they said they couldnt take a payment. Three days to go up the seniority tree. This morning I went out to start my car and drive to the hospital, and it wouldnt start. Triple AAA was going to take at least an hour+. I couldnt find anyone to help me jump my car with the cables I had. So I had to call Triple AAA back. THEN while waiting for them, some guy came by and offered to help! (Yeah perfect stranger!) My car started immediately, I called and cancelled Triple AAA (redundant) and drove to the parking garage. I backed my car into a spot (Yeah me!) and turned off the engine. When I tried to start the car again. Nada. The good news is I have a battery still under warranty. (Yeah to Charles at the San Antonio dealership for telling me to be sure and check the WI records even though I thought we hadnt ever replaced the battery! Yes, we had and it is covered still.) Tomorrow or Friday I will have security in the hospital garage use my jumper cables and then I will drive to the nearest dealership. They can replace it, and I will be good to go. I am waiting because I guarantee that as soon as I leave----someone will show up to move Andrew. I know that for a fact........because that is the way life seems to happen. Sending out good car vibes to all......nothing can try and derail a day like a car problem. Mine went well though, considering. Keep those prayers coming! Robin
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 01:18:19 +0000
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