Wednesday, May 5, 2010

A lost little girl

When I woke up this morning I realized that I am no longer anyone's little girl. I must be strong and make my parents proud of the daughter they sacrificed so much for. I am very thankful for the peaceful day that my Dad experienced yesterday. I will miss my Dad and the wonderful way he always made me laugh. He can now rest and be at peace and that is all I could really ask for.
I love you Mom and Dad and I can't begin to describe the hole in my heart since you left.

This will also be my last entry to the blog.

Thank you for all the prayers and wonderful comments on this blog. It was a great way for some of our family to express our feelings. Thank you Steven for sharing your emotions during your journey with Dad. I love you and you have made me a very proud sister.

Suzanne

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

John William Rogers Rest In Peace

Our father passed away today at 3:55 pm. He was surrounded by people who loved him. He left earth peacefully. We are very proud of the fight that Dad led since September 2008. The Hospice House staff really went out of their way to make the process quiet and serene.
Dad's last activity before his death was a bath....poetic justice, huh? Dad loved a bath more than anything.
Our plan is to head to Dallas to handle all the business affairs of Mom and Dad tomorrow am. We are plannng a celebration of both of their lives at Donna Edwards home in Carrollton, Texas this Friday at 4-7pm. We want to follow up the Dallas event with an Atlanta event to honor Dad's wishes. He requested that his remains be placed in a military cemetery. Pat, Glenda, George, Kay and others.....I will need your help to pull the GA event off.
This will be the last blog entry I make in regards to my Dad. Its been a long journey full of mixed emotions. We were able to share moments with Dad that might never have occurred. When Dad moved into our house in Fayetteville he made the comment that we were making the "Supreme Sacrafice". I don't feel that way. It was an honor to care for Dad. He received 24 hour love and I know he felt safe and secure.
I appreciate everyone who has contributed to the Blog and to the care of our father. We are huge advocates of Hospice House now and will be avid followers and contributors to their fine work.

The Ladies Man

Dad was always dashing and charming....a true ladies man. We are playing this song in honor of this part of Dad...this song is by Dave Matthews:

You've got your ball,You've got your chain Tied to me tight, tie me up again.Who's got their claws In you my friend? Into your heart I'll beat again Sweet like candy to my sou lSweet you rock,And sweet you roll Lost for you, I'm so lost for you Oh, and you come crash into me And I come into you And I come into you In a boy's dream In a boy's dream Touch your lips just so I know In your eyes, love, it glows so I'm bare-boned and crazy... for you. Oh, and you come crash into me Baby, and I come into you In a boy's dream In a boy's dream And if I've gone overboard Then I'm begging you To forgive me In my haste When I'm holding you so girl,Close to me Oh and you come crash into me, yeah Baby, and I come into you Hike up your skirt a little more And show the world to me Hike up your skirt a little more And show your world to meI n a boy's dream In a boy's dream Oh, I watch you there Through the window And I stare at you You wear nothing, but you Wear it so well Tied up and twisted, The way I'd like to be For you, for me, come crash into me, baby Come crash into me, yeah Crash into me...Crash into me...Crash into me...You know, I'm the king of the castle,You're the dirty rascal, crash into me.Please crash into me, baby...Oh, no no no...Yes, I see the waves Come and crash into me.See the waves come and crash into me.Crash into me.

Tuesday

We are here with Dad. He has gotten progressively worse. His blood pressure is 66/40. We really believe this could be Dad's last day with us. We have talked to him and told him about Mom's passing. He understood me. I know he teared up and winked acknowledgement. We are playing music for him in the room. We just got through playing "Unforgettable" by Nat King Cole. My favorite song is playing right now. Its a song by Peter Tosh. The lyrics are below:

Fools Die.....The lips of the righteous teaches many But fools die for want of wisdom.. The rich man's wealth is in the city.... Vexation of the soul is vanity.... Destruction of the poor is their poverty ...The poor man's wealth is in a holy, holy place... Why do you fight each other... Why do you kill your brother... Then your reward will be the cemetery... We got to build a better nation... Clean up, clean up Jah creation... Or there will be no future for you, you and me.

It is a beautiful reggae song that can be interpreted many, many ways.

Monday, May 3, 2010

My world came crashing down!












The range of emotions I have felt over the last few days is unbelievable.  No one expects to lose both parents so close together.  I have lost my best friends and my biggest fans.  I love my parents with all my heart and words cannot express how much I will miss them.  I know God will see me through this difficult time but my heart won't stop aching.  Not only do I appreciate my parents for ALL they did for me, they were fantastic grandparents too.  To the BEST Mom and Dad in the world.  You made me the woman and mother I am today. 
I love you both,
Suzanne

Road Trippin'

If you are wondering why we are posting Joyce's information on John's blog site this is why. Joyce had been very involved in John's medical journey. After having John over for Easter dinner with Stuart and Steven she became even more concerned about his well-being. She talked to John about coming up for a visit to Arkansas and John accepted the offer. John was no longer able to take such a journey on his own, let alone drive. So, on Saturday, April 17 they headed out on their final journey together. Joyce drove the 5 1/2 hour drive to Fayetteville with John as her passenger. They didn't even argue, probably thanks to Bobbie's good advice to them both (John, take a pain pill and go to sleep ;Joyce, give John a pain pill and he will go to sleep). They arrived in Fayetteville, had dinner, and watched a movie. The next morning she got in her car and headed back to Dallas. Joyce had a heart of gold.

Joyce Ann Hoover Rogers class of 1959

Thank you all for the thoughts, prayers, cards and flowers. We truly could not have made it through the past couple of days with out you all. Many have asked what they can do and we thought in lieu of flowers Joyce could be best remembered with a donation to the University she loved. Joyce graduated in 1959 with a Bachelors in Science and Education. She was a wonderful artist and enjoyed sharing her talents with those who loved her. Donations will be used in the art department to give art scholarships.

Donations can be made in Memory of Joyce Hoover Rogers.

Attention: University Development
300 University House
1 U of A
Fayetteville, AR 72701

One of my best friends

I lost one of my best friends in the world. As I walked the campus yesterday the world felt a lot emptier. I used to walk by Old Main and ponder about how lucky I was to get to go to the University of Arkansas. My mothers will and my hard headed belief that it was the only school for me led me to Fayetteville. When money got tight, she sacrificed and found a way for my tuition to get covered. From the time I was a small child I was brought up a Hog. My grandmother and grandfather (Al and Ree) literally brainwashed me at a young age. My first live game was the Cotton Bowl of 1976-Arkansas and Georgia. I was hooked.
I owe so many things to the upbringing that my Mom provided. I miss her so much and wish she was with me now. I would give anything to have one more day. Funny, just two weeks ago she said the same thing about her mother. We are truly cut from the same cloth. I am proud to say I am the son of Joyce Ann Hoover.

Mama Hawg and her 4 little piglets


Mom at the A & M game with Keary, Amy, Stephanie and Tommie. Melissa took the picture.

Monday Monday

Melissa and I went to HH for lunch. Dad looked much worse. He is beginning to exhibit the following signs:

*Breathing changes
*Very sensitive to touch
*Dislikes any loud noises
*Far away look
*Cool skin
*Discolored skin in the extremities...called modeling
*Restless
*Hot natured due to possible fever. He rarely has any covers on and tends to show his not so modest side.

This all points to Dad being at the DAYS TO HOURS stage in the dying process. He has not had any fluids in two days and has not urinated in almost 3 days. He cannot communicate above a wink. It is extremely painful to see him in this state. He knows it is ok to let go and has communicated to us that he is ready to die. It will not be much longer from the appearances, but there is always the potential for rally. Lets hope he continues along this peaceful path he is on.

Her handiwork


Mom loved to knit. She produced this item for her daughter-in-law Melissa. She had just brought up another item she knitted that was striped and I know Melissa was so proud of it.

Go Hogs Go


Mom loved her Razorbacks. This picture was taken at the Arkansas-Texas A & M game this past fall. She had planned to return to campus to come to the Ole Miss game for the 2010 season.

Delta Gamma



This is the Delta Gamma House on the campus of the University. Mom lived here during her time at the U of A.

Senior Walk


The University of Arkansas has a tradition called Senior Walk. Every graduating students name is etched in the sidewalk on the campus. Joyce Ann Hoover belonged to the class of 1959. Some of her fondest memories were of her times at the University.

Cool Hand Luke

We returned to Dad's room last night with some of Dad's classic favorite movies. He chose to see "Cool Hand Luke", the Paul Newman road gang movie. I could tell he liked it. He is getting very frustrated with the lack of effectiveness in his communication. It is almost impossible to understand what he wants/needs.
I hope he had a restful night.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Dad Update

Melissa and I went to see Dad this afternoon. He was dressed in a hospital gown. His ability to speak fluently is gone. He moves his hands, arms and feet around a lot. He desperately wanted water, so Melissa fed him water with the swabs they give you. He said he was hungry, so we fed him a dab of grape jelly on his tongue. That is what it has come down. He did not urinate all day, so we are just waiting for organ failure.
We are going back up tonight to watch a movie with Dad. I am just hoping he can sit peacefully with us. Bottom-line, pray that the end is near. This death has been agonizing. He has fought a good fight and we have all given him our blessing to let go. I hope his body cooperates.

I miss my Mother already. I always wondered what it would be like to pick up the phone and not have a parent to talk to on the other side. I just got my worst nightmare in 24 hours. My Dad wants to communicate and can't. My Mom can't communicate because she is no longer with us. I will miss her tremendously. Everything I am is because of her guidance. My world just got really quiet.

Terrible News

After seeing our Dad this morning, Suzanne, Stuart and I left the facility and came back home. I received a call from a friend of my Mom's. Mom had planned on going to brunch with Donna today down in Carrollton, Texas. When Mom did not answer the door or multiple calls, Donna had the local authorities break down the door. They found Mom on the floor where she had presumably died this morning of a heart attack. She had been feeling under the weather over the past few days and had scheduled a doctors appt this coming Monday.
This family cannot handle much more heartache. Stuart and Suzanne are en route to Dallas from Northwest Arkansas as I type. Melissa and I are going to watch over Dad until he passes. It is only a matter of time.

We are not going to tell Dad about Mom's passing. Please keep our family in your prayers. We are strong and will survive this tragedy.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Hog Country



Greetings from Arkansas!  I can't express how much it means to me to be able to spend time with Dad right now.  We had a great visit last night and I think he enjoyed his footy massage.  I thought Dad looked fantastic all dressed up too.  It's extremely hard to see your father this way and it breaks my heart that he has to deal with all this.  I am so grateful to Steven and Melissa who have really made a difference in Dad's life.  The facility is beautiful and when I asked Dad if he was happy here he nodded his head yes.  He has an extremely difficult time talking and gets frustrated easily.  I think the best thing I can do during my visit is to love on him and tell him how much he means to me. 
We are planning an "Italian" night tonight with music, pasta, and maybe a few laughs.  I hope it gives Dad a few moments of happiness.
Love, Suzanne



Friday, April 30, 2010

Friday Nights alright for Fightin...get a little action here

Suzanne and I are with Dad tonight at HH. Dad was dressed in Khakis and an oxford shirt. He looked great and dressed for the occasion. I took Suzanne to Mama Z's in Tontitown to fill her in on the situation so she would be ready for what she was going to see. Dad seems to have great fears at night....almost every night he thinks he is going to die. He has expressed that every day I have seen him since Wednesday.
He and Suzanne looked at photos from old times and Suzanne gave Dad a foot massage. Dad was in good spirits......best mood all week.
I will have her author the next blog so you get her impressions and thoughts from the trip.

I have been relaying all your thoughts, cards, prayers to Dad as they have been coming in. Thanks for the positive energy.

Steve

Kind Words

John was the only person in the world who would willingly take me to the airport.
Remember, he lived here. I feel like we are related to tell the
truth! I do say prayers for him, and will continue. You are great children to take such good care of him. Tell him hello for me (and Susie who lived across the hall from where he recently
lived in Evergreen). Yes, John didn't care if I called him early in
the morning when my planes were delayed...And, he was first and
foremost (and is) a GENTLEMAN, who really loved his mother. He used to
talk about her, and mail her things as I watched!

Love to John,
JoAnne Braley, and my little dog, Baby

Thursday, April 29, 2010

GMC HS Class of 53

Here is a note from Bill Curry-------


Yes, your blog address now works, and has been forwarded to the GMC H.S. class of '53 which is a tight group.


Your father was a special member of our class and we treasure him. We lived next door to each other in M'ville when your grandfather and my father worked at the M'ville State Hospital (aka GA Insane Asylum) back in the early '50's.

So Steve, you and and your uncle Pat and George are not alone - call or e-mail when the class of '53 can help -

Sincerely,

Classmate Bill - for the GMC H.S. Class of '53

The Good The Bad The Ugly

Good.....Dad was eating and looking ok today and was getting excellent care. After meeting with the doctor he agreed to keep Dad in the HH facility until next Tuesday. We will review at that time the next move (if any) is needed. The social worker told us that she did not believe he would have to move, but we are planning for worse case scenario.

The Bad......We weighed Dad. He now weighs 115. If you recall, he weighed 121 when we entered him into the facility on Saturday. This is the main reason he is getting to stay in HH at this point. He is losing 1 pound per day.

The Ugly....We are probably going to see a decline over time after the visits from Suzanne and Stuart. He is excited for the company, but still there will be a downturn after they leave. Also, if Dad is staying in HH and it is not being covered by Medicare, the daily cost to us is $180. This could become a reality very quickly. This will have to be a discussion that we have early next week. I also requested for Stuart to bring the car title up this weekend in case we need to sell the vehicle before he passes away. It is not good for it to sit idle and Dad will never drive again. It depends on his mood.....not so sure its a good item to discuss this weekend due to the finality.

Dad has a patch on his neck that is helping to dry out his mouth. This will relieve him of all the coughing and congestion he has been dealing with every day after mealtime. He is struggling to eat and his shirt probably gets more food than his stomach. Its a real sad state of affairs on the nutrition side of the house.

On the sunny side of the house......Melissa and I are taking the dogs up to his room tonight for some pet therapy. I am trying to see Dad as much as possible since I have to leave on a business trip this Sunday.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Wednesday

Visited Dad today after receiving phone call from him. He had not picked up the phone in a weeks time, so this was a shocker. He was calling concerning a question about his Sprint Bill. It was hard to understand him on the phone, so Melissa went to HH at lunch. Dad was sitting up in the barcolounger chair (this is the first time he has been out of bed since he left our house on Saturday). He also had a visit from a minister at his request today.
We completed the paperwork to release Dad from his apartment by May 28. There was a waiting list at Evergreen, so we are happy that his unit will go to someone in need.
We are having a family meeting tomorrow with his physician. More details on that tomorrow.

The plan is to take Dad's walker up to HH and get him back to walking and being more mobile. Pray for him to have the strength.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tuesday Evening

Melissa and I are here at HH tonight. Dad is in good spirits. We are watching a movie called "Hard Knox" starring Robert Conrad, the infamous guy with the battery on his shoulder. Dad is now taking steriods and some kind of swish and swallow (Pink Magic) medicine. This is to increase his appetite and ease his swallowing.
Right now he is bedbound other than assistance to the bathroom or shower. He is also having his dressing changed every day.
Dad is also taking periodic morphine pills. Dad always says that is what they give people who are dying...not sure if he is being funny or not.
We are not sure on Dad's release from this site.....we are going to have a family consult with Dr. Pacl. We want to try to keep Dad at HH till after Suzanne's visit. This would give him some regularity and would not disrupt his care.
That is all the news for today.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Monday Monday

Went to go see Dad this morning at HH. He was sleeping peacefully when I arrived. The nurse, Roger (not Fokker), came in when I was in the room and took Dad's vitals. The orderly came in soon after with breakfast. Of course, Dad was not happy with the meal (cream of wheat). Instead, we arranged for eggs to be subsituted. I put some cheese on top and salt and pepper and we had a happy customer. He also likes his coffee, so I took care of that part. Dad was able to walk to the bathroom and back unattended, so that was a positive.
He had some memory issues last evening. He did not remember seeing Melissa and he also had a moment that he still thought the dogs were in his room (he could only be so lucky). I don't know if this is from lack of nourishment, blood flow restriction or something worse. The regular doctor was going to make his rounds today. This should allow us to get more complete information.
I helped dress Dad and I can only describe it as what you would see in WW II concentration camp photos. There is nothing left in regards to muscle tone. He is very simply skin and bone. I have also seen a return of something on the side of his neck (left hand side). Will get more details as we know of these situations.
Its been extremely emotional lately and very tough to witness his demise. Please pray for us to continue to show strength to Dad. He is a safe and caring place. If he is released soon I am going to set him up back in the home. We will secure nursing assistance to cover the periods that we are not there.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Sunday night

Went to see your dad tonight. He was very sleepy so I only stayed until about 8pm. I did get a chance to visit with the nurses aide Debra who was also on duty last night. She noticed that John wasn't as spunky as he was Saturday night. John normally enjoys joking with the staff but this has gotten harder since his voice isn't cooperating. The medical director for hospice will be making rounds tomorrow morning. Steven and I will contact him to see what he suggests. Once we get more information we will pass it on.

Suzanne, your dad got the card yesterday afternoon. I read it to him and he was very touched. He has the pictures of Brooke and the card at the hospice home. Also the family pictures that we had in his room at our house we took for his room at hospice.

Nighty,night.
Melissa

Uncle George's photo

As luck would have it, I actually have an original copy of this photo. I scanned it and added the caption from the newspaper below. I think Dad looks quite dapper and agree this is a great photo. Thank you Uncle George for sharing.




LIEUTENANT JOHN W ROGERS a former resident of Milledgeville, Ga., currently legal officer of the 3rd Brigade at Fort Ord, Calif., was presented his sliver bars recently by 3rd Brigade Commander, Col. J.A. Cook upon being promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. The newly promoted officer is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rogers of Milledge Ave., Milledgeville, Ga.




The photo was taken around 1959
-Suzanne

Today-Sunday

Melissa and I went to see Dad at HH. He was up and looked a bit better. He was just about to eat....and the nurse brought the forbidden food.....pureed meal #1. He waved it away. Luckily Melissa had packed Tomato soup.....of course we added cheese to the top (one of the items we never forget from our childhood,,,,Dad adding toppings to soup a la Dean's dandy dinner). He struggles badly after eating anything.....coughs and coughs and coughs. It sounds like someone with pneumonia. After he ate we watched the movie "The Sniper"....he was extremely happy to see it and had been asking me to play it since last night. We then snuck the dogs into the room so Dad could feed them carrots. It was like a zoo in the room for a brief period. Don't know who had a better time-the dogs or dad?
Dad went to sleep after the movie and the hounds and I left around 4:30. We plan to return for dinner.
I think if he continues to progress and we can get him up walking he can return to the casa. To be seen.

Suzanne

Teach Mom and Brian how to post their pictures......we wanna see em.

Brian needs a picture

Brian,

I see you have joined the blog. How about a handsome photo of yourself so we can see your mug?

Hospice House-Circle of Life

We transported Dad to Hospice House last night via EMS. I had never been there before, but was blown away by the facility. Picture a very nice hotel and that would be close. I will try to get a picture or two of the place. Or, for those of you that are web savvy......try www.nwacircleoflife.org....Dad is in the one that is listed at Har-Ber Meadows in Springdale, Arkansas.
The goal of hospice is to provide comfort and manage and eliminate any pain Dad is experiencing. We do not expect Dad to be at this facility more than a few days. Our hope is that we are able to get him back to the house before Suzanne's visit next weekend. One shocker-Dad was weighed last night.....121 lbs.
We watched a movie last night with Dad..."Gods and Generals". He liked it due to the many towns in Virginia that are referenced in the early portion of the film...towns like Harpers Ferry and Fredericksburg.
Dad is going to Hospice House for a tune-up. We are trying to get him to the point that he can walk on his own and handle day to day living. He was very emotional when we first discussed moving him to HH. He begged us not to leave him there. I promised not to leave him there. I just hope he helps me to deliver on that promise. There is a tremendous weight of guilt felt when your Dad is crying and begging you not to abandon him.
We will be taking the two dogs up to HH today and hopefully he can see them in the parking lot .... he has grown attached to Izzy. Cyrus can stay home....as Dad says, there are good cats and he is not one of them. He likes to get in stare-downs with Dad to intimidate him.........I just say he is mean.
Thanks for the comments, e-mails and cards / mail. Now is the time to really express how you feel. None of us know how long he has to live and we need to make sure we leave nothing undone.
Bobbie......we talked at length about those two shadow boxes you had made for Dad. If we could have those sent up here it would mean a lot. I am referring to the one with the military awards and the other that have work references from Union Carbide, the cufflinks from Mexico etc. It would also be nice to have his Baby book and the Scrapbook that Elise made him.
Doyle.....he talked about you all last night. You have really made an impression on his life.....more than you even know.
We have Dad's phone here at the house. He does not have it with him at the facility. If he starts communicating better we can get him to start returning some calls....I am sure everyone wants to talk to a live person. We will take the phone up today and play the voice mails. Hopefully they will boost his energy level.
Thanks.....more later today.

Saturday, April 24, 2010

A Bad day turns Worse

We are admitting Dad to Hospice House tonight. He is unsafe right now. We have adverted several potential falls. He is also very sick to his stomach. Stuart and Tracy....it is time to address the apartment issue. Dad will not be returning to Dallas to his apartment. Please contact Diane at Evergreen on Monday. We will be faxing a DR's letter on Monday to release Dad of his obligation .....we will still have to pay for May.
This could be a temporary situation at Hospice House. Time will tell. Bobbie is currently taking care of Dad's mail. It was being held at the Post Office. If you want to send it up here to 40 W Prospect Fayetteville, AR 72701 we would greatly appreciate it. At least this way we can take care of any bills that need to be addressed.

Very bad day

Please do not call Dad's phone.......there have been 8 missed calls today alone....the phone is sitting in the kitchen and Dad is 50 ft away downstairs. He is having a very bad day. Stomach is upset and he looks the worst I have ever seen him.

He is not doing well. Communicate via the blog or e-mail. DO NOT CALL. We will let you know if the situation changes. I know you want to talk to him, but that is just not going to happen anytime soon.

Anybody out there?

Sometimes I wonder if this blog is read.......we have been doing this for a week and we have three comments attached....one by the Larke's and the rest by Suzanne..........is this a waste of time and effort? If so, let us know via the blog or e-mail and we will pick another form of communication.

If you haven't figured it out yet, Dad ignores 99% of the phone calls to his cell phone......it hurts to talk and he can't effectively communicate......so that tool is frustrating. The more you call it, the more frustrated he becomes.

As his caregivers we are more than happy to relay messages to Dad. Its easiest to do it from notes on email or the Blog. Otherwise, the calls and care are consuming every waking minute we have.

Raindrops Keep Falling on our heads

Its a gloomy Saturday here in the Ozarks. Much needed rain has fallen all night and into the morning. Its 10am and no Dad in site. He is sleeping in I suppose. We don't get to see him in the mornings due to work schedules, so I suppose it must be like this more than not.
It has been very disturbing to see Dad this way. He is very little other than skin and bones. Any kind of fall is going to be traumatic. He is difficult to understand. Everything he says has to be repeated at least once, if not multiple times. He struggles taking pills, drinking fluids, and eating. Half of what goes down comes back up. He complains about throat pain, but has not relied on too many pain pills in the past two days.
We are trying to resist the urge to wait on Dad hand and foot. He will allow you to be at his beckon call if you are nearby. Foods are prepared for one bite. He likes the idea of the food, but cannot eat it when it is prepared. Ensure is the only food item he can seem to get down his throat, but half of the calories come back up.
This is really no way to live. He has become a prisoner of the house. He cannot enjoy the things he loves...eating, driving, having freedoms.
All in all, the multiple surgeries have left Dad's body broken and empty. The lack of nutrition over the past 1.5 years has not aided in fighting disease or recovery. How long does he have? We really don't know, but based on what the past week has shown, it won't be pretty if we can't improve his weight.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Hospice information visit

The social worker from Circle of Life Hospice came out today to meet with your dad,Steven and I. He wanted to think about it at this point. Hospice would be the best decision based on his medical need at this time. They can address his physical and emotional needs.

His nutrition status is the biggest issue at this point, not the cancer. Dr. Randy Shinn, the geriatrician here, feels that if John can drink 3 ensures a day that would be the best thing to improve his nutrition. A feeding tube at this point is not an option. We meet again with Dr Shinn on Monday and then will go to wound care after that. Most likely he will sign on with hospice Tuesday.

John has been in a good mood while he has been here. He is frustrated that it is hard for him to talk and eat. He is not been answering phone calls because of this. We are hoping that everyone will have an idea about how things are going by referring to the blog. John is really looking forward to Suzanne coming next weekend. We are too. Hope everyone has a great weekend.

More News Later Today

We are meeting with hospice at 3pm today (Friday)......more details after the meeting.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Update from Dr visit and other items of interest

Dad seems to be comfortable. He is actually using the cane to get around the house, including up and down the stairs. Dad started Remeron last night. This is an appetite stimulant and an anti-depressant. It can also promote restful sleep. We are taking him back to the wound care center today at 1pm. The plan is to meet with Hospice on Friday at 3pm to discuss palliative care ...ie....pain management, etc. The follow-up appointment with Dr Shinn is scheduled for next Monday at 1pm. The feeding tube issue is going to be a topic of conversation. This is a very difficult conversation right now (worse than the walker/cane item). Dad's answer is to go to hospital to get an IV. That is not a good plan.
Suzanne is exploring the potential of coming to see Dad the weekend of May 1-2. To be decided later I am sure. She has booked flights.
Dad eats soups and small dabs of other items, but is struggling with swallowing and pain associated with any type of nutrition.
Dad is in a decent mood. He is fairly conversational and his mind is clear. He did go outside yesterday for the first time on the rooftop garden. Small steps!

The skys erupted

Probably overdramatic....but, Dad got his first bath last night in a very long time. He had a pretty good day. Spent a good portion of the day on the computer and also watched the movie "Precious". I don't think he liked it very much, but at least it was some form of entertainment. Today (Wednesday) we go to wound care at 1pm.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

We're Back....unfortunately.

Dad arrived safely in Arkansas yesterday (Saturday). As I type, Dad is laying down in the living room sleeping on the couch. He has spent 50% of today sleeping. He does not eat much, but we have been monitering his Ensure and regular diet since he arrived. He struggles keeping food down and does not do well swallowing his pain pills. We have the heat on the entire bottom floor of the house and he wears jackets and afghans constantly. With less than 10% body fat, it is a fact of life---he is cold all the time. He has not been outside in over 24 hours because of the cold (Its probably 60-70 degrees).
Dad is going to see Dr. Randy Shinn tomorrow. Melissa changed the bandages today and the wound looked good, but much more concave than I had remembered. It is pink instead of the black scab I witnessed last time.
We have not heard the anger and sarcasm yet. He has been even tempered and fairly pleasant. He seems very disturbed that over 300k was spent for so little. But, there is no doubt he knows his limitations.
The biggest watch-out right now is trips and falls. He refuses to use the aid of a walker or a cane. Very frustrating.
More tomorrow after the visit with Dr Randy.

Welcome Back!