Mom is Home!!

So on Tuesday April 7, mom returned to the Health Center of Windermere (room 242). In the two weeks that followed, she progressed greatly. Danny, Melissa and family came to Orlando and were able to visit with mom. She enjoyed that immensely. After about a week, we were told mom's insurance only covers 60 days of inpatient rehab which meant Tuesday April 21 she would be coming home. At first, she freaked out that she wasn't ready to come home. Then, she focused all that energy into getting ready. She was getting physical therapy (PT) twice a day. On her best day, she was able to walk (with walker and therapist) about 150 ft in the morning session and 210 ft in the afternoon session!

Coincidentally, John and Eileen were planning a trip to Orlando arriving Monday April 20. John helped me go to the rehab to pick up mom.

The first week home was hectic to say the least. Between me trying to 'work from home', Dianne, Eileen and John coming for visits and making dinner here, nurses visiting, pt visiting and mom adjusting to being home, we were all very tired at the end of the week. We even capped Friday off with a trip to Olive Garden!

Today, mom gave me a heart attack. She tried to walk on her own, when I wasnt close enough to help! But she did it!!! This morning, she walked about 5 steps without the walker. Then, she showed off for Dianne this afternoon and walked 30 steps! This is all very good news and we are excited.

So the next steps are continued rehab and working on getting into a pattern at home. She thanks you all for your continued support, and you are welcome to visit at any time. =)

I have run out of Alaska pictures to post, but while he was here John put up my Christmas computer for me. I will get new pics posted soon.

Catching Up

So many changes since my last post.

On Monday March 16, mom was still confused and hallucinating, but the doctors told us she would be heading back to rehab the next day. When I asked the doctor about this, he said she was cleared of infection so there was no need for her to stay. Since there had been no repeat cultures done I asked how he knew... and I got the stupidest doctor answer yet! He said he knew she was infection free 'because she finished her course of antibiotics.' Here is what I wanted to say. "Oh gee thanks doc for that clear answer... and for being a miracle worker! For 6 months she has battled various infections, but under your wonderful care for 11 days she is now infection free!" Instead, I asked once again if repeat cultures could be run to verify it and he said no. He said that since she has been on antibiotics the cultures will show up negative.

So on Tuesday, they transferred her to Health Center of Windermere. This is the sister facility of the center she was in prior to the hospital, and thankfully a little closer to home. This time it was room 130 (for those playing room number bingo).

The first thing the newly aligned doctor did (and yes, once again we get another doctor) was order cultures. And guess what they found? Our old friend Pseudomonas in the urine. So they started another round of antibiotics.

Friday March 20, Mom hit a major milestone. She STOOD. They had her up in the parallel bars and she took 4 steps. Woo hoo!

The next week, she made even more progress.

Monday - Full walk across the parallel bars.

Tuesday - 2 Full walks across the parallel bars.

Wednesday - Parallel bars plus WALKER.

Thursday and Friday - more walker, but not as long a distance because her knee caught up with her.

Mom really likes the facility and the people, and is making good progress, so we are happy.

Enter the next week. Mom was still making progress, but mid week we learned she still had the Pseudomonas. So Thursday the doctor ordered a new antibiotic (sounds like mirim). Bu Friday morning, mom broke out in a rash all over. So they decided to send her back to the hospital to deal with the rash, the infection, and anything else that needed to be reviewed.

Friday April 3, we are back in Dr P Philips Hospital, room 5126. It is almost like coming full circle since this is was the first hospital she was in for the diverticulitis and where she worked. She caught up with a lot of old friends, which was nice for her. She also saw some old doctors who had some clue as to what has been going on with her for the last 6 months. She was supposed to have an appt Friday afternoon with her Gastroenterologist (GI) Dr Feuer. So now, he came to her. And they decided to do a colonoscopy. That was Sunday morning and everything went well.

Monday April 6, Mom got word that she will be heading back to rehab. Yay! But with timing and paperwork etc, it will be tomorrow. She will be heading back to Health Center of Windermere, but I don't have a room number yet. The cultures came back clean, so the plan is to continue to monitor her from rehab. She is still breaking out in rashes and hives, but the Infectious Disease doctor she not only has seen but worked with before, Dr Rodriquez, thinks the rashes are related to too much antibiotics and she clear up in time.

So tomorrow mom moves once again. We all (Dianne, Larry, mom and I) look forward to this being the last move before she comes home. Keep your fingers crossed!!

Postnote: A roadside waterfall in Alaska, and the last picture of mom from our trip.