Re: Jan /Thank You All!

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan-

Thank you for the update. Where there is life,

there is hope. Also there is such power in prayer.

You and Jim will continue to be in our thoughts

and prayers. Please keep us updated as you

have time.

Many hugs-

Sandie and

-- Thank You All!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Your words help so much. I

appreciate you all for being here in my time of need.

Today, Sunday, Jim was moved from the Accute Care Unit to the lower floor.

He is off the monitors. He is now across from the nurse's station, so they

can keep an eye on him. He looked better than yesterday when I left and he

was non responsive. Today, he was able to talk a little in his whispery

voice, before falling asleep. He even scolded me for trying to get food into

him. It was music to my ears!

He has three IV bags attached to him. One is antibiotics for the UTI and

the other two for dehydration. He was so dehydrated and lacking in potassium

from all those frequent enemas as Imogene said. I knew it! That is why I

kept bringing him Gatorade and Vitamin Water with electrolytes. They have

him on Sodium Chloride IV and Potassium Chloride IV. It took 3 nurses today

to attempt getting a needle into the vein for an IV. The nurse said he is so

dehydrated the veins are hard to get to. He is being given oxygen, which he

never needed before and now he is in the beginnings of having swallowing

issues. He is coughing on every sip of liquid, even the shake types. He also

has constant hicups. Jim also has the beginning, blister form, of a

pressure sore, but it was not open and oozing. They took a picture of it at

the hospital, and they are treating it. They are so efficient at the

hospital. Jim had round the clock care in the Accute Care Unit. One or two

people were always

catering to him. They turn him every two hours to reposition him on the

bed. They have two buff guys just for this purpose, that make the rounds

every two hours to reposition the people. I wish they would be this

efficient at the nh. If it wasn't for me repositioning Jim, I don't think

they ever would. They would place him on his backside everynight to sleep.

Jim may be released tomorrow depending on how well he seems. I am almost

afraid to send him back to the nh, but I have no choice. I can not handle

him at home alone and don't have the means to afford full time care. The

grass is not greener on the other side when it comes to nh in this area. Jim

is in one of the better ones here. I don't want him any farther away from me

An hour away is just too far to drive to visit him daily. Even half an hour

I want him where I can see what is going on and be there daily. I am

thinking of hiring a sitter to share watching over Jim and making sure his

needs are met. It is time for

a lot of decision making again.

I am feeling better that Jim is out of the woods, but he will not be the

same as he was a week ago. He has been weakened. I may not be able to take

him out again to eat. I don't know if I will even be able to take him for

rides. He has been in bed since last Thursday. His legs weaken so fast and

lose the ability to stand. They have not been working with weight bearing

with him. I don't know if he will be able to regain the strength in his legs

now. I have to make sure that the nh will raise his legs now when he is in

his chair, so they don't atrophy. That will be another problem, if he doesn

t get exercise and weight bearing.

I feel like the circus juggler trying to keep it all going.

Hugs to all.........Jan

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