Praise The Lord!

Yesterday and today Jay has been a real snooze machine. He has FINALLY turned the corner, and this intestinal scourge looks like it will soon be in the rear view mirror. He has been able to eat, do therapy, and sleep, and his spirits are improving again. I can't tell you how much relief I feel, both for Jay and I, because all this misery was killin' us!

What an arduous road this has been. Saturday is a lighter day for therapy and since Sunday is a day of rest in rehab, Jay gets a break before we start back to work on Monday. Not much to report but blessed relief.

Thanks for all the prayers and keep them coming. The next phase of recovery will focus on the whole person, not just Jay's physical reality. I cannot even imagine what's going on in his heart, mind, and soul. I have just let him be...........................

It is True that Life is NOT Fair!

Hopefully, TODAY things will turn around for Jay. The doctors are calling this stomach bacteria just a bump in the road, but it has been a major setback. More gory details I won't expose you to, but last night Jay was so sick he threw up his feeding tube! The tube was replaced today - another awful procedure he's had to endure. He still has the tube because he's too nauseated to eat and he obviously needs nutrition. The tube can come out when he is able to eat enough to maintain a good nutritional state.

The good news is that they've changed the nausea medicine (to Phenergan - which is what I told them I wanted them to give him in the first place), and he's now sleeping peacefully. He really does feel better and the docs say "today is the day this will turn around." Although I've been hearing that all week, I have to believe that today will be the day because it HAS to be!

A request to all of you who pray: please petition the Lord with prayer for Jay to get over this bug. He's paid his dues, it's time to get on with rehab and recovery.

The really GREAT news: during this whole miserable week, his stroke deficits are continuing to improve and Dr. Edgely feels Jay has the potential for a full recovery. Jay seems much more sober and depressed, which the docs say is to be expected, not just because of the illness setback, but because he is beginning to process this catastrophic experience.

Dr. Gael Yonnet is Jay's other doctor. He is an amazing young Frenchman who came to medical school in Salt Lake City and had a snowboarding accident which left him a paraplegic. (Google him to learn of his story). He has been very helpful to me in processing and navigating these uncharted waters. Dr. Yonnet reminds me that a spinal chord injury patient has to accept that they will never walk again, while Jay will regain his stroke deficits. Life is not fair for Dr. Yonnet either.......................

Holding My Breath

I know so many of you care about Jay and follow the blog to see how he's doing. Of course, I want to report and write about great progress and good news. I didn't report last night because he's better, but still suffering from an intestinal bacteria (c-diff). I was so frustrated and miserable, I could not bear to write. You can only imagine how he felt! The medication should be kicking in and taking more effect today, and I hope to the heavens he can get off the bedpan and back to the gym. He was completely wiped out from this bacteria yesterday.

I'm holding my breath until I get to the hospital this morning............................this "bug" has got to end.

A Bump in the Road

What a rocky roller coaster ride we're on. This bump in the road is not that big a deal in the greater scheme of things, but it sure made for a miserable and disappointing day. Jay now has an intestinal bacteria that has given him some serious tummy trouble. It wiped him out and made him feel so sick, he couldn't do therapies today. He's now taking meds for pain and nausea, and Flagyl, the treament for the culprit bug. It's such a bummer because not only did he feel awful, we had to skip therapy. An intestinal bacteria....geez, what next?

We were all ready for a really pumped up day. Jay's PT brought some awesome stickers and decals for Jay's helmet. With "Squeezie Boy" on the front, (my nickname for Jay) and "Pres Jay" on the back, it's a very cool deal. Everyone was disppointed that Jay felt too sick to work today. We were all looking forward to the fun and elation of more amazing progress.

Here's hoping that the meds kick in, Jay is able to sleep tonight, tomorrow is a better day, and we can get back on track. Gosh darn't, everything was going so well.................
Dawn

Unbelievable!

The progress Jay has made in therapy is phenomenal. On Friday morning he had not yet gotten out of bed. In three days (with no therapy on Sunday) he has graduated from standing, to walking between parallel bars, to walking with a walker, to walking without a walker (with assistance of the physical therapists). He rode a recumbant (sp?) bike for 35 minutes today. He is also regaining the use of his left hand and arm. I was elated last night when he squeezed my hand with his left hand, and squeezed it hard. Everyone is amazed. They believed Jay to have the potential for a full recovery, but they did not dream it would happen this fast.

We have a long way to go, as these are gross movements, but this is only the beginning, and it means his brain is healing and his recovery potential is huge. As the swelling in his brain continues to goes down, we will see more progress. It is fascinating to witness a brain injured person relearn fine and gross motor skills and the activities of daily living.

The staff loves Jay because he works so hard, has so much drive, is so appreciative and interested in those who work with him, and has a great sense of humor. There are many angels of mercy of both genders in this hospital/rehab. "The U" as the University of Utah is referred to, has schools of medicine, nursing, occupational and physical therapy, and all the allied health sciences, and many of these college students take care of and work with Jay. We have a dream team and are very blessed.
Dawn

A Day of Rest

No therapies on Sunday in rehab. It's much quieter than I thought it would be, a real day of rest. The snow falling outside makes everything even more quiet and still. Dev is flying out of Salt Lake and back to Denver in a couple of hours and I hope she doesn't get weather delayed, as she really needs to get back to school.

We've been told that a brain injured person needs to sleep to heal, and Jay is certainly following that prescription. It's such a relief that he can sleep peacefully now that all the surgical tubes and catheters are gone. The doctors have told us that at this stage of the healing, his emotions will be strong; funny things will seem funnier and sad things will be more sad. Jay has been very touched as he learns of the outpouring of love and support, and he has never been funnier. He is just a riot and keeps us in stitches.

He seems to have a childlike peace about this. We haven't done a lot of processing about his stroke and all the implications. At this point I tell him not to worry, that his job is to rest so he can continue to get better. It is amazing to think that on Sunday two weeks ago, our world had not been rocked. In two weeks we have gone from unfathomable, to horrific, to on the mend. I can't wait to see what the next two weeks will bring........
Dawn

Quote from Dr. Garren

In hearing about coming from a new wing of the hospital to this rehab setting, our travel buddy Laurie Garren commented: "kind of like going from our all inclusive resort the Paradisus, to the Cancun airport!" The journey continues................