Julie was taken by ambulance from Denver on Wednesday, a five hour trek over the Continental Divide, which resulted in more trauma to her pressure wounds. She was placed back at the manor, sans IV medications, all being replaced by oral meds. Good news: she was transferred from the hospital back to her "manor home." I returned a few days earlier back to GJ.
Since arriving back in Grand Junction, she has been kept on bed rest and on a special mattress and bed at the manor that shifts her body weight to try to help her heal the back thigh area. We have read half a book aloud since then: Virginia's Diary. And Gene reads his book to her. We play Word Chums.
Today she was angry, mad, and frustrated at being kept in bed. She broke her iPad Saturday (it fell off the bed), so I got it replaced and found some little cord attachers that will keep her phone, her Fire, and her iPad all hooked up and disentangled from one another. Maybe. And I bought a one year guarantee so that if she breaks it again, the warranty will cover it. Bad news was that I got a glass cut from the screen; just glad it was not Julie that received the sliver in her hand.
And we have had several talks about hospice being brought in to help her. These were not easy sessions, but realistic at this time. For now, the APH (atrial pulmonary hypertension) is being managed, but APH is a progressive heart disease under the umbrella of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a diagnosis that results in eventual death. The good news is that the lasix are keeping fluid from building up around her lungs, and she is breathing easier. We will not discuss the bad news.
And I finished the Promenade Shawl. Never will I knit that again as those garter stitches never seemed to end. But eventually, finished...
Hi Nancy! WOW! The shawl is absolutely amazing! Well done!
ReplyDeleteOh, I am so sorry for all the challenges with your Julie. Praying.
I got your card today! Thank you, sweet one! I'm writing back to you!
I love the little prayer card, too! (HUG!)
You are a warrior mum, Nancy, who only wants the best for her daughter. I'm sorry Julie is constantly dealing with her health and it causes so much frustration for her. Has she seen the Pixar movie, Inside Out? We watched it together as a family. It's creative and a fun one, plus interesting as there are different emotion personalities and how they laid out how a mind works.
ReplyDeleteLord bless and have mercy! not easy conversations. I am thinking a lot about how Christ came in part to be with us in our suffering, even saving us in the midst of it. May you feel this, I pray. Hug sent. Your knitting is lovely and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove the shawl! I will keep the prayer wheels turning for Julie, you, Gene and all of her caretakers! HUGS!
ReplyDeleteStill praying for peace and sending love.
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving us as much "Nancy" as art and crafts. I am amazed at your beautiful making during this terrible time. Thank you for the updates. You are in my prayers. I just retired from hospice nursing. I think if you can get the skills of pain control and gentle care in your current situation, you can have some time to make the decisions. So many good things going on at the bedside from your love. Hope you are getting the very best of care
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