Here is the latest update on Berrrrrrrrrt Case.
The good news is that Bert will remain at the VA since they have all the facilities he needs now and in the future, which is a lot of physical therapy eventually. But what's not good are his lungs, which the doctors told me in our Tuesday meeting are not healing well even though he has some pretty good days. Bert's mental attitude isn't very good either - being confined and in a bed is not at all how he wants to live even though it's not forever. I and others keep telling him we're just waiting for his lungs to heal before he can get up and around but he's angry and frustrated and terribly impatient. He's come a long way in a relatively short time - just a little over 2 1/2 months ago when he contracted sepsis, he had at best a 50-50 chance. His body has healed everything but his lungs and that is a great accomplishment.
My plan for him is to push him more mentally,to try to get him out of his negative viewpoint and look forward to freedom. I've been doing this, but not enough obviously. I've asked the hospital staff to push him more physically with the OT and PT he's currently getting. It's push push pray pray for Bert! Thanks...Mary #prayforBert
2 comments:
Having been through long - long rehab with family, it seems that the week only has 5 days of work for the patient and on holiday weeks even fewer days. I am familiar with respiratory problems and healing the lungs. If he is off the assisted breathing for good lengths of time, he will get better.
Try music and perhaps a dog to visit. Children cheer up some and not others. People do not know what to say and begin to stop showing up. Does he play cards? Maybe so others would come up to play cards. Will they let him have a beer every evening or maybe a glass of wine? This might make him feel more normal. Bringing in favorite food, even from restaurants breaks the monotony of hospital food. Have a small church service on Sundays if Bert was used to going to church.
Books on tape might be fun for an hour every afternoon. Cookies at 4:00 PM are great.
Onward and Upward.
You have to wonder what his progress would have been at a real hospital.
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