The Christmas Story

Update

Its been a month since Bonnie left the hospital and she continues to heal and gain strength. One of her stitches popped so she still dealing with the bed sore- I'm afraid that little beauty will stay around for many more months. But as far as everything goes, mom is doing very well. She can't do much for long but has tried to get back to a few things around the house. Hopefully my dad is still helping now that he knows how to do everything, what's his excuse, right? The other day when I called I asked for my mom and Don said, "She's making my breakfast." Have to hope he was kidding. Two weeks ago mom was carrying leftovers from a family dinner and fell head first on her way up the stairs. Lucky for her, I'd left a bag of clothes nearby and her face found those instead of Marci's wood floor. Her legs are still catching up with her will ;) Personally I haven't been able to make it up to visit as often as I used to (twice a day is draining after a month). But I am looking forward to having more time with Bonnie now that I am nearly caught up at home. Won't be posting very often again so for those of you that check this more than once a month, may I direct you to one of my favorite sites www.facebook.com where you can spy on anyone. Take care all!

There's no place like home

Bonnie's made it home! She took her first shower tonight since January. She was thrilled about that. She wants everyone to know she's still on antibiotics and would rather not have many visitors yet. There is a chance of giving and getting germs still and for now we need to keep everyone healthy. Feel free to call and make sure she is up for a visit before heading over to see her. These last two weeks have been miraculous. Thanks everyone!

Let's try this again

So around 2 o'clock we found out Bonnie needs a special KCI bed for the bed sore. After finding one we also found out it takes 2-3 weeks to get it approved through Medicare. What to do now? Dad and the home health nurse, Tiffany, found another option but mom can't be released until it's delivered to the house. Hopefully that will happen Wednesday morning. As soon as it's delivered my dad can bring her home. A little disappointed, Mom sounded ok with one more night in the hospital. She's doing really great. Seems to have more energy than before the set back in March.

Here's to my momma! Prize fighter! First thing she wants to do is make soup, but that's after she has a pkg of peeps. She's upset she missed them. They are her favorite. If you see any buy her a pkg or two :)

Going home hopefully

Waiting to see if mom gets released today. She's feeling well and wants to be home. Keep you posted.

Can't believe how well she's doing

So Thursday's news was unbelievable. Mom ate food and moved to the regular floor. She's doing so well. Hasn't been on oxygen since Wednesday. Her bed sore is healing nice. Over all it's a miracle in progress over this last week. When I saw her today she moved around well with a walker. The prayers have made such a difference. Thanks everyone. Bonnie is hoping to come home this week! Not sure if she'll be required to go to a care facility or not yet. I think she will have to go to a care place for at least a week. Once at home she's asked that she be given a few weeks to rest without visitors. Think she's looking forward to relaxing and sleeping. Because as they say in the hospital- you don't come here to rest, you come here to get better Don't ask. It makes no sense.

Happy momma

Today the nurses removed Bonnie's catheter and oxygen. She's very excited. Still she's not able to eat but is hopeful that it will be soon. She's still in icu ($@3weeks?)mom wanted to be home for Easter but that's probably not going happen. We just want her to get out of icu so the kids can come see her. The nurses think she'll have to go to a care center again but my dad doesnt want her to go back to Avalon. She's lost so much weight they wouldn't recognize her. Today was a great day she says.

I'm back

Sorry for the delay in news. Bonnie's breathing tube came out a few days ago and that made her very happy. Her surgery site is healing well and she's been able to walk around a few times every day. The Dr on duty today said he thinks she'll get out of icu soon which means the grand kids can come visit her. Great news for my friends and neighbors who have been doing double time watching my kids for me. Mom seemed so much better today than when I last saw her Tuesday. They were even talking about starting food soon. She's determined to get better and wants to come home before Easter. Think she can. She is starting to get bored. That's a good sign. Thanks for all the help and many many prayers. This has turned around completely! Looking forward to having my mommy back especially since the new mall is open. We joked with the dr last week that we'd had a busy day at the city creek mall and then the cheese cake factory for lunch. Of course we were only dreaming of being out of the hospital that day. It might be possible in the next month!

Surgery went very well

Everything went well for the surgery on Bonnie's bedsore. After she was in plenty of pain but let them keep the breathing tube in. Recovery is about two weeks for the graft and muscle donation site to heal. When I told her that she panicked and wrote, "I don't have to stay here that long?" Hopefully that ends the set backs and she can concentrate on getting better and stronger.

Sugery scheduled for today

It's time! The bedsore is getting filled with muscle (I volunteered plenty of fat but they turned it down) and then will be stitched closed. It never made much healing process. So this afternoon Bonnie will go in for this proceedure with a plastic surgeon.
After that time, she has elected for the breathing tube to be removed against Dr Smith's orders (this is the ICU Dr). As family we are hoping she changes her mind or can manage breathing on her own after last week's near lung collapse. She looks worn and tired but hopefully can overcome this last leg of healing.
Praying for her!


Bonnie on St Patrick's Day





Not happy with the breathing tube Friday



Are you kidding me?

Thought I could enjoy a night off and went to see Beauty and the Beast with my daughter and all would hold while there. Nope. Marci tried to visit my mom Thursday night and was told to wait while the dr put in a breathing tube back down moms throat. Two hours later we got to see mom. She's not happy about having a breathing tube again nor about being tied up to keep her naughty hands from pulling it out. But the nurse said they were able to clear out her lungs while she was under. Hope this helps with the pneumonia. So we will continue to pray for her healing and hope she will be off that breathing tube very soon. She has prep for surgery tomorrow then a plastic surgeon will work on the bedsore problem. Normally having plastic surgery on ones rear is exciting however this surgery will take 2-3 months to heal afterwards. Going to be a long recovery. Bedsores are the worst invention since mosquitos and snakes. Never invent them! Thanks for all the support. My dad has managed much better since he's been fed!

Set back

Bonnies lungs are worse today. Filled with fluids. She is also having stomach paint too. Poor little woman is just having the roughest time.

Slow recovery

Tuesday the swelling in Bonnie's knee went down and she was able to get up and move around more. It is not as painful but still hurts. The weeping sores looked better on her legs too. Her heart is doing well. Not sure how it happened but it is squeezing harder now and pumping enough blood through her body now. The healing had begun but will be slow and long. Her lungs are weak and not forcing the co2 out so that's concerning. It may take some time to get the fluids out of there so the lungs can function correctly again. If she is well enough a plastic surgeon will close up the deep bedsore she's been struggling with at the end of this week. That's about all the details we have. If we are nOt there when the dr comes by we don't get any updates. Thanks for your prayers and kindnesses.

A few infections but not impossible to cure

First thing, this blog is for close family and friends. Please use this information with courtesy to my family. My dad is very private and stressed out. If you see him please don't not pester him about any of these details or tell him how bad his wife looks. Have some manners please and use some care if you have to drag him through all this medical stuff.  He does not understand half the illnesses and can't always hear the doctor- eh? Deal?

Now to put my mom's good neighbors at ease---


Bonnie has form of strep in her knee joint called beta hemolytic strep. We don't know where that came from. Her bedsore did get infected with a form of staph that is curable with antibiotics. Called gram-positive bacteria coccide. This staph is also present in the stuff she's coughing up. They also think she has pneumonia as well.

The good news is she does not have the hard to cure MRSA and there is no infection in her blood or her heart. This is a dodged bullet and a miracle. Her heart however is in a failure-type mode but I do not understand what that means or what is failing. Her blood pressure is very low so maybe that's the problem.

Obviously the swelling of her legs the care center did not try to correct was a sign of a weak heart. Her body retained water due to poor circulation and eventually created the swelling of her legs. When her legs could no longer handle any more water, the water came out of her legs in weeping sores. Hope you aren't eating while reading this.

This is a bad set back but we are hopeful once the infection gets under control she can resume healing from her heart valve surgery. Oh yeah that's where all this started.

She's back in ICU

Dragged mom back to the hospital Wednesday night. She was having trouble staying awake and her swollen legs made it hard to walk. Today they think her bedsore is infected with MRSA or a staff infection. She's very sick and has been fighting.

Home at last

Bonnie left the Avalon care center Saturday morning. She's home now enjoying her plush mattress and better food. She requires oxygen but is doing well. My dad says she's improved tons in just one day. He's a salesman for sure ;) Anyway while she is home a nurse will check on her daily to make sure everything is working right. In the mean time if you'd like to visit, call first to make sure the nurse isn't there. Not fun to wait while she has a breathing treatment or a bandage changed. Also visits are wearing so we are thankful for those that want to help out but don't want mom to get worn out hostessing. Use your best judgement and know that a short visit is more helpful. Excited to be closer to having mom well again!

Little lady wants to go home

The care center has been good for my mom but she is ready to go home. So the plans for now are to set up in home nursing services and release Bonnie on Saturday. She's been doing well with food and the nurses will have to remove the feeding tube before she leaves.
Mom has developed very swollen feet. So swollen that one has split open causing an ulcer type sore. She suffered from a very painful ulcer on her foot many years ago and finally it healed after years and years of trying everything. We are hoping this new wound will not develop into such a painful sore.
Well that's the latest. Catch back up on Saturday after the (hopeful) move.

Moving along!

After visiting the wound dr and the throat dr Bonnie is finally able to eat. Slowly she'll get weaned off the feeding tube. She moved rooms as well. She is in room 114 now. Her new phone number is 801-951-1736. Her voice is still hoarse but getting better. She's going to visit home Saturday hopefully. She is wanting to be at home for good. Maybe by next week sometime.

Not much has changed

There isn't much change in moms energy. She's worn out from physical therapy and didn make it home to visit Monday night like she wanted to. The care center is really giving her a workout to get her stronger. She's gone working 3 hours a day so its getting harder to catch her in her room. Then ther are her breathing treatments and throat therapy sessions. She's busy all day long. We are trying to cut back visits so she can concentrate on recovery. She did sleep better the other night. Hope there's many more of those nights to come. Bonnie failed her throat swallow test again so she wont be eating food this week. I know she's frustrated. Tomorrow she sees the plastic surgeon about her bed sore. That has been so painful for her and is healing so slowly. If it weren't for that she'd be home. My oldest brother Scott and his daughter katie drove down from Washington to see my mom. It's been nice to have them here. Hoping there is good news from that doctor and some food for my momma soon.

Photo

Bonnie was too tired to join our family dinner tonight at my sister's house. The grand kids were disappointed but we will get together again.

Here's the photo of mom from Saturday