Chocolate Pudding!!

So I start writing this to everyone in a very emotional state. I just Got news from Sharon that Dave just passed his Barium Swallow test! This is a test that tells us if his swallowing muscles are working properly, so he can swallow food again, and protect his airway! This is the Best news EVER! Sharon and I have said to each other today, "Hes REALLY getting better!" saying and writing it brings such emotional happiness to my heart!

With giving everyone his Good news let me explain why I Titled this "Chocolate Pudding!!" I go in to see Dave every Monday-Tuesday-and Thursday, as well as on the weekends. This past week--beginning with the taste of Mountain Dew--he has been becoming obsessed with several things. When he gets a thought in his mind he sticks to it! A few of the things he has been going on about is his bladder, water, and now Chocolate pudding. We believe his bladder is having some sort of spasms, causing him to feel like he needs to urinate. He has a catheder so even though we explain this to him, he insists to us he needs to go pee. I think possibly its his bladder 'waking up' a true sign of him getting better. He lost his bladder control Back in December when he was in Good Shepard. And it wasnt so much the control it was really Daves body to release his urine.

WATER. On last Thursday I was visiting Dave, during speech Therapy. He was asking me for water. So Theresa his Speech Therapist gave him a pink swap soaked in ice water. Well! You would have thought Dave was given his favorite candy!! So Theresa allowed him 5 swabs an hour. lol! As soon as Dave sees us he says "WATER"!

CHOCOLATE PUDDING. On Friday Theresa began the swallowing tests for Dave. This consisted of chocoloate pudding and apple juice with thick it in it. The apple Juice also had a dye in it to tell if any was left in his throat. I am Happy to report that on Friday it all went down-no dye was remaining. Yesterday, Monday, Theresa did the same, and the same thing happened--all went down. So to wrap this story up Dave has made the connection between Theresa and Chocolate pudding! Today while I was there after I gave 2 of his water swabs, called Sharon (WHICH I am VERY HAPPY to say was one of his constant requests when Dave first was in the hospital back in Nov. He would ask me to call Sharon the second he saw me! THATS BACK too! lol!), we then went over his need to pee, and then he said to me "Go-get-Theresa". at that I asked him why? and the response I got was "Chocolate-pudding". Lol! So me being me-the do whatever he wants to make him feel better person , go look for Theresa. She was busy with another patient so I told Dave and then we sat and chatted. Which also for the first time in a long time was a great conversation! Dave kept up with me responding appropriately. As with all good things, my time for the day with Dave ended, and it was time to go to work. As I was leaving, Dave asked me again "Go-get-Theresa". So I told his nurse to let Theresa know, and this made Dave very Happy!

I Left Dave this morning very sad, yet very happy. He is truely coming back to us. One step at a time, slowly but surely! I am sad because with Dave getting better I was sad because that means another move for Dave, and once again it looks to be an unknown place. Daves Insurance has denied him going to an Acute Rehab facility, he has just about used up those allowed days. However he does have days available in a sub Acute Rehab/Skilled Nursing home. So that had me lost and sad, as with every move for Dave has left me. I think its a cross between the fear of the unknown and the fact that its hard for me to let someone else care for my loved ones (Sharon NOT included in that. I truely she has been the god send for us all-especially Dave, as well! I have known all along that Sharon looked after Dave the same way that I did. We make a team-Sharon! I love you too! XOXO!)

But Now as I type this, THIS is the best news of all! Dave is Really REALLY-REALLY on his way to getting better! With getting better, its only makes sense for him to get back to his LIFE! That includes moving to a place back up closer to his home. This will make Things SOOO much easier for Sharon. Less commute--easier for work and for their wonderful Dogs to ALL see Dave, as well as their close friends, this will still be a place easy for our Family to get to as well. See? its the first step for Dave to get his Life Back! Its like Water and Chocolate pudding!

AS far as I go Dave, Not to worry, I told you today, it doesnt matter where you go, I will FIND you! I am the knat you just cant get rid of! LOL! and will always be there 100% of the way! You Keep giving your 100% too!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Mountain Dew?

Who would have thought that Mountain Dew would become one of the most motivating items in Dave's life?  Sharon started the day yesterday experiencing the ultimate level of frustration.  Dr's were in to assess Dave for possible transfer to Good Shepard Rehabilitation Hospital.  This is HUGE!  By transferring him to a facility like that means that they feel that he can be rehabilitated and eventually come home.  At a rehab center he will get a minimum of 3 hours everyday of physical, occupational and speech therapy.  He has been doing very well in these areas the past couple of weeks and it was time to see if he could make the transition to a more intensive therapy regimen.  If they feel he would not make the transition then he would likely be transferred to a nursing facility.  Whereas a nursing facility would offer a small level of therapy it really is nothing compared to a rehab center.  Needless to say, Sharon was full of nerves hoping that this assessment went well.

Despite how well Dave had been doing with all the various therapists, yesterday he really wanted no parts of it!  He refused to respond or do the things they were asking him to do.  Sharon begged, pleaded and cried trying to get him to show them he could do this to no avail.  It was a moment of sheer frustration for her and for the therapists who have been working with him.  Dave was really being stubborn.  It is hard to know what he is thinking when this happens.  Everyone is positive that he understands what is going on and perhaps he thinks if they don't accept him at the rehab that they would just send him home?  I don't know but that is the only thing that seems to make some sense to me.  Apparently the entire assessment went this way except that at one point there was a loud crash in the hallway and Dave responded to it and fully lifted his head and turned toward it.  In that moment he showed them that he could do it and was just being stubborn!

Later on Sharon was sitting in his room with him and she was drinking a Mountain Dew.  Dave saw this and his eyes grew wide and he kept motioning that he wanted it.  Remember that Dave has had a feeding tube since early January.  He hasn't tasted anything in over 3 months!  He isn't even able to drink water due to the swallowing difficulties and has had to rely on a swab in the mouth to even give him some moisture.  Seeing his reaction Sharon used her finger to moisten his lips with it.  She said he thoroughly enjoyed even that small amount.  From that moment on, being tempted by Mountain Dew, he did EVERYTHING that he was asked to do and when Sharon arrived this morning, Mountain Dew was the very first thing he wanted.  If Mountain Dew holds that much power I wonder what he would do for a taste of beer???

In the end the transfer to Good Shepard Rehabilitation center was approved and tomorrow Dave will be transferred there.  This is a really big step in the right direction! 

To Dave:

Dave, I know moving is hard.  Not just physically but emotionally also.  We know that you want to come home in the worst way and there is nothing that Sharon and everyone else wants more.  As hard as it is to understand this move gets you sooooo much closer to that goal!  They are going to work you really hard and you are likely to getted really pissed off at all them and that is ok, but it is only through this intense therapy that you are going to be able to once again enjoy so many of the things that you have missed.  Petting your dogs, hanging out with friends and having a beer, giving Sharon a hug...the list is endless.  We all know you can do this.  Keep showing them the fighter that we have all come to realize you are and know that everytime you move a muscle or say a word you have your own personal pep squad cheering you on.  You may not see us but we are with you in spirit, day in and day out!!!! 

the smallest words means sooo much!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone it is Sharon, sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Those really close to me know why I don't like to post. So I'm just giving a little update. Dave seems to be responding well to the steriods. He has been moved back to Good Shepherd Ltach, which is a good thing, no longer in ICU. This past week his therapist have started him on a speacking valve for his trach. Dave has been off of his ventilator for of a week. He still has the trach because of his secretions, it allows the respiratory therapist to go in and suction him, which is unpleasent, when he needs it. As inpleasent as this is, Dave does ask to be suctioned at times, so it does give him relief. Imagine having bronchitis all the time, this is how Dave feels right now. The speaking valve allows air to flow around his vocal cords allowing him to produce sound. The first time I told Dave that I love him after they had put this valve on him he responded with 'I love you too', I haven't heard him say that in almost two months. Each day he seems to be willing to try a little more at talking. Dave got so frustrated not being understood that he had stopped trying to comunicate. It is great having Dave try again to talk to us. But to be able to communicate again comes with it downs sides. Dave is now able to let us know when he is not happy or comfortable, but it is still hard to understand him, so it just kills me to know Dave is trying to let me know something I can't figure out. I know sometimes Dave is not comfortable but I can't figure out what is bothering him. Sometimes it is internal, sometimes it is physical. He has admitted to me that he is sad(he says because he misses me) and he is scared(I haven't figured out why yet) but at the same time when I'm there his spirits seem good! Dave needs everyone to continue praying and sending all of their postive energy and thoughts his way! He hasn't given up so no one else can yet either!!!!!!!!!