Judi has continued to grow healthier and stronger over the last week. She has really been working her arms and legs, and has developed quite a grip on our hands when she wants to. Her periods of awareness come at about the same frequency and length. During these periods, she obeys commands and really focuses, but we are still looking for this to be the rule rather than the exception.
The big update is that yesterday, her trachea tube was replaced with the smallest size. This means that the next step will be capping it off and having her breathe through her upper airway. Changing it was not fun for anyone involved, but she has tolerated it well and is maintaining her oxygen saturation. She has also been doing well with the Passy-Muir valve. This is the one-way valve that allows her to breathe in through the tracheostomy but forces her to breathe out through her upper airway. It takes time for patients to build up the strength to tolerate it, but she has really been doing well with it, keeping it on all day sometimes.
Right now, we are starting to weigh our different options for rehabilitation facilities. I know that some of you have helped loved ones through a similar injury, so if you have any insight, we would appreciate it. We are considering Walton and Shepherd, and trying to discern the real differences between the two. Thanks in advance for any insight you have there. :)
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You can do it, Judi. Hang in there and stay tough. Steve Jessica, you hang in there as well. Glad to see the progress. LOL, Julie S.
ReplyDeleteHang in Judi you will back throwing that bowling ball in no time. Glad to see she is doing so well. We are going to the Ladies Southeastern this weekend in Mobile AL. We are sure going to miss you. Keep up the good work Steve and Jessica. Thanks for keeping us up to date on Judi's progress. Your Friend Deborah Turner
ReplyDeleteHey Jess! I am so glad that your mom has been making steady progress and is healing so well from the surgeries, I've been praying for all of you.
ReplyDeleteWalton is a GREAT rehab facility, or at least it was back when my grandfather rehabbed there after his car accident. They were tough on him, but in a really supportive and beneficial way. He had to relearn to walk and use one of his arms and he was home and walking well before anyone ever expected him too.
Elizabeth D.
I don't know about Shepherd but I love walton. I worked there last month and loved it so much that I'm going back in July. The people are very sweet and very dedicated. Plus, wouldn't you rather have her be in a facility in augusta? It would be stressful to have her in Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteErin D.
Shepherd does have an outstanding reputation for their aggressive rehab program but it might be difficult for you all having Judi two and half hours away. I am glad to hear that Judi is still making progress. PLEASE let me know when I can come see her. Love you all!
ReplyDeleteAngela
Shepherd is an amazing facility and very adaptive to each different case. They rehab with everything from pet therapy to canoeing and scuba diving in their indoor pool! They have so many different levels of treatment; it's mind blowing.
ReplyDeleteThey actually have a lab in there of GA Tech graduates who constantly work on new ways to make the patients' lives easier, like an email program where they can use breathing to write, or following your eye movements to maneuver the wheelchair. They also custom make the wheelchair seats and backs for each patient based on their pressure points!
The rooms are also all equipped with an electronic pulley system with a remote, where you guys, and eventually judi, can use it to lift herself up out of bed and move over to a chair, even if she's not able to use her legs yet.
One of the most amazing things is their focus on regaining control of lifestyle. I don't mean to get ahead of the game or anything, but they actually have fake apartments set up so that people can get used to (and learn how to) modify their own houses and still do the same things they were able to do before. They have a greenhouse where people can do gardening for therapy and a pottery studio and darkroom for arts. They do a lot of things offsite too, like practice runs to the grocery store or a braves game.
They have a family housing apartment building for you and Steve to stay for free for I believe 2 months or so while the patient is there as well. That would be hard for you guys to have her so far away, but I can see the place right out of my office window and only live about 1 mile away, so you are more than welcome to stay in our spare bedroom as much and for as long as you would need and of course I would be happy to visit her anytime as well.
I have a ton of other info about Shepherd that I'll send back with Katie this weekend for you guys to look through. If you can make it to Atlanta, they will show you a great tour of the place and you can see all of these things in action.
So happy for all of the positive news and I can't wait to see her and give her a big hug! Hope you guys are doing well and please let us know if there is anything we can do to help.
Love,
Liz