Tuesday, December 2 … Midnight Caller!
Well it was actually 1:30 a.m., not midnight, but Mom got a wake-up call from Troy, Dad’s night nurse, saying that they were moving him out of the ICU!! He told mom that Dad was the most stable patient they had, and they really needed his bed. So, they were moving him to the sixth floor, and she could find him in Room 606 in the morning. Mom has been stopping at the hospital before work each day, and found Dad sitting up and eating breakfast. She told him that when his therapists came in today to work with him, that he better show off that new found vocabulary, and apparently he did! A case worker called mom at work and said both the speech therapist and the occupational therapist thought dad had improved enough to be discharged and begin therapy at a rehabilitation hospital, so all they needed was the approval of the physical therapist as well as the insurance company. It didn’t come by the end of today, but hopefully tomorrow. We are anxious to get this show on the road!!
Dad’s daytime visitors today were Grandma (bearing a gift of sugar-free jello with sliced bananas!) and Kim Meyers. Mom, Dave & I all visited after work, and Dad ate well again, except his blood sugar and blood pressure were both a little high. Hopefully he will get a good night’s sleep and feel great tomorrow!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Monday, December 1...Hello,Hello!
Dad had another good day in ICU; when Cheryl went by to check on him mid-day, she found him sitting up in a neuro chair! Cheryl told Dad that Alex was eager to visit him, and Dad replied, “bring him!” Unfortunately, kids can’t visit in the ICU, but hopefully, Dad will be mo
ved soon. When Mom, Dave & I arrived for evening visitation, Dad greeted us. He was answering our questions with one or two words and seemed impressed with the picture of Bryan Dorman’s fish he caught at Lake Conroe this weekend when Bryan came by to visit. However, the highlight of our night was when my cousin Kevin called and asked if he could say hello to his Uncle George. Mom put her cell phone up to Dad’s ear, and when Kevin started talking and asking Dad questions, dad answered in full sentences! Mom and I just looked at each other and started crying; we hadn’t heard that many words come out of Dad’s mouth in 5 days!! When Mom finally got the phone back, Kevin was just as amazed as we were. Mom said, “I don’t know why he talked like that to you, and not us.” Kevin responded, “because he loves me more!” When Dad gets better, he’s got some explaining to do … ha!!
ved soon. When Mom, Dave & I arrived for evening visitation, Dad greeted us. He was answering our questions with one or two words and seemed impressed with the picture of Bryan Dorman’s fish he caught at Lake Conroe this weekend when Bryan came by to visit. However, the highlight of our night was when my cousin Kevin called and asked if he could say hello to his Uncle George. Mom put her cell phone up to Dad’s ear, and when Kevin started talking and asking Dad questions, dad answered in full sentences! Mom and I just looked at each other and started crying; we hadn’t heard that many words come out of Dad’s mouth in 5 days!! When Mom finally got the phone back, Kevin was just as amazed as we were. Mom said, “I don’t know why he talked like that to you, and not us.” Kevin responded, “because he loves me more!” When Dad gets better, he’s got some explaining to do … ha!!Sunday, November 30...Today's Forecast: SUNNY!!
What a difference a day makes! Ada, Dad’s nurse, had Dad looking good this morning. He was squeaky-clean, looked rested, his color was back in his cheeks, and he was sitting up, drinking thickened c
offee and feeding himself breakfast all with his left hand! We were totally amazed at the progress after a good day’s rest! Dr. Diaz had ordered an additional test for Dad today; one that would check all of his blood vessels a
nd arteries in his head. He was down in Imaging for quite some time, but when he got back, he ate lunch and then Dave shaved his whiskers, we applied after shave and he dozed off for a much deserved nap smelling and looking good!! Shirley Lucas dropped by the waiting room with a couple of pizzas for us to eat for lunch, so today was a Super Sunday!!
Friends and family uplifting us today: Jimmy Kelso, Uncle Johnny, Shirley, Kim Meyers, grandma, Terri & Emily, and countless others that call or email every day!
offee and feeding himself breakfast all with his left hand! We were totally amazed at the progress after a good day’s rest! Dr. Diaz had ordered an additional test for Dad today; one that would check all of his blood vessels a
nd arteries in his head. He was down in Imaging for quite some time, but when he got back, he ate lunch and then Dave shaved his whiskers, we applied after shave and he dozed off for a much deserved nap smelling and looking good!! Shirley Lucas dropped by the waiting room with a couple of pizzas for us to eat for lunch, so today was a Super Sunday!!Friends and family uplifting us today: Jimmy Kelso, Uncle Johnny, Shirley, Kim Meyers, grandma, Terri & Emily, and countless others that call or email every day!
Saturday, November 29...Sooo Sleepy!
Dad’s nuerologist seems to make rounds in the wee morning hours, so Mom spent last night in the ICU hoping to catch him and get his thoughts on Dad’s condition. She said dad was very restless all night long, so neither one of them got much sleep. And just as Dad did get comfortable and doze off about 3 a.m., it wasn’t long after, until the chest x-ray machine was making its rounds in the ICU, and woke them up about 5 a.m. On this particular morning, instead of Dr. Diaz making his rounds at 6 a.m., he didn’t arrive until normal visiting hours began at 9:30 a.m. Mom w
asn’t too happy, but too tired to complain and besides that, he made Dad’s foot move by scraping the bottom of it with his little magic tool. Mom was thrilled not only with that little movement, but she thought Dr. Diaz had a great bedside manner and was eager to help Dad get on the road to his recovery. So, she left the hospital a happy little camper. Terri and I arrived at the hospital to take over the helm so Mom could go home and get some sleep, but Dad didn’t seem to notice, because he was sound asleep. His nurse, Vanessa, said that it was not unusual for days 3 and 4 to be sleepy days so the body can repair itself and heal. He slept through all of his morning visitors … Karen & Stacey Hill (and they brought bagels and cream cheese for us for breakfast!); Sha
nnon Cass and Debbie Schneider, Jose Benevidas and Rick & Laura Krustchinsky. However, as the morning progressed, Dad seemed to be less and less responsive, and it began to worry Vanessa. She took it upon herself to call Dr. Diaz and relay her concern, so Dr. Diaz ordered another CT scan to make sure Dad didn’t have a bleed in his brain or another stroke. Mom happened to return to the hospital just as they were wheeling Dad down to Imaging, but thank the good Lord, nothing had changed, Dad was just exhausted, and managed to sleep through most of the afternoon and the visitors it brought as well … Ricky & Linda Luker, Charles Lee Luker, Donald Ray Meek, Johnny Adams, David & Cheryl (Hannah & Alex, too!), and Terri, Paul and the girls.
asn’t too happy, but too tired to complain and besides that, he made Dad’s foot move by scraping the bottom of it with his little magic tool. Mom was thrilled not only with that little movement, but she thought Dr. Diaz had a great bedside manner and was eager to help Dad get on the road to his recovery. So, she left the hospital a happy little camper. Terri and I arrived at the hospital to take over the helm so Mom could go home and get some sleep, but Dad didn’t seem to notice, because he was sound asleep. His nurse, Vanessa, said that it was not unusual for days 3 and 4 to be sleepy days so the body can repair itself and heal. He slept through all of his morning visitors … Karen & Stacey Hill (and they brought bagels and cream cheese for us for breakfast!); Sha
nnon Cass and Debbie Schneider, Jose Benevidas and Rick & Laura Krustchinsky. However, as the morning progressed, Dad seemed to be less and less responsive, and it began to worry Vanessa. She took it upon herself to call Dr. Diaz and relay her concern, so Dr. Diaz ordered another CT scan to make sure Dad didn’t have a bleed in his brain or another stroke. Mom happened to return to the hospital just as they were wheeling Dad down to Imaging, but thank the good Lord, nothing had changed, Dad was just exhausted, and managed to sleep through most of the afternoon and the visitors it brought as well … Ricky & Linda Luker, Charles Lee Luker, Donald Ray Meek, Johnny Adams, David & Cheryl (Hannah & Alex, too!), and Terri, Paul and the girls.Thank you to all of your wonderful friends and family who have come to see Dad in the hospital...we love all of you very much!
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Friday, November 28...CAUTION: Dangerous Curves!!
Mom was the first to arrive at the hospital today and found Dad to be more lethargic than yesterday. She noticed that his mouth was very dry so she went and got Dad some ice chips and began feeding them to him. Kelli, his nurse, happened to come in and said that she didn’t think giving him ice chips was a good idea because his swallowing was yet to be evaluated. Mom told her that he had been given ice chips and some applesauce the day before, but again, she discouraged Mom from proceeding. Mom asked her when they planned on getting around to the evaluation then since it had already been two days. Kelli said she thought it would happen today. Mom told her it better happen today because she felt Dad was becoming dehydrated, and Kelli responded that his vitals were not yet critical, so she didn’t think it was a big deal. WRONG ANSWER! Mom said she thought Dad had been through enough already and didn’t want his vital signs to become critical. In fact, why wasn’t there fluids being given to him through an IV? Kelli said Mom would have to take that up with the doctor, and again, that was the wrong answer!! Mom “suggested” that she better take that up with the doctor herself and get her husband hydrated or some heads were going to roll. It wasn’t 30 minutes later when a IV was started and the speech therapist was in dad’s room, and guess what?!? He could swallow correctly, just as Nurse Agnes had tho
ught! So, a soft diet was ordered and a tray of food arrived soon thereafter which we fed to him. Now you are probably thinking that this is the end of the story, but you’re wrong! As Mom was taking a break out in the waiting room and eating her breakfast banana, my sister, Terri, came out of the ICU in tears. Mom asked what was wrong, and she said that as she stood at dad’s bed side stroking Dad’s hand, Nurse Kelli came in and asked her not do that. She claimed that he didn’t need the “stimulation” just rest, so she thought Terri and everyone else out needed to stay out of Dad’s room. Just then, the door opened and Nurse Kelli asked to have a word with Mom. Mom stepped inside and was told basically the same thing as Terri, but added that Dad would become psychotic if not left alone. Once again, WRONG thing to say … Nurse Kelli has never seen psychotic until that moment! Mom just about lost it with her. She reminded Kelly that my dad was laying there and couldn’t speak except through the fear in his eyes. She told her that my dad loved being affectionate and that holding his hand or stroking his head until he fell asleep was comforting my dad, not making him psychotic! She also told him that our family was a close-knit bunch, and some traveled for hours over this holiday weekend just to let my dad know that they were there for him and for us, and as long as we were abiding by the rules of visitation, that she would not keep us out! Just as Mom was contemplating on whether or not she should ask for the nursing supervisor, the ICU door opened again and a nurse stood there asking if a member of the Luker family was present. I just knew security was waiting behind her, bu
t much to our surprise, it was Jason’s Deli delivering food trays for us. No, it wasn’t a peace offering from Nurse Kelly, but she did apologize to Mom later that day for upsetting us. The sandwich and fruit trays were sent by my cousin, Kevin, and Lucy, his wife. I think we all felt better with a little food in our stomachs!
The ICU waiting room has definitely been taken over by the Luker family and circle of friends! Those supporting us today were: Kevin Ferrell, Allen Stone (Chelsea and Lauren, too), Carol Humprhey, Penny Thomason, Jose Benevidas, Bryan Dorman, Landrum, Ricky Luker, Kurt Luker, Donnie Luker, Rick & Laura Krustchinsky, Lauren & Brent James, Mari, Aaron and baby Sam Fredrickson, Bev & Jim Brewer (who also brought us yummy salads from Panera Bread), David & Cheryl Arlott, Judy & Ty Reynolds, Agnes Totten, Terri and Grandma.
ught! So, a soft diet was ordered and a tray of food arrived soon thereafter which we fed to him. Now you are probably thinking that this is the end of the story, but you’re wrong! As Mom was taking a break out in the waiting room and eating her breakfast banana, my sister, Terri, came out of the ICU in tears. Mom asked what was wrong, and she said that as she stood at dad’s bed side stroking Dad’s hand, Nurse Kelli came in and asked her not do that. She claimed that he didn’t need the “stimulation” just rest, so she thought Terri and everyone else out needed to stay out of Dad’s room. Just then, the door opened and Nurse Kelli asked to have a word with Mom. Mom stepped inside and was told basically the same thing as Terri, but added that Dad would become psychotic if not left alone. Once again, WRONG thing to say … Nurse Kelli has never seen psychotic until that moment! Mom just about lost it with her. She reminded Kelly that my dad was laying there and couldn’t speak except through the fear in his eyes. She told her that my dad loved being affectionate and that holding his hand or stroking his head until he fell asleep was comforting my dad, not making him psychotic! She also told him that our family was a close-knit bunch, and some traveled for hours over this holiday weekend just to let my dad know that they were there for him and for us, and as long as we were abiding by the rules of visitation, that she would not keep us out! Just as Mom was contemplating on whether or not she should ask for the nursing supervisor, the ICU door opened again and a nurse stood there asking if a member of the Luker family was present. I just knew security was waiting behind her, bu
t much to our surprise, it was Jason’s Deli delivering food trays for us. No, it wasn’t a peace offering from Nurse Kelly, but she did apologize to Mom later that day for upsetting us. The sandwich and fruit trays were sent by my cousin, Kevin, and Lucy, his wife. I think we all felt better with a little food in our stomachs!The ICU waiting room has definitely been taken over by the Luker family and circle of friends! Those supporting us today were: Kevin Ferrell, Allen Stone (Chelsea and Lauren, too), Carol Humprhey, Penny Thomason, Jose Benevidas, Bryan Dorman, Landrum, Ricky Luker, Kurt Luker, Donnie Luker, Rick & Laura Krustchinsky, Lauren & Brent James, Mari, Aaron and baby Sam Fredrickson, Bev & Jim Brewer (who also brought us yummy salads from Panera Bread), David & Cheryl Arlott, Judy & Ty Reynolds, Agnes Totten, Terri and Grandma.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 27...Turkey Crossing
Even though we did not plan on spending Thanksgiving in the ICU waiting room, we still have many reasons to be thankful: Dad is stable. We're blessed with many wo
nderful friends and family members. We still had turkey and all the fixins hand-delivered by David and Cheryl.
Dad is doing fine today. He still has limited speech and cannot move his right leg or arm. Dad has not been able to eat anything because they want to make sure that his swallowing was not afftected by the stroke at all before he eats anything solid. The speech therapist is going to schedule him for a complete speech eval sometime in the next day or two. Hopefully after that, we'll be able to let him eat something. For now, he is limited to a diet of ice chips and sugar-free vanilla pudding. Dad's nurse today is Agnes...that is my great grandmother's name so we knew Dad was in good hands. He had to have another MRI this morning and would not stay still, so Agnes crawled inside with Dad and held his hand until he fell asleep and his test could be completed.
Friends and family to be thankful for: Mike Ligon, Ricky Luker, Christine O'Reilly, Cheryl & David Arlott, Brian Dorman, Terri & Paul Strozier (Emily & Jennifer), and Kim Meyers (Associate Pastor) at St. Peter's United Methodist Church. And of course, the new fixtures of the ICU waiting room: Grandma, Mom and Dave & I.
nderful friends and family members. We still had turkey and all the fixins hand-delivered by David and Cheryl.Dad is doing fine today. He still has limited speech and cannot move his right leg or arm. Dad has not been able to eat anything because they want to make sure that his swallowing was not afftected by the stroke at all before he eats anything solid. The speech therapist is going to schedule him for a complete speech eval sometime in the next day or two. Hopefully after that, we'll be able to let him eat something. For now, he is limited to a diet of ice chips and sugar-free vanilla pudding. Dad's nurse today is Agnes...that is my great grandmother's name so we knew Dad was in good hands. He had to have another MRI this morning and would not stay still, so Agnes crawled inside with Dad and held his hand until he fell asleep and his test could be completed.
Friends and family to be thankful for: Mike Ligon, Ricky Luker, Christine O'Reilly, Cheryl & David Arlott, Brian Dorman, Terri & Paul Strozier (Emily & Jennifer), and Kim Meyers (Associate Pastor) at St. Peter's United Methodist Church. And of course, the new fixtures of the ICU waiting room: Grandma, Mom and Dave & I.
Wednesday, November 26...Life Takes a Detour
On Wednesday, November 26th at around 10:20 in the morning Dad suffered a stroke in his left cerebral artery. Upon arriving at Memorial Hermann Katy's ER, Dad's symptoms started improving and the doctors diagnosed Dad with a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack) which was more of a "warning sign" of an impending stroke. They decided to keep him overnight for observation and moved him to his own room. Soon afterwards, we realized that his symptoms had returned and immediately notified the nurse of this. A barrage of hospital staff began entering Dad's room and performing ultrasounds of his heart, carotid arteries and then took him down for another CT Scan. Afterwards, they decided to move Dad to the ICU so he could be more closely monitored and to see exactly what is going on. It looks like it will be a long road to recovery for Dad, but we are all optimistic that him and his hard-headed self will make a full recovery.
Friends and family members that came to support us: David Arlott; Grandma; Terri, Jennifer & Emily; Penny & Danny Thomason; Shirley & Ike Lucas, and Christine O’Reilly.
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