Hi folks,
I am happy to report we have come home (that is to Vancouver) for the holiday season. We have been housebound due to the snowy weather but we are enjoying our family time together with Dennis. We are preparing for a low key New Year's party at my place and hoping Dennis will enjoying ringing in the new year with us.
Wishing you all many blessings in the New Year!!!
e
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
hello
It's been a long time and I hope all is going well for everyone.
Dennis was released from hospital on November 29. He is recovering well at home ... although progress is very slow. He's still receiving therapy at home. He continues to have issues with water retention. Dr's have confirmed this will be an ongoing issue due to his right sided heart failure. We are exploring possible next steps.
We are hoping to take Dennis to Vancouver, BC for Christmas. We will find out in the next couple of days if he will be released from therapy to come for 2 weeks. As we prepare to spend this holiday with Dennis, we are grateful for the blessings the Lord has given us this year. It has been a difficult year but we have been overwhelmed by God's mercy and grace upon our family. We are thankful for our friends and family who has support and prayed for us this past year.
Our family wishes you all a very Merry Christmas. May the peace of the Lord bless you and your household.
e
Dennis was released from hospital on November 29. He is recovering well at home ... although progress is very slow. He's still receiving therapy at home. He continues to have issues with water retention. Dr's have confirmed this will be an ongoing issue due to his right sided heart failure. We are exploring possible next steps.
We are hoping to take Dennis to Vancouver, BC for Christmas. We will find out in the next couple of days if he will be released from therapy to come for 2 weeks. As we prepare to spend this holiday with Dennis, we are grateful for the blessings the Lord has given us this year. It has been a difficult year but we have been overwhelmed by God's mercy and grace upon our family. We are thankful for our friends and family who has support and prayed for us this past year.
Our family wishes you all a very Merry Christmas. May the peace of the Lord bless you and your household.
e
Friday, November 21, 2008
update - back in hospital
Hi folks,
Sorry it's been a while but thing have been pretty hectic lately ... I guess that's how it is with 5 kids and a sick brother. Anyhow, the past few weeks have been pretty uneventful for Dennis. He has been having extensive rehab at home and came up for a few days to Vancouver for a visit. He's still having a lot of difficulty sleeping and is being follow by the sleep disorder clinic. If he's not rehabing, he's seeing Dr's. Dr's visits take up a lot of our time and he is currently seeing 8 specialists. A day of appointments go from morning till evening. As you can image, it's pretty tiring on those days. Otherwise, he is been getting stronger.
Unfortunately the pattern of rehabilitiating has taken a turn this week. We have been to the hospital everyday for the past 4 days. He was in ER 4 days ago due to a possible blood clot in his leg. He was scanned and there is no new clots - Yeah! But they noticed decrease in his kidney function and fluid overload again. So, after going to the hospital every day for tests, he was admitted yesterday. He's back at UW. I'm not sure how long he will be there but I will let you know.
e
Sorry it's been a while but thing have been pretty hectic lately ... I guess that's how it is with 5 kids and a sick brother. Anyhow, the past few weeks have been pretty uneventful for Dennis. He has been having extensive rehab at home and came up for a few days to Vancouver for a visit. He's still having a lot of difficulty sleeping and is being follow by the sleep disorder clinic. If he's not rehabing, he's seeing Dr's. Dr's visits take up a lot of our time and he is currently seeing 8 specialists. A day of appointments go from morning till evening. As you can image, it's pretty tiring on those days. Otherwise, he is been getting stronger.
Unfortunately the pattern of rehabilitiating has taken a turn this week. We have been to the hospital everyday for the past 4 days. He was in ER 4 days ago due to a possible blood clot in his leg. He was scanned and there is no new clots - Yeah! But they noticed decrease in his kidney function and fluid overload again. So, after going to the hospital every day for tests, he was admitted yesterday. He's back at UW. I'm not sure how long he will be there but I will let you know.
e
Monday, November 3, 2008
settling in
Hi folks,
I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post. I actually thought I had made a post last week but I just noticed I didn't.
Dennis is settling in well at home. He is having close to 30 hours of therapy at week from home and has made his first few visits outside of the home. He is being carefully monitored between 8 different teams of specialists. It will be some time before he will be functioning at full capacity.
e
I'm sorry it's been so long since my last post. I actually thought I had made a post last week but I just noticed I didn't.
Dennis is settling in well at home. He is having close to 30 hours of therapy at week from home and has made his first few visits outside of the home. He is being carefully monitored between 8 different teams of specialists. It will be some time before he will be functioning at full capacity.
e
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
At home
I can't believe Dennis is finally home. It all seems so surreal. He arrived home this evening and has already had a visit from the nurse. He will be starting all of his in-home rehab programs tomorrow. I guess no break from therapy.
My mom's anxiety level has really gone up today and she is feeling pretty stressed being his sole caregiver at home. She feels extremely responsible for any failures Dennis may have in the days to come. She is also trying to remember all of the things they have trained her to do at home from diet to medications to injections to utilizing and setting up his breathing and ambulation equipment. Please pray for her as she develops a routine and gains confidence in her ability to take care of Dennis.
Dennis is also out of sorts. He has become accustomed to hospital life and although he's been begging to come home, now that he is, he is finding challenges in his living environment. From his couch seat being to low for him to get up and his bathroom being too small to move around in with his walker, he is having to learn to re-adjust what he has learned to do in the hospital. Please pray for Dennis as he learns a new way of living.
Dennis can be called at home but he does not currently have access to his cell phone or computer. I have put these away in safe keeping.
As for the blog ... yes, I will keep the blog updated with his progress. I anticipate it will be a very long journey of recovery.
e
My mom's anxiety level has really gone up today and she is feeling pretty stressed being his sole caregiver at home. She feels extremely responsible for any failures Dennis may have in the days to come. She is also trying to remember all of the things they have trained her to do at home from diet to medications to injections to utilizing and setting up his breathing and ambulation equipment. Please pray for her as she develops a routine and gains confidence in her ability to take care of Dennis.
Dennis is also out of sorts. He has become accustomed to hospital life and although he's been begging to come home, now that he is, he is finding challenges in his living environment. From his couch seat being to low for him to get up and his bathroom being too small to move around in with his walker, he is having to learn to re-adjust what he has learned to do in the hospital. Please pray for Dennis as he learns a new way of living.
Dennis can be called at home but he does not currently have access to his cell phone or computer. I have put these away in safe keeping.
As for the blog ... yes, I will keep the blog updated with his progress. I anticipate it will be a very long journey of recovery.
e
Monday, October 20, 2008
going home - help!
Hi folks,
I received a call this evening that Dennis is going to be discharged home tomorrow! Yippee!!! Dennis is very excited.
Unfortunately this has put us into a little tail spin. I am currently in Victoria, BC completing my residency for my master's program. My time in residency will be done on Friday but until then Dennis and my mom are on their own. Dennis and my mom are needing a ride home tomorrow afternoon. Is there anyone available to help? He has a fold able walker and wheelchair plus a load of stuff that they have acquired over the past 3.5 months. Dennis' home also has no groceries. He is on a very strict diet that my mom will need to shop for. Dennis is under 24 hour supervision, therefore, I'm wondering if someone can sit with Dennis while my mom walks to Safeway. Please email me at eunicecho@shaw.ca if you are able to provide any assistance.
Thanks very much!!
e
I received a call this evening that Dennis is going to be discharged home tomorrow! Yippee!!! Dennis is very excited.
Unfortunately this has put us into a little tail spin. I am currently in Victoria, BC completing my residency for my master's program. My time in residency will be done on Friday but until then Dennis and my mom are on their own. Dennis and my mom are needing a ride home tomorrow afternoon. Is there anyone available to help? He has a fold able walker and wheelchair plus a load of stuff that they have acquired over the past 3.5 months. Dennis' home also has no groceries. He is on a very strict diet that my mom will need to shop for. Dennis is under 24 hour supervision, therefore, I'm wondering if someone can sit with Dennis while my mom walks to Safeway. Please email me at eunicecho@shaw.ca if you are able to provide any assistance.
Thanks very much!!
e
Saturday, October 18, 2008
slow and steady
Hi folks,
Dennis is progressing. He's got another 6kg of water loss to go before he gets to go home. They anticipate it may be later this week. He's been on a long journey to get to this point but we are happy with Dennis progress and are looking forward to taking him home (to Renton).
e
Dennis is progressing. He's got another 6kg of water loss to go before he gets to go home. They anticipate it may be later this week. He's been on a long journey to get to this point but we are happy with Dennis progress and are looking forward to taking him home (to Renton).
e
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