finally an update

Well it has been quite a while since the last update was posted.

We have to put our thinking caps on...its been busy.

January 30th, was Jimmy’s appointment with the Neuro- Ophthamologist. He confirmed what we already knew, but we were hoping maybe it would be different. Jimmy’s peripheral vision - on the left side of both eyes – has been affected. His eyes are healthy-- this has to do with the brain. You can only imagine Jimmy’s reaction when the intern told him that if he didn’t know his history and only looked at his eyes he wouldn’t know anything was wrong. You should have seen the eyes roll and the look on Jimmy’s face! We knew from early on that something was up with the left side because he noticeably favored the right.  If we approach him on the left he doesn’t see or hear us right away. We work on placing things to his left to bring his attention to it.  He has learned to compensate – through scanning – rather well.  He probably won’t be able to drive but we believe in miracles, (we had one!) so who knows what will happen.  He was pretty “dumpy” about this info but we told him not to give up hope. He has never liked my driving but is doing a GREAT job at being the instructor when we go anywhere!

It was recommended that he see a Low Vision Specialist but not until at least six months after the injury. They told us about prism lenses, which would bring things into his field of vision sooner so maybe that will be an option. He pictured glasses with a prism stuck to the lense and said NO WAY. Then we explained to him about the lense actually being a prism and no one except him would even know. He seemed to be a little more accepting of that.  Keeping our fingers crossed.

VALENTINE’S DAY

What a day!!!! It was the BEST!!! Jimmy of course started the day as he always does – waking me with a song – that he makes up – and a cup of coffee.  After I left for work he was very excited to get started with his plans for a special day.  Gabrielle took him shopping. He knew what he wanted and that was that!!! He got everything he wanted at Rite Aid! They surprised me and showed up at my work with a travel mug with hearts on it and filled with hot chocolate that he made. It was yummy and just what I needed on a chilly day! When I came home from work he was anxiously waiting to give me the gifts he made. I hope we can put the pictures up for those of you that haven’t seen them on Face Book. He made me a card – with a rhyme of course that was just so sweet. He took a heart shaped box, put life savers in it and cut out a heart for the bottom of the box that said “You Are My Life Saver”. Of course there were tears!!! The day before he called and invited the kids for dinner. Jami’s family couldn’t come because they had colds and didn’t want to get anybody sick. Jimmy planned “Breakfast for Dinner,” did the planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning up. He made heart shaped pancakes, homemade waffles and bacon. Everything was DELICIOUS and he was so proud of himself! He was very happy to have his kids all here to celebrate with him. 

 

Back to DayRehab 

Friday, February 15th, Jimmy started back to the Day Rehab. It was every day from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. He had to be reevaluated again to see what his needs were. After his first 3 days back he came up with his “big plan” to do rehab from home!  He had it all planned out – sounded great – but he pictured in his mind - our house being a gym (with more equipment than we could ever fit!)!! He tried to explain to the therapist that he could do these things from home - Occupational and Physical Therapy. We finally convinced him that we could not do the Speech Therapy from home. It just made so much sense to him that doing Occupational Therapy from home would be so much more productive – I had to agree with him.  He sold me on the idea that he could work around the house – that would be his OT and it would help me with getting things done. He does help – he folds and puts away towels – makes and serves us coffee every morning – makes the bed – has started cooking again (and cleans up the mess too). I have given him “projects” to do – the things I never have time to do like – sorting the plastic containers – restacking ONLY the containers that have lids – back in the cabinet and getting rid of the rest, organizing the desk drawer – which I wasn’t here for but heard that he said “it really pi$$ed him off – why would I give him that to do”. He complained about the newspapers one day so I left a bag for him to get the recycling together – he told one of the girls he wouldn’t complain any more because then I would give him work to do!!!

He did not like going on the trips for Day Rehab. Every Friday they took the patients out in to the community – real life therapy. The first trip was to IKEA – which was horrible for him. Jimmy does not like shopping anyway. I am overwhelmed when I go to Ikea so I can only imagine it was 10 times worse for him! He managed to get out of a few trips for doctor’s appointments and that was fine with him. The two other trips he went on he loved. One was to a museum and the other was bowling. Of course he was his usual social self so he was told about that! He said they just don’t understand! We all know that Jimmy has always been very friendly and sociable – it is very exaggerated now – which he doesn’t realize – so he does not appreciate them contributing this to his “injury”. 

Last Friday, March 8th was his last day at the Day Rehab. He will now do Out Patient Rehab. It will be 2 or 3 days a week for about an hour session, much different then the Day Rehab.

Follow Up Dr Visits

Jimmy had an appointment with Dr. Kucer at Magee on Thursday, February 21st.  It was a good visit – was impressed at how well Jimmy is doing.  Of course Jimmy was full of his corny jokes, which the doctor got a kick out of.  He explained to Jimmy the importance of having people around when he is doing things and that he shouldn’t attempt to do things that are dangerous (like fix the heater!!!). He explained to him that he could be working on something and there could be a live wire to his left that he wouldn’t see. Jimmy really seemed to grasp it – yay!!!  He also told him that he could use the tractor – in our yard – to do the lawn but was NOT allowed to work on it if it didn’t start or anything. His face really lit up – he loves using the tractor and doing yard work. He told him that he is NOT allowed to drive it up to my work!! He goes back for another appointment in 2 months.  He also told us that the best therapy for Jimmy now is “real life” therapy. We should look into maybe finding him some volunteer work. That would get him out into the community and he would be using “real life” skills.  I already have him lined up for a couple of things – we will let you know how it goes!

We of course had to go up to the 4th Floor to visit.  First we went to see the therapists.  They were all so excited to see him.  He was very, very excited to see them – even wondered if they would recognize him without his helmet!  He just thinks the world of Sara, Erin and Jackie and couldn’t wait to see them.  He was excited for them to see how well he is doing – and he thanked them and let them know it is because of them that he has come so far – he says how they gave him his life back! Of course they were very excited to see him and talk to him about what he’s doing. We went to see the nurses too and they all made a big fuss over him!

While we were at Magee we went to visit our “Buddy Family” that was mentioned in an earlier post.  We visited them at Cooper Hospital back in January. Jim and Jim got to meet! It brought tears to my eyes when I heard my Jimmy telling Jim “hang in there buddy – things will get better”.  Jimmy had a lot of questions after we left – he wanted to know if that’s how he was – did we come and sit with him – what did he do – when did things change? Lots of questions and we could see the wheels turning.  It was all good and helped him to understand a little of what went on when he was at Magee. 

It is truly amazing that we met Jim and his family. There are so many similarities – we both came home from work and found our husbands – we have all girls – we both have 4 grandchildren – their personalities seem very similar – they even resemble each other in looks – both Dads have all daughters that think they are the GREATEST - then to top it off they both were JIM!!! I really believe that somebody up there was watching and made this happen! It was good for us to be able to share our story and to give them hope when they were feeling hopeless.  How we would have loved to have somebody to talk to way back in the beginning.

It was really funny that while we were visiting the nurses and therapists, some of them told us that there was a patient who reminded them of Jimmy back when he first came to Magee – it was the other Jim!  Please continue to keep Jim and his beautiful Family in your prayers. We all know how those prayers work. Jimmy tells everybody that prayers work better than medicine!

On Friday we went for an appointment with Dr. Turtz, the neurosurgeon.  He just shook his head in amazement at how good Jimmy looks and how well he is doing. He thanked us for visiting Jim’s Family at Cooper and we thanked him for setting us up with our “Buddy Family”. He seemed touched that we were keeping in contact.  We let him know that it meant as much to us as it did them.

A Big Change

Since Jimmy is switching to Out Patient Therapy it was a good time to change things up a bit.
He will be doing his out patient at Moss Rehab in Woodbury. We are not sure of the details yet but it will hopefully be three times a week for 45 minutes to an hour each visit. I took him to see it the other day.  Every body seemed friendly and ready to get moving.  We have all agreed, for multiple reasons that it was time for a change. We can’t wait to see how well he does!