The plan is that Dad will move to Church of Christ Care Center at 5pm by ambulance from the hospital today.
I am praising God for this.
Dad going to nursing home; pausing chemotherapy
As heard before, due to the payment methods and extreme costs, nursing homes can not accept patients undergoing chemotherapy and the side-effects they bring.
So Dad will be pausing chemotherapy while he is placed in a nursing home.
The hope is that Dad will regain enough strength in the nursing home to be returned home. At that point the chemotherapy should be able to restart.
So now back to the point of praying that Dad gets a good nursing home, and Mom can manage home alone and getting to and from visiting Dad without too much difficulty.
So Dad will be pausing chemotherapy while he is placed in a nursing home.
The hope is that Dad will regain enough strength in the nursing home to be returned home. At that point the chemotherapy should be able to restart.
So now back to the point of praying that Dad gets a good nursing home, and Mom can manage home alone and getting to and from visiting Dad without too much difficulty.
Dad going to nursing home; unclear if continuing chemotherapy
Dad is recovering ok in hospital, but still throwing up some on a liquid diet.
Due to his not being able to handle chemotherapy while living at home, he is going to be moved to a nursing home.
It is unclear if he will be able to continue chemotherapy from the nursing home, or the focus will switch to hospice. Part of the decision will be what the health insurance will cover. I hope to learn more Tuesday.
Dad is unsure if he will ever come to live at home again. Mom seemed to take it well.
I think they both are being overly pessimistic at this point. Hopefully I will find out more later...
I think they both are being overly pessimistic at this point. Hopefully I will find out more later...
Dad doing better in hospital, but still vomiting
Dad looked and sounded much better this afternoon.
His cancer doctor mentioned the possibility (likelihood?) of him being sent to a nursing home / rehab center after getting out of the hospital. Both Mom and Dad are saddened by that idea, but seem to be accepting of it. Dad's main concern is confirming if it would be covered by their health insurance. A secondary hope is to get to a desirable place.
Dad was put on a liquid diet, due to his still vomiting. Even with a liquid meal, he still had trouble keeping food down.
His cancer doctor mentioned the possibility (likelihood?) of him being sent to a nursing home / rehab center after getting out of the hospital. Both Mom and Dad are saddened by that idea, but seem to be accepting of it. Dad's main concern is confirming if it would be covered by their health insurance. A secondary hope is to get to a desirable place.
Dad was put on a liquid diet, due to his still vomiting. Even with a liquid meal, he still had trouble keeping food down.
Dad dehydrated enough that admitted to hospital.
Dad was weak again today. This late morning he drank some water, and a nutrition drink. A bit later I asked him to try some more water. He said he felt nauseous, but I encouraged him to try a bit more. He did, and a bit later he thew up. So much for getting the nutrition drink and pills he had earlier.
The raised toilet seat had been helping a lot. The main challenge in that area has been that Dad has developed painful hemorrhoids.
Eventually, we went to the chemo doctor, and doctor felt the dehydration was serious enough to admit Dad to the hospital. So Dad is at St. John South Macomb hospital again.
Transportation mostly solved; nutrition good recently, but still a concern.
Yesterday afternoon Dad, in despair, called me over to the house to help. He wanted help cleaning himself and getting food and water.
I was able to help some.
Also he was able to have a breakfast drink this morning, a sandwich for lunch, and a reasonable dinner.
Today he also got a raised toilet seat that goes over the existing toilet.
Dad was also able to get up from the toilet seat unassisted after the placement of a seat riser on the toilet.
The physical therapist was there, and seemed to feel Dad would have enough strength to do his business unassisted.
His cancer doctor today thought he looked a lot better, mainly because of his body posture reflecting his less pain and more strength. Chemotherapy is continuing Wednesday.
Dad had felt weak enough that he decided to ask the Doctor for a walker. Doctor felt that Dad should not give in yet to getting more of that type of help, and that for now he should keep using a cane.
As part of the visit to the doctor, the hired help came along to learn where the doctor's office was, and the procedure that had been used to transport Dad.
It looks like the hired help will be a huge help for transportation. They helped Dad down the stairs safely, and were able to drive Mom's car home without any concerns.
Dad requested, and the hired help agreed, to also try their vehicle to see if it works better for them than Mom's car.
They will cost slightly more than taxi service, be much more helpful with steps in and out, and be understanding of the situation. Also, riding in Mom's car is much more comfortable for Dad than one of the taxis he was in one-and-a-half weeks ago.
Mom did not question today Dad getting a ride from someone else, nor that she would get a ride tomorrow to her doctor's appointment. Now that the arrangements are being made in somewhat of a whirlwind, she does not even seem to be asking the question of why, and why does she need help driving. Hopefully the question will not come to her mind, or be answered sufficiently in some non-threatening way.
There is still a concern of Dad getting water and nourishment. We are still working for agreements and arrangements so hired help can work to help with that as well. Alternatively, if Dad can gain enough strength to get himself to the refrigerator and table himself, maybe the hired help will not need to worry about that part.
So praise God for the extra help, and Dad's improvement of today anyway.
I was able to help some.
Also he was able to have a breakfast drink this morning, a sandwich for lunch, and a reasonable dinner.
Today he also got a raised toilet seat that goes over the existing toilet.
Dad was also able to get up from the toilet seat unassisted after the placement of a seat riser on the toilet.
The physical therapist was there, and seemed to feel Dad would have enough strength to do his business unassisted.
His cancer doctor today thought he looked a lot better, mainly because of his body posture reflecting his less pain and more strength. Chemotherapy is continuing Wednesday.
Dad had felt weak enough that he decided to ask the Doctor for a walker. Doctor felt that Dad should not give in yet to getting more of that type of help, and that for now he should keep using a cane.
As part of the visit to the doctor, the hired help came along to learn where the doctor's office was, and the procedure that had been used to transport Dad.
It looks like the hired help will be a huge help for transportation. They helped Dad down the stairs safely, and were able to drive Mom's car home without any concerns.
Dad requested, and the hired help agreed, to also try their vehicle to see if it works better for them than Mom's car.
They will cost slightly more than taxi service, be much more helpful with steps in and out, and be understanding of the situation. Also, riding in Mom's car is much more comfortable for Dad than one of the taxis he was in one-and-a-half weeks ago.
Mom did not question today Dad getting a ride from someone else, nor that she would get a ride tomorrow to her doctor's appointment. Now that the arrangements are being made in somewhat of a whirlwind, she does not even seem to be asking the question of why, and why does she need help driving. Hopefully the question will not come to her mind, or be answered sufficiently in some non-threatening way.
There is still a concern of Dad getting water and nourishment. We are still working for agreements and arrangements so hired help can work to help with that as well. Alternatively, if Dad can gain enough strength to get himself to the refrigerator and table himself, maybe the hired help will not need to worry about that part.
So praise God for the extra help, and Dad's improvement of today anyway.
Dr. Kent Brantly discharge statement shows a willing servant of God.
Praise God for His servants who are willing to risk their lives for the chance to save others' physical and spiritual lives.
I think these heroes need to be publicized, as this is a respectable American Dream.
May God continue to bless the world through America.
May God give wisdom to the medical and spiritual help from so many nations currently trying to help western Africa deal with this disease.
Dr. Kent Brantly's statements are available in text or in the video below.
I think these heroes need to be publicized, as this is a respectable American Dream.
May God continue to bless the world through America.
May God give wisdom to the medical and spiritual help from so many nations currently trying to help western Africa deal with this disease.
Dr. Kent Brantly's statements are available in text or in the video below.
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