I ended up in an emergency room on June 19th and spent the next eight days in the hospital until I was able to find another home healthcare agency who would be more reliable in getting me personal-care attendants (PCA's). My doctor would not allow me to be released from the hospital until I had a care company who could supply my needs.
Little did I know when my social worker arranged for this company to do my cares that she was going to retire as soon as she closed out all of her cases! The new company president showed up making all kinds of promises that I knew he could not keep. My doctor released me that Saturday and I have been in bed ever since! My only trips out of my room were a once a month visit to the wound clinic to have my doctor check on the progress, order new supplies and send me home for another month of R&R in my bed!
On my last visit, the wounds are getting good enough so he allowed me to start sitting up a couple hours a day. The first few days I was experiencing a dramatic loss in strength and stamina. I am still weak and frustrated to not be able to be up in my chair for very long periods of time.
I have good people helping me now who are going the extra mile to take care of my increased needs.
I thoroughly enjoy watching the Minnesota Twins and their run for a playoff position! It has kept me going along with countless hours of watching television. My summer and now early fall is gone and I am hoping to be ready to start going to my Gopher basketball games in a few short weeks.
I am attaching a photograph taken on June 20th with my brothers, Rick and Chad when they came to visit me in the hospital in a break from our niece's wedding that day. I regret not being able to be there very much.
Click on the image to make it larger:
The bottom line is I am back to a degree! I am excited to get back to a degree of ability I had before this latest setback. I have much more to write on this subject of my summer vacation which lasted well into autumn; however, I need to lie down as my time is about up!
As always, I look forward to your comments.
Later,
Mike
6 comments:
You are one durable guy. So dam proud of you Mike. It's always been amazing to me how you seem to have learned to take all these abuses with a degree of patience and good humor. Everyone has choices about how to handle what life give them and I know you've taught that exact lesson to countless audiences. But still, to see you model it, over and over again, has been a total gift to me. Thanks for that.
Love to you from a long term admirer.
Glad things are getting back to some what normal for you. I repeated the Lallapollosa ice cream story to my brother. He said it was not one of his best attempts. Great story. Thanks Mike. Barry Bisbee
I know I can learn a lot from you Mike; your patience and your ability to write about your dilemma so well inspires me. Your strength of will, spirit and mind will win every time, even when your body gets weak. I know it's a lot of work to rebuild that strength and stamina, but you are well on your way with such a positive attitude. Always remember what an inspiration you are to others.... day after day... year after year.
Blessings,
Jeanne
I'm outraged that you suffered this lingering disability because your PCA's never showed up! I hope you have some legal recourse against that company. It's a shame that PCA's aren't better trained and better paid so the field attracted more competent, reliable people. I'm relieved you're on the mend--but what an ordeal you went through!
Hi Mike,
Just wanted you to know that I'm sending healing love and aloha from Kauai! Hope you can move around again soon.
Tory
Very good article. I'm dealing with a few of these issues as well..
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