Travelingdueo
10-05-2006, 01:12 AM
To update as so much has happened since the crash.... and for those who don't remember ...
Jan. 9th Ray (husband) had a hemorrhage in the head and was told to call family as it didn't look good... we were in El Centro CA as he was working as a travel nurse in the Operating room there and that night they flew him to Palm Springs where they verified it was an aneurysm and he was a good candidate for coiling but would have to go to a hospital that specialized in it.. so he was transferred again to Loma Linda University in CA . He was schedule for coiling on Jan 16th but that Sat I received a call from his doctors and said they felt he would do better and was stable to ungo the clipping so on Jan 14th he had the clipping... all this time was on the vent and in a coma.. he woke up roughly around Feb 10th ... he was given a treach and a feeding tube put in ... had complications with a yeast infection from the drainage tube in the skull and had to have that replaced and it was finally getting cleared up... He celebrated his 50th birthday in the step down unit there and was given ice chips! the next day was moved to the rehab hospital for 4 weeks....he had aphasia, lost some of his long term memory and short term memory, he also had what is called Terson syndrome which he had a hemmorge in his left eye, which left him with out any vision he ungone surgery in July and the Doctor didn't think it might help but we tried.. after the second visit he was impressed that there was some vision back.. this last week he went to get new glasses as there was change from his old pair..
When he came home from the rehab he did not walk was using a wheelchair and could not stand up on his own. We live in a RV and for him to get inside he had to scoot up on his behind and our friend and his brother would pick him up to put on the couch... since we were in Ca and I needed to be around family or friends to help with his care and support we ended up in WA where his sister lived and stayed with her.... In April he started using a walker and maybe in two weeks later he was using a cane.. his speech is getting better, memory is slowly returning but still has problems with family names, looking for Becky (me) and when I say I'm here he says no not you.... he still see's people and asks where they went - gone to see a Phys. to see if there is anything they can do...changed meds helps a little but not much.... in Sept. had a sleep study done.. and he has sleep apena and its a big challenge to get him to keep the mask on as he plays with it during the night and takes off- forgets why ... He don't remember eating five minutes later so he has put all the weight he lost back on... the one Dr. said could of been from the one medication that is why he took him off of it.
On July 22nd we moved our RV to a park 10 miles from his sister to be on our own to see if that would help him in a familiar routine and it has helped and just in the last month he has opened up to talking to the RVers who are here just like before... I have to really watch him as he wanders off and don't remember where we are located...
He was getting home care but he used up all his benefits and got tired of waiting to see if we could get more so finally this week he started back to therapy as outpatient twice a week.. for speech and OT.
When I look back there has been so much improvements - some are just taking longer but I think he'll get there...
He thinks he still is working and lately he thinks we are all going to school... also thinks we are back in Michigan and his mother is here like if he was growing up I think... so as a caregiver I have lots of challenges to take but we will get thru it ...
I believe he is where he is today from all the prayers that have been said for him and us...
I thought it would be a short update but looks as I wrote a book... I'll keep in touch with more updates .
Becky
Jan. 9th Ray (husband) had a hemorrhage in the head and was told to call family as it didn't look good... we were in El Centro CA as he was working as a travel nurse in the Operating room there and that night they flew him to Palm Springs where they verified it was an aneurysm and he was a good candidate for coiling but would have to go to a hospital that specialized in it.. so he was transferred again to Loma Linda University in CA . He was schedule for coiling on Jan 16th but that Sat I received a call from his doctors and said they felt he would do better and was stable to ungo the clipping so on Jan 14th he had the clipping... all this time was on the vent and in a coma.. he woke up roughly around Feb 10th ... he was given a treach and a feeding tube put in ... had complications with a yeast infection from the drainage tube in the skull and had to have that replaced and it was finally getting cleared up... He celebrated his 50th birthday in the step down unit there and was given ice chips! the next day was moved to the rehab hospital for 4 weeks....he had aphasia, lost some of his long term memory and short term memory, he also had what is called Terson syndrome which he had a hemmorge in his left eye, which left him with out any vision he ungone surgery in July and the Doctor didn't think it might help but we tried.. after the second visit he was impressed that there was some vision back.. this last week he went to get new glasses as there was change from his old pair..
When he came home from the rehab he did not walk was using a wheelchair and could not stand up on his own. We live in a RV and for him to get inside he had to scoot up on his behind and our friend and his brother would pick him up to put on the couch... since we were in Ca and I needed to be around family or friends to help with his care and support we ended up in WA where his sister lived and stayed with her.... In April he started using a walker and maybe in two weeks later he was using a cane.. his speech is getting better, memory is slowly returning but still has problems with family names, looking for Becky (me) and when I say I'm here he says no not you.... he still see's people and asks where they went - gone to see a Phys. to see if there is anything they can do...changed meds helps a little but not much.... in Sept. had a sleep study done.. and he has sleep apena and its a big challenge to get him to keep the mask on as he plays with it during the night and takes off- forgets why ... He don't remember eating five minutes later so he has put all the weight he lost back on... the one Dr. said could of been from the one medication that is why he took him off of it.
On July 22nd we moved our RV to a park 10 miles from his sister to be on our own to see if that would help him in a familiar routine and it has helped and just in the last month he has opened up to talking to the RVers who are here just like before... I have to really watch him as he wanders off and don't remember where we are located...
He was getting home care but he used up all his benefits and got tired of waiting to see if we could get more so finally this week he started back to therapy as outpatient twice a week.. for speech and OT.
When I look back there has been so much improvements - some are just taking longer but I think he'll get there...
He thinks he still is working and lately he thinks we are all going to school... also thinks we are back in Michigan and his mother is here like if he was growing up I think... so as a caregiver I have lots of challenges to take but we will get thru it ...
I believe he is where he is today from all the prayers that have been said for him and us...
I thought it would be a short update but looks as I wrote a book... I'll keep in touch with more updates .
Becky