Day Forty Four Part Two

9:23 PM

Don slept most of the afternoon just trying to pass the time until they were supposed to transfer him at 2:30. He had another anxiety attack before that happened. The ambulance didn't come until 3:30. We arrived at Lincoln Nursing Center just before 5:00. Don has his same room and same room mate. I spoke with the admissions director as Don was being put into his room. She told me that she had only one bed left besides Don's so we were blessed to be able to come back today as we may not have had a room if we would have been another day in returning. Don settled in his bed fine. His occupational therapist came to see him and let him know that she will start working with him again Monday morning. She told him not to get up at all over the weekend because they are not to use the lift anymore. She didn't want anything to happen since therapy isn't there on the weekends to help him get up. Don's incision had leaked a good bit and they had to change his gown before supper. After supper he napped some more. Kristi and I got him ready for bed and noticed that his gown and linens were soaked again. The nurse came in changed his dressing and the aides changed all his linens. Kristi and I got him settled again for the night and left him for the night just before 9:00. Please keep praying!

Day Forty Four

10:35 AM

Neither of us slept well last night. Don had another anxiety attack when it was time to get ready for bed. I went to take a shower and when I came back he was struggling. Again we slept with the lights & TV on and the door and curtain open. He was up quite often and so was I. They changed is container out for the wound vac around 5:00 this morning and I was concerned that we wouldn't get to leave today. About 7:00 Dr. Lauffler the ortho doctor came in and said that the culture had not grown anything new. Don was so relieved. He had been worried all night about it. The doctor said he would check on the drainage and let us know when we could expect to go back to rehab. Somewhere between 8:00 & 9:00 the nurse came in to do his assessment of Don and Dr. Lauffler came in during that time. He said he had checked on the drainage and was there to take the drain tubes out and the wound vac off. Don was thrilled again. After removing all the tubes, he said he was going to check on getting us discharged. He said he didn't know if it could be arranged for today, tomorrow or Monday. I told him that I had been in contact with the center yesterday and admissions had told us that he could come back to his same room. He was not aware that he would be going back to his same room. The social worker came in shortly after that and wanted to know if being transported by ambulance was OK with us. We told her yes. She said she was going to work on a time for transport today. I called the rehab center and spoke with admissions and they are waiting for us. Don has been sleeping since everyone left. Please keep praying that all the infection is gone and that the transfer to rehab goes smoothly for all concerned. Thanks for all your prayers!