Don went to therapy early today. His OT had a change in schedule so he went about mid morning. After lunch he went to the YMCA for aquatics. He finished about 2:30. I had to work late as it was student conference at our school. Don didn't want to stay by himself so he arranged with the principal at our school to have transportation drop him off at the school instead of home. Co-workers, Parents and students alike couldn't wait for Don to arrive. He came in shortly after school was dismissed and everyone was so excited to see him. Our principal suggested that he go to the conference room, where food was being served, to have a better chance to see everyone. After most of the teachers had come through Don made his way up and down the halls to different class rooms and saw many of our students. Several of the students stopped to give him hugs and to say how much they had missed him and couldn't wait for him to come back. Don was wheeled from area to area by some of the students to attend the mini concerts given by the band and chorus departments. Some of the students were "fighting" over who was going to push Don around. Many of our parents expressed also gave him hugs and conveyed how they were happy to see him as well. They told him how they had been praying for him and that he was on their prayer list at the church and they would continue to pray for him. Don had brought with him an article that Ashley Propst, one of the therapist assistants had written for Kindred Health Care magazine. The article was wonderful. We shared it with some of our co-workers and parents that said they would take it and share it with their churches because they had all been praying so hard for Don. I hope to be able to post the story on this blog. Conference night was over at 7:00 and one of our friends helped Don to the car and put his wheelchair in the trunk for me. That was a big help. We rode up to Lincolnton and grabbed a little snack.
Friday March 6th
I was off this morning to take Don to his appointment at Ortho Carolina. We stopped by Bojangle's and grabbed a bite to eat on the way to Charlotte. We arrived at the doctor's office just a few minutes before his appointment time at 8:55. They were already behind about 30 minutes when we arrived. Don was finally called back about 9:30 and then they took him to x-ray. Dr. Gaston came in and said he was going to try to take out the last pin in his left hand. He marked Don's hand again like he had done the last time and numbed it up in preparation to remove the last pin. As he was numbing it he actually hit the pin with the needle. We were sure that he would be able to pull it out with no problem. Dr. Gaston made his incision and began to "feel" around for the pin and to our surprise he couldn't get a hold of it with the scissors. He tried harder this time than he did 4 weeks ago but just wasn't able to get it out. With the blood thinners, it creates such a mess with blood going everywhere and they are not set up in the doctor's office for all that. The more he "felt" around the more Don bleed. He told Don that he wouldn't have to wear the splint anymore and that the joint had healed well. However, the ligament and tendon repair had not healed as well as they had hoped. He said it didn't work like they had planned. Dr. Gaston said that the ligaments were just stretched so much and that the repair had no pulled it together very well at all. He also told Don that there was nothing more they could do for it at this time and that the only problems he should have is at some point he would probably have arthritis in that area. At that time they could operate and bring some relief. Regarding his thumb, he told Don to let pain be his guide and hopefully by his next appointment the pin would "wiggle" its way out so that he would be able to take it out in the office. We didn't get out of the doctors office in time for me to make it back to work for a half day. We stopped and eat lunch and made our way back to Lincolnton. Don needed to see his family doctor to get new prescriptions so he called and got an appointment for 4:15. We ran a few errands and arrived at the doctor's office a little early. They called him back and we had to explain to his family doctor all that had transpired since Dec. 4th. An hour later we walked out of the office and the prescriptions had been called into the pharmacy. We met Kristi and the she is dating, David and his son Dylan at North Star for supper. We really had a good time. We came home as it was a little later than usual when we finished supper.
Saturday Marh 7th
It was a beautiful day! We went to Lowe's to drop off some cold medicine to Donnie Lee. We then went to Wal-Mart and Big Lots and picked up some bird seed and things for the deck. Donnie and Taylor called and we decided to have supper with them. They had a gift card they had received for Christmas to Texas Longhorn Steak house. We finally left about 6:15 and was supposed to be at the restaurant at 7:00. We had called ahead for reservations. We made it on the dot but had to wait about a half an hour to be seated as some folks were just "visiting" at the table they were supposed to seat us at. It was a great meal. We finally got home about 9:00 and we were all very worn out. Donnie Lee ended up going to sleep and I took Taylor home.
Sunday March 8th
We woke early intending to go to church, but a friend of ours dropped by while I was in the shower and we didn't have time to get ready and make it for preaching. Don was a little sad that we had missed church. Kristi came over about 12:00 and we went out to fill up the bird feeders. Taylor came by to drop off something before heading back to Western. We waited on David to bring his car over because he was having some trouble with it. He had borrowed Kristi's car and she had borrowed the Spyder until David could get his car worked on. Long story short he was unable to bring it over and Donnie Lee had to borrow a flat bed trailer from my dad and go to West Lincoln and pick up David's car. David brought his daughters and his son with him. We were supposed to grill out for supper but we were unable to do so since they were later than expected. We ate at different times and had a ball with the kids. They are precious. They left about 9:00 and we all turned in for the night.
Monday March 9th
Don had therapy again today but no aquatics. Donnie Lee didn't have to work so he took Don to therapy. He was re-evaluated and he had lost progress in his right arm. I picked Don up at 4:00. Donnie Lee had to work late so we stopped at Wendy's and picked up something for supper. We were both pretty tired so we just came home and relaxed the rest of the evening.
Tuesday March 10th
Don had an appointment with Dr. K so I was off from work again. We left early and stopped and had breakfast. We arrived just a bit early for the appointment so Don was taken back to the exam room early. Again they took Don to x-ray. Dr. K came back into the exam room as Don was returning. He told Don that he couldn't say that his arm was healed totally but it would just take time. He discussed with us the possibilities of doing surgery again and the draw backs to having surgery. He explained again that the extra bone growth was causing the inability to twist his arm. But that surgery could cause the bone just to grow back again and that they may even have more problems because of hitting a nerve that would cause his hand to become "limp" and drawn downward. This condition usually isn't long term however it may be as much as 6 months before the nerve would heal. He explained that the movement to his mouth should increase with therapy but if all else failed there was a brace that could be placed on Don's arm to help with that and it should restore the mobility of bending the elbow. As for Don's hip he said that it had healed and that Don could let pain be his guide and to start putting as much weight as he could handle. If he had any pain to stop. Don was very excited! He was able to stand on both legs and redress himself. We left the office and when we arrived at the car, Don got out of the wheelchair at the back of the car and used his cane to walk to the passenger's door. He was able to lift his left leg and get into the car without sitting down first. We then came back to Lincolnton to pick up the prescriptions at the pharmacy. Don wanted to walk in using only his cane. It took us awhile but we made it. We then left there and Don wanted to stop by and see some friends. He wanted to walk in to see them. He did it with no problems. We left there and went by therapy to drop off the new orders and he walked into the center. The administrator of the facility stopped Don and talked with him a while and let him know how well had had done and said he wished Don could be in the paper. We told him about the story Ashley had written. When Don arrived in therapy they were having a meeting. As he opened the door they all began to clap and praise him and kept talking about what the next steps would be for therapy. They were so proud of him. Several of the workers stopped by to praise Don for his new achievement. Ashley gave me a copy of the story to give to the Admin to have it run in the local newspaper. They are all so proud of him! We left the center and ran some other errands. All the kids came over and Donnie Lee tried to work on David's car but was unable to accomplish much. They plan to work on it again Wednesday.
Wednesday March 11th
Don had transport to pick him up and take him to the Y. He didn't use his wheelchair at all. He even walked into the pool. He was able to do more exercises than he had been and was even able to himself with little effort. His PT told him he didn't need the cane. He was able to walk without it but to carry it just in case he lost his balance. He then went to OT and they really worked on his arms. His OT is planning on having Don fitted for the brace that he will wear at night that will pull his arm tighter to increase movement up and down. I picked him at 4:00 and he was just finishing up therapy. Both of his therapists are very proud of Don's accomplishments. All the staff members that pass us praise Don and tell him how great he is doing and how far he has come. We came home and Don still didn't use his wheelchair. All the kids came over again. Donnie Lee and David worked on his car again but weren't able to accomplish much. Don had therapy again tomorrow with aquatics. He also has a lab appointment for the Coumadin clinic. Today was day 98.
