Lisa Today - April 30, 2007

Select Specialty Hospital
Phoenix, Arizona

Three-days ago, April the 27th was Lisa’s 41st birthday. It was the second she “celebrated” with Richard and Michael in a Phoenix hospital. Looking back a year ago, at this time, one would have found her hospital room wall-papered with birthday cards, well wishes, letters and tracks of encouragement, and religious praise for G_d. This year, not the same volume of cards, but many inspiring ones, and some quite humorous arrived to share their spirit and message with Lisa. Richard read (and carefully described) each and every of them to Lisa with Michael sleeping peacefully in her arms. For the occasion, the staff festively placed birthday decorations on the equipment stands within Lisa’s view beside her bed. Inflated surgical gloves make wonderful happy faces when decorated with a magic marker. The spiked-pointy-fingers remind me of Sanjaya’s Mohawk hairstyle from a recent American Idol FOX-TV Network program; that you may have seen.

The picture of Lisa is from her wedding day at a magnificent resort hotel, The El Conquistador in Oro Valley, Arizona, November 9th, 2004.

It was a beautiful weekend in Phoenix; the Palo Verde trees are in full bloom. The trunks and limbs of this tree are green and the abundance of bright yellow flowers make it a joy to behold. The cherry blossoms in Washington DC compare, but the annual display here is much more shocking to me considering the contrast to what I’ve seen desert display most of the year. I’ve included a PhotoShow to let you see it.

Health wise Lisa’s weight is stable at 128 pounds, and she continues to receive nutritional supplements for a weight gain regimen. Dr. Bliss is treating Lisa for a staph infection. He is going after it very aggressively with powerful antibiotics.

Richard’s hunt continues for a full-time, in-house, caregiver for Lisa. There are some prospects that he is communicating with but no contract has been signed yet. Bummer.

Michael
mlwintory@msn.com

LISA TODAY - 22 April 2007

Select Specialty Hospital
Phoenix, Arizona


You may have noticed from the “Lisa Today” heading that Lisa is still in Phoenix. You remember, I told you she was, pretty-much, expected to come home last week. The hospital’s discharge intentions and the coming home to Tucson plans have not changed. What happened? The nursing facility in Tucson informed the folks at Select Specialty Hospital in Phoenix that they did not have “bed space” for her on Friday as we thought. Hey, the on again-off again really doesn’t bother or stress us because SNAFU has been the norm for the past year, and we all have gotten used to living with it. You know, to be fair to all concerned, getting a reservation at a nursing facility for Lisa is quite a bit more complex than booking a motel room; I’m sure you would agree. I know it is self serving for me to say; but, we all have been extremely sensitive that we “not kill the messenger” when bad news comes our way. It’s fair to all concerned and worked pretty well in keeping everyone’s blood pressure down and lines of communication open.

For the trip back home to Tucson, Lisa she will be transported by ambulance. Her specialized wheel-chair will accompany her in the ambulance. The wheelchair is so heavy because it is made to become motorized, with additional equipment modification; hence the heavy weight of the chair.

Then late Friday afternoon, we learned Lisa’s transfer on Monday was also ruled out; so we’re now on a “runway alert” situation, as we used to say in my old Air Force days. Anyway, with the transfer delayed it gives Richard an opportunity this weekend to say thanks, and say goodbye to everyone at the hospital again. And another thing, I know that strong attachments were formed during the past year so it’s really bitter sweet for everyone at the hospital and for Richard, Lisa and Michael. I wanted Richard to take a lot of pictures to share with you so you can get a sense of how it is in Phoenix.

Late afternoon last Monday, Ruben, the contractor, who will make the necessary modifications to the residence, met with Richard to review the plans for Lisa’s lift, and establish the work schedule. After meeting with Ruben, we’re thinking it’s about 45-days to completion. How realistic this is, well is anyone’s guess at this time.

On another front, finding the right caregiver for Lisa’s continues to be the number one priority. We have had high hopes in finding some, but with caution—and caution was justified as so far nothing has come to fruition. At the moment, Richard is discussing the caregiver position with a physical therapist. According to her resume, she has good experience working with patients who’ve had similar diagnosis as Lisa. She seems very qualified. Correspondence is flying between her and Richard now. She is our best prospect to fill the bill.

Richard took the pictures shown here when the family was resting in the beautiful Healing Garden at St. Joseph’s Hospital. Michael, until just recently, has not tolerated any sort of head cover. The ball cap does a nice job of shading his eyes. In the third picture (from the top) Lisa joins Michael for a nap. In the last picture, you can see what nice garden it is.

That’s all the news for now. Hope you have a great week!

Michael
mlwintory@msn.com

Lisa Today - 16 April 2007

Lisa Today – April 16th, 2007
Select Specialty Hospital
Phoenix, Arizona


For over a year now in Phoenix, St. Joseph’s Medical Center has provided a roof over Lisa’s head; within the medical center, is Select Specialty a long term acute care hospital designed to care for patients like Lisa. Her admission was justified and approved because she met their criteria of needing healthcare services for a patient with a medically complex, and catastrophic injury. Select Specialty, is taking care of Lisa’s medical deficiencies while the Barrow Neurological Institute (also housed at St. Joseph’s) continues to monitor her neurological progress and treatment. Lisa no longer requires hospitalization for neurological reasons.

Another big player in the provision of Lisa’s care is her insurer, Blue Cross–Blue Shield. Until recently the insurer has been stellar in providing the financial resources so vital in giving Lisa the best opportunity for recovery. I mention this now only in passing to let you know that we have appealed their decision to cut off funding, but so far haven’t received a reply as she continues her $2000.00 a-day, acute care long-term hospitalization.

In answer to the question, “how’s Lisa doing?” We believe, with the staff, that Lisa is present and aware; we’ve known this by her past responsiveness to instructions and questions. Lisa, to her great credit, has been relentless in her fight to overcome the painful effects of Spasticity, and the other medical issues that confront her… relentless until very recently. But now, regrettably, she isn’t responding to stimulus except for loud, sudden noises.

Lisa is medically stable and soon will be ready for discharge, meaning she can be cared for at home; therefore Richard has redoubled his efforts to find the right person to care for Lisa at their home in Tucson. He has placed more advertisements in more places for a caregiver; also Deb Pope, Therapy Supervisor, Select Specialty Hospital has put him in touch with new Tucson resources to expedite the recruiting effort.

Richard’s attorney has successfully facilitated his getting a home equity loan to pay for the renovation of the residence. He has a meeting with the contractor and builder is later this week, and hopefully the remodeling will start soon.

Finally, we learned that a skilled nursing facility in Tucson has agreed to take Lisa. Sherry and I intend to visit the facility as soon as possible, and I’ll let you know how it goes. This information came to Richard at a time when Select Specialty Hospital declared Lisa ready for discharge. But on top of that her primary care physician is treating her for a bladder infection, and is not going to authorize the discharge until the medical issue resolves.

Michael
mlwintory@msn.com

Lisa Today – Easter 2007

Select Specialty Hospital
Phoenix, AZ

There are times when ones child makes one proud, and Michael was indeed an Angel during Easter Services at St. Joseph’s Hospital Chapel last Sunday. He was almost attentive, well I shouldn’t go that far, but he didn’t squirm around, chirp or cry. Richard reported, “He was with us, Lisa and me, and I felt blessed and I believe Lisa did too.”

Lisa’s weight loss is now under control, and we’re all pleased with that. Her caloric intake was increased and is being very carefully monitored. She is expected to show progress with her weight soon. Her therapy continues as are all of the other services we’ve come to expect. In the picture below, Mary Francis and Moira are shown with Michael; it is a wonderful picture because it typifies the relationship he has with them and the other hospital staff. It occurs to me just how much a part of his life that these wonderful people have become over the past 14-months. And, I am so grateful to them for the warmth and nurturing kindness he receives from all the wonderful folks who take care of Lisa at the Select Specialty Hospital in Phoenix.

Sherry took Michael to the pool several times this past week, I came along too, but it was really Sherry and Michael’s deal. Among her many skills, being a certified swimming instructor is one. To say he took to the swimming pool like a duck to water would be an understatement… he loved it. The water temperature was 84 degrees and the air temp was 90, perfect! There’s something special swimming in an outdoor pool in early April that is a real turn on, after living in Illinois and Iowa for most of my life. The thing is he has these big blue eyes and golden curly hair that strangely affects the ladies. It is something I certainly never experienced! I’ll illustrate some of his charm in the picture of him (on the right) eating his morning tooth brush.

I took too long between updates, and I apologize to you for not keeping you current. I now realize that a little bit news is much, much better than no news so I have rededicated myself to crank out one of these weekly.

Michael
mlwintory@msn.com