Unlike Amy Winehouse, I was more than happy to move from the hospital to a rehabilitation facility. That happened today. I’m glad to be done with IVs and continuous heart monitoring.
I was in the hospital a little over a week. Everyone there was helpful and professional. I was there long enough, and feeling well enough that they got to know me a little which was nice.
Today they officially waved goodbye. I had a transport van move me in a wheelchair to Broomfield Hospital in Broomfield, just down the road from us.
The third floor is a rehabilitation facility. I landed here late afternoon. Just enough time to get some dinner and answer a huge list of questions.
Glen will bring me a bag of clothes, pjs, toiletries tonight. The goal while I’m here is to get me as independent as possible and ready to walk back in the door at home and just live life.
How long will this take? Unclear. I have decent strength, which is a plus for me. I don’t know how well I can do things so I suspect there will be an assessment and then each day we will work to get me ready to be home.
I’m looking forward to getting started.
Related to my surgery – I will go see the surgeons assistant next week or just after the holiday. She will reassess my brace and see if she can lift any of the restrictions I have for movement.
Related to my cancer – I have an appointment with my oncologist after the Thanksgiving holiday. We will look at starting a new treatment line then. The treatment is an oral chemo which can be hard on the immune system. It is a delicate balance to start a new treatment when you are trying to recover from surgery.
I have full confidence in my medical team and will go with their recommendations. I’m thankful for friends far away and also close by. For lovely gifts to pass time in the hospital and visits with good coffee to do the same.
In the meantime it’s one day at a time. Get out there and get some fresh air on my behalf. Love to all.
Onward!
Life As I Know It 
Oh, My Dear, it is like a breath of fresh air to hear from you and catch up on what all is going on with you, how you are feeling, and even where you are. With your upbeat attitude and amazing inner strength I know you will rock this transition, and be home in no time at all.
Hints on what you need or could use would be appreciated, since we arent able to see you and figure it out for ourselves. We want to help.
We love and admire you and how you are handling all of this. Much love is being sent your way, and you are in our prayers.
Fond regards,
Mom & Pop S.
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I am glad that you were able to leave the hspital. John spent 2 weeks in a rehab after his surgery and it was a much better help than the hospital to get him moving again. I hope it is a good experience for you and you are able to get back to your “normal” life! Keep us posted! Positive thoughts and prayers coming your way! Mary
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Greetings my dear Donna.
I’m so glad you have made it to rehab. Your inner and outer strength will undoubtedly be assets as you go through the rehab work. I believe in you and I know you and so many others do too.
Sharing news from my family, I arrived at my parents home Thurs AM at 9 expecting a couple hour visit and got home Saturday night at 4PM. When I arrived my Mom told me she had been passing a LOT of blood since Wed AM! We did Urgent care, then she was transferred by ambulance to hospital.
All her network hospitals were full, but a great helper at Urgent care found her a spot at Littleton hospital. They were excellent there, but also short staffed the first night. I ended up doing a lot of hands-on aid and care for 2 days and nights, which I was happy to be able to do, but the things I was doing were not my normal activities or skillset. I learned and we developed a solid routine. I was able to immediately help her much faster than the nurses and aides. After many other scans, it was determined they needed to do a colonoscopy to determine where the bleeding was. Unfortunately her system took 36 hours to clear itself out which meant 36 hours of rapid elimination and “runs” to the toilets, and accidents, and tangled cord management, etc, etc. We made it through the ordeal, but I was awake, without 1 minute of sleep for 41 hours. It got a little weird. She only got 1 hour of sleep in 3 different snippets during the whole ordeal. She’s nearly 83, but her little legs stayed strong, she never got woozy, and her attitude and gratitude were amazing!
The result was ALL the blood was from a recent past bleed of a diverticulum in her intestines. It had healed itself, so they didn’t need to do anything, but let her start eating again and send her home. When I took her home, my parents were very happy to be reunited (Dad’s not up for a trip to the hospital). I went to the grocery store for them so they are sent for a few days and reviewed her list of follow up activities. I was awake enough after having gotten some sleep to drive myself home. Allen made our stay better by coming to the hospital twice delivering things we asked for out of both of our homes.
She is fiercely private so I haven’t posted about this, but I did do all the communicating with her closest family and friends. I got a good night’s sleep and it’s back to the regular routine. I’m counting blessings of how this all went and that I was back in town from my travels and so I was able to be there for her!
Are you allowed and are you up for visitors? How are you finding your new accommodations?
Thinking of you often my friend!
Wendy
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