Just a quick note to say how well everything went today! The visit to Dr. Kelly was a little confusing. The intor to him was to highlight the path to a prosthesis...we're a long way from that right now so the info seemed a little premature. Mike was able to "show-off" a little as they had him use crutches--thanks to Connie's coaching the day before--he aced crutch walking (and safety) 101. However, Dr. Kelly is now Mike's "go-to" Doc for meds and therapy issues. With the impending graft "touch-up", any serious rehab is delayed until Dr. McDonald is sure the new graft sites are stable--reasonable and prudent!!

The exciting part of the day was Mike's trip around the block. He was the driver as we were testing the comfort and his right leg's ability to manage the "gas-break" activities. He did great and the Dr. said there was no reason for him not to drive, that's the green light we've been waiting for! So, the trip to Cinci to get his car will happen Saturday!!

For those of you who know Joe Fedorka, I have to say he has been a gem of friend. He has been in town and has been here every day since last Wednesday to spend time with Mike and and catch up for the years lost. Joe brought his granddaughter, Melissa, with him on Saturday and she played with Mara and Makenna all day!

This week will bring some interesting adventures. Mike is scheduled for his first meeting with Dr. Kelly from Rehab at Metro--now we get the exercises going strong. Whether the workouts are at Metro or at the Valley View Rec Center has yet to be determined. I'm hoping for a combination of both.

Thursday is the long awaited visit to the dentist. Dr. Dean Carmichael is one of the kids that swam with Scott and Judd at the Brooklyn Y years ago1 He is now married to Melissa Mroczynski, who is the daughter of a dear friend of mine, Alyce. Small world!!
I was in Avon helping with the girls today, so Connie took charge of activities. I don't think Connie and Reinhold can add to this blog so I think it's worth noting the expidition they took Mike on today! Connie called and told Mike he needed to \get out and working on using crutches...so, she came and took him to the park so he could practice the crutch walking as Connie tooled behind him with his wheel chair. Tbat was for safety and I think she knew when Mike was tired, he would welcome the ride back to the car (and he did).

Yesterday was fun for me as well. Mike and I went to Sam's club for a shopping spree. It's different shopping with Mike because he didn't really watch the prices so much--he bought what he wanted to eat. Unlike when I go with GiGi and every price has to beat what she can find at Aldi's or Save-a-Lot. We are both enjoying the Mikie experience. Anyway--Sam's was great. Mike got an electric scooter to drive, it had a little basket on the front of it, so he could scoot around and pick up much of what he wanted all by himself..great feeling. The only glitch was when I left him alone at the check-out because I forgot something..shile I was gone he had to put the "stuff" on the counter. He was amazed at how tiring that was and how much strength he still needs to recover...bad for self esteem, good for motivation!

Well..it's dressing change time so I will e signing off for tonight. We have the shower and dressing change operation down to 45 minutes....it's getting easier. The grafting on Monday, should result in a much cleaner dressing from here on. I'm sure you'll be reading about that as it happens....Marsha

Today was a "visiting" day!! I arrived after lunch to find Mike alone, sitting on the love seat watching "I Claudius." Irma (GiGi) was playing Bridge and Marsha was at work. Shortly after I arrived, in walked Joe Fedorka and Ruth Kennedy!! It was great to see them both. Joe and Mike go way back and told some great stories about their past. They also talked about machines and I had no idea what they were saying! Mike clearly was in his element.

Ruth and Mike talked about the A.T. and it was so nice to see those two interact; what a great friendship they have. It's great to hear that Pop Kennedy is doing good!.

Mike really looked good, his color the best I've seen it, and he was definitely having a good day! He said Rodney had come by before lunch with his laptop and he is now beginning to re-engage his brain work wise.

Eventually, Marsha came home and then Phyllis stopped by and Irma came home from her card game, saying she had won some money (yey, Irma!). Mike decided he'd do his PT exercises later, because he just wanted to visit with his friends. He has an out-patient PT eval next Wednesday which will determine his out patient therapy schedule and what program he'll be following. He also has some touch up skin grafting coming up which shouldn't necessitate more than a night or two back in Metro. He's eager to start driving soon and really looking forward to the PT and going to the Rec Center to work out. Hard to believe the accident was ..... a little over SEVEN weeks ago!!

Every time Mike relives the accident, which he did today, I learn more and shudder more about what a close call he had.

So. Those of you that were at my sister's wedding might remember my nervously delivered toast-thing, where I described all of the ways in which my sister is like my Dad. Well, in this case, it's more how Dad is like my sister.

The embarassing Ruthie story first: potty training. Ruthie was good about getting to the bathroom and doing her thing, but in those first stages, you need Mom to come and do the clean up. So, Roo would be in the bathroom singing her little Mommy song, "Mommy Mommy Mommy Moooommmmyyyy" to random melody.

Now. Dad is left alone with his mom, and his neice Becky. His primary care nurses were out and about running errands. He has to go to the bathroom. The bandages still will not let him clean up after himself. So guess what he does. "Mommy Mommy Mommy Moooommmmyyyy".

Not something anyone at 60 would expect to need their 85-year-old mother for, I'm sure. GiGi, Becky and Dad sure had a laugh over it, and I did, too, when he related it to me.

The old adage proves true again: "Once a mother, always a mother."

At last I get to make an entry. FIRST! I'd like to thank everyone for the many cards, well wishes, prayers, and blog enties. The power of collective positive energy is truely tangable from my perspective - so thanks again.

Erin - great job on the blog.

Its great to be out of the hospital. I'm still not totally moble and very dependant on my suport system here at GG's. The out-patient PT will slowly move toward independance over the next few months. The next major mile stone is ability to go "home". This next phase is going to be slow and less exciting, but with a little help from some friends we hope to slog thru it.

Bye for now! Love to all,
Mike

Mike went to Metro, to the Burn Unit for a dressing change and a visit with Dr. McDonald and her nurse, Tammy. They loved the custom bandage, so that was fun! The grafted areas got a good look over and everyone was very pleased with the healing. There will be some "touch ups" tentatively scheduled for Monday, May 14th. That will most likely involve an overnight stay and the reappearance of the nifty vacuum dressing for a little while. Everyone on the floor certainly was glad to see Mike looking so good. The street clothes seemed to catch their attention as well. The dressings are now reduced to a thin wet dressing with kling and the ace. No more soppy dressings -- that will make life a lot easier!! This morning Mike was involved in a little Occupational Therapy as I had about 200 bills that I printed from work yesterday (my prn job)and they needed to be stuffed into envelopes, so Mike did that for me....a great help! Right now, he's taking a well deserved nap!!

Today Mike decided he was ready for a real field trip, so---we packed up and went to see Mom and Pop Kennedy. He has become quite good at using the chair. He also jumped up the steps at the Kennedy's without a problem (other than a little fatigue). Ruth and Jennie were there so we really had a nice visit. Jennie showed a video of her parachute jump form a few years ago...scary!!

We're loioking forward to the Metro clinic visit tomorrow..hopefully, Mike will get the OK to head into Out Patient therapy. There is also the issue of touching up the skin grafting...no date as of yet....

Mike was looking forward to "do nothing" Sunday. But, it was such a beautiful day, I invited him to take a field trip with me.. We went to the bank, to the gas station (I needed to fill up), and we made a stop at the Valley View Recreation Center to check out the equipment. . As it turns out, he will easily be able to access about 4 pieces of equipment. The equipment is the same that Mike used at Metro, so I was happy about that. The trip went very well: using the chair to descend the stairs; getting in and out of the car; getting into the Rec Center; transferring on the chair for the ride back into the house. I think the rehab staff will be surprised how well he's doing.

Phyllis and Connie will do the dressing tonight as I will be at work..we will try out a "custom" elastic wrap to hold the dressing in place....we are really trying to make this simpler and easier on Mike.

Saturday, I had to go to my PRN job and left Mike with GiGi in charge and Kathy and Becky as back-up. Becky stopped in around 8:30 to see if all was OK...she watched Mike pull the light chain that was attached to the light/fan fixture and called his attention to the fact that the fan seemed to be loose from the ceiling..Mike came our of his room and checked it out as Becky pulled the chain(yarn) and concurred that there was an imminent problem. Before I got home from work at noon, Judd had been summoned and decided that the fan indeed was not stable and so he and Becky made a quick trip to Home Depot....so now Mike has a very secure, state-of-the- art, remote control fan/light....Do you think Rodney can have W/C cover that? (just kidding.. W/C fraud is a serious thing...). Speaking of expenses, I had no idea how expensive a liter of sterile saline is...$9.00.

Kim (Mike's neice) stopped in for a visit, went over some PT exercises and brought some weights to use to strengthen his right leg. She and her girls stayed for lunch and had a nice visit.

We got a surprise visit from Mark (Mike's nephew) and Ronalee as they have a new baby we hadn't met (Jacob Louis)--of course, he is very cute. We had a fun afternoon, then Joel (Becky's husband) manned the grill for hotdogs.

Phyllis and I proceeded to the dressing change ritual (we're down to 1 hour and 15 minutes form 2 hours). Mike is getting a little more independent each day. He, of course, is focused on becoming independent enough to head back to Bonnie, his home and his work...

Here's a photo I took yesterday at Irma's of Mike and his brother Jim!!