Thursday, October 25, 2012

Back to RIC...

After a day in ICU and a day in a step down unit, Sherrie is back at RIC! Words cannot express our deep gratitude for tender mercies sent our way. Compared to the last surgery, this has gone very smooth. As of tomorrow, she will be off the antibiotics and back to a rigorous rehab schedule.

We have been blessed to have a team of wonderful physicians that have shown extra care for my sweetheart. There involvement in her care is not an accident or coincidence. They too are a result of answered prayers and we are grateful for them.

No one can quite explain the science behind it, but the doctors say that patients can do better post crainioplasty. Whether it is extra space for the brain to expand we just don't know, but we are seeing Sherrie a bit more vocal and certainly more alert than she was after her first surgery. We pray that she will pick right up where she left off Tuesday when leaving RIC and continue to show improvement especially in swallowing so that we can move to remove her G-tube.

Our journey continues. We need to get past the next two weeks and see good healing and no infections. We get through this, we can close the chapter on this part of our story. Thank you for all your concern. We know we are not on this path alone. You have been with my dear wife and we feel of your strength and support.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Crainioplasty complete...

Today was yet another witness that our Heavenly Father has been watching over our family and very aware of the needs our sweet mother.  After a lot of waiting, mom went in for surgery at about 2:30 and received her crainioplasty.  The doctors said everything went just as they had hoped and were pleased with the results.  After a few set backs we are so grateful for the blessings of this day and to finally pass this hurdle in our journey.  Mom came out of surgery well and although it was hard to see her in the ICU I couldn't help but smile when I saw that beautiful round head.  She really is such an amazing woman and I am so grateful for her courage. Prior to the surgery, Mom smiled with Dad and me fairly often and did her best to communicate with doctors and nurses.  I am so grateful for the support of our friends and family and all those who are praying for Mom.  We have felt those prayers carry us many times throughout this journey and today was no different. 

We now pray that she will heal well without any hint of infection. We have been very blessed to have a great Neurosurgeon and Plastic surgeon to help mom. They too have been sent from Heaven. We need to get past these next three weeks with no issues and we can then close the books on this chapter of mom's recovery.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Another important day...

Today was an important day for Sherrie. We have been waiting for final approval from Infectious Disease doctors that she is ready to move ahead with her crainioplasty and we received their approval. Sherrie's critical indicators over the past four weeks have all done very well and tests continue to show that there is no infection. Her surgery date is scheduled for the 23rd of October of which we are very grateful.

Over the past several weeks my sweetheart has done very well in all her therapy sessions. Today, she walked with assistance about 200 feet. We wore her out, but it was amazing seeing her place one foot in front of another while keeping pretty good balance. As I have said before, her drive and courage continue to amaze me.

Our prayers over this next week and next will be focused on her surgery and that all will go very well. There is always risks that go with surgery. Placing a prosthetic device in her body has a risk of rejection albeit small. I could go crazy thinking about all the possible things that could happen, but I pause and remember how we have been guided and blessed and will maintain faith that the Lord will continue to watch over and direct Sherrie's care.

Next week is another milestone for my sweet wife. We pray this will be an event that will allow her to accelerate her recovery and increase her functionality. We remain grateful for well trained and caring doctors, therapists and caregivers and for you and all your well wishes and prayers.



Wednesday, October 10, 2012

A Thankful Heart...

The last 10 days have been important ones for Sherrie. With the good news received on the 2nd of October, we are heading to another visit with Infectious Disease doctors on Tuesday. If we have confirmatory results, we will head to a surgery date on the 23rd of this month. Our prayers have been focused on her body being strong and healthy so there would be no effect on vital organs as she continued on the regimen of antibiotics. Our prayers have once again been answered and we are closer to the surgery we thought would be completed almost 4 weeks ago.

It is difficult having Sherrie at RIC Chicago as an inpatient, but we feel very blessed with the therapy she is receiving. She has been more alert and responsive and will most likely stay at RIC until her surgery date. Each day we focus on things like getting dressed, brushing teeth, developing swallowing reflex, communication and walking. All can be very exhausting, but she is making good progress. She will begin as early as 7:30a and can finish her last session at 4p. By the time the day is finished she is a very tired girl. I continue to be amazed at her courage and drive.

I continue to see her ability to communicate increase each day. She is very good at responding to a question or command and this week I have heard her try to engage in conversation. Sometimes I know what she is saying and other times I just have to apologize telling her I don't understand. I know she is trying.

The other day I told her I felt blessed to be married to her for time and eternity. I asked her if she knew how long eternity was and was very pleased to hear her say "forever". I hope she said it as a blessing and not a burden! I had meetings all day Monday and did not make it down to RIC. When I came Tuesday, I said hello. She turned her head and in a pretty discernible way said, "where have you been?".  During a PT session, she was working very hard and wanted to stop. She turned to me and said, "help me please". I just wanted to cry.

We are approaching five months since this journey began. We continue to be grateful for many blessings sent our way. We know who is in charge and remain thankful my sweetheart is known by her Father In Heaven.


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Brave Mama

Mom had another great day today filled with a lot of work and continued progress.  She started her morning with a little therapy and then a trip to Northwestern for a doctor visit.  The doctor took out her staples and said that her scar is healing nicely.  The infectious disease doctor said that moms blood draws look good and everything is going well so they would like to aim for surgery again in a couple of weeks!!!  We are so excited to hear the good news and once again recognize the tender mercies we are receiving.

After a visit with the doctors mom returned to the RIC for an intense session of physical therapy.  Today they focused on mom working hard at standing tall and walking.  She has been doing a lot of walking this past week but much of it has been with the support of therapist or harnesses.  Today was mostly mom!  She held tight to the parallel bars on either side of her and walked 6 feet.  She did this many times today and was pretty tired by the end of the session.

All in all the day was a success.  Mom continues to find the strength to work and progress everyday and we are so grateful for her determination and the tender mercies from our Heavenly Father.  Mom summed the day up best when I asked, "Who is brave?" and she responded "I am!" with her right arm flexed so I could see her muscles.  She is our hero!