Today Dave was approved the transfer to the rehab facility called Easy Street...but in typical hospital fashion the wait for the doc to sign off took too long for it to happen today...so in the morn we are packing his meager belongings and going across campus. He is so ready for this!!! He woke up today, exactly one week after his stroke, saying how much better he felt and flexed his hands into fists. He is raring to get into therapy full time and kick this thing in the ass!!
I am so happy to see him like this. It gives me renewed vigor and hope. We both know it will be a long road and quite possibly may not have the perfectly happy ending....but we got each other!
Monday, October 3, 2011
Meltdown
Yesterday I had my meltdown but I made sure Dave didn't suspect a thing. I suppose it was bound to happen and it was no fun at all. Each morning all week as I drove to the hospital I would give myself pep talks. I breathe deeply, relax my facial muscles and send up prayers for strength and loving patience so I can be exactly what Dave needs me to be. Until yesterday I have felt strong and able to meet the challenges. As far as Dave knows nothing was out of the norm. When I had my moments I made sure I was far from his view. When I knew it might be out of control I gathered as much control as I could muster to tell him I was headed home for a bit to let Homer out.
Once home I did what my normal routine for grief or sorrow is......I worked. I cleaned house and then headed outside to blow leaves, sweep and put away lawn furniture for the winter. It felt good to have purpose and be able to channel my pain into something productive! Later I went back to the hospital for a couple of hours and showed Dave my game face. That night as I ate dinner and confessed to Jorel my emotional day I learned an important thing: It is really difficult to chew a salad and cry. I don't recommend it!
Once home I did what my normal routine for grief or sorrow is......I worked. I cleaned house and then headed outside to blow leaves, sweep and put away lawn furniture for the winter. It felt good to have purpose and be able to channel my pain into something productive! Later I went back to the hospital for a couple of hours and showed Dave my game face. That night as I ate dinner and confessed to Jorel my emotional day I learned an important thing: It is really difficult to chew a salad and cry. I don't recommend it!
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Hotel NW Hospital ~ email sent Saturday 10-1
“Welcome to the Hotel NW Hospital…..such a lovely place….such a lovely face…we’re livin’ it up at the Hotel NW Hospital…..”
It looks like Dave will be here through the weekend and “Hotel California” keeps flitting through my mind. On Thursday he was assessed by that head honcho guy I told you about and Dr. Chatilo (Russian accent and all) approved for Dave to be admitted to “Easy Street”. Now it is a matter of the insurance big wigs to give us the thumbs up. Being a weekend we reckon it will be Monday for the big moving date.
Dave continues to make great progress! He impresses his therapists every day and we are greatly encouraged. He is very involved with his care and future and asks good and pertinent questions. Little by little his talking improves and he has even teased me at times.
He is learning to dress himself and is really good at dropping his trousers ~ Just like the good ole days! What amazed me was when he tied a bow in the drawstring of his hospital britches….not just once, but twice to show off a bit. Good thing I didn’t put a timer on him though.
He is sitting up in a deluxe recliner right now watching football …..so things are just like normal in that department! Jorel’s surgery went smoothly and he has taken on the serious task of keeping Dave’s recliner at home in good working order. He also will be using Dave’s truck so it won’t get lonely. Thanks to those of you who have offered and brought food….it has been so appreciated!! FYI we are not against future offers of foodstuffs!
So many of you have offered help and I will come up with some more concrete things later when we adjust to this new life. For now one thing I would like to do is make some posters to pass on your well wishes to Dave. If you want to be a part of this you can email me a photo of yourself along with a simple message of a sentence or two. The plan is to put your words along with your picture on poster board to mount in his room where he will be in therapy. (Anyone who wants to help with this craft project is welcome to let me know!) It is possible that he will spend 3-4 weeks in rehab before coming home and having this encouragement can go far in helping him along this difficult path.
Mom is due to fly in tonight at around 5 pm and my sister Lisa and I will be waiting at her house to gently break the news. After today I am not against any public postings on FB or writing messages by airplane in the sky….whatever floats your boat!
Love to you all,
Cheryl
Improvements ~ email sent Thursday 9-29
First off I need to apologize if I haven't returned your calls or texts. I am trying to do so but with Dave being so popular it is a bit beyond me right now. We both REALLY appreciate your love and support and prayers!!!
Today Dave has made improvements and I continue to praise him! He is talking a bit better than yesterday and this is one of the most encouraging things for both of us!! The frustration level has been tough with how hard it has been for him to communicate. He has been able to draw with his left hand with amazing accuracy and has performed very well with the speech therapist this morning. He was sitting up in a chair eating breakfast when I came in and was excited to see I had brought him his beloved Diet Coke :)
He got a visit from Homer today and that cheered him up. Just looking at him you wouldn't know he has suffered a stroke. His face does not droop or anything.....not Homer....Dave. Homer's ears do droop but he can't help it.
Dave is off oxygen now and got to have a shower...yay! He is learning to dress himself but needs a lot of help at this point. He was very emotional when I got here. I have been wondering if he would break down and I encouraged him to let his emotions go. It seemed to help. I have been passing on all your thoughts and good wishes and will continue to do whatever it takes to give him hope and determination to come back as much to normal as possible.
We are waiting for the head honcho from the rehab facility here at NW called "Easy Street" to come assess him for his next step in this journey. We are told he is a good candidate for this program and we are hopeful he will be accepted. The location is convenient for the family to visit and for me to support him...but of course I would go unarmed on a 3 hour rickety bus ride through Nicaraguan mudslides if that is what it takes!
FYI...Jorel's knee surgery today went well and he is resting at home. Again....feel free to share this email but Mom is still traveling and does not know this news so please do not post anything on Facebook or share with people that might divulge to her before she is home by our side.
Thank you all for your love and support and wonderful offers!!! When I have a chance to think I will be asking for help and I do appreciate it!!
Love you all! ~Cheryl
Later ~ I am home now and it is almost 8 pm. The PSE workers have been at my house for at least 2 hours and they have been concerned about our gas meter and such....you know about the gas leak that blew that house up? That was in my neighborhood and I guess they are being extra attentive to our house tonight. I don't know if that makes me feel safer or not....but they are saying we have no worries......Ahhhhhhhhh.....LIFE WITH THE KINGS!
Today Dave has made improvements and I continue to praise him! He is talking a bit better than yesterday and this is one of the most encouraging things for both of us!! The frustration level has been tough with how hard it has been for him to communicate. He has been able to draw with his left hand with amazing accuracy and has performed very well with the speech therapist this morning. He was sitting up in a chair eating breakfast when I came in and was excited to see I had brought him his beloved Diet Coke :)
He got a visit from Homer today and that cheered him up. Just looking at him you wouldn't know he has suffered a stroke. His face does not droop or anything.....not Homer....Dave. Homer's ears do droop but he can't help it.
Dave is off oxygen now and got to have a shower...yay! He is learning to dress himself but needs a lot of help at this point. He was very emotional when I got here. I have been wondering if he would break down and I encouraged him to let his emotions go. It seemed to help. I have been passing on all your thoughts and good wishes and will continue to do whatever it takes to give him hope and determination to come back as much to normal as possible.
We are waiting for the head honcho from the rehab facility here at NW called "Easy Street" to come assess him for his next step in this journey. We are told he is a good candidate for this program and we are hopeful he will be accepted. The location is convenient for the family to visit and for me to support him...but of course I would go unarmed on a 3 hour rickety bus ride through Nicaraguan mudslides if that is what it takes!
FYI...Jorel's knee surgery today went well and he is resting at home. Again....feel free to share this email but Mom is still traveling and does not know this news so please do not post anything on Facebook or share with people that might divulge to her before she is home by our side.
Thank you all for your love and support and wonderful offers!!! When I have a chance to think I will be asking for help and I do appreciate it!!
Love you all! ~Cheryl
Later ~ I am home now and it is almost 8 pm. The PSE workers have been at my house for at least 2 hours and they have been concerned about our gas meter and such....you know about the gas leak that blew that house up? That was in my neighborhood and I guess they are being extra attentive to our house tonight. I don't know if that makes me feel safer or not....but they are saying we have no worries......Ahhhhhhhhh.....LIFE WITH THE KINGS!
First Days following the Stroke
I am going to use this blog format to reach all the folks who care about my husband Dave. Below is the email message I sent out 2 days after he was taken to the hospital following a stroke at home. Our son Jorel is the hero of this story. He was the one who discovered Dave that morning around 10am. From what we can piece together Dave was having difficulty in bed and got dressed with intentions of going to the hospital. He made it to the living room. and collapsed partly on the couch and the floor. This is how Jorel found him. We had not idea if he would recover since he had lost his speech and the mobility of his right side.
Here is the email I sent 2 days after his stroke:
I know how much you all love and care for Dave and the past days in the hospital have been so busy and overwhelming that it is hard to put it succinctly.
The main thing he is improving...it is slow and frustrating but he is doing well. He has gone through shock, frustration, fatigue and many more emotions. It is normal for stroke patients to feel depression and be very emotional. He is battling feeling stupid right now but inside his head he is still the same guy. He has what is called "Aphasia" where he has difficulty understanding and speaking language. The blood clot affected the left side of the brain and the speech center. Therefore his right side went from paralyzed on Monday to weak today. But he actually stood up and took steps assisted today!!! We are hopeful he will be able to overcome these disabilities and live a normal life...but we are taking it day by day.
He is working with Speech, Occupational and Physical therapists each day as well as seeing doctors. Most likely he will be here 3-4 days and then transferred to a care facility in order to be trained to come home. We are hopeful for enough of a recovery that this will happen!
I know all of you love Dave and are very concerned....many of you have asked to visit. Dave appreciates all your messages but at this time he asked that he not get visitors. He is so busy and gets too little time in between things to rest.
Many of you have asked what you can do. First off you can pray! One thing we could use help with is home meals. Jorel is going in for knee surgery tomorrow and I will be at the hospital so much I do not want Jorel to be neglected in any way. We don't need a lot....just a few simple easy meals that Jorel can get for himself. His surgery is minor and it won't be too long before he is back in action.
Some of you have asked if it is okay to let others know....yes it is with the caveat that my mother not be told just yet (that means that if you pass this on it must be underlined!!) She is completing a fabulous 3 week trip back east with 3 girlfriends and will be home this Sat. the 1st. She will be informed then when she is not so far away.
Thanks for all your love and kindness!!
Cheryl
Here is the email I sent 2 days after his stroke:
I know how much you all love and care for Dave and the past days in the hospital have been so busy and overwhelming that it is hard to put it succinctly.
The main thing he is improving...it is slow and frustrating but he is doing well. He has gone through shock, frustration, fatigue and many more emotions. It is normal for stroke patients to feel depression and be very emotional. He is battling feeling stupid right now but inside his head he is still the same guy. He has what is called "Aphasia" where he has difficulty understanding and speaking language. The blood clot affected the left side of the brain and the speech center. Therefore his right side went from paralyzed on Monday to weak today. But he actually stood up and took steps assisted today!!! We are hopeful he will be able to overcome these disabilities and live a normal life...but we are taking it day by day.
He is working with Speech, Occupational and Physical therapists each day as well as seeing doctors. Most likely he will be here 3-4 days and then transferred to a care facility in order to be trained to come home. We are hopeful for enough of a recovery that this will happen!
I know all of you love Dave and are very concerned....many of you have asked to visit. Dave appreciates all your messages but at this time he asked that he not get visitors. He is so busy and gets too little time in between things to rest.
Many of you have asked what you can do. First off you can pray! One thing we could use help with is home meals. Jorel is going in for knee surgery tomorrow and I will be at the hospital so much I do not want Jorel to be neglected in any way. We don't need a lot....just a few simple easy meals that Jorel can get for himself. His surgery is minor and it won't be too long before he is back in action.
Some of you have asked if it is okay to let others know....yes it is with the caveat that my mother not be told just yet (that means that if you pass this on it must be underlined!!) She is completing a fabulous 3 week trip back east with 3 girlfriends and will be home this Sat. the 1st. She will be informed then when she is not so far away.
Thanks for all your love and kindness!!
Cheryl
SHOCKING News
I thought last summer was a nightmare....as it turns out it was only a bad dream. On September 26th the real nightmare began...but we will wake up!
First off I need to explain our summer. My husband Dave and I have known a young woman (who will go unnamed) since she was 11. We were her legal guardians when she was 13, 14 and 15 and have done our best over the years to be a positive influence in her very tragic life. She is now a 24 year old single mother of a 3 year old whom we have loved and cared for as if he were a blood Grandson. We adore this boy and would do anything for him! Because of this boy we took her in on July 1st. What we didn't know is that she is a heroin addict and the missing $ from our wallets along with the credit card fraud was her doing. In late Aug. we discovered that she stolen and pawned thousands of dollars worth of my jewelry during the summer. On August 31st we confronted her, called the police and kicked her out. We were instrumental in getting our grandson out of her dangerous life and he is currently living with his birth father. We thought we were going to get our lives back...
Fast forward to Monday, September 26th
First off I need to explain our summer. My husband Dave and I have known a young woman (who will go unnamed) since she was 11. We were her legal guardians when she was 13, 14 and 15 and have done our best over the years to be a positive influence in her very tragic life. She is now a 24 year old single mother of a 3 year old whom we have loved and cared for as if he were a blood Grandson. We adore this boy and would do anything for him! Because of this boy we took her in on July 1st. What we didn't know is that she is a heroin addict and the missing $ from our wallets along with the credit card fraud was her doing. In late Aug. we discovered that she stolen and pawned thousands of dollars worth of my jewelry during the summer. On August 31st we confronted her, called the police and kicked her out. We were instrumental in getting our grandson out of her dangerous life and he is currently living with his birth father. We thought we were going to get our lives back...
Fast forward to Monday, September 26th
I sarcastically commented to my friends that my house was about a half mile from his. Seeing a message I clicked on it and this is what I read:
- Call me ASAP.....EMERGENCY....Call me ASAP .....
Talk about feeling terror! My mind took a leap that it was MY HOUSE that had blown up! I have seen it happen on film but my entire body was shaking while I tried to call someone at home. After several mis-dials I finally reached my sister and while I was relieved to know that my house along with my husband, son and dog had not gone up in a natural gas fireball, the grim news that my husband had suffered a stroke early that morning added a new dimension of shock.
I could not have been with better people upon receiving this news. Liana Bennett immediately offered to drive me the 4 + hours back to Seattle and the others, Pepper Peterson, Patty Forte Linna and Joanne Shellan all were game to go along or do whatever it took to get me safely to my husband's side.
As it turned out Liana and Pepper took me to Marblemount where my brother-in-law met us and took me the remainder of the way. Arriving around 9pm I met a surreal group of family gathered around my husband at NW Hospital in north Seattle. Those of you who have experienced something similar....it takes a special attitude to face this kind of tragedy with fortitude. I can't say I was successful but I think I did okay.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Jan Endsley ~ The Crazy Quail Lady
I love it when people have passion…when something drives them with fierce devotion. Jan is one of these people and her passion is not ordinary: QUAILS!
She has dedicated her life to these birds (and other fowl) and single-handedly operates Covey Run Game Farm in Eatonville WA. I visited Jan in July and before painting her FACE we toured her little slice of heaven that is tucked up at the foot of Mt Rainier. Besides a plethora of quail she has chickens, hens, pheasant and even a peacock. 2 dogs, a cat and a horse round out her menagerie.
There may be surplus of birds but the quail rule the roost where Jan hand raises chicks and special ones live in the house, share ice cream and go camping with her. Her home is adorned with bird and especially quail art and paraphernalia. In 2003 Jan penned a charming book of vignettes told from a quail’s perspective titled “Diary of a California Valley Quail”.
Louis is “King Quail” in her poultry domain and Jan commissioned me to paint a portrait of Mr. Louis to immortalize his unique personage. In fact it was Louis that was responsible for us meeting. He was the live model for wildlife sculptor Rip Caswell in Edmonds at Cole Gallery one Saturday in June. I was surprised to find he didn’t have a feather on his head, what we all come to equate with quail, and learned that Louis is a Bobwhite quail. An entire world beyond my awareness unfolded that day!
When Jan posed for her FACE portrait this week we had Louis sit on her lap. All was cool for the first shots and then I watched as he geared himself up for a flap to freedom. I loved the way this last shot turned out when Louis launched himself off Jan's lap. Not to worry....Jan scooped him up in no time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)