Day 101 - May 25, 2007 Friday

Terry had a good night. They slept for seven hours - only waking once for about 5 minutes. It is so much more restful when they can do that. The PT/OT therapists came today. There was also another evaluation - the visiting nurse felt like she really wasn't necessary. Someone came to assess that. It was decided that she would no longer come since Terry is medically healthy. Lynn can always call with any concerns if needed. Arlyne (daughter) and family came for dinner. They always enjoy visitors. It is great for them to spend time with family and friends at HOME! The rest of the evening was quiet - just enjoying time together.

Day 100 - May 24, 2007 Thursday

Terry and Lynn slept until 7:30 am today. There isn't any therapy scheduled for today, so they will exercise on their own. They are going out today - Lynn needs an allergy shot. They will also go to Walmart to do some shopping. Jimmy (son) to the van to have the tie-down straps installed. He got back around 12:30 pm. He helped Lynn get Terry in his wheelchair. Then Lynn got herself ready to go. They started loading Terry in the van around 1:20 pm and were on their way. They arrived at the doctor early, so they had to wait a few minutes. Once they were done at the doctor's office, they headed to Walmart. They shopped for quite a while, Lynn pushing Terry and pulling the grocery cart. It went fairly smoothly but was tiring for both of them. They arrived back home around 4:30 pm. She got Terry out of the van and started unloaded groceries. She called Curtis (Amanda's boyfriend) to help get Terry back in bed. (She looks forward to when they won't have to rely on other people to help - they can go it themselves.) It had been a LONG afternoon, so they had a fairly quiet evening. A few visitors stopped by to visit.

Day 99 - May 23, 2007 Wednesday

Terry felt pretty good today. The nurse and the therapist came, and they exercised as well. It was warm outside, so they spent some time on the front porch. It is very NICE for them to be home!

Day 98 - May 22, 2007 Tuesday

Terry has an appointment with the neurosurgeon today. He still wasn't feeling well, so Lynn tried to see about changing his appointment (that was not possible). She found out the appointment was an hour earlier than she thought, too. They had to hurry to get ready to go. A Hancock County Senior Services van picked them up at 9 am. First Terry had X-rays, then he saw the doctor. The doctor said everything looked good. He asked Terry to move his knee. Terry said he wasn't strong enough but did move his foot quite a bit. The doctor was very pleased. After surgery in February, the doctor did not think Terry would be able to move his legs. He thought Terry would be paralyzed - GOD IS SO GOOD! His miracles in Terry's body are evident every day. The doctor said Terry didn't need his back brace (turtle shell) any more, and that he is released for weight-bearing activity as tolerated. Now the REAL work begins!! They got home around 1 pm, and the rest of the day was fairly quiet.

Day 91 - May 21, 2007 Monday

Terry wasn't feeling very well today. They cancelled the therapy session that was planned and asked for no visitors. It was a LONG day. He didn't really improve the rest of the day. It was a rough night, too.

Day 96 - May 20, 2007 Sunday

Terry and Lynn have quit setting the alarm for his 4 am pain pills. If he is up and asks for them, he gets them. Otherwise he doesn't get them until he wakes up. They bought some straps to tie Terry down in the van - it is Garrett's birthday party today. They go to NCMP (New Castle Motorsports Park) where the party is being held. Several people introduce themselves to Terry (they heard about his story on NCMP's website). They were all very impressed with him. They stayed for about two hours. They showed several people the van. One generous friend offered to pay a third of the cost for the van. Lynn and Terry continue to be overwhelmed by the caring and blessings that come their way. After getting home, it was a quiet evening.

Day 95 - May 19, 2007 Saturday

They are having the van delivered today. They are very excited about being more mobile. Lynn's mom and dad came for a visit today and brought her aunt and uncle (Liz & Bill). They enjoyed some time outside in the sunshine. Bobby (son) and Patty (girlfriend) also showed up. They all enjoyed a nice dinner together. The van didn't arrive until 10:30 pm. They decided not to go to church since the tie-downs still need to be installed. They had a very peaceful night.

Day 94 - May 18, 2007 Friday

The OT therapist came today to do her evaluation on Terry. She wanted to set goals and find out what his most pressing goal is. She is going to work on his functional gains with his hands as well as transfers to improve his mobility. The people brought the van by around 11 am. It looks good. It doesn't have tie-downs in the back (the driver was the one in the wheelchair). They will need to get them installed. They will get the van tomorrow and possibly go to church on Sunday. It was a good day. They had several visitors and went outside. They enjoyed being together at home.

Day 93 - May 17, 2007 Thursday

Terry is having an evaluation by the home care lady today. Also Lynn will be contacting AHHE to get a new bed. It will be delivered in the afternoon. Lynn is training everyone (family and friends) on transfers with Terry, so whoever is around can help. The transfers are getting easier for Terry (his healing continues). Lynn also called about a van they are interested in buying - it has a wheelchair lift. The people are bringing it by tomorrow. The home care lady did her evaluation. It was decided that the nurse would come twice the first week, then she would only come once a week. PT will come twice a week and OT three times a week. The new bed was delivered - Lynn was very pleased with it. The evening was much better.

Day 92 - May 16, 2007 Wednesday

When Lynn got home last night the ramps were installed (by their church). They looked great and are ready for the big day today. Terry is coming home. He had his last breakfast at HH, and then got ready to leave. They went outside for a little while; the van (from Hancock Senior Services) won't be there to pick Terry up until around 1 pm. They have been saying their goodbye's to the staff for the last two days. All of the staff wanted to be scheduled for today, so they could see Terry off and wish them well. HH had family members and friends of the residents write notes on why the resident was so special to them. Terry received his "treasure chest" today before he left. They made their final rounds saying goodbye and ended up in the dining room. It was after 1 pm but the van wasn't here yet. Lynn called and checked. It was on the way just running a little behind. The van arrived around 1:30. Terry was loaded up and Lynn followed. She took several pictures of the homecoming. Jimmy (son) was waiting at the house. Terry had a quick tour of the bathroom (still being remodeled) and then got it bed. All the excitement had wore him out. He wanted some of his Valentine's Day pie (Lynn made a cherry pie for him and kept it frozen). After moving him around a few times, Lynn decided that the bed was too soft. It was very difficult to move him around. It was a difficult night. They didn't get much sleep.

Easter Sunday Picture of Terry and Lynn

Here is a picture of Lynn & Terry from Easter. Sorry for the delay - this picture was on Amanda's (daughter) camera - and the camera was lost for a while.

Day 91 - May 15, 2007 Tuesday

Jimmy (son) went to HH this morning, while Lynn was at home for the equipment delivery. The lift and bedside commode were delivered. The commode had to be returned because it didn't have enough support and it needed wheels (they want it to double as a shower chair). The mattress pad also arrived. It is a pad that is specially made to change pressure points continuously. It has alternating pockets of air. After the delivery man left, Lynn put the bed all together. She realized they didn't have any sheets for it. She will get some tonight on the way home from HH. She got to HH around 11:30. She started packing all of their stuff up and took it out to the car. She is wanting to get most of their stuff out of there tonight. Terry had PT & OT in the afternoon. The therapists wanted to make sure Lynn was trained on using the Hoyer Lift and any other essentials. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful - spent packing, etc.

Day 90 - May 14, 2007 Monday

Today is a busy day. Lynn is trying to get everything ready for Wednesday when Terry comes home. She needs to arrange deliveries and check on the ramps to the house. She called AHHE to see about replacing the wheelchair ASAP. She also needed to arrange the delivery of the bed, mattress, and lift from there. The wheelchair will be delivered this afternoon. The other equipment will be delivered to the house Tuesday morning. They found out today that Terry no longer has to have a shot (given in the stomach) to thin his blood. He will take aspirin instead. The ramps will be installed Tuesday afternoon by their church (New Life Christian Fellowship). The therapists stressed the importance of Lynn working with Terry on his therapy to make sure he advances while at home. Lynn said they are definitely planning on doing that. The bed was dropped off about 9:30 pm (a friend knew someone with a bed that Terry could use). They got the bed set-up and then Michael (son) and Warren (grandson) helped Lynn rearrange furniture.

Day 89 - May 13, 2007 Sunday

It was a quiet and restful day at HH. Terry and Lynn attended a couple of sing-alongs and listened to some Scripture readings.

Day 88 - May 12, 2007 Saturday

It was a fairly quiet and lazy day today. Terry didn't have any therapy, so he and Lynn worked on it together. He also had another shower today. This one was easier on him. When they first came to HH, Terry's ribs were so painful that he was constantly telling everyone to be careful where they touched him. His recovery continues to amaze Lynn.

Day 87 - May 11, 2007 Friday

The new wheelchair came today. They got Terry in it and started making adjustments to it. They are going to give this one a try. Terry had therapy and also spent a little time outside. He was in the new chair for about 2 hours. He just can't get real comfortable in it. It doesn't tilt enough. They tried to contact AHHE but couldn't get a hold of anyone. It will have to wait until Monday.

Day 86 - May 10, 2007 Thursday

Lynn came in early today to help Terry get ready for the doctor's appointment. Terry was not feeling well this morning so things did not go according to plan. Finally after 2 hours they were able to get him ready. Henry County Transport took them to Methodist. Terry had a CAT scan first, then they went to the doctor's office. Terry also got x-ray's. They saw the doctor after the x-rays. The doctor explained that both Terry's arm and pelvis have extra bone growth. The doctor also had Terry move his toes. The doctor said that it is AMAZING that Terry is not paralyzed. They feel that God has been so good to them. The doctor wants Terry to see a hand specialist for his left arm - with the additional bone growth and the fact that he has been non-weight-bearing for 3 months his hand is "drawing up" into a claw shape. The doctor thinks Terry may need stronger, more aggressive therapy or possibly even surgery to correct it. They will go to the specialist on May 29. The doctor did release Terry for weight-bearing as tolerated (he's healing has been so great!). Lynn realized on the way to the doctor that Terry will need the neurosurgeon's approval for weight-bearing activity, too. That appointment is on May 22. Terry's new wheelchair was suppose to come today, but it got postponed.

Day 85 - May 9, 2007 Wednesday

Lynn is having a day out today - courtesy of her mom and sister. Amanda (daughter) and Jimmy (son) will stay with Terry while she is out. She was going to a day spa to be pampered. It was a fairly quiet day for Terry. Roma (Lynn's mom) came in after the day spa treatment and was greatly impressed. Terry's strength improves daily. Tomorrow is Terry's appointment with the orthopedic doctor. The doctor will let them know if Terry can be released for weight-bearing activity.

Day 84 - May 8, 2007 Tuesday

Terry and Lynn are so GRATEFUL that family and friends have been so HELPFUL & CARING. All they have to do is call on someone and the need is met. That is a big part of the reason Lynn feels that Terry can come home now, and they will be able to handle it. He is started to feel nauseated again, because he is starting to get his feelings and sensations back in his lower body. This is good, but it is not sorted out yet which is difficult for him. He doesn't have much of an appetite or drink much. They will keep working on it.

Day 83 - May 7, 2007 Monday

Terry still isn't feeling well today which means he doesn't want to eat. It is very frustrating. Finally later on, he is feeling better. They hope it continues, and as he begins to move more it should make a big difference. Plus he will have home cooked food so he should eat better. They are counting the days until he will be home. AHHE (At Home Health Equipment) brought a wheelchair for Terry today, but it didn't work out. They will bring another for him to try. The rest of the day was fairly normal.