January 13, 2017: Day +55

Another good day.

Today when I arrived at Vibra, Doug's nurse was with him and helping him get comfortable.  Doug needs to be moved frequently since he cannot move himself in any way.  He quickly gets uncomfortable or begins sliding over to the left or to the right.  His latest difficulty which is driving him crazy in continuous itching.  My guess is that the itching is caused by peripheral nerve pain rather skin dryness or allergy. The only relief we have found is Tylenol and Gaberpenten.

When the charge nurse asked Doug yesterday if there was anything he wanted, Doug said he wanted to get in a wheelchair and look around.  He has not been out of bed for over a month.  This seemed like a reasonable request, but not necessarily easy to do since he is not sitting on his own.  Well today, his PT took him seriously and showed up with a wheelchair that can tip back to support his head.  He got to spend over an hour in this chair today, as he and I wheeled all over the hospital and then came back to the room.  I was able to do some massage with him in the sitting position and some of the exercises that Knox, our OT from the hospital taught me. Sitting this long was a big accomplishment.  He was pretty tired and took a 2 hour nap after our adventure but it did his spirit good.

Doug sitting up with Conrad, his SLP

Doug's head control was much better today too.  He can turn his head from side to side and up and down. He cannot lay his ear to his shoulder.  He cannot move his arms on his own but can push them down from a 90 degree angle. Conrad, the Speech and Language Pathologist  tried Doug on pudding  today.  It is the first thing he has eaten by month  in over a month.  He had some choking and so he will not try it again until next week. But, it was great for Doug to try some food.  Yum...

Doug's nurse from his first night here at Vibra came to see him.  It turns out he is from Mexico and his mother is a retired doctor from Mexico.  He has family in Puebla.  It was fun to be able to talk to him about our Mexican health care, the hospitals and the clinics.  His mother and father were medical missionaries and traveled in South America and Africa.  He graduated from high school in Kenya. I am learning that Americans have many misconceptions regarding health care in other countries. It was fun to share some of the things that we have observed with him.

Well it is getting very late and I had better get to bed, thankful for another day of moving forward. I was talking with my friend Fr. David the other night about writing prayers. He suggested I use some from the Book of Common Prayer.  Tonight seems like a good night to do just that.  This prayer is from the service for Compline.

Keep watch dear Lord, with those who work or watch or weep this night and give your angels charge  over those who sleep. Tend the sick Lord Christ, give rest to the weary, bless the dying, sooth the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous, all for your love's sake.  Amen