Better News!!!

Marie is home (to Quality Living, Inc.) from the hospital!  She is in much better spirits now that they have given her pain medications.  They let her get lots of rest this morning, but were going to do as much with her as her back would allow this afternoon.  It is still sore, of course.  She is feeling a bit more shaky today since she is on muscle relaxants and hasn’t walked much for a day or so, but she did walk….and she is eating really well.  This is good news, as she has lost so much weight.

AND we have found out that the bad news we had yesterday, may not be as bad as we first thought. What sent us into a “tizzy” was that the psychologist who had tested Marie told us that she was in the one percentile in two out of the three tests she had administered for cognitive skills. And in the same breath, told us she couldn’t go home by herself and both of us interpreted that to mean…forever!!  Well…we just couldn’t believe it!!! While she was in the hospital, the doctor who was assigned to her, was also skeptical, and had an appointment with the Quality Living psychologist. Then the doctor met with some “experts” on the staff of the hospital, and after interviewing Marie they concurred that she indeed has some cognitive impairments,  and needs to work on that part of the brain, but they felt  the tests really weren’t valid, considering Marie was in so pain due to her ruptured discs….who could concentrate when they hurt that bad????

The other thing the psychologist reported to us was that people are almost never the same after a head injury and perhaps they won’t be the least bit interested in what they did before!  She was skeptical that Marie can go back to teaching, as her injury has affected the front lobe and that is the planning ahead, carrying through etc. area. 

Then when she mentioned she won’t be able to live alone…we were a basket case.

WELL…..the doctor at the hospital agrees that cognitive impairment can be a problem.  But the bottom line is IT IS TOO EARLY TO TELL….and I think we have understood that all along. AND we have understood all along that Marie will need assistance when she leaves Quality Living, but the way it was presented to us, we thought Marie would never get to the stage of being self-sufficient.

We have certainly had our ups and downs through all of this;  we think the psychologist meant well and just wanted to be honest with us…but perhaps she “over did” her assessment a bit.  Or maybe we over-reacted…… she gave us a lot of information all at once.

I am so sorry if I distressed you…..but we were upset too.  We are back to our original feeling, that she is progressing just beautifully and we have high hopes that she will have a good recovery….but if we have to make adjustments….we can do that too.  Several of you have shared inspirational stories of people you have known who have almost returned to normal, so, knowing Marie, and her determination, we are hopeful once again.

I’ve mentioned before how much your support and prayers mean to us….
Dick and Jeanne

Update on Marie – August 29th

Hi Everyone!!

Marie has had a bit of a set back in her rehabilitation schedule.  She had been complaining for several days of discomfort in her back and Sunday, it really got bad…she laid in bed most of the day; one of the physical therapists came in and gave her a treatment, but there was no improvement, so Monday Morning they took her (by ambulance) to the emergency room across the street.

After several hours wait (we are getting used to waiting in hospitals) they did an MRI and after a couple more hours, we discovered she has two slipped discs…NO WONDER she hurt.  We were trying to decide if the pain was really that bad, or if her brain was “over-reacting”…but now we know. They have given her a steroid shot, muscle relaxant and pain pill, so she is resting comfortably…as long as she doesn’t move!!!!  We will get updated by the spine specialist this afternoon.

The other news is that we had our meeting with all the therapists and their “take” on their tests of the past week. Marie is doing well physically (before her back) and in speech, but there are brain problems that were just identified as she was tested.

We were shocked to hear she scored really low on short term memory skills and learning new things etc.  It is so complicated, but they are not sure she will ever be able to live alone at this point. Dick and I are “reeling” at this news, because she appears to be making such progress.  We are now trying to process what all this means for the future of Marie and for us too…..  We are so hoping Marie proves the tests wrong.

If you’re not too tired of including all of us in your prayers, we still appreciate them!!! We were going back home to Iowa today, but obviously those plans have changed.  We’re not sure what our next step is…  It will depend on the doctor’s report this afternoon.

Jeanne and Dick

PRAISEFEST THIS SUNDAY!!!!

You are invited to Praisefest, on Sunday, August 27^th.  Here are the details:

What:     Praisefest at First

When:    Sunday, August 27^th 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Where:   First Christian Church Parking Lot (NW corner of 17th & K)

Why:      For Live Praise Music…and FREE Ice Cream and Cookies!

* In case of inclement weather, Praisefest will be held in the sanctuary.

There will be plenty of free parking across the street (northeast corner of 17th & K).  We’ll have tables and chairs set up, but you can also bring your lawn chair if you like. 

We would love for you to join us! 

Update on Marie — August 24th

Hi Friends and Relatives….

Sorry I can’t write each and every one of you.  We are using the computers in the recreation area and they are only available to us when the residents don’t need them…so communicating will be “hit and miss”.

Just wanted you to know that Marie is moved into the facility in Omaha and it is a pleasant place and she likes her room. There are “houses” here, so she is in a house with 7 other people.  Her biggest problems right now are anxiousness and being tired.

Unfortunately, the meds they gave her for anxiety made her worse, so she is going to be weaned off of those meds and they will try something else.  Anxiety is not unusual with a brain injury.  But it is hard on her.

We think that despite her complaints, she is gaining stamina and doing well.  They are going to work on stamina, along with just working on the obvious.  She has a full schedule of Physical Therapy, Occupational therapy and speech therapy.  Her long term memory seems really good.  We are so encouraged.

We are living in another motel nearby; we’re not sure how long we will be here.  She is so busy, we don’t get to see much of her but she seems to appreciate having us “around” so we’ll stay till she is comfortable.

Thanks for being there everyone…
Jeannie and Dick

Update on Marie – August 21st

MORE GOOD NEWS ABOUT MARIE!!!

You can see the progress Marie is making day by day.  She continues to work on her gait, but it is becoming more normal and she is walking un-assisted.  She is using her right arm and hand more without concentrating so much on using it…it is more natural to her.  The other day she practiced holding a full glass of water in her right hand and walking the length of the gym….trickier than one might think!! Especially when one realizes two weeks ago she couldn’t walk, and couldn’t grip with her right hand!!!!

Her long term memory seems intact and her short term memory is so much better, although of course her accident and the 5 or so weeks following it are a blank. Marie had a busy Sunday; the principal of Lux came by (as he has been doing) and assured Marie she will have a job when she is ready. 

Several members of the Torch Team at church (the room was too small for all of them) came by and sang with her and she was estatic….moments before she was complaining about how tired she was, but it was as if she had a transfusion when they sang. Later, Sunday, we took Marie to the Sunken Gardens where she walked a bit, and then we went out for ice cream…topped off the day with pizza….

Tomorrow she has a medical procedure at the hospital to remove the filter put in so blood clots couldn’t reach her lungs; they feel she is active enough now that there isn’t much danger of a clot forming!!

Wednesday, we’re off to Omaha.  People keep asking us how she feels about this move. She is quite positive about it, but a bit apprehensive too…its all so new to her (and to us).  We will stay in Omaha a week or so til she gets “settled in”. Madonna and Quality Living work closely together, so QLI already has some info on Marie so they will know how to begin her further rehab. As we understand it, the therapy will be “fine tuning” the skills she needs to have to be able to live alone.

Her address in Omaha will be:
Marie Chelikowsky
c/o Quality Living Incorporated
6408 North 70 Plaza, House 4, room 8
Omaha, NE 68104

If she progresses as fast as she has so far, we are thinking she may not be there more than a month or so…but this is JUST a guess on her parent’s part. Marie is experiencing anxiety about her future (normal) and complaining of being so tired (normal) but we think she is doing remarkably well, and we are so grateful.

Thanks again for all the prayers, thoughts and messages.  We (and Marie) are grateful…. I know I keep saying this, but I never want to take all your caring thoughts and prayers for granted!!  They have meant so much to us.

Jeanne and Dick