Updates on my H

Re: Updates on my H

• MairePoppy mod

  

  April 2016 edited April 2016

  @photokitty - If Spock's H is considered a rehab patient, rather than a long term care resident, would the ombudsman still assist? 
  
  

                     

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• lembaslover member

  

  April 2016

  photokitty said:

  That's dog food. There's no way that's for human consumption!
  
  If you don't feel like you are getting what you need from the nursing home, contact your state long term care ombudsman. They can help you get the care you deserve in a nursing home. Every resident should expect excellence, it's what you deserve.

  Personally I think it'd be cruel to give that to a dog!
  
  Im sorry you guys are now going through this. There are good places out there. My grandma was at a rehab home for a little while and the nurses there were awesome, some of them would stay after their shifts and play cards with her if we weren't able to make it. That was obv above and beyond but if he isn't getting the meds he needs on time and is being served inedible food like that picture then that's not ok. I'm glad you're able to bring him stuff and that he's exploring more music options! 

  

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• photokitty mod

  

  April 2016

  MairePoppy said:

  @photokitty - If Spock's H is considered a rehab patient, rather than a long term care resident, would the ombudsman still assist? 
  
  

  In my state, yes. He it's still a resident, for however long he is there. People frequently don't consider younger people or rehab patients residents, bc they are nontraditional residents. But they are still residents. If you live at the nursing home, then our ombudsman office will advocate for you.

  ~xoxo~

  
  

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• spockforprez member

  

  April 2016

  Thank you so much for the advice, all. We hope to get good news about a bust out date on Tuesday!
  
  H says hi.  
  
  
  

  image.jpeg 1M

  
  

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• thefanciestbeckler member

  

  April 2016

  He looks so great!!!!

  
  

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• kimmiinthemitten member

  

  April 2016

  Looking good Mr. Spock!

  
  

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• drunkenwitch member

  

  April 2016 edited April 2016

  Stocking his mini fridge with high quality deli meat, cheese and vegetables might be an option. I often just take some romaine or red leaf lettuce and roll it with meat,  cheese and cucumbers and have that for lunch at work. High protein and he could add some spinach for iron. You could even pre roll some wraps for him so all he has to do is grab one when he's hungry.
  
  ETA: if he needs some carbs as well, you can pre roll wraps in flour tortillas. Easier and less messy to eat than a sandwich.  You can mix up the cheese, meat and veg so he also gets some variety. 
  
  You two are amazing. 
  
  

  

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• ILoveBeachMusic member

  

  April 2016

  Hope Tuesday brings you good news! I agree with PPs, y'all are amazing.
  
  

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• spockforprez member

  

  April 2016

  Happy 36th birthday H! 
  
  
  
  We had a birthday outing to a nearby mall where we enjoyed Five Guys, bought some new Oakleys to replace the ones lost in the crash, and hung out in Barnes and Noble where he bought an antique tractor magazine LOL!
  
  BIG NEWS!!!!!!!! I will write a proper long update later, but H is going home Tuesday!!!!!!!! He will be there for 3-5 weeks (still waiting on that pesky pelvis) before transferring to inpatient rehab. We got an electric hospital bed and many other supplies approved through insurance and it will all be delivered Monday! HAPPINESS!!!!!!!! 60 days away from home but we will all be reunited, including the kitties, very soon!

  image.jpeg 2.1M

  
  

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• princessleia22 member

  

  April 2016

  Yay!  Happy Birthday Mr. Spock!  And I am so excited for both of you that he gets to go home, even if it's temporary before rehab.  People tend to heal so much quicker at home and it's just nice to be in your own space.  You guys both deserve that after all you've been through.
  

   

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• glasgowtolondon member

  

  April 2016

  What great news! 
  

               

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• bleve0821 member

  

  April 2016

  This is wonderful! I am so happy for you both!! 

  
  

  "And when they use our atoms to make new lives, they won’t just be able to take one, they’ll have to take two, one of you and one of me..."
  

  --Philip Pullman

  
  

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• Lala9414 member

  

  April 2016

  amazing news! so happy to hear this, and happy birthday Mr. Spock!
  

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• ILoveBeachMusic member

  

  April 2016

  Happy Birthday to your H! Great news about going home.

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• thefanciestbeckler member

  

  April 2016

  This is awesome news! What a happy day! And happy birthday to Mr. Spock!!! So glad things are looking up for you guys
  

  
  

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• ernursej member

  

  April 2016

  That is wonderful news. Being home, even if temporary, will feel so nice! Wishing you nothing but continued good news.

  P.S. Five Guys is awesome

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• OurWildKingdom member

  

  April 2016

  What a fabulous birthday present! Looking great, Mr. Spock!

  

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• SP29 member

  

  April 2016

  That's awesome!! Great birthday present. Mr. Spock is looking good!
  

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• madamerwin member

  

  April 2016

  What wonderful news!!! Happy birthday to your H!

  

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• drunkenwitch member

  

  April 2016

  That is wonderful! When you hadn't updated I started to get worried.

  

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• holyguacamole79 member

  

  April 2016

  So glad he's continuing to get better!   Happy birthday to Mr Spock!
  

  
  
  
  
  

  

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• charlotte989875 member

  

  April 2016

  That's fantastic news! So glad he's able to go home soon. I'm sure the kitties miss him. 
  
  Happy Birthday Mr. @spockforprez!

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• spockforprez member

  

  April 2016

  Thanks everyone! We are really excited to be moving home. It will be a challenge in a different way - I will be taking on the majority of his care, for example - but SO worth it.
  
  So Tuesday we went for a follow-up with his orthopedic surgeon. We were hoping to hear that his external fixator (holding his pelvis in place) could be removed, to set a date for that, and get discharged to rehab. Sadly, that didn't happen. It will need to be in awhile longer, at least 3 weeks. We both got extremely upset and the physician assistant seemed confused and asked us what was wrong. When we answered that we didn't want him to stay in the nursing home that long, she was like, "Oh, well that's up to you and your insurance. He doesn't have to be there. He can go home with the ex fix." Ummm... what?! 
  
  Turns out, the reason he needed to go to a facility was his PICC line that was installed for a course of IV antibiotics he was on. After that was pulled (at the end of the first week!) we could have gone home. As it stands, it's okay that he was there for as long as he was, because it's extraordinarily costly to transport him in his wheelchair from our home to that hospital (in a city 90 miles away!) and he had a lot of doctors appointments. Now that he doesn't have so many (and the ones he does I will consolidate to 1 or 2 days), home we are a-going! 
  
  As far as his care goes, once he is up and in his power chair, he is pretty independent. Home health will be involved for a bit but after that I will take over bathing, bathroom, and wound care (dressing changes). The biggest hurdle will be transferring him safely from bed to chair and back. We have been practicing successfully with the therapists for several days and his parents will be around frequently for additional help. He is MUCH stronger than he was a few weeks ago! His core strength is pretty amazing. He can't wait until he can bear weight on his right leg, as that will radically increase his ability to move independently. 
  
  I've been through the house several times this week with his chair in my mind's eye and he should be able to access just about the whole place. It's fairly open concept, only one short hallway to contend with. He will be able to reach the microwave and most of the cabinets. We have had to move some things out of the way of doorways and remove a couple doors altogether to give more clearance. Otherwise, we are leaving the house as-is right now. Once he moves to rehab we will be making changes to our bathrooms, installing a permanent ramp, and hopefully moving our laundry indoors from the garage. We don't want to do any major rehauls because I think he will do well with a prosthesis, but with the lack of left arm he will still need additional support and access. Plus he may be tired or in pain or otherwise needing to use the chair occasionally even after he starts walking again.
  
  The best things about moving home will be:

  • Living under the same roof and sleeping nearby
  • Reuniting him with our cats (especially his little Daddy's girl)
  • Eating proper food that we like and are familiar with
  • Not living 40 miles away from the nursing home at my aunt & uncle's
  • Escaping the awful care of the nursing home (I did end up involving the office of the ombudsman)
  • No more nursing-home-poop-smell
  • No more shouts and cries and sounds of carts rolling down the hall
  • Having his parents 15 mins away instead of 90
  • Kissing goodnight instead of goodbye!
  • No more planning weekly trips to the house to get mail, etc.

  
  Lots of good things in store for us in the next few weeks!  

  
  

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• kmmssg mod

  

  April 2016

  I am so happy for your guys!!  I was in a cranky pants mood this morning but this really lifts my spirits and reminds me of what is important and can really make life suck and what isn't that important and won't make life suck if you do something about it.  YAAAAYYYYY!!!!!!!

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• ILoveBeachMusic member

  

  April 2016

  That is such good news! As for the accessibility of the house, I think you can get a social worker or therapist (I'm not sure the correct title) that can go through your house to see things you might not see. Ask at the nursing home. They should be able to direct you.

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• MairePoppy mod

  

  April 2016

  Congrats on the great news. 

                     

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• drunkenwitch member

  

  April 2016 edited April 2016

  BF had his gall bladder out a couple years ago and I had to help him in and out of bed for the first couple days. He out weighs and out heights me. We finally discovered the method where i would bend at the knees and he would put his arms on my shoulders , I could then lift him with the strength of my legs and shoulders, no pressure on my back. You could probably also use that leverage to lower him into the chair if you have it positioned in a way that would make the transfer easy.
  
  That is so wonderful to hear and good luck.

  

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• spockforprez member

  

  April 2016

  Leaving now. This place can go fuck itself. Bye Felicia!!!!!!! 

  
  

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• kimmiinthemitten member

  

  April 2016

  Yay!  This is great news!  Good luck adjusting to being home, but I'm sure the comfort of being surrounded by your own things will help the transition.

  
  

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• MairePoppy mod

  

  April 2016

  Wooh Hooh!
  
  
  

                     

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