Dad was able to walk many time's to the restroom yesterday (Wednesday Aug 12) with holding onto the IV stand (only thing on there is food for feeding tube) and a small amount of support from someone else.
He's bugging mom to take him home and said she could give him his medicine's. Wish this was possible but, not yet.
Today (Thursday Aug 13) Mom said Dad ate 2 cracker's, some applesauce and some water. He passed the swallow test so he may be getting some lunch today, it will probably be light stuff I'm sure.
He had a little bit of a rough night last night he told mom, said his head hurt ( not surprising with all he's been through). They gave him some vicodin and he's feeling better.
Each day is something new he's doing and it's so exciting to see the progress everyday.
daughter Barb Ortiz
9 comments:
Dad is being moved this afternoon to the rehab center on the property at Lutheran
Don't know a room number yet but, will try to let you know when we know.
He ate solid food today and is ready to go home. :-)
Bart Ortiz
Some of you already know TJ was moved from ICU on Tuesday evening 8/11. Made the transition well. He has had some uncomfortable moments and more head aching the past three days. But ~ the feeding tube came out Wednesday a.m. and he went right on solid foods that day. He is getting stronger each day and his vocabulary is increasing. He can hold a conversation now. Gets a tad confused at times but the real TJ we know is there.
Staples still in his head. He has asked me three different days what happened to him. He says he doesn’t understand. I carefully explain just what he needs to know for now. He has no memory of why he was in the hospital but does recognize everyone and knows mostly what is going on around him even when we don’t think he is listening. Of course he has lost track of time and was shocked today when I told him he had been there 16 days.
Today at 4:00 p.m. TJ was transferred by medical van to a Rehab Hospital close to Lutheran Hospital. This is an exciting step towards recovery. His Rehabilitation will be intense. He is strong enough for it now. He ate supper well after the move. Said Good night to us comfortably. Some nights he begs me to stay. I try to explain I need to come home and rest. Will be spending time with him every day until he comes home. Thank you all for your Prayers ~ cards ~ and visits. And praise to God for keeping my family and me strong through this.
Barb Collins
He is in:
Room 108 Rehabilitation Hospital of Ft Wayne. 7970 West Jefferson Blvd. Fort Wayne, IN 46804. Phone: (260) 435-6100 www.rehabhospital.com
Home address:
6731 State Road 8
Butler, IN 46721-9756
Just saw him a few hours ago. He was tired. They worked him pretty hard today. He was coherent but not fully able to converse. That will improve.
They started him right in with therapy this morning.
He's walking to the restroom on his own now with someone close by.
The rehab encourages them to do as much as they can on their own and teach's them to do lots.
Visiting hours are 8am-8pm.
we told him he's getting closer and closer to home and we got a grunt out of him. He's talking much better also.
He still gets frustrated sometimes when we don't understand him the first time and we get a loud No when we don't.
Barb Ortiz
Mom, Dad & Brandy had a meeting this morning (8/19) with the case worker for Dad at Rehab and they don't think he's ready to go home just yet. They have meetings every Wednesday and this is when they update the family on were they think things stand with the patient.
They are very impressed with his progress but, feel he needs a little while longer to get stronger and better. Our family has mixed feelings about it but, we see both sides. They need to work with him more on physical and social skills.
He was very upset about this.
He will not be allowed to drive for at least 6 months or even longer.
He also will be on seizure med's any were from 6 month's to a year or the rest of his life.
Please keep him in your prayer's still cause now he will be harder to deal with cause he just wants to be home and feel like he's back in his own safety zone.
Barb Ortiz
Each day gets better and better for TJ. I have been visiting each day ~ all day. (22 ~ but who’s counting?) Pacing myself and doing fine now. As for “Mr. Can’t hold me down”, he is TJ again. Today he traveled without the wheel chair at all. He walked to Physical Therapy twice, Occupational Therapy twice, and Speech Therapy. To the dinning room twice for lunch and Dinner. He walked from Therapy to out of doors for a short walk. They said we can now take him outside as long as we stick with him. TOMORROW he says.
TJ is getting better at eating the institutional food. Looks really good to me (since I don’t have to cook it). I eat lunch and dinner with him. When the family comes later we go to the Family Lounge and eat and visit. That gets him out of bed. He is enjoying the grandchildren once more. The twins crawled in bed with him Tuesday evening and he loved it. He is now responding to things around him, and can finally tell time again. He lost track of numbers until Wed. he said is it 6:00 already? And it was. Today when the therapist said he was going to Occupational Therapy until lunch he said, “That is in 45 minutes”. And he was right again. So he is reading, identifying objects and talking well. His memory is amazing. Still thinks no one told him what happened to him but doesn’t matter if he never remembers.
Today the 33 staples came out of his head painlessly. He asked to keep them. He doesn’t understand why he has to stay longer ‘cause he can sleep at home’. But he will be there we expect until at least next Wed. when the Dr. has his Pow Wow with the nurses again.
TJ is even talking about Kendallville and the festival now!
Donnie ~~~ TJ had yellow maters today ~ from you! His Speech Therapist is from Painters Creek. She is so excited that someone finally knows where Painters Creek is. She likes Bluegrass also.
To bed soon ~ God has blessed TJ and we give praise.
Oh gosh! People are eager. Do you plan to go next Wednesday? Our camper will be there sometime next week end so we are hoping no one gets our spot also. TJ is doing wonderfully. Walking alone, eating better, staples our and scar healing great. We are putting Vitamin E oil on it.
TJ is talking now that we will plan to stay in the RV most of the 10 days or so. He is well enough that it is possible. It will be good for him to have the physical activity and mental stimulation. He is doing so well that the PT & OT nurses canceled his afternoon sessions today. He is getting excellent grades in Speech Therapy also. He is very back to normal.. We are expecting the Dr. will discharge him next week.
We really are happy with his care at the Ft. Wayne Rehab Hosp. He has his favorite nurses and the most favorite is there tonight.
To bed so I can get going early tomorrow.
Awesome News, Dad (TJ) is going home today!!!!
TJ and Barb are now at the Labor Day festival for the remainder of the week.
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