Miller Dwan

When Things Happen…

/ Shirleyjdietz / 2 Comments

…they happen fast.

Mom went with me to the rehab hospital yesterday. We were watching the speech therapist spoon feed applesauce to the husband when the social worker appeared at the door and beckoned me out.

After weeks of searching for a bed for Dennis, something closer to home and less aggressive in therapy, there was an opening at St. Mary’s Hospital in Superior. It was only a few minutes closer to home but it was across the state line in Wisconsin, and that was an advantage for future placement. There was medical oversight, since it was a hospital, and they had the therapies that were needed. It was called a “swing bed” and most hospitals have a room or two of that category for patients transitioning to a different level of care.

I don’t know if I had a choice – it didn’t really feel like it. I had not seen the place nor had I heard anything about it. But, that didn’t last long because several staff members started telling me they had worked there and it would be an excellent move for Dennis. I was uncertain, but it seemed wrong to refuse to have him go. I must have agreed, yeah, I must have. Otherwise how could it have happened that fast?

Two hours later he was on his way over to his new room. Those two hours were pretty unusual though, and Mom and I were so glad we were there to witness them. Every one of Dennis’s therapists, nurses and aides that were on duty that day came by his room and spent time saying goodbye to him. With each one, he would tear up, then they would tear up and all of us watching would start to cry too. Two hours of emotional mess. Exhausting.

They all had stories to recount of Dennis’s jokes, and his cooperative spirit, and his progress. They were a hugging bunch. It couldn’t have been a better send off for a man who often felt like he was failing and being a burden.

I’m going to say, and believe, that it must have been time. God knew we were completely ignorant about the new facility. He knew I would be uncertain. He knew we would trust him and go, and that he could be present with Dennis in that place just as he had been for the last 50 days at Miller Dwan. We pronounced it a happy thing and prayed with Dennis before leaving to have dinner with some friends.

We checked in on him on our way home and after he had been settled in bed for the night. I’m not going to say that everything looked ideal, but it did seem adequate and I felt he would be well attended.

Has he made progress since the last update? Yes, he did some good work the last week at Miller Dwan. He is getting more control of his hands and arms, more fine motor coordination and wider range of movement. He became better at sitting upright and centered. He was able to raise to a standing position with the help of a steadying machine. Yesterday, his last day of therapy, a therapy dog came to the gym for the first time since Covid restrictions. He had such a good time tossing the ball for “Gunner” to retrieve. I just hope he can maintain these advances in the new place, and that will be my prayer.

Krystal, our amazing speech therapist, using the E-stim device to strengthen those swallow muscles.

A Near Miraculous Turn of Events

/ Shirleyjdietz / 1 Comment

I know enough not to get haughty and demanding with God. On my walk yesterday evening I had asked only for some small encouragement, something to keep us in the game and give us direction, some small arrow to shoot at the complex discouraging problems in view. I felt a plan was in place, even if I didn’t know the details. I trusted we would be helped, based on the character of my God. And now I will acknowledge his actions on our behalf, because that is what is due.

When I arrived at the hospital on Wednesday morning, Dennis was already back from Interventional Radiology and the feeding tube was in place. It had gone perfectly. However the nasogastric tube was still in place also and would have to stay there, hooked to his nose, for another 24 hours before it could be taken out. We decided to allay our disappointment with a little work.

I fed him ice chips and started his exercises, moving every part of him that would move. He was just finishing this when PT came to the room. The day before I had told the attending doctor that he had been alert all day and had scratched his own nose. He had talked to her and remembered her name. She had been impressed and had asked for him to be re-evaluated. The PT girls had him sit up on the side of the bed, and they too were impressed by his responses. Then Occupational Therapy came and had him brush his own teeth with a sponge stick, and a few other small maneuvers. Another point for the man. Speech Therapy came next and had him do a bunch of swallowing exercises. This was a busy morning for someone who had been nearly comatose for several weeks.

First time sitting up in a looooong time. It felt good. Still have a few tubes to get rid of though.

But wow, did it ever pay off! The attending doctor came in the afternoon and said Dennis was going to acute in-patient rehab at Miller Dwan, the best in the area. It’s connected to the hospital via skywalk. He would probably be able to go on Friday. Whereas he had not been a candidate for it previously, they now felt they had something to work with and were going to give him a second chance. I was ecstatic. Dennis was worn out but I think he was catching on that a good thing had happened.

We talked about it (I talked about it) the rest of the afternoon as he practiced swallowing ice chips. So even though he still had the NG tube for another night, it felt like the day had gone gloriously well. He had been a trouper and had worked hard. I had been a good coach and advocate.

I left to stay overnight with a friend who lived a few miles away, feeling oh so grateful and amazed at such a turn of events.