Monday, November 5, 2012

11/05 Update on Chuck Hofvander

Hi all,

Has anyone read the book, “Why Bad Things Happen to Good People?” because we all sure would like to know the answer to that question.

Chuck came home last week so needless to say, things have been quite hectic around the house. His early and unexpected discharge has been hard on Mom. She feels like its 2004 all over again, starting from scratch, with many of his gains lost. Dad’s case manager at Northwest Community tried to convince him (even after the discharge papers were signed) to reconsider and get inpatient therapy at one of the local facilities. For him, it was been there, done that so there was just no way he was going to go back.

Everything is magnified and especially difficult because his hearing is so impaired now. We need to say his name to get his attention and speak directly to him, not from the side or behind. The ear, nose, and throat doctor recommended oral steroids but without any guarantee they will solve the problem. Dad has enough emotional issues now without adding more so Mom has opted to wait 2 weeks to visit the ENT again. His medications are taken one at a time in a spoon with applesauce. We hope to wean him off this shortly.

Chuck is at a high risk for falls. We have to watch him constantly because he wants to get up yet he still needs some help transferring from bed to wheelchair, etc. In fact, on Friday Mom left him sitting on a chair and quickly went upstairs to grab something and in that time, he stood up and was walking around the kitchen unsupervised.

A nurse will be coming weekly to monitor his vitals, change his wound dressings (road rash on his leg), and check on his pain levels. He is taking Norco for pain at night but even then, he wakes up several times per night in pain. He will receive physical therapy three times per week to help him regain his strength. We setup the living room as his HQ. His goal is to be able to walk upstairs to bed and be able to sit in his favorite chair (aka his throne). Mom hopes to arrange for speech therapy even though she saved all of the worksheets from the March 2004 stroke. He gets so frustrated when he says the wrong word or can’t find the right one. She of course is the unlikely recipient of the brunt of his agony. Isn’t it true we take all our anxiety and pain on those closest to us?

Thank you again for all of the support and understanding as Dad requires 100% of our attention during more than 90% of the time at home and it is difficult to respond to emails and answer every phone call.

Please feel free to share this with all those we may have missed.

Brad

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