Another Wild, Wonderful Weekend

No seriously, come on... My life sucks. Only good thing was some more productivity around the house, and I finally got to see the epic movie "Braveheart" starring Mel Gibson. (Like you didn't know that) 'Twas a wee bit long, but it had me ready to rebel by the time it was over! I fashioned a kilt out of a red blanket and heavy duty packing tape and a sword out of a mop handle and wandered slowing around the apartment looking for things I could swat at and not break. Of course I was winded within 2 minutes and just went to bed. Great movies inspire me. . .

Regarding Paula, Dr. Ennis made his visit on Friday and still likes her progress. They are going to stay on this course and are adjusting her medicines again for pain relief. He still says 2-3 weeks away from the next step, which we are hoping is something that means "home." She is holding up pretty well, I think as well as anyone would this long away from home. And for you other internet addicts like us, imagine 4 1/2 weeks with NO internet access. Nothing. And knowing that there were still several weeks more at least... Ouch. Makes my mind go numb thinking of it. So anyway, got to see her again last night and had a nice visit. Ita always great to see her, but very painful to leave. And I mean PAINFUL.

I can't wait to get her home!

Wednesday Afternoon Paula Update

I just got off the phone with Paula and she is in a LOT of pain today. Apparently todays treatment went quite painful. There are so many variables with these treatments and bandaging that its incredible, but one big thing is WHO does them, as well as HOW they do them. If the caregiver is off their game at all it can make a big difference. That is the part of the program I do not miss at all, having to hurt her in cleaning and dressing the wound. I can only imagine what its like with all the extra things they are doing each day. Even when the wound dressing goes well there is a painful burning and ache after effect that can last for hours sometimes.

All in all, the wound is getting better, but she won't be seen by the specialist until Friday, so I won't have much update before then. I get to see her tonight, and update again if any news was left out here....

Jim

Wednesday Paula Update

Well Dr. Ennis (her wound care specialist) visited yesterday and thinks Paula is making good progress with the wound. There is new tissue forming and good granulation within the wound itself. They have started an additional daily treatment of a saline mist with ultrasound that is supposed to encourage growth and help reduce pain and inflammation. We can only hope it will. Good news is there is enough growth that the doctor is unsure whether she will now need a skin graft, which would avoid having another wound site. Bad news is he still feels she is a minimum of 2-4 weeks from being able to come home. Since the pain and the homesickness are Paula's biggest troubles right now, she doesn't "feel" much progress, and I understand that.

Paula's parents have been outstanding throughout this entire ordeal. Between doing all they can for Paula (including her mom spending a great deal of her work time, days, evenings, weekends and any other times Paula needs support) and both of them running me around town for work, errand running and visiting Paula, they have been super. J have no idea how to express enough thanks for all they have done. I continue to get a lot of support from our friends at work, which is great. (Of course I know we have support of the readers of this blog, only my closest friends and family members even know about it) I just want you to know how much I appreciate your kindness throughout all this.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Sunday Paula Update

Well, I got to see my sugar today and it was pretty rough. She has been battling pain since last fall, but sometimes it is just unbelievable, and today was one of those days. I have a feeling that the person who changed her bandages and wrap this morning did something to aggitate the wound. She did mention to Paula that the previous dressing was stuck into the wound bed, which I know from doing the bandaging for months that it is incredibly difficult to remove and very painful. Apparently the lady just pulled it out like it was a band-aid on your finger, and the immediate excruciating pain commenced. By the time Sally (Paula's mom) and I got there, Paula was distraught, and pretty much styaed that way during my visit. I wish there was something I could do or say to make things better, but it seems that at the worst moments, nothing short of "get your shoes on I'm taking you home" will work.

Because of the delicate balance we must keep between the workman's comp insurance and the specialist we are having treat Paula (who is our second opinion doctor, and we only get 2) we essentially have no choice but to do exactly what this doctor says. He will see her again personally on Tuesday, and hopefully will have some positive things to say and maybe even a timeline for us. I am trying my best to remain hopeful, but unfortunately Paula has exhausted most o the hope she has had and now just needs to start seeing some results. Please keep us both in your thoughts and prayers.

I hope to know more Tuesday, and will update then.

15 Days and Counting . . .

Paula has been "locked up" 15 days now, but they seem to be making progress with her leg. Last week they moved her from Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn to a nursing home where her wound care specialist has a wing reserved for his patients he is treating. They are applying several different solutions to her wound daily and giving it daily electrical stimulation for over an hour each time. This draws circulation from the entire body to the area of the wound. They are keeping her on oxygen as well, to strengthen her blood and to aid in circulation to her extremities. The treatments have been painful but her leg is apparently looking much better and she is finally able to sleep more at night and have at least some level of comfort from time to time. (Although still not great at all) We still don't have a timeline on a skin graft, but I am hoping for within a week. Of course, that is still only the next step, but it is a step closer to getting her better and back home.

All in all, she has been amazingly strong through this. I seriously thought by now they would need to traquilize her to keep her there, but she seems to be hanging in there pretty good. She has been taken off the IV antibiotics and painkillers, and been moved out of isolation and into a room with a very nice lady who is also being treated by Dr. Ennis. I got a call this morning that startled me, a nurse at "Crestwood Care" called and said Paula had fallen in the night and didn't seem to be seriously hurt but mentioned some wrist pain, and I asked that they X-ray her to be safe because of so many bones in the wrist and didn't want future complications. They came back okay. I talked to P and she sounded fine, just a little embarrassed, but I can live with that. Maybe that'll be a good story for her to spin into something funny after all this is over.

No other real news right now, just keep praying for her (and a little for me, who is going crazy without her). I will keep you posted.