Homecoming

It happened again…a little prayer for Brian, slipped in unexpectedly. Actually, it was a big prayer, as he was put on a prayer list. He had the nicest roommate on Saturday night to Sunday, a guy from Moberly (about 50 y.o.) who restores houses that have been burned. He was in the hospital to have surgery on bones in his back that had fused together and put pressure on his spinal cord. He was walking on his own feet for the first time in 18 months, and it was an amazing sight to see. He was on the other side of the curtain, talking to his wife, while Brian was on the phone with Tye. And then it happened….just…like…that. He told his wife he loved her, and then asked her to pray for Brian and to have everybody pray for him so he could get home soon to his kids.

It must have worked, because I was able to bust him out of there today. Things were very hard on us both to miss this Father’s Day in particular. And as if having salt poured in the wounds, the therapists don’t work on the weekends the way they do M-F. Since Brian wasn’t cleared to be discharged by neurosurgery, he wasn't on the weekend therapy priority list. So from noon on Saturday until we went to bed last night, it seemed as if time had stood still for us. I have honed my skills as a patient advocate, and had my guns loaded in anticipation of discharge chaos.

The neurosurgical residents were early-birds, waking us at 5:59 this morning. We hit the ground running, figuratively, and were on the go basically all day. Occupational and physical therapy both came to evaluate Brian, in the midst of an evaluation from the neurosurgeon, Dr. Litofsky, and his physician’s assistant, Lara. They removed his bandages, and I promise to post a picture of the battle wound soon. PT had him walk and taught him how to maneuver steps and other things he’ll need at home. He is set up to start therapy at St. Francis on Wednesday. He’ll also have to be fitted for an assistive device for his right ankle, which is virtually immobile. He is gaining strength quickly in his right arm, and the progress in the leg has been good too; hopefully, we’ll see significant improvement over the next week.

Next thing we knew, everyone was on the same page, and discharge orders had been written! Whew! I didn't have to get nasty this time. I learned to wet-to-dry pack a wound on Brian’s back. The incision site from the melanoma that was removed two weeks ago off his back split open over the past few days, and I noticed it when Brian was up and around a little yesterday. It is deep, and appears to not be healing as hoped, so we’ll try to get it going from the inside out.

I pray tonight for all those in the hospital that didn’t get to come home to their families today. I pray for Brian’s roommate to be able to gain complete mobility, for us to find the right next treatment for Brian, for a smooth transition and a normal routine at home, for the missing mom from Ohio, for Christy, who had surgery the same day as Brian in February due to cancer on the tongue (I ran into her husband at the hospital yesterday and she's been readmitted in her ongoing saga); and in thanksgiving for being able to bring Brian home, for 3 great kids who made posters to welcome us home, and for Abby for helping the kids make a special memento for Brian’s homecoming.

Maybe some pictures tomorrow…
Jenni