Mile Markers

 It's 3 months today. The first big mile marker in this journey of change. When I look back and think about it all, days have been very full. Big things and lots of small things that swallow time. Keeping a close eye for any changes, good or bad, and trying to get anything significant documented. Staying patient. Or trying to. Staying hopeful. Regardless of the actions of others and what they may think professionally or otherwise. The small details of vital signs, movements, coloring, breathing, communicating can swallow your day as you look on. For Jim, I'm not sure how it all would be perceived. Certainly, it would change from day to day as there are so many outside influences to navigate along with the actual trauma to his body.

But there are mile markers in his life starting April 15th. Markers that noted changes, progress, signs and movements that Jim was working hard to come back fully restored. 

April 16: Dr Ghandi bedside yelled in Jim's face after not responding to gentler requests: " Mr. Williams. OPEN YOUR EYES!" And, in spite of the golf ball swelling of his lids, they popped open the crack they could. "He's in there", says the doc. "He's there." Patting him on the arm.

April 17th: meeting with Dr. Ghandi to review injuries, status, overall situation. It was clear at this point, it was time that would tell.

April 19th: undetected pneumonia. Later addressed with antibiotics over the next 10 days. 2 rounds.

April 22: opened his eyes a crack

April 23: eyes opened more. 

April 24th: eyes opened wider to see color and did some tracking

April 26th: continue to stabilize

May 2nd: move from ICU to trauma floor

May 4th: PT sat him up on the edge of the bed first time/ eyes popped open like a switch was thrown.

May 5th: doctor ( different doctor) zoom meeting for overall status, leaving ICU, probable outcome in their opinion, Bah Humbug.

May 7th: speech valve put on for minute with ST

May 8th: ice chips by mouth / responsive/ wiggled right toes on request/tried to stand up on his own/ gave thumbs up. Very interactive. Starting to mouth words.

May 10th: moved to surgical floor for removal of nasal feed tude and insert G-tube.

May 12th: mouthed words " I want you leave. I want to leave. I want to leave."

May 14th: distinctive "hi"

May 15th: sat on the edge of the bed with PT without physical support.

May 16th: PT stood Jim up, holding him bear hug. First time vertical.

May 18th: after previous denials, Jim was accepted to rehab Hospital.  Requirement of 3 hours of physical and mental cooperation from patient. 

Moved 2 toes on left foot.

Moved left leg a fraction of an inch from the hip. Voluntary movement. No one to document but me.

May 20th: move to rehab facility 

May 22nd: Moved left toes on his own. Mouthing words. Interactive. Speech valve but words not recognizable. Trach changed.

More speech valve use. Word "hi" 

May 23rd: responded " Nice to be seen. "

Read word Celebrations outloud. Started to sing.

Put in wheelchair for first time.

May 27th: more activity,  more agitation,  pulled out feed tube. To Hospital for reinsert. Alert. More legs movement. Left toes active. On video.

Trach removed. 

June 6th: great OT session. Stood up using footboard of bed. Sit squats. Side steps. 

Ate a cracker. Drank a bottle of water. Iced tea.

June 10th: great OT session. Back stretch, yoga type down dog. Watching and calling baseball plays on TV. 

June 12th: episode after move to wheelchair Dramatic Blood pressure and oxygen drop. Nasal oxygen applied. Recovery.

Same day spouted his phone number outloud. Witness.

June 15th: following lots of air writing, wrote his name with pen on paper. Unprompted. Wrote his full name in script. Reading words from nurses whiteboard.

June17th: read aloud Napoleon Hill quote posted on wall.

June 23rd: move to skilled nursing facility 

June 25th: played a few chords on the piano. 

June 26th: played more piano, requested smooth jazz for dinner music. Had questions about what was going on. More awareness.

July 27th: walking about 50 feet

July 3rd: follow up appt at JPS hospital.

July 4th: entertainer in the dining room. Jim started to sing with him and was aware of camera and posed. 

July 10th: walked 200 feet.

July 14th: follow up orthopedic appointment at JPS, xrays show hip and pelvis healing well. 

Today...who knows. 

It's difficult to convey the emotional roller coaster of these 3 months. The excitement of steps and words and strength and wit. The glimpses of fear with fevers and episodes. The trust you have to muster. But through it all, I did.. and do.. completely believe what I tell him. This...is...temporary. God is good. He will restore you and use this for a greater good. Stand on that.