Tuesday Afternoon July 15 SPECIAL Needs
15 July 08 - 18:25
Some things happemed today I need you to pray for:
Jim has MRSA in his sputum. MRSA is a strain of Staph that is very resistant & hard to eliminate entirely. You may have read about it or seen it in the news. He is only running a low grade temp at night & Saturday his chest xray was clear. However, he is coughing up a lot of "gunk" that is thick & nasty & has an odor. While he does not seem to have pneumonia, I am concerned about this. Now everyone entering his room has to gown, glove, & mask.
I was able to talk to his Occupational Therapist quite a while today & got some of my questions answered. Jim was in a special electric wheelchair he can control with his head. He has learned today to tilt backwards & forward to reduce pressure, but hasn't learned to "drive" yet. He was so exhausted he could not stay awake & would fall asleep in mid-sentence or thought, so I spent that time talking with the therapist. Here is what I learned:
Jim cannot be left alone after he comes home & will need someone with him 24/7.
We will need to adapt our main bath, a walk in shower, to accomodate him. We will need either a shower chair that will hold him up or a mesh guerney.
We will need ramps for the steps, one into the family room, one for the front door & one for the back porch. The rule is 1 foot of ramp for every inch of a step, i.e. a three inch step requires a 3 foot ramp.
Doorways may need to be widened, particularly the bath & family room.
We will need a Hoyer lift, preferably an electric one to lift him from bed to chair. With my back I probably would not be able to manage a manual one.
We will need a head controlled chair.
We will need a van with a ramp to the inside to accomodate the chair.
We will need a bed, again, electric.
I am sure in the beginning we will need suction equipment.
We may need oxygen if he continues to have lung issues.
If Jim improves enough to swallow effectively, he may be able to feed himself using his shoulders to control his arm.
This is just what I learned today & doesn't include all the accessory items. Please begin to pray now for a caregiver to assist me. Pray for me to find the right places to obtain all the things we will need. Pray about the renovations I need to make. Pray for the bacteria, the MRSA to not develop into pneumonia. Pray for me to take one item at a time & not get so overwhelmed I can't do anything.
Honestly, some days it is still hard to believe this has happened to Jim. It still makes me sad to see the condition he is in. His spirits remain good & his parting words today were: "Pray. Pray for me. Pray for us."
Pray for us.
Marilyn
two comments:
Hi Mom-
Monika and I are praying for you daily, hourly…minutely it seems. We miss you and Jim dearly. We will pray for you especially as you make these decisions and preparations for Jim. We will also pray that God the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of Christ Jesus, and according to the will of the Holy Trinity will give you a renewed and steadfast heart, wise and pure mind, and an attitude of joy and perseverance.
Don’t forget what God spoke to you the morning of the accident. Remember it, cling to it, and most importantly – have FAITH in it!
Please send our love to Jim.
We love you!
Josh and Monika
Josh and Monika () - 15 07 08 - 21:35
Marilyn,
I am praying for you and for Jim. I know this is a very difficult time of adjustment to the circumstances. The Lord tells us to give thanks in all circumstances… not FOR them, but IN them. You two have an amazing grace and ability to do just that and you are teaching us all so much about walking through true crisis – togther with each other and together with God. Remember God’s promise that Joy will come in the morning!!! I trust God to keep His promises – He always does! Keep the faith, for it is the faith that sustains you. Give Jim my love. Susie
Susie Pontious Wellborn () - 16 07 08 - 06:38
