Joanie's email: joaniecarle "at" gmail.com
Some may wonder why the "at" instead of @. I understand computers are often utilized to search for email address but they look for the "@" symbol. I'm trying to avoid burdening Joanie with spam. My work email has been burdened with spam and the latest trick is to realize that someone has hijacked my email address and I get a constant barrage of spam messages being returned to me as "undeliverable" since they've been sent with my return email address!
I spent the afternoon and evening with Joanie. She still feels tired from coughing instead of sleeping the night through. Her muscles ache and she has a mild headache from her coughing. They are treating her for the cough. They also listening very regularly for any unwanted sounds emanating from the lungs. So far, so good.
Joanie still doesn't want to talk to friends in person or on the phone. When I was there, we spent great amounts of time sitting and not talking. She caught up on reading cards people have been sending. Tomorrow, we'll catch up on emails and she hopes to get current on the blog so she can see what has happened over the past two weeks.
"Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour."
Matthew 8:12-14
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Friday, May 30, 2008
Day 15
Again, please, NO VISITORS today. Joanie was very tired yesterday and had requested no visitors. She's always happy to see friends and feels obligated to keep up her end of the conversation. She is not able to end a converstaion easily and it is very tiring. Yesterday Beth had brought her a baked potato for lunch and planned to eat with her. She ended up leaving the potato with the staff and never saw Joanie. Carole brought her tomato soup and was turned away. She ended up bringing it to me. When I took it over, Joanie was asleep so I also left it with the staff. She enjoyed both meals, alone. Two of the four times I stopped to see her, she was asleep.
Her cough continues and she doesn't sleep well at night. They brought her a recliner to sleep in but were concerned that, because it had wheels, it might not be safe for her.
Please don't be upset with the staff when they don't let you see Joanie. They are required to do that when Joanie or I request it. You are welcome to call or email me if you have questions. We have even unplugged her phone.
Joanie's physician, Russ, came by to see her yesterday. He also was questioned to determine if he was there as a friend or her primary care physician. He got to see her. He later told me that he'd been out of town since last Thursday. In examining her, he was amazed at her progress! It was nice to hear that because, since I see her multiple times per day, I tend to see tiny changes and can lose sight of the overall progress. I've not even been able to share his observations with Joanie yet.
Joanie is looking forward to again enjoying visits.
"To the soul, there is hardly anything more healing than friendship."
Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)
Her cough continues and she doesn't sleep well at night. They brought her a recliner to sleep in but were concerned that, because it had wheels, it might not be safe for her.
Please don't be upset with the staff when they don't let you see Joanie. They are required to do that when Joanie or I request it. You are welcome to call or email me if you have questions. We have even unplugged her phone.
Joanie's physician, Russ, came by to see her yesterday. He also was questioned to determine if he was there as a friend or her primary care physician. He got to see her. He later told me that he'd been out of town since last Thursday. In examining her, he was amazed at her progress! It was nice to hear that because, since I see her multiple times per day, I tend to see tiny changes and can lose sight of the overall progress. I've not even been able to share his observations with Joanie yet.
Joanie is looking forward to again enjoying visits.
"To the soul, there is hardly anything more healing than friendship."
Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Day 14
NO VISITORS TODAY! No phone calls, please. I've asked the staff to keep people out of her room today. Joanie got worn out yesterday and she has developed a cough. Consequently, she didn't sleep well last night. She needs to save her strength for therapy.
Thanks.
"O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me". Psalms 30:2
Thanks.
"O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me". Psalms 30:2
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Day 13
Joanie's email: joaniecarle "at" gmail.com
When I went to see Joanie this afternoon, about 5:30 PM, she was wanting to get into bed. She was exhausted! I kept her up so she could get her hair cut and have supper. I guess she had a steady stream of visitors--each of whom she loved to see. Alas, she feels compelled to hold up her end of a conversation with each one and it's still too much.
Tim M., from PUC, wrote her an email that began: "I'm speechless. I guess you were too, eh? (ok, bad joke)". My kind of a statement...
Thanks to the good care Joanie's getting, she continues to progress in small but steady steps (pardon the pun). Her headache is diminished to a level that she now enjoys opening the blinds to see the views. Her appetite has improved with the more normal food she can eat.
Jan D. dropped a card off in my classroom yesterday with quotes from both her kids. Her son, Adam, who had Joanie in kindergarten, said, "If she had to go and have a stroke, she picked the best kind to have." He recently graduated from medical school. His sister, Sarah, a medical student, said that Joanie needed to be reminded that she taught Sarah to skip in kindergarten. She remembers Joanie telling her, "it's just a little step and a jump". Jan closed by saying, "So much for rehab advice".
We continue to be amazed by people who are reading this blog. Because some of Joanie's friends correspond frequently with mutual friends, Joanie is able to hear, by email and cards, from people she's not seen for years.
Thanks you.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Herm Albright
When I went to see Joanie this afternoon, about 5:30 PM, she was wanting to get into bed. She was exhausted! I kept her up so she could get her hair cut and have supper. I guess she had a steady stream of visitors--each of whom she loved to see. Alas, she feels compelled to hold up her end of a conversation with each one and it's still too much.
Tim M., from PUC, wrote her an email that began: "I'm speechless. I guess you were too, eh? (ok, bad joke)". My kind of a statement...
Thanks to the good care Joanie's getting, she continues to progress in small but steady steps (pardon the pun). Her headache is diminished to a level that she now enjoys opening the blinds to see the views. Her appetite has improved with the more normal food she can eat.
Jan D. dropped a card off in my classroom yesterday with quotes from both her kids. Her son, Adam, who had Joanie in kindergarten, said, "If she had to go and have a stroke, she picked the best kind to have." He recently graduated from medical school. His sister, Sarah, a medical student, said that Joanie needed to be reminded that she taught Sarah to skip in kindergarten. She remembers Joanie telling her, "it's just a little step and a jump". Jan closed by saying, "So much for rehab advice".
We continue to be amazed by people who are reading this blog. Because some of Joanie's friends correspond frequently with mutual friends, Joanie is able to hear, by email and cards, from people she's not seen for years.
Thanks you.
A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
Herm Albright
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Day 12
Joanie's email: "joaniecarle "at" gmail.com
Joanie had a restful night and enjoyed a shower this morning. Because Joanie missed a haircut last week, I arranged with her stylist to come to Joanie and cut her hair. Some of you will understand how much better that will make Joanie feel about herself. I believe that it was her OT who was delighted to see the great progress Joanie has made over the past several days. She'd not seen Joanie since Friday because of the holiday. For Joanie, the best news is that she's off the "pureed" food she's been eating for the past week. That also means that she no longer has to drink "thickened" water. Did you even know that such a thing exists? (They have a concoction that you pour into liquids to thicken them up. As they've been evaluating her swallowing, they want to make sure she won't aspirate her food or drink). I've been afraid to try it, but she now knows that thickened water isn't so great.
We continue to be thankful for prayers, comments, cards, emails, etc. that encourage Joanie.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:4
Joanie had a restful night and enjoyed a shower this morning. Because Joanie missed a haircut last week, I arranged with her stylist to come to Joanie and cut her hair. Some of you will understand how much better that will make Joanie feel about herself. I believe that it was her OT who was delighted to see the great progress Joanie has made over the past several days. She'd not seen Joanie since Friday because of the holiday. For Joanie, the best news is that she's off the "pureed" food she's been eating for the past week. That also means that she no longer has to drink "thickened" water. Did you even know that such a thing exists? (They have a concoction that you pour into liquids to thicken them up. As they've been evaluating her swallowing, they want to make sure she won't aspirate her food or drink). I've been afraid to try it, but she now knows that thickened water isn't so great.
We continue to be thankful for prayers, comments, cards, emails, etc. that encourage Joanie.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev. 21:4
Monday, May 26, 2008
Day 11
Joanie's email: "joaniecarle "at" gmail.com
This afternoon when Joanie went to PT, I went along. She walked to the exercise room and I followed with her wheel chair. She has been making great progress, but watching her walk and exercise reminds me, yet again, that she has much work ahead of her. Perhaps the most telling comment she made to the PT was that she is happiest doing her exercises! She has every intention of making as complete recovery as is humanly possible--the rest she's leaving up to God.
This morning I talked to Joanie. Two of her friends are in the room helping her do her hair and makeup. The heater also seems to be working which is great as Joanie tends to run cool.
"O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant." 2 Samuel 7:28
This afternoon when Joanie went to PT, I went along. She walked to the exercise room and I followed with her wheel chair. She has been making great progress, but watching her walk and exercise reminds me, yet again, that she has much work ahead of her. Perhaps the most telling comment she made to the PT was that she is happiest doing her exercises! She has every intention of making as complete recovery as is humanly possible--the rest she's leaving up to God.
This morning I talked to Joanie. Two of her friends are in the room helping her do her hair and makeup. The heater also seems to be working which is great as Joanie tends to run cool.
"O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant." 2 Samuel 7:28
Day 10, Sunday
Joanie's email: "joaniecarle "at" gmail.com (I'm beginning to go through the blog & read emails with her)
Praise God! When I was in hanging out with Joanie, I asked her to again move her thumb and first two fingers of her left hand. It's a new trick she's been working on. Just for fun, I asked her to try to move her ring finger and little finger. With careful thought and similar movements on the other hand, she did! We were amazed and delighted. Next I asked her if she could move her left wrist, something she's not been able to do since the stroke. She could and did. You can imagine what we tried next--she can also move her elbow and shoulder some. Her left arm tends to hang uselessly at her side but I imagine that as she continues to have therapy they will have her moving it at will. She can't wait to see her OT & PT to show them her progress.
She is able to get out of bed, walk to the bathroom, brush her teeth and other tasks. I almost sounds like she's ready to come home but she still has a lot of hard work ahead of her. When she speaks, she is beginning to sound more like herself. She's been talking in a monotone and that's also improving.
Yesterday Joanie was unusually tired and somewhat lethargic in the morning. Her phone rang so many times and Joan was so tired that they finally unplugged it. Troy, our son, and Brenda, her sister were frustrated that they were not able to get through to her until afternoon.
I started to read our blog to her and she's learning many things about her hospital stay and progress. I'm also sharing some of her emails with her. It is also frustrating to see my writing errors--words left out, spelling, etc. Joanie said I should blame it on the cat. The cat so misses having Joanie's lap to sit on in the evening that sometimes she tries to get on my lap when I'm typing and puts her paws on my arm.
Joanie reminded me yesterday that she's been wishing she'd married "Lance Smith". She has trouble saying "Carle" and gives it two syllables. She knows it and it frustrates her. I am optimistic that she will again learn to pronounce our name!
A friend of hers, Ben Roy, sent the following quote: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle".
Albert Einstein.
Praise God! When I was in hanging out with Joanie, I asked her to again move her thumb and first two fingers of her left hand. It's a new trick she's been working on. Just for fun, I asked her to try to move her ring finger and little finger. With careful thought and similar movements on the other hand, she did! We were amazed and delighted. Next I asked her if she could move her left wrist, something she's not been able to do since the stroke. She could and did. You can imagine what we tried next--she can also move her elbow and shoulder some. Her left arm tends to hang uselessly at her side but I imagine that as she continues to have therapy they will have her moving it at will. She can't wait to see her OT & PT to show them her progress.
She is able to get out of bed, walk to the bathroom, brush her teeth and other tasks. I almost sounds like she's ready to come home but she still has a lot of hard work ahead of her. When she speaks, she is beginning to sound more like herself. She's been talking in a monotone and that's also improving.
Yesterday Joanie was unusually tired and somewhat lethargic in the morning. Her phone rang so many times and Joan was so tired that they finally unplugged it. Troy, our son, and Brenda, her sister were frustrated that they were not able to get through to her until afternoon.
I started to read our blog to her and she's learning many things about her hospital stay and progress. I'm also sharing some of her emails with her. It is also frustrating to see my writing errors--words left out, spelling, etc. Joanie said I should blame it on the cat. The cat so misses having Joanie's lap to sit on in the evening that sometimes she tries to get on my lap when I'm typing and puts her paws on my arm.
Joanie reminded me yesterday that she's been wishing she'd married "Lance Smith". She has trouble saying "Carle" and gives it two syllables. She knows it and it frustrates her. I am optimistic that she will again learn to pronounce our name!
A friend of hers, Ben Roy, sent the following quote: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle".
Albert Einstein.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Day 9, Sabbath
It proved to be a very restful day for Joanie. She did some PT in the morning using a recumbent "step machine" that I understand is designed to retrain her to step and move her arms properly. She lasted several minutes longer than she did the previous sessions. She was most proud that she was able to walk back to her room using her hemi-walker (she still has use only of her right arm). Always the teacher, she spoke with her substitute, Kathy, about tracking her progress as part of a math lesson.
Another sign of her continued progress--she asked me to bring her make up and curling iron, although she's yet to use them. She enjoyed her first shower Friday evening and is beginning to feed herself. Her appetite is improving but she is looking forward to food that is not pureed.
We read over many of the cards she has received and because her emotions are so close to the surface, she shed many tears of joy. Thanks for the cards. You are welcome to email her: joaniecarle "at" gmail.com . I'll take a laptop in from time to time for her to read your notes. I took a computer in to share this blog with her but the WiFi signal I got was too weak to maintain a connection. I'll try again today. She seems to read fine and her writing is good--another in a long series of blessings that she can enjoy.
The highpoint of yesterday, for me, occurred as I was leaving. When I kissed her goodnight I also asked her to squeeze my hand with her right hand. She did!
"This is the written account of Adam's line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God". Gen. 5:1 We are wonderfully made!
Another sign of her continued progress--she asked me to bring her make up and curling iron, although she's yet to use them. She enjoyed her first shower Friday evening and is beginning to feed herself. Her appetite is improving but she is looking forward to food that is not pureed.
We read over many of the cards she has received and because her emotions are so close to the surface, she shed many tears of joy. Thanks for the cards. You are welcome to email her: joaniecarle "at" gmail.com . I'll take a laptop in from time to time for her to read your notes. I took a computer in to share this blog with her but the WiFi signal I got was too weak to maintain a connection. I'll try again today. She seems to read fine and her writing is good--another in a long series of blessings that she can enjoy.
The highpoint of yesterday, for me, occurred as I was leaving. When I kissed her goodnight I also asked her to squeeze my hand with her right hand. She did!
"This is the written account of Adam's line. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God". Gen. 5:1 We are wonderfully made!
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