One Pastor's Perspective

For the second time in her life, we packed Krissy off to Clemson.  Honestly, the second time wasn’t quite as bad … people tell me it gets easier every time.  Now, that doesn’t mean it will EVER be easy, just a little easier.

This weekend went with very few hitches.  Much smoother than last year, and last year we had a ton of FCAers helping to take her stuff up the stairs to her room!  Krissy, Diana, and Jonathan were on campus by 7:45 am, and Drew and I followed with the bulk of the stuff around 9.  We had all of the stuff in the room by 10:30 (except for a chair we had to get from Diana’s mom) and spent the remainder of the day cleaning, storing, and sorting.

I am very proud of Krissy.  My prayer for her this year is that she can focus on a tough schedule and get the job done well!!

I know it’s been too long since I posted anything about Dad.  Honestly, you can assume that no news has been good news …

Dad came home from the rehab hospital on July 1.  Once again, they were doing in-home therapy.  Mom restarted her search for a wheelchair accessible van.  And life rolled on …

On the weekend we went up to take Mom to Montgomery, the folks at Carolina Mobility in Spartanburg called us.  They found a van that was what we wanted and in the price range we specified.  We drove out and looked it over, took it to a local mechanic for a checkup, and ended up negotiating and buying the van.  Honestly, I thought this was just a token purchase to give Mom a feeling of freedom.  BOY WAS I WRONG.

This van has allowed Mom to discontinue in-home therapy and begin outpatient therapy at Roger C. Peace, which is much better for Dad.  They have more equipment and are able to push him harder.  And he is doing pretty well in it.  The van has also given both of them more mobility.  They are now able to go to places and do things with family and friends (on a limited scale).

So, this van has been the best purchase we could’ve possibly made.  Mom says it is a real answer to prayer.  I tend to agree!

In what seemed like a world record pace, we finally make it down to Montgomery.  Diana and I took Mom; Dad stayed with Elaine and Karl (who flew up from Tampa for this).  It was the first time Mom had done ANYTHING like this.  That, in itself, is a small victory!

The original plan was for Dad to give Jake his first salute from an enlisted man … (Dad was in the Army once upon a time).  But the doctors and therapists told us there was NO WAY he should go on this.  So it was bittersweet …

We did this for Jake.  Other things happened that are probably best not blogged.  It was good to see him before this rollercoaster called the Air Force career begins for him.  We won’t see him for a while now … It was also great to see his sister, Jill.  She has grown into quite a young woman.

All in all, it was a good trip.  But I am really dragging this morning after driving 8 hours!!!!

Dad is still in the Cottages at Brushy Creek rehab.  He will be there for another week, and will then run out of rehab days according to Medicare.  He IS getting somewhat stronger, but is still struggling with the intellectual side of it all.  It is so clear now that there is additional neurological damage and Dad is now dealing with the “swiss-cheese” effects of it all.

Mom is doing better with things.  She wants to purchase a wheelchair accessible van, which Elaine and I are searching for now.  One of the next big personal goals is my nephew’s graduation from Air Force OCS  in July down in Montgomery.  I sure hope Dad can make that trip.

This week has been one of the toughest weeks at Ebenezer on many different levels.  For those who’ve been there for more than 12 years, you might really understand the depth of that previous sentence.  I never should’ve mentioned that anniversary thing … Jinxed myself and the EBC staff!!!  😉

And here I am, after another semi-sleepless night in Greenville Memorial Hospital.  Dad slept.  I didn’t.  He has a bed.  I have a medieval rack of torture, and for some reason this room does not have a recliner I could jump into.  Just the rack.

Dad says things that are way out of left field.  It’s hard to know if this is still the UTI talking, or if this is where he is.  Today we will talk with the social worker and make a decision about which facility to move Dad to.  They say it’s only for a couple of weeks, but we’ve been down this road before.  I see quicksand on the trail.

Yesterday was a unique day.  Drew rode with me to Kershaw.  There we did Archie Catoe’s funeral.  It was very well attended for a graveside.  And it was HOTTTT!

Then Drew and I embarked on a journey from Kershaw to Greenville.  You CANNOT get here from there.  We drove to Lancaster and picked up SC 9.  SC 9 took us all the way into Spartanburg, where we hit I-85 South into Greenville.  I guess it took us about two and a half hours.

So now I sit here.  Man, I could use some sleep.

Dad is in Memorial again.  A one or two-day stay has become “we’ve evaluated him and think you need to put him in a rehab facility for a little while.”  Honestly, the doctor is only recommending a couple of weeks.  But as quicksand goes, that could quickly become three months again.

We certainly will do whatever is best for Dad, and if that was all the news, it wouldn’t be so bad.  The doctor also recognizes and talked to Mom and me about the fact that she cannot possibly go on taking care of him by herself.  We’ve already reached the place where she needs help (which I’ve been begging her to do for a couple of months) and this will help convince her of that.  But there will most probably be a day when we will not be able to care for Dad at home.

This is part of the circle of life, albeit a very difficult one.  Thanks for all of the prayers!

What could be the cherry on top of a weekend like I had?? A phone call.  Mom called yesterday morning to let me know she and Dad were en route to the hospital.  Dad was very listless and something was going on.

IRONICALLY … That morning I’d heard a brake noise on my car.  I’ve only had this car for about six weeks, so I had no idea when the brakes were last checked.  But this was the first time I’d heard this noise and I knew what it meant.

Drew and I bolted from the office (yes, Drew was there yesterday doing MORE IT stuff helping Robbie).  We ran by AdvanceAuto to get some brake pads and came home.  This car has disc brakes on all four wheels, so it wouldn’t be too difficult, and since I couldn’t get an emergency work in with my mechanic, we would have to do it.

So Drew got a lesson in doing a brake job.  And we HAD TO.  And when we pulled the pads that were noisy, we found it to be almost obliterated so I was glad we did!  As we finished, I called Mom and we decided to wait for a diagnosis before we hit the road.  I was suspicious that it was a urinary tract infection, which would not be near a serious as another subdural hematoma.

Long story short, after a series of tests they decided it WAS a UTI.  The doc offered to treat him and send him home, but Mom asked that they keep him in for a day or two while they give him the antibiotic.

So Dad is in Greenville Memorial right now.  But the diagnosis was the best possible result!  Please pray for him and my Mom!

Yes, we made a quick trip to Easley this weekend.  Part of the rollercoaster I am currently on.  Diana and Krissy had a baby shower to attend, so Drew and I hung out at the house all day.

We did a few things for Mom and Dad, but probably worked more on his mousetrap car for science than anything.  He really is doing all the work, all I am doing is providing the CASH for materials and modifications.  It will be interesting to see if his idea will work!

Things started out on a rough note for Dad on Friday night.  I think he just got too tired and was having a hard time helping us get him to the bed.  One of the things I’ve noticed is he resists a little when he is tired.  On Saturday he had a pretty good day.  We even helped him walk in the afternoon.

Overall, he is making physical progress.  There is no doubt about that.  The neurological progress is coming slower, and that makes it much more difficult for Mom.  Mom has to count on him to give her some help to do everything they need to do.  I am just praying for a little more neuro progress … that sure would help out a lot!