Latest posts
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“The Swallow Study” or “More Weird Things I Never Knew Existed”
Vernon is still in the hospital, though I was told he would be transferred to a less acute unit sometime today. When they are sure things are stable, he will return to Mesa Verde, either tomorrow or Wednesday. This particular infection and the treatment to eliminate it has truly worn him out. A week in, and he…
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Angels Among Us
“Make friends with the angels, who though invisible are always with you.” Saint Francis de Sales We are 6 days into our Hoag Hospital Tour. The latest is that Vernon will be sent back (after Dialysis) sometime Monday afternoon. I wish his recovery was going more quickly here, but then, I don’t know what to expect,…
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Smiling Faces
Midnight tonight will mark NIGHT 3 of our hospital stay. Will our medical pumpkin turn into a stagecoach? So strange to get exactly what you wish for. Someone said earlier to me today at the hospital: “With God, nothing is wasted.” Take that how you understand it, as I know not everyone reading this has…
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The Return
When I arrived this morning, Vernon still hadn’t opened his eyes for anyone, but his blood pressure was stable and the signs of recovery were good. He is on a much stronger antibiotic than before in order to kill off the infection this time. Let’s hope its the last one for awhile….or ever! The…
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Silver Linings Playbook
“Everything that you are going through is preparing you for what you asked for.” I can’t find who originally said that, but a friend mentioned it a few months back, and I’ve been dwelling on it ever since. Today, more than ever, it rings true. Last night’s better judgement (and Maki’s second opinion) had told me not…
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The (Pre) Birthday Party
Bit of a rough one for Vernon today. He has yet another infection and is in isolation in his room. He was the least responsive that he has been in 4 or 5 months, slumped in his chair, not tracking, not making a sound. He could only squeeze his hands tight and move his legs in…
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First Steps
“What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.” ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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Mix-Tape (and Records)
Rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul.” Plato Because of my interest in music as therapy, many people have been recommending the documentary Alive Inside, which shows nursing home patients, who have lost their memories and identities and often physical control, have these things returned to them in various degrees when they…
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Mesa Verde
On Monday, we said goodbye to our friends at Newport Subacute, promising to come back for the occasional visit. Here is Vernon and his main nursing crew, Joseph and Ivy. I’ll miss them too, they are wonderfully caring people. I drove over to the new place, Mesa Verde (also in the Newport/Costa Mesa area) to make sure…
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Simple Song
Vernon HAS been moved, at long last, but instead of celebrating, I just feel emotional and exhausted. So I will fill you in on the new details about that tomorrow, when I’ll be more ready to process things. In the meantime, I’ll share a MAKI moment that came up this afternoon. This is one of Maki’s…