Day 28 - July 29

Rollercoaster rides are fun.  However, this rollercoaster ride of Jake's was up, then down, and then back up again.

Jake's day started out really well.  He was able to have his very first shower all by himself! :)  This is another HUGE step for him to be discharged.  The OT and I helped Jake get situated on the benches in the handicap accessible shower.  He transfered from his wheelchair very well to the benches.  He loved the shower!!  He said it's much better than bathing in bed.  When we returned to his room, the OT and his nurse rewrapped his legs and put the braces back on.  That is when everything went downhill.

As Jake was sitting in his chair, the PA (physician assistant) came in to talk to us about Jake possibly being discharged on Monday.  I noticed that Jake was being very quiet during this whole discussion, which is unusual because he voices how he feels when the subject turns to him being discharged.  He kept putting his head in his hand and dummy me didn't recognize the signal he was sending my way that he wasn't feeling very well.  As soon as everyone left the room, he told me that he wanted to get back into bed because his left leg was starting to hurt him.  He got into bed by himself and then the pain hit and it hit extremely hard. :(  His pain level rose from a 2 to a 7 within minutes.  He was sobbing because the pain was so intense.  He kept moaning very loudly which brought nurses and techs to his room.  They immediately paged the PA and he arrived within minutes.  We really like this PA--he has been amazing in Jake's care there.  Jake received an extra dose of the pain medicine in his PCA, received Valium through his IV, received another higher dose of his oral pain medication, and had an ice bag on his leg.  The PA also ordered some x-rays of the left leg to see if anything was going on inside.  The nurse, the PA, and I kept trying to get him to calm down and have slower, deeper breathing.  My heart just broke for him. :(  Finally, everything started to kick in and he finally fell asleep and slept for a couple of hours.  The doctors said that nothing is wrong with the plates or bones in his leg and believe that somehow Jake tore through some scar tissue today.  

When he awoke, he still felt a bit druggy, but the pain wasn't at the intensity that it was earlier.  Thank goodness!!  He was so happy to see Matt come through the door to do some PT with him.  After all that pain, Jake still wanted to do PT because he said that when Matt works his legs, he makes them feel so much better.  They didn't work as hard as yesterday--Matt was very aware and sensitive to how Jake was feeling earlier--but he was able to get Jake sitting on the side of the bed again. :)  After Matt was done, Jake felt so much better and was in a very good mood.

There was a room that opened up at the Mologne House today.  This is great news for us because that is one more step closer to coming home. :)  The plan is that tomorrow afternoon, Jake will receive a pass to leave the hospital with OT therapist to go to the Mologne Home to do a safety assessment of the room.  Mike and I will also be accompanying him because we will be his non-medical assistants.  The therapist will see if the room fits Jake's needs and will also see how well he can do maneuvering in the room and making transfers to the bed, toilet, and tub.  If everything meets his needs, then he gets the room and will be discharged on Monday. :)  However, there are a few items that he still has to do before that day.  He has to be completely off the PCA unit (which the process is starting tonight), be able to control the pain with oral medications, and not have another episode like he did this morning.  Jake is so ready (mentally) to get out of the hospital.  We will see by Monday if he is physically ready to leave.  If there are any glitches in any of this, then the room will be given to someone else and Jake will remain in the hospital until another room is available.

The highlight of the day for him was seeing his dad walk into his room tonight. :)  Mike came down this way on a business trip and is staying with us through the weekend. :)  Not only was his arrival Jake's highlight of the day, it was mine too!!

The ride on this rollercoaster hit bottom for a bit today, but it ended up high. :)