:( complications, rushed to the ER at IMC :(

Only one week at Garden Terrace, Kirby/Dad is back at I.M.C.Hospital. After being rushed to emergency last week, and spending a few days in I.C.U., IMC has stabilized our Dad and he is hopefully back on track to recovery. His blood pressure had dropped so dramatically last week that he was not coherent. He also had a high fever. He was acting delirious!...after many tests at the hospital, all symptions pointed to an infection. Others would have known they had an infection immediately, but due to the fact that Dad is paralyzed, he did not feel anything. It's hard for people, even nurses, to comprehend how fragile Kirby/Dad's life is right now. It's very difficult to regulate his blood pressure, body temperature, oxygen levels, vitals, and the list goes on and on...it's a daily challenge.
Now it is Tuesday. Dad was transferred back to Garden Terrace last night. His Doctors and charge nurses sent more procautionary measures for the skilled nursing facility to follow. This has been a set-back for Dad, but he is a fighter and says that "this too shall pass". His spirits have been lower than usual, but with all of our help, we will rise to the occasion once again...cheering and lifting him up!! I bought him a new cell. phone yesterday, but NO phone numbers are in it. When you go visit, please enter your phone number in his cell. phone directory for him. Let's all step up to the plate and bring a ray of sunshine to Kirby/Dad this week! :) xoxoxo SONJA

Kirby's getting settled in at GARDEN TERRACE

On Monday, July 6, 2009, Dad transferred to Garden Terrace Skilled Nursing Facility in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is recovering from his right shoulder Rotater Cuff surgery. He will be at G.T. for several months. He is very optimistic, as always, and taking each day in strides. This new living arrangement is very beautiful and looks like it will be comfortable for Dad. It will be up to him to be vocally proactive in keeping a good vigorous schedule. We want to see Dad continue to progress and improve every week...range of motion, speech, voice, eating and breathing. We'd love to see Dad's pain in his shoulders and neck begin to become less aggitated and subside. This will all take time, but we each can reach out and help him in many ways: by stretching gently with him when we visit; helping him with pressure relief...rotating his position every 2 hours to prevent bed sores; helping him shave and brush his teeth; asking him what he needs or what we can communicate with the nurses regarding his care. Anyway, we do not want Dad to regress the way that he did at So. Davis...he was left alone, helpless, and unproductive for way too long each day, with little staff contact...therefore, regressing in his strides he'd made at IMC. So, during any of our visits in the future, I sincerely ask that each of us try a little harder to be more helpful to his progression while we're visiting Dad/Kirby. Here's to a great summer! Thank you so much for everything you all do!!! xoxoxoxo Sonja