:( 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

2 months later and still movin right along! ;)

Shout out to all the Fathers...HAPPY FATHERS DAY!!! Especially to my father...I love you DAD! Well, it's been a couple of months since I posted an update on this blog. Thanks for all of your calls...checking up on our dad:) He's at IMC right now and has had a few procedures done this past week. One of which was a right shoulder "manipulation". They sedated Dad and cranked the heck out of his shoulders and neck to break up calcium build-up, etc. With the hope that it would help with the lack of movement and especially pain in his shoulders and neck, but it's been a week and not much improvement in mobility or lessening of pain. So, Dad's Doctor is on vacation and in a week or so he is going to have to do major surgery on his shoulder rotator cuff. This is about a six month recovery :( Anyway, besides that, Dad has been on a couple of outings away from the hospital. First to the grocery store: he had to do everything on his own...gathering all of the ingredients to prepare his famous guacamole dip. He did awesome! Then he had to bring it all back to the hospital and prepare it. The nursing staff loved it and it was gone in a matter of minutes. Success!! Next, a couple of days ago, Dad cruised accross the street from IMC to TRAX and caught the train. He traveled up to the GATEWAY mall. He said that it was quite the adventure...the first time on trax or really "out on his own" in SIX MONTHS! Huge accomplishment! He got a shake and shopped gateway for a while. He was really excited that he was able to do this! Next week he wants to try to go out to dinner and to a movie. One baby step at a time, Dadio!! We're proud of you! Well, Dad will be at IMC for another 2 weeks and then off to another place...? Feel free to contact Dad by his cell phone. I bought him a "murse = man purse" to keep his cell phone and personal belongings in and attached to him for easy access. So, unless he's in therapy, he should be able to answer our calls:) Thanks for your friendship y'all!! xoxoxo Sonja

So. Davis Community Hospital in Bountiful

I've received a few calls wanting directions to this care center. For those I didn't reach back, here are the directions: Get off the 500 South Exit in Bountiful. Go East until 400 E. which is Orchard Drive. At that light turn left on Orchard and then make an immediate right into the hospital mini-parking lot. Dad is currently on the 2nd floor, but may move today to the 1st floor (individual instead of shared room) :) I'm waiting to hear back from the charge nurse today. I'll keep you posted on that. As for dad's condition...He has been pretty melancholy & somber since he moved out of I.M.C. It's hard when you're in such a great place with fantastic staff like IMC Rehab for 2 months; and you have a full schedule, keeping you very preoccupied and busy; and lots of friends, family, and staff rooting for you...literally cheering for you everyday. Then boom! just like that, you're moved against your will to a nursing home with a very "relaxed" minimal staff contact, a claustrophobic double room, and not very many visitors anymore... The reality of dad's injuries are setting in and unfortunately our worst days are yet ahead. He is still trying to remain positive, but his frusterations are understandable. Dad has recovered really well from the tracheotomy. He is eating soft foods and thickened juices now:) He is absolutely loving all the flavors!! He is receiving limited respiratory treatments :) And he's breathing really well on only 10% oxygen. His chest is recovering well and is all "clear" of infections. His voice is improving every day. He will be at this care center until atleast May 7 (whenever his chest and back brace is cleared for removal or deemed by the Back Doctor as unneccesary) We call it his "storm trooper jacket". lol ;). So, when that takes place, he will then be moved back to IMC Rehab for a couple weeks for intense therapy. Where he goes after that totally depends on his rehabilitation. We have yet to see how much Dad is going to improve and how "independent" he will become. Here's to hoping and praying for the best though!! Thank you to those of you who have been so supportive in your visits! We love you and appreciate you! xoxo Sonja

Kirby is now at So. Davis Hospital in Bountiful

Yesterday Little Dawson and I helped staff pack up & move out all of Dad's belongings at I.M.C. Rehab:( We are sad to be moving him from such a fantastic rehab unit. We loved all of you! And so did Dad! So, thank you for all you've done for him...physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, Dr.'s and wonderful nurses. We will forever remember you and your amazing ability you each had to motivate, comfort, and serve our father. We rate your rehab a 10! Thank you!!!! Now on to So. Davis Hospital. It's located off of the 500 South Bountiful Exit #316. Go East through 4 lights and the small community hospital is on the left side of the road, on the corner. Turn left at the light 400 E. & immediately turn rt. into the small parking lot. He's located on the 2nd floor. Ask the receptionist for info. He's sharing a room, much to our dismay, but that is all that's available here. This facility has a good respiratory therapy team and this is what Dad needs right now. He will be at So. Davis for about a month. Please continue to go and visit him. We appreciate you all and the love & support you've shown our dad:) We are excited and hopeful about his huge strides and progress. xoxo Sonja

The tracheotomy has been officially removed! & Kirby is moving out of I.M.C. Hospital on Monday or Tues (3/30)

After days of anticipation, Dad's tracheotomy in his throat & neck has finally been surgically removed. He is having some complications with secretions and "clean breathing", but hopefully those will clear up with time:) Dad is also eating one meal a day (the feeding tube compensates for the rest of the daily caloric intake). He's eating foods like soft pasta, applesauce, pudding, etc. He would sure "love a Jamba Juice, Dr. Pepper, Spamoni? Icecream", and the list goes on, but probably not until April. He's been requesting those items since the day he got his speaking valve on...it's been a fun laugh listening to his very simple requests. It makes us sure appreciate everything. Dad keeps reminding me to appreciate every breath I take & every flavor that I taste. BIG NEWS: DAD IS LEAVING I.M.C. HOSPITAL AND TRANSFERRING to another facility for recovery (most likely So. Davis Regional Hospital in Bountiful). We will find out if that is official on Monday, so check this blog for updates. We'll keep you posted.;) Call me or Dad's cell phone if you have any questions. Thanks for your support, love and prayers! xoxo Sonja

It's the Luck of the Irish Day!!!

These here are some of the yummy chocolates staff brought by to my Dad today. They were NOT gross! Not at all! Dad even wore GREEN pants today! I was so Impressed! He said he still got pinched though. I guess wearing green isn't a guarantee!
Dad enjoyed a gymnastics show brought to him by Hallie and Brinklie! The stayed as close to his doorway as possible in the hallway and would perform and repeat as long as Grandpa asked them to. They loved it and so did Dad! Definitely a good change of pace to see little girls limbs flailing about! (Hallie doing her famous fast cartwheel!)
Brinklie is flexing her mighty impressive biceps to spare here!
This was funny! So Dad FINALLY passed all of his tests and was able to EAT his FIRST meal since JANUARY 15th! Can you believe it? That was forever ago! He was so excited that he kept rolling his eyes with pure satisfaction while he chewed! Then...to him something magical happened! We gave him Coke! Now, this was in place of his long desired Dr. Pepper with lemon because that just wasn't available! Oh, and we had to thicken it so that was special too. However, you will see him drink it in this pic and then you'll see his reaction in the last picture. So funny!We were all laughing (me, his o.c.therapist, social worker, and Linda). I showed him this pic and he thought he looked like he had serious brain trauma! hahaha...I told him I'd explain that he still has his wits about him and he was just excited for the FIZZZZZ!!!!!