Hi everyone!
For anyone still checking the blog periodically for updates, I thought I would post on Dad's 5 year post-ordeal anniversary to let you know how he is doing.
In short, he and Mom are doing well. Dad is still not at 100%, but we expected that to be the case, as he will really never get back to his "ol-self" again. But his health is good and he continues to make strides with his physical capabilities. Life is pretty normal right now, with no new health issues to mention. Dad and Mom continue to workout each day at their local gym, enjoying the camaraderie of those who, just like them, ran out of insurance and had to learn to do their physical therapy on their own. They have made some new friends and are trying to stay as active as possible.
Of course, they are enjoying being closer to their family now. Rook games are usually happening at least once a month, and frequent visits with their granddaughter, probably not as often as they would like (LOL), are the cherries on top of their life cake. In all, things are much better than they were just five years ago.
It's funny how things can change in the blink of an eye, as we discovered on this day in 2010. Just a few days earlier, I was visiting with my dad and thinking that only Zeus himself was strong enough to bring him down. Little did I know that 5 years later, my admiration for his strength and will to survive would grow infinitely more.
I hope this post finds you in good health and spirits. Hopefully, Dad's story can be a source of inspiration for you like it is for me each day. If you would like to continue to get updates on my parents via this blog, then please comment on this post to let me know you are still checking in and I will do my best to be more frequent with my updates.
Take care, and may blessings continue to befall you and your family for the support you have shown us for the last five years!
Team Jerry, all the way as always!
Sunday, June 28, 2015
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
It's been a long time coming!
Hi everyone!
It's been a while since we updated everybody on Dad and Mom's status. There are a few reasons for that, so please allow me to explain.
First, I kind of liked the way the blog's storyline had a beginning and ending; starting with Dad getting sick and then having a big finale just over one year later when he arrived at his new home. Second, Dad really loved getting phone calls and emails from everyone that he hadn't spoken with while he was laid up in all of the hospitals. So instead of everyone reading about him and Mom on the web, I wanted to indirectly motivate people to speak with him directly. Lastly, I had my own selfish reasons for not wanting to be "tied to this thing" (the blog) anymore. By that, I mean it was like the last reminder of Dad getting sick and the whole painful ordeal afterwards. It's a time that none of us will soon forget, especially Dad. But we also made it through to the other side with a happy ending; and every good story has to have a happy ending, which this one thankfully does. So I decided to cut the blog loose and not touch it again until the time was right; which seems to be now.
So here's the latest and greatest from the Hawkins Clan in Danville...
Dad and Mom are settling into "Danville life" quite nicely. After Dad's insurance ran out for his rehab (I thought you were fixing that Mr. Obama?), he joined a local gym for his workouts that he must continue on his own and unsupervised to get stronger. Dad has made a lot of progress on his own and with Mom's help, and is continuing to get stronger each day. I guess it's a good thing that he use to work out back in his early years, as he knows what it takes to get motivated each day and into the gym 3 times a week, which he does religiously. And the people at the gym have been really nice to Dad and Mom, helping him with suggestions on his routine. Dad is even driving again (a car, not a truck). While he'll never drive another semi-truck, he's just happy to regain that feeling of independence.
Mom is doing well and is recovering from her own recent health issues. She's getting use to driving in the city now and frequently tells me about her trips to run errands while Dad is working out. However, that will probably change now, as she just joined the gym as well. Pretty soon, I'd expect they will be outpacing me and April (hehe). Mom is enjoying her new house and loves the neighborhood they live in. The people are nice and they've already befriended a few neighbors. I just can't say how proud of them I am right now for being so brave.
Dad and Mom also love the fact that they are so close to their family now. Of course, I'm not talking about me, April or Dad's mother and sisters and their families. I mean, yeah...sure, they love being close to us/them too (LOL). No, I'm talking about them finally being close to their granddaughter Anna Leigh. Dad and Mom have loved being able to pick her up from school, take her to equestrian lessons, and having the occasional sleepover for the past year. In fact, Dad and Mom attended Anna Leigh's dance recital back in the spring; something that they didn't get to do last year with deep regret.
For the most part, Dad is back to being himself again. Playing Rook with family and friends has never felt so good! And while he might be a little off pace and his footing is still not as true as he'd like it to be, his whit, humor and joy that he brings to a room is still abundantly present. Looking back, Dad knows he's a lot more ahead of the game then he was a year ago, and that's somewhat of the theme he has latched onto and keeps him going. Dad is working hard to keep getting better each day. With Mom and the family by his side and God leading the way, there's no doubt in our minds that he'll continue to do so.
When I told my parents that I was going to update the blog, they told me to make sure I communicated once again to everyone how appreciative they are of your continued support. It means so much to them to receive a letter in the mail, email or phone call just to ask how they are doing or to hear how things are going for someone else. So please continue to contact them and stay in touch. We are conscious of the fact that many of you have your own trials and tribulations that you are dealing with right now. Please know that we are praying for you too, just like you did and continue to do for us. We will be there for you in any way that we can.
Well... I guess that's it for now. If you'd like to drop Dad and Mom or me and April a line, you can do so by emailing or calling us. We'd love to hear from you!
Take care and may God continue to watch over and bless all of you!
Sincerely,
Todd
It's been a while since we updated everybody on Dad and Mom's status. There are a few reasons for that, so please allow me to explain.
First, I kind of liked the way the blog's storyline had a beginning and ending; starting with Dad getting sick and then having a big finale just over one year later when he arrived at his new home. Second, Dad really loved getting phone calls and emails from everyone that he hadn't spoken with while he was laid up in all of the hospitals. So instead of everyone reading about him and Mom on the web, I wanted to indirectly motivate people to speak with him directly. Lastly, I had my own selfish reasons for not wanting to be "tied to this thing" (the blog) anymore. By that, I mean it was like the last reminder of Dad getting sick and the whole painful ordeal afterwards. It's a time that none of us will soon forget, especially Dad. But we also made it through to the other side with a happy ending; and every good story has to have a happy ending, which this one thankfully does. So I decided to cut the blog loose and not touch it again until the time was right; which seems to be now.
So here's the latest and greatest from the Hawkins Clan in Danville...
Dad and Mom are settling into "Danville life" quite nicely. After Dad's insurance ran out for his rehab (I thought you were fixing that Mr. Obama?), he joined a local gym for his workouts that he must continue on his own and unsupervised to get stronger. Dad has made a lot of progress on his own and with Mom's help, and is continuing to get stronger each day. I guess it's a good thing that he use to work out back in his early years, as he knows what it takes to get motivated each day and into the gym 3 times a week, which he does religiously. And the people at the gym have been really nice to Dad and Mom, helping him with suggestions on his routine. Dad is even driving again (a car, not a truck). While he'll never drive another semi-truck, he's just happy to regain that feeling of independence.
Mom is doing well and is recovering from her own recent health issues. She's getting use to driving in the city now and frequently tells me about her trips to run errands while Dad is working out. However, that will probably change now, as she just joined the gym as well. Pretty soon, I'd expect they will be outpacing me and April (hehe). Mom is enjoying her new house and loves the neighborhood they live in. The people are nice and they've already befriended a few neighbors. I just can't say how proud of them I am right now for being so brave.
Dad and Mom also love the fact that they are so close to their family now. Of course, I'm not talking about me, April or Dad's mother and sisters and their families. I mean, yeah...sure, they love being close to us/them too (LOL). No, I'm talking about them finally being close to their granddaughter Anna Leigh. Dad and Mom have loved being able to pick her up from school, take her to equestrian lessons, and having the occasional sleepover for the past year. In fact, Dad and Mom attended Anna Leigh's dance recital back in the spring; something that they didn't get to do last year with deep regret.
For the most part, Dad is back to being himself again. Playing Rook with family and friends has never felt so good! And while he might be a little off pace and his footing is still not as true as he'd like it to be, his whit, humor and joy that he brings to a room is still abundantly present. Looking back, Dad knows he's a lot more ahead of the game then he was a year ago, and that's somewhat of the theme he has latched onto and keeps him going. Dad is working hard to keep getting better each day. With Mom and the family by his side and God leading the way, there's no doubt in our minds that he'll continue to do so.
When I told my parents that I was going to update the blog, they told me to make sure I communicated once again to everyone how appreciative they are of your continued support. It means so much to them to receive a letter in the mail, email or phone call just to ask how they are doing or to hear how things are going for someone else. So please continue to contact them and stay in touch. We are conscious of the fact that many of you have your own trials and tribulations that you are dealing with right now. Please know that we are praying for you too, just like you did and continue to do for us. We will be there for you in any way that we can.
Well... I guess that's it for now. If you'd like to drop Dad and Mom or me and April a line, you can do so by emailing or calling us. We'd love to hear from you!
Take care and may God continue to watch over and bless all of you!
Sincerely,
Todd
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
One-Year Home
Thought you all might like to see a picture of Jerry, Mary Sue, and Anna Leigh one year after his return home!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Home
After 54 weeks in a hospital, Jerry arrived home a little before 12:30 PM. These pics and video say it all. Welcome home!Sunday, July 3, 2011
Independence Day!
Hey Folks! We hope everyone is enjoying the holiday weekend! Just like last year, Mom and Dad are spending the 4th of July in a hospital facility. The good news... the circumstances are a lot different. This time last year, Dad was just starting his journey down the GBS road. He had no movement in his extremeties, except for his toes, and the doctors were talking about the eventuality of putting a trach in to help Dad breath. One year later, Dad is off the trach, and all the other machines, and is learning how to walk again. Oh that road… what a long and winding course you turned out to be. Luckily, Dad is at the point of really making some significant progress. The facility he is at is teaching him how to care for himself again and working to get his body stronger. Dad’s attitude is to get it done so he can go home ASAP. Of course, that means working through a lot of pain and getting through each day with some sense of accomplishment… not matter how small. To me, this just proves that Dad is the unique man I always thought he was, and he will forever inspire me to be and do better. The video on this post was shot just a week ago, and Dad has already made more improvements. We’re posting this video to show everyone that your prayers and continued support are paying off. Just remember Dad when you’re finding it hard to get through your day or when you are faced with a stack of problems that seem imsurmountable. That’s what I do, and then I think, “What the heck am I worried about? This is nothing!” Take care of yourselves and be sure to drop Dad and Mom a line when you get a chance. Thanks again for all that you do. Team Jerry all the way!!!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Just a little closer to home!
Hey everyone!
We've been away for a while and haven't been able to update the blog lately. But there are a lot of good things to report, so let's get right to it.
First, Dad has moved to an Acute Therapy unit here in Danville at the local hospital, Danville Regional. The floor is filled with patients like Dad who are in need of intensive therapy to get them back on their feet. Dad arrived there almost 2 weeks ago, and while things are not perfect (and they never will be), he is making the best of it and working hard to get home. They work him out early in the morning, usually finishing up after lunch time. But each session will continue to get a little longer and a little more intense until Dad is able to walk on his own.
Second, Dad's physical therapy is going well. Yesterday was Anna Leigh's 10th birthday (can you believe it?), and while Dad didn't make his goal of being able to stand up beside his bed and dance a little with her, you can see by the photograph that he was able to sit himself up on the side of his bed and do a little improv-dancing from a seated position. Dad has learned through this whole ordeal that while you might not always reach the goal you set for yourself, it's important to make the best out of the milestone that you do reach. Sounds like a lesson we could all learn from at times... especially me. Dad recently transitioned from the parallel bars to a walker, which is a sign that his body is slowly but surely getting stronger.
Third, Dad is finally rid of all tubes and ties to machines. Because Dad is doing so well with eating whole foods again, the doctors decided it was time to remove the feeding tube. To think it was just a few short weeks ago that Dad was back on the IV feedings because he was so sick and now he is finally rid of it just warms our hearts beyond description. You never know of the of miracles that are just around the corner.
Finally, Dad was able to see his new house in person during his transit from the Chatham facility to Danville. The driver was kind enough to take a minor detour through the subdivision, since it was on the way, so that dad could look at it for the first time. He loves the new house and can't wait to start living with Mom again. While they've been almost inseparable for the past 11 months, they are looking forward to the day when they can be in their own house, fighting over the remote and grilling out on the deck. Ahhh... good times for sure.
Well, that's it for now. We'll continue to update you as things progress. Be sure to drop Dad a line either by mail or phone when you get a chance. He loves to hear from his friends and family, as it gives him encouragement to continue these hard therapy sessions to get better.
Take care of yourselves and know that we are truly grateful to have such great family and friends such as you in our lives.
Team Jerry all the way!!!!
We've been away for a while and haven't been able to update the blog lately. But there are a lot of good things to report, so let's get right to it.
First, Dad has moved to an Acute Therapy unit here in Danville at the local hospital, Danville Regional. The floor is filled with patients like Dad who are in need of intensive therapy to get them back on their feet. Dad arrived there almost 2 weeks ago, and while things are not perfect (and they never will be), he is making the best of it and working hard to get home. They work him out early in the morning, usually finishing up after lunch time. But each session will continue to get a little longer and a little more intense until Dad is able to walk on his own.
Second, Dad's physical therapy is going well. Yesterday was Anna Leigh's 10th birthday (can you believe it?), and while Dad didn't make his goal of being able to stand up beside his bed and dance a little with her, you can see by the photograph that he was able to sit himself up on the side of his bed and do a little improv-dancing from a seated position. Dad has learned through this whole ordeal that while you might not always reach the goal you set for yourself, it's important to make the best out of the milestone that you do reach. Sounds like a lesson we could all learn from at times... especially me. Dad recently transitioned from the parallel bars to a walker, which is a sign that his body is slowly but surely getting stronger.
Third, Dad is finally rid of all tubes and ties to machines. Because Dad is doing so well with eating whole foods again, the doctors decided it was time to remove the feeding tube. To think it was just a few short weeks ago that Dad was back on the IV feedings because he was so sick and now he is finally rid of it just warms our hearts beyond description. You never know of the of miracles that are just around the corner.
Finally, Dad was able to see his new house in person during his transit from the Chatham facility to Danville. The driver was kind enough to take a minor detour through the subdivision, since it was on the way, so that dad could look at it for the first time. He loves the new house and can't wait to start living with Mom again. While they've been almost inseparable for the past 11 months, they are looking forward to the day when they can be in their own house, fighting over the remote and grilling out on the deck. Ahhh... good times for sure.
Well, that's it for now. We'll continue to update you as things progress. Be sure to drop Dad a line either by mail or phone when you get a chance. He loves to hear from his friends and family, as it gives him encouragement to continue these hard therapy sessions to get better.
Take care of yourselves and know that we are truly grateful to have such great family and friends such as you in our lives.
Team Jerry all the way!!!!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Arrival
Jerry has safely arrived in Chatham! We will update when we have more to share. We are so grateful for this opportunity!
Team Jerry all the way!!!!
Team Jerry all the way!!!!
Correction!
Jerry is being moved to Chatham, not Gretna! Chatham is even closer to us than Gretna! We are still excited! He will be moved either today or as late as Monday. A few snags with paperwork, but he is coming home very soon! We will update as soon as he is here.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Biggest News EVER!
Tomorrow, Friday, May 20, our beloved father-in-law, husband, dad, and grandfather will be moved from Raleigh, NC to.........GRETNA, VA!!! Fifteen minutes from Mary Sue, 25 from Danville! We are so excited to share this news! It appears that after 15 days in Gretna he will move to intensive (4 times a day!) inpatient rehab at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Please pray for his transfer tomorrow and give thanks to God for this wonderful, incredible news!
Team Jerry all the way!
Please pray for his transfer tomorrow and give thanks to God for this wonderful, incredible news!
Team Jerry all the way!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
I lost it!
Hey folks!
You may be a little perplexed by the post title, but that's on purpose. You see, I got a call today from Dad where he said, "I lost it"! Of course, I was trying to figure out what he was talking about at first, and then he told me. But I can't make it that simple for you. So I'll update you first on what all is going on with Dad, then I'll tell you. Don't cheat by skipping to the end! (hehe)
First, Dad had a procedure done on Wednesday to retrieve his kidney stones. The doctors wanted to get these out of his system to keep the bacteria from colonizing and releasing each time one of them moved. Over the past week and a half, they have found 3 different types of bacteria all within his blood, urine and central line IV. By removing the stones and following with a strong dose of antibiotics, the doctors hope to rid Dad's body of these bacterias once and for all. Only time will tell.
Second, Dad is still progressing with his physical therapy and is able to move around a lot more in his bed now. This is a byproduct of his nerves growing back and Dad's determination to get out of that "blankety-blank" bed (hehe). But he hopes to have more aggressive therapy soon so he can get back on his feet ASAP.
Last, the ENT doctor and respiratory therapists have worked with Dad the past 2 weeks while he's been in the hospital. Yesterday, they reduced the size of his trach and capped it, which meant that Dad was breathing on his own and through his mouth and nose. It felt kind of weird at first, being that it was the first time he was doing it all on his own and through his regular airways. Then this morning, the doctor came back and removed the trach all together. So when Dad called to say "I lost it", he was telling us that they had removed the trach and he was finally rid of it.
Of course, what makes this news even more special is that Mom and Dad are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary today. Dad said this was his gift to Mom, and of course she was just fine with that. All of us are elated by this news and can't wait to see him again to join in his celebration. What this means for all of us is that Dad might be moving back to Virginia real soon! But we won't know for a while, as the doctors want to keep him on the antibiotics for a week or so to knock out all the bacteria.
So be sure to go onto his Facebook page or send Dad an email to congratulate him. For me, I can't tell you how much it warms my heart to know that I almost have my Dad back home, and the girls are just as happy!
Take care everyone, and be sure to smile extra big after reading this post. Because of you and your continued support, Dad is almost back with us! For that, I am truly grateful!
Team Jerry all the way!!!
You may be a little perplexed by the post title, but that's on purpose. You see, I got a call today from Dad where he said, "I lost it"! Of course, I was trying to figure out what he was talking about at first, and then he told me. But I can't make it that simple for you. So I'll update you first on what all is going on with Dad, then I'll tell you. Don't cheat by skipping to the end! (hehe)
First, Dad had a procedure done on Wednesday to retrieve his kidney stones. The doctors wanted to get these out of his system to keep the bacteria from colonizing and releasing each time one of them moved. Over the past week and a half, they have found 3 different types of bacteria all within his blood, urine and central line IV. By removing the stones and following with a strong dose of antibiotics, the doctors hope to rid Dad's body of these bacterias once and for all. Only time will tell.
Second, Dad is still progressing with his physical therapy and is able to move around a lot more in his bed now. This is a byproduct of his nerves growing back and Dad's determination to get out of that "blankety-blank" bed (hehe). But he hopes to have more aggressive therapy soon so he can get back on his feet ASAP.
Last, the ENT doctor and respiratory therapists have worked with Dad the past 2 weeks while he's been in the hospital. Yesterday, they reduced the size of his trach and capped it, which meant that Dad was breathing on his own and through his mouth and nose. It felt kind of weird at first, being that it was the first time he was doing it all on his own and through his regular airways. Then this morning, the doctor came back and removed the trach all together. So when Dad called to say "I lost it", he was telling us that they had removed the trach and he was finally rid of it.
Of course, what makes this news even more special is that Mom and Dad are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary today. Dad said this was his gift to Mom, and of course she was just fine with that. All of us are elated by this news and can't wait to see him again to join in his celebration. What this means for all of us is that Dad might be moving back to Virginia real soon! But we won't know for a while, as the doctors want to keep him on the antibiotics for a week or so to knock out all the bacteria.
So be sure to go onto his Facebook page or send Dad an email to congratulate him. For me, I can't tell you how much it warms my heart to know that I almost have my Dad back home, and the girls are just as happy!
Take care everyone, and be sure to smile extra big after reading this post. Because of you and your continued support, Dad is almost back with us! For that, I am truly grateful!
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Still Treading Water
Hi everyone! Here is the latest update on Dad.
For the most part, Dad is doing better. He is still in the hospital in Raleigh, where they are monitoring his blood and bodily fluids for any elevation in bacteria. There is concern that his kidneys are harboring the bacteria that is causing his infections due to the stones that he still has in them. Late last week, Dad's white cell count started to elevate again. So as a precaution, the doctors started him on antibiotics in order to stay ahead of any infection he might start to have.
Yesterday afternoon, the doctors spoke with Mom and Dad and together decided to get the stones out of Dad's kidneys once and for all. So they will be doing a procedure on him either this Thursday or Monday of next week to retrieve the Stint and the stones. By doing so, they hope to rid Dad's body of any bacteria harboring material. Of course, we won't know for certain until well after the procedure is done, which means Dad could be in this hospital for quite some time.
As soon as we have more detail on the results of Dad's procedure, we'll let you know. For now, please just pray that he continues to stay healthy and the doctors are able to rid his body of the bacteria.
Rehab Update:
Since Dad has been in the hospital, the staff has worked together to come up with a meg-shift rehab plan that is allowing him to work on the physical, ventilator, and speech therapies he needs to fully recover from the GBS. Dad has a lot more movement now in his lower body and has even stood a few times each day, with assistance, to strengthen his lower body. The physical therapist wants to start putting him in a chair today and each day going forward for brief time periods to build up his tolerance again for sitting up.
As for his ventilator, it's gone. Dad has been on the cuff (straight oxygen) now for a week and the ENT is coming by this week to talk about reducing the size of his trach. This will allow them to eventually plug the trach and train Dad to breath through his mouth and nose again. It will also give Dad's body a chance to heal and slowly close the wound around the trach area.
Speech Therapy is not going as well as Dad would like. The infection inflamed Dad's throat area and he has not been able to swallow in a sufficient way that would allow him to start eating again. But Dad continues to work on his exercises and this part of his recovery will hopefully start coming around soon enough.
OK... that's it for now. As always, thank you for your continued support. Dad is still receiving cards and notes of encouragement from all of you. They really help to brighten up his day and give him the patience he needs to get through it all. So feel free to continue sending these well-wishes to Dad via the PO Box here in Danville and we'll make sure he gets them. You can also reach Dad and Mom via their email address: jhawkins51@comcast.net.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
For the most part, Dad is doing better. He is still in the hospital in Raleigh, where they are monitoring his blood and bodily fluids for any elevation in bacteria. There is concern that his kidneys are harboring the bacteria that is causing his infections due to the stones that he still has in them. Late last week, Dad's white cell count started to elevate again. So as a precaution, the doctors started him on antibiotics in order to stay ahead of any infection he might start to have.
Yesterday afternoon, the doctors spoke with Mom and Dad and together decided to get the stones out of Dad's kidneys once and for all. So they will be doing a procedure on him either this Thursday or Monday of next week to retrieve the Stint and the stones. By doing so, they hope to rid Dad's body of any bacteria harboring material. Of course, we won't know for certain until well after the procedure is done, which means Dad could be in this hospital for quite some time.
As soon as we have more detail on the results of Dad's procedure, we'll let you know. For now, please just pray that he continues to stay healthy and the doctors are able to rid his body of the bacteria.
Rehab Update:
Since Dad has been in the hospital, the staff has worked together to come up with a meg-shift rehab plan that is allowing him to work on the physical, ventilator, and speech therapies he needs to fully recover from the GBS. Dad has a lot more movement now in his lower body and has even stood a few times each day, with assistance, to strengthen his lower body. The physical therapist wants to start putting him in a chair today and each day going forward for brief time periods to build up his tolerance again for sitting up.
As for his ventilator, it's gone. Dad has been on the cuff (straight oxygen) now for a week and the ENT is coming by this week to talk about reducing the size of his trach. This will allow them to eventually plug the trach and train Dad to breath through his mouth and nose again. It will also give Dad's body a chance to heal and slowly close the wound around the trach area.
Speech Therapy is not going as well as Dad would like. The infection inflamed Dad's throat area and he has not been able to swallow in a sufficient way that would allow him to start eating again. But Dad continues to work on his exercises and this part of his recovery will hopefully start coming around soon enough.
OK... that's it for now. As always, thank you for your continued support. Dad is still receiving cards and notes of encouragement from all of you. They really help to brighten up his day and give him the patience he needs to get through it all. So feel free to continue sending these well-wishes to Dad via the PO Box here in Danville and we'll make sure he gets them. You can also reach Dad and Mom via their email address: jhawkins51@comcast.net.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Happy Easter!
Hi Everyone!-
Just wanted you to know that Jerry is doing well. The infection is gone, and they are trying to find him a bed at the rehab facility. The hope is that he will move back to Blue Ridge this week. He looks great- and is VERY focused on his recovery. Of course, he's ready to fire up the grill and have a cookout with all his loved ones and friends!
He wants everyone to know how much your cards and well-wishes continue to mean to him. Anna Leigh had not visited in several weeks because of his condition. Today was the first visit for her in quite some time, and he enjoyed every second of it! Anna Leigh, of course, had to show off her new haircut, and he was ever the doting grandfather!
Thanks again for ALL the prayers! We firmly believe that God is working miracles with Jerry- EVERY DAY! Just as there was the miracle of Christ's resurrection, we continue to see evidence of His power working through Jerry to show us how someone can truly be "reborn".
TEAM JERRY ALL THE WAY!!!!!!
Just wanted you to know that Jerry is doing well. The infection is gone, and they are trying to find him a bed at the rehab facility. The hope is that he will move back to Blue Ridge this week. He looks great- and is VERY focused on his recovery. Of course, he's ready to fire up the grill and have a cookout with all his loved ones and friends!
He wants everyone to know how much your cards and well-wishes continue to mean to him. Anna Leigh had not visited in several weeks because of his condition. Today was the first visit for her in quite some time, and he enjoyed every second of it! Anna Leigh, of course, had to show off her new haircut, and he was ever the doting grandfather!
Thanks again for ALL the prayers! We firmly believe that God is working miracles with Jerry- EVERY DAY! Just as there was the miracle of Christ's resurrection, we continue to see evidence of His power working through Jerry to show us how someone can truly be "reborn".
TEAM JERRY ALL THE WAY!!!!!!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Doing Better!!!
Hey folks!!!
As the post title indicates, Dad is doing better. The doctors have visited with Dad over the past few days and talked to Mom about Dad's prognosis. Everything seems to indicate a full recovery, which is a true blessing. The hospital wants to keep him for observation for a while just in case the infection comes back so they can attack it quickly. So they have started working on his therapy with him so that he doesn't get any further behind in his GBS recovery.
That's all for now. I'll post more detail once we get some more info from the doctors. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for your well wishes and prayers. They really help Dad and the family to get through this whole ordeal. Take care!
Team Jerry all the way!
As the post title indicates, Dad is doing better. The doctors have visited with Dad over the past few days and talked to Mom about Dad's prognosis. Everything seems to indicate a full recovery, which is a true blessing. The hospital wants to keep him for observation for a while just in case the infection comes back so they can attack it quickly. So they have started working on his therapy with him so that he doesn't get any further behind in his GBS recovery.
That's all for now. I'll post more detail once we get some more info from the doctors. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much for your well wishes and prayers. They really help Dad and the family to get through this whole ordeal. Take care!
Team Jerry all the way!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Out of Recovery & Back in his Room
Hey everyone!
Dad had his procedure done this morning and everything appears to be OK. The doctor put a shunt in to allow the kidney stone to pass through when it comes out of his kidney. There were no major concerns with what he found in Dad's kidney or bladder, but the doctor took samples of a few areas and are sending it off to be tested just to be sure. We will hopefully know by Thursday how well the shunt is working, as well as the test results to see if there is anything else that needs to be addressed.
For right now, Dad is back in his room and is resting comfortably. Mom is spending the night with him, which brightened up Dad's eyes when he found out. She also took his laptop down so he could work his Farmville. In addition, this means you can email him and send your well wishes.
I'll let you know more as it comes in. Thanks again for all your prayers. Let's pray that all the test come back normal and he passes the kidney stone soon.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Dad had his procedure done this morning and everything appears to be OK. The doctor put a shunt in to allow the kidney stone to pass through when it comes out of his kidney. There were no major concerns with what he found in Dad's kidney or bladder, but the doctor took samples of a few areas and are sending it off to be tested just to be sure. We will hopefully know by Thursday how well the shunt is working, as well as the test results to see if there is anything else that needs to be addressed.
For right now, Dad is back in his room and is resting comfortably. Mom is spending the night with him, which brightened up Dad's eyes when he found out. She also took his laptop down so he could work his Farmville. In addition, this means you can email him and send your well wishes.
I'll let you know more as it comes in. Thanks again for all your prayers. Let's pray that all the test come back normal and he passes the kidney stone soon.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Update on Kidneys!
Hey folks! Just a quick update on the latest info with Dad.
The Urologist did a sonogram today on Dad's kidneys to see how they are functioning. He found a rather large stone in the tube exiting the right kidney that may or may not account for the elevated creatinine in Dad's blood. As Mom explained to me, elevated creatinine means the kidney is not able to operate correctly for some reason. In this case, it may be due to the stone partially blocking the tube coming out of the kidney. This is good news, as it would indicate that the medicine Dad had to take for the infection may not have hurt his kidneys after all.
There is a procedure schedule for Wednesday morning at 10am, where the doctor plans to go in and get the stone. I won't go into details about the procedure, as it hurts me to just think about it. But needless to say, Dad will need a little anesthetic (I'd need a lot), as the procedure is not that invasive. If everything works out, this may help the cretinine levels to normalize. Mom plans to be there for the procedure.
Please keep Dad and Mom in your prayers tonight and tomorrow, and pray that this procedure will fix the problem with Dad's kidneys. We'll try to update you as we hear more about how Dad did during the procedure and if this fixes the problem.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
The Urologist did a sonogram today on Dad's kidneys to see how they are functioning. He found a rather large stone in the tube exiting the right kidney that may or may not account for the elevated creatinine in Dad's blood. As Mom explained to me, elevated creatinine means the kidney is not able to operate correctly for some reason. In this case, it may be due to the stone partially blocking the tube coming out of the kidney. This is good news, as it would indicate that the medicine Dad had to take for the infection may not have hurt his kidneys after all.
There is a procedure schedule for Wednesday morning at 10am, where the doctor plans to go in and get the stone. I won't go into details about the procedure, as it hurts me to just think about it. But needless to say, Dad will need a little anesthetic (I'd need a lot), as the procedure is not that invasive. If everything works out, this may help the cretinine levels to normalize. Mom plans to be there for the procedure.
Please keep Dad and Mom in your prayers tonight and tomorrow, and pray that this procedure will fix the problem with Dad's kidneys. We'll try to update you as we hear more about how Dad did during the procedure and if this fixes the problem.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Get those Prayers going!
Hey folks!
I have a lot to tell you about Dad and a short time to type it in, so here goes:
Dad is still at Rex Hospital in Raleigh. This is where they sent him for his infection. He is out of ICU and they have stopped the antibiotics that they were giving Dad to kill the bacteria in his blood and urine. This is all good news and we are very thankful for it.
On the flip side, Dad has developed issues with his kidneys. The doctors don't know for sure, but it appears that Dad's kidneys may have been adversely affected by the medicine that they had to give him. So they are calling in a kidney specialist to look at Dad and his case to determine the cause of the kidney issues.
Dad is also not able to breath on his own anymore. While Dad is still stronger than he use to be before starting the ventilator therapy, he is experiencing enough problems with his breathing for the doctors to err on the side of caution and keep him on the ventilator. Of course, you're probably saying the same thing we are... oh great, here we go again. But we are reminding Dad that he overcame this issue before and he can do it again.
That's it for now. Please pass the word along to anyone you know to put Dad on a prayer list and get those prayer chains going. Dad is truly facing an uphill battle over the next few days/weeks. All we can do is what we've been doing, which is hope and pray for the best and just put it in God's hands.
If you'd like to send Dad a message of encouragement or a Get Well card, feel free to mail it to him at PO Box 2364, Danville, VA, 24541. Or you can email him at jhawkins51@comcast.net.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
I have a lot to tell you about Dad and a short time to type it in, so here goes:
Dad is still at Rex Hospital in Raleigh. This is where they sent him for his infection. He is out of ICU and they have stopped the antibiotics that they were giving Dad to kill the bacteria in his blood and urine. This is all good news and we are very thankful for it.
On the flip side, Dad has developed issues with his kidneys. The doctors don't know for sure, but it appears that Dad's kidneys may have been adversely affected by the medicine that they had to give him. So they are calling in a kidney specialist to look at Dad and his case to determine the cause of the kidney issues.
Dad is also not able to breath on his own anymore. While Dad is still stronger than he use to be before starting the ventilator therapy, he is experiencing enough problems with his breathing for the doctors to err on the side of caution and keep him on the ventilator. Of course, you're probably saying the same thing we are... oh great, here we go again. But we are reminding Dad that he overcame this issue before and he can do it again.
That's it for now. Please pass the word along to anyone you know to put Dad on a prayer list and get those prayer chains going. Dad is truly facing an uphill battle over the next few days/weeks. All we can do is what we've been doing, which is hope and pray for the best and just put it in God's hands.
If you'd like to send Dad a message of encouragement or a Get Well card, feel free to mail it to him at PO Box 2364, Danville, VA, 24541. Or you can email him at jhawkins51@comcast.net.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Doing Better
Hey everyone!
Just wanted to let you know that Dad is doing better now. He is still at the hospital as they wind down the antibiotic cocktail, but will hopefully be back at the rehab facility within the next few days.
Thanks again for all of the prayers and emails of well-wishes. They were really appreciated!
Take care and we'll update the blog again real soon.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Just wanted to let you know that Dad is doing better now. He is still at the hospital as they wind down the antibiotic cocktail, but will hopefully be back at the rehab facility within the next few days.
Thanks again for all of the prayers and emails of well-wishes. They were really appreciated!
Take care and we'll update the blog again real soon.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Getting There...
Hi everyone!
Dad appears to be doing better after a few days of antibiotics. They identified the bacteria causing his infection. And if I knew how to say it, I might come close to spelling it. Needless to say, I'm not going to attempt either. But I can say that it is a nasty super bug. We read about it on the web and it is most prevalent in the big cities, but is starting to make its way to smaller cities and towns. It is a bug that is mostly found in patients who are housed in medical facilities for the long term, which would fit Dad to a tee right now.
The scariest thing about the bug is that it can be very serious and is somewhat resistant to certain antibiotics. In fact, the hospital here had to special order the medicine Dad is on due to the rare need for it. But we were prepared for this finding, as it fits in with the last 9 months of "uniqueness". Everyone seems to be confident that Dad will get better, it's just going to take time.
Of course, Dad is disappointed about the setback, but he knows its just a minor one for right now. It helped that Anna Leigh made him a card that told him to hang in there and how much she loved him. You could tell that it really touched his heart when we gave it to him, as he was grinning from ear-to-ear, something he hadn't done for the past week.
Well, that's all for now. We'll let you know more as information comes available. We don't believe he will be moved from ICU this weekend like we had hoped, but we'll see.
If you want to send well wishes via email, Mom and Dad's new email address is: jhawkins51@comcast.net, or post comments to this blog post.
Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Dad appears to be doing better after a few days of antibiotics. They identified the bacteria causing his infection. And if I knew how to say it, I might come close to spelling it. Needless to say, I'm not going to attempt either. But I can say that it is a nasty super bug. We read about it on the web and it is most prevalent in the big cities, but is starting to make its way to smaller cities and towns. It is a bug that is mostly found in patients who are housed in medical facilities for the long term, which would fit Dad to a tee right now.
The scariest thing about the bug is that it can be very serious and is somewhat resistant to certain antibiotics. In fact, the hospital here had to special order the medicine Dad is on due to the rare need for it. But we were prepared for this finding, as it fits in with the last 9 months of "uniqueness". Everyone seems to be confident that Dad will get better, it's just going to take time.
Of course, Dad is disappointed about the setback, but he knows its just a minor one for right now. It helped that Anna Leigh made him a card that told him to hang in there and how much she loved him. You could tell that it really touched his heart when we gave it to him, as he was grinning from ear-to-ear, something he hadn't done for the past week.
Well, that's all for now. We'll let you know more as information comes available. We don't believe he will be moved from ICU this weekend like we had hoped, but we'll see.
If you want to send well wishes via email, Mom and Dad's new email address is: jhawkins51@comcast.net, or post comments to this blog post.
Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers.
Team Jerry all the way!!!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Update
The prayers seem to be working, as Dad has started to stabilize and is showing signs of getting better. His blood pressure has fluctuated for the past few hours, but all within normal parameters. His temperature is also going up and down, but nothing that Tylenol hasn't been able to control. The only concern of mine is his heart rate, which is elevated right now. But the doctors and nurses both assure us that this is probably the byproduct of the infection in his body and the medicine that they are giving him to fight the infection. Once both are removed from his system, things should go back to normal.
He is resting comfortably right now and if things go well overnight, they'll move him to a step-down unit on Friday. Dad has not needed the ventilator again since last night, which is a good sign that his body is getting stronger.
Please continue to pray for him and Mom. She has worried herself to the point of exhaustion. In fact, I'm forcing her to leave in just a few minutes so we can get her back to Danville at a descent time and allow her to get some much needed rest before she travels back down Raleigh tomorrow.
As soon as there is more to report, we'll update the blog. Thanks for your continued support!
Team Jerry all the way!!!
He is resting comfortably right now and if things go well overnight, they'll move him to a step-down unit on Friday. Dad has not needed the ventilator again since last night, which is a good sign that his body is getting stronger.
Please continue to pray for him and Mom. She has worried herself to the point of exhaustion. In fact, I'm forcing her to leave in just a few minutes so we can get her back to Danville at a descent time and allow her to get some much needed rest before she travels back down Raleigh tomorrow.
As soon as there is more to report, we'll update the blog. Thanks for your continued support!
Team Jerry all the way!!!
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