Last Friday Janet went home. We all know there is really no place like home. She's delighted to be in her own surroundings and enjoying the beautiful remodel that has now been completed.
This week and next her dear Mary Kay friends are bringing meals in. Many thanks to Susan Brookshire for organizing this great gift, she has been one of the many angels who have been constantly there for Janet's needs. I am hoping more friends will volunteer to bring meals for Janet and Jim over the next several weeks, perhaps some will even come during the coming months. This is a tremendous help in keeping Janet out of the kitchen where she could over tire .... yet still allowing her to work on gaining strength and working through her PT schedule. Thank you to every one who has stepped up to the food line!
Although she is home, the work schedule continues for her and it is all the more time consuming too. She will be going to Merci for outpatient rehab at least 2 days a week. Each day at home, Janet has PT to do on her own .... with still quite a schedule to maintain! Once a week she will travel in for her blood test to monitor her blood thinner, the Cumiden.
Today was the first visit back to her doctor. He is pleased, it was a good appointment! Her blood pressure was good! She is going back in a month for another check up. At this time, Dr. Ghani doesn't feel like Janet is ready for bypass surgery, although she has made tremendous progress. Potentially he will do more stints in the interum while waiting for her to gain enough strength for a bypass surgery. Dr. Ghani asked her how she felt about returning to work and she said she did not believe she was ready. He agreed with her and they mutually decided to asses that each month. Good plan!
She and Jim are working out a schedule with the help of their daughter, Troy, and some friends allowing Jim to accomplish work around the property and insure that Janet is not ever left alone. Currently her good friend, Cindy Lacey, is in town and is spending time with her to allow Jim some freedom. I was so pleased when she told me that if Jim went outside she was careful to keep her walker near that has a small utility bag on it. Inside the bag she keeps her phone, her house phone and other things she could need immediately. She is, wisely, being very cautious.
Janet's doctor asked her if her chest hurt. "No", she replied. After a chuckle he said that it should because they beat up on her pretty good....but that she is the reason they go the extra mile and work so hard on people. We spoke of the power of prayer and the miracles we have seen for her .... and again she has expressed her grattitude for all who have prayed for her and included her in prayer circles and prayer chains reaching farther than any of us can even begin to imagine. Her doctor has told her he has witnessed a miracle and I beleive everyone who has joined in prayer across the miles knows too that she is a living miracle! I thank each and every one for the gift of prayer that has been offered for my sister-in-law, Janet.
Calls are great .... but please try to call after 2:00. Remember she still has an exhausting schedule to keep up of PT and we don't want to give her any excuses to miss a session ;-) If she can answer she will, if not, she will try to call back.
Visits are wonderful ..... but please call before going all the way out to the house and make sure it is a good time. Make sure she is up to it and that your visit is not in conflict with a PT workout or with one of her trips into town.
As much as she so much wants to see you, she is juggling a huge schedule right now so just please double check and plan ahead. Short visits are perfect because they do not tire her ..... but if you happen to have time to land for a few hours it might be good to ask if there is a time Jim needs to run errands or do work outside. If you could just saty with her for that time, that would be a tremendous help to them. Then you could have more time, even if Janet needs a nap while you are there. And, she might! I was delighted when she told me she does schedule a nap every afternoon.
When I talked with her today I could hear more strength in her voice, significantly more! She is getting stronger each week but we know what a long road she has traveled and how far she has to go. It has taken much work and dedication from Janet. Now she has a new goal. Janet would like to be able to walk without her walker with-in the next month. She now sometimes walks a little without it but will keep it near for security .... wisely. It is a good goal and one that is reachable. Lets keep her in our prayers as she reaches for this next goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment