A Better Day - Update #26 from Rob

So here we are, me, after no sleep last night, (I did the overnight), and Lin who never sleeps anyway, and Grams, sitting and talking to our case-manager Mary. We are discussing things like, "Did Steve have any directives regarding future care" and , one of my "favorite" topics, which sub acute rehab place we would like to use (see update #25). The discussion turned to a family/doctor/social worker/ case worker meeting. We were told the meeting would be next week, and that it would be a "brutally honest" open discussion on Steve's further medical care.



We turn to go back into Steve's room and Mary stops us and says that the meeting will take place in 10 minutes.



In the meeting Lin and I with Beth on a conference call, were told the requirements that Steve would have to meet to qualify for acute rehab, (in other words-staying at the U of M Medical Center). We were given a compassionately honest assessment of where Steve is currently, based on what the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) doctors have seen so far. We were also able to inform the PM&R doctor that was present, Dr. Boggess, of what Steve has already done. Dr. Boggess indicated that if he could see Steve do the things we mentioned, he would qualify for acute rehab. He gave us his pager number and suggested we write it on the dry erase board in Steve's room and page him if Steve started to exhibit these movements.



We went back to Steve's room thinking that we have already seen Steve do what is necessary, but not consistent enough to page the doctor. We dutifully wrote the pager number on the board and , since Steve was due for a bath, we went up to get lunch. We resigned ourselves to the fact that since Steve is currently still too sick to leave the ICU, we had time, and we would just keep believing in him. I left for home and Lin and Grams finished their lunch.



While we were gone, two people from Occupational Therapy came in and managed to sit Steve up on the edge of the bed. They noticed him start to track people with his left eye and look out the window. Steve squeezed his right hand and moved toes on both feet on command. They saw the pager number and called Dr. Boggess, (not an hour after the meeting), who came and verified Steve's actions.

When we got back, the pager number was erased and "ACUTE REHAB-----YEAH!" was written in its place!!!!

Hows that for positive prayers and thinking!!!

PLEASE keep them coming.