Ooops!! Guess I've Been Busy!!

Boy, it's almost been a week since Greg came home from the hospital!!

We had a great holiday weekend with the kids, they all felt better seeing their Dad home and doing okay.  He still doesn't have much use of his arm, but there has been little pieces of progress. -

On Saturday at the Philpott family Thanksgiving - we were in a circle saying Grace before dinner, and I was holding his right hand - and he squeezed my hand!!! Okay, it wasn't actual a squeeze, more of a gentle nudge with his thumb and first finger, but it felt like the biggest tightest grip possible.

Greg has his first therapy appointment on wednesday at Drake hospital - so we'll  see how that goes!!!

On another note - many of you know that my Aunt Charlotte has had poor health and was in the care unit at Hyde Park Health Center.  She died on Saturday afternoon, hospice was there and I'm told she was very peaceful.

Again thanks for all your kind thoughts!!

He's Home!!!

After waiting for the doctor to check him out (which took all of 1 minute) we managed to leave the hospital around 12:30!!!

We headed downtown to Macys, where we visited the 10th floor. It was great to see all the people he works with, and I think they were glad to see him.

Met up with the kids for lunch at Panera and then home to the dogs!!!  Boy were they happy to see him - it was a lick fest.

We'll have a few days off before therapy starts, which will be nice to just do not much for a few days.

Thanksgiving with the Krones tomorrow and saturday with the Philpotts!!

Gobble Gobble everybody.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Two weeks can go by really fast, or take a long time!!

What a long strange journey it has been!!  I can't believe it's been 2 weeks, it seems like only this morning he was telling me to take him to the hospital.  And it seems like months since he has been at home!  We have been working hard to make it easier for him to get around and do things.  Those of you who know him well, know Greg is a pack rat, and trying to move some of his piles is way easier said than done!!  It will be a good exercise for him to sort!!!


Tomorrow he goes home!!  Which is both exciting and scary all at once.  Having him home will help things feel more normal, but when he's at the hospital they can take care of anything he needs.  If his blood pressure goes up or down they know what to do!!  It wil be nice not to make the trip to Christ daily (sometimes 2x), but we'll be trading that for trips to Drake for outpatient therapy. According to everyone here, Drake has the most extensive therapy in the city, maybe even the state - so he will continue to get top notch therapy.

We are looking forward to the holidays with family!!  The kids will all be here and we will spend Thanksgiving at my mom's with my brother Bruce and his wife Libby (neither of their daughters are making the trip from the west coast), my cousin Taunia and her dad Jim.  Then Saturday will be Philpott Thanksgiving at the Chris Philpotts, the first holiday without either of Greg's parents.

Greg is finishing up his last physical therapy, and already did 3 sessions of occupational therapy today.  We will talk to the doctor a bit more today and tomorrow morning and then he is out of here!!  And guess where he wants to go?!?!?! work!!!  Crazy I know, actually he just needs to  pick up some things before the long weekend!!  So 10th floor don't be surprised if he pops his head in your door tomorrow!!

Thanks again for the good karma headed our way, it's really working!!

Well the Bearcats had a great weekend, not so much the Bengals!!

Today was a long day for Greg!!  Molly the OT got him up at 8:00am to do some Bione therapy and by 8:00pm he was tuckered.  It was probably good for him to see his limitations, he thinks he's superman (and secretly we do to), but even superman get's tired.

He had some great visitors, my French Teacher and one of his AV buddies,  Mr. McDirmid came after church.  And our friend Mo Dunne who had a stroke 4 years ago came to cheer him on.  Mo was completely paralyzed on her right side and today you would never know she had a stroke.  Mo was a patient on 2 west as well, actually they have a  plaque with her picture when you enter the wing.  She is an inspiration for us!!!

By the way, Greg's usher team did a great job in church today without their fearless leader!!  He'll be back next month - you only need one hand to pass the plate!!!      

It was a hard day at home to - there were just a lot of things that Cosmo and I had to do that Greg usually does.  Nothing major - it just takes something like this to realize how much someone does in a day!  I think it will be good to have all the kids home for a few days.  

Saturday - the Bearcats Basketball bring home a win!!

Two more UC games that Greg has missed.  Fortunately he could listen to the Basketball game on the radio (they won)  and watch the Football game on tv.  At press time, the Bearcats are beating Rutgers!!!

Today was an easy day - he only had about 45 minutes of E-Stem (electrodes shooting electricity through his arm).  The weekends are definitely the "B" team in therapy.  Sarah, a very nice girl had the hardest time getting the pads in the right place.  At one point she was only raising his middle finger, and although that may be how he feels about this stroke, I can't say I have seen Greg flip anyone the bird lately!! He is looking forward to Justin returning on Monday!!!

Charli got home today - and headed over to the hospital to see dear old dad.  We played a rousing game of Yahtzee - thanks to the Laws!!  Okay, Greg and Charli played a rousing game, I couldn't keep track of anything and they had to tell me what to do.  So the second game they didn't include me!!  By the way Greg won both games, he seems to be lucky lately.

Lucky you say?!?!? Things could have been so much worse, when we see some of the other people on the rehab floor, we thank our lucky stars.  He has all of his cognitive abilities, he can eat and swallow, he can dress himself, bathe himself, write pretty good with his left hand and walk with pretty much ease.  It certainly looks like if things progress the way they have, he will get full use of his hand back maybe 4 weeks, maybe 4 months. We can wait!!!

Just want to thank everyone again for the visits, the cards, the good thoughts and prayers!!  It really makes a difference in your recovery when you know how many people are pulling for you!!!

You can see he is up and around - the sling is to take some of the weight of the right side, he will be wearing it for a while when he is out.  The belt around his middle is for the therapist  to catch him if he falls, hasn't happened yet!!  I'm thinking of using it as a choke collar if he gets out of hand at home!!!

oops wrong video!!

Great news!!! He is staying until Wednesday!!!!

I know that sounds funny - glad to stay in hospital?!?!?  But it means he will get at least 4 more days of  intensive therapy, that he wouldn't get if he came home. 

Greg is making amazing improvement and the therapists are all so pleased, they really wanted him to stay so they could do more work with him  The electode therapy is just amazing and although he will get some of that as outpatient, it will only be a few times a week!!  He will be doing his initial therapy at Drake Hospital, and his physical therapy at the sports mall with Cosmo and me!!  We've been trying to get him there, I guess he gets it now!!!

He worked in the kitchen today and helped make some white chicken chili, didn't save me any but said it was good.

His doctor was 1/4 move in his wrist, then he did it for me!! 

Charli comes home tomorrow sometime for the week, it will be good to have her home (there is lots of housework she can do!!).  Caitlin and Andy will be home on wednesday to help cook Thanksgiving dinner. 

I have put a video up from yesterday with the Biones machine - another cool advancement in modern medicine.

Just another day in rehab!!

Thursdays are the day for consultations, this is were everyone (and I mean everyone) who is involved in your treatment comes in the room and talks about you!!  There were about 8 doctors and therapists (glad he got a bigger room) gathered around.  Fortunately Greg is doing so well they didn't have too much to say.....

They are submitting to the insurance to keep him here through next Wednesday, keep your fingers crossed they approve that long of a stay.  If he stays here they can get so much more therapy in, and Justin (his occupational therapist you might see in the videos) thinks he will be able to get more control back for him. 

Once he leaves here he will be going to Drake for therapy several times a week, but not everyday!!  If things go right at Drake, he might be able to join the research program there - which would include a lot more therapy and follow-up than the normal patient.

Today, I asked Justin time frames - he told me that you get back the greatest  percentage in the first 1 to 2 months.  After that there is a bit of a plateau and the rest comes very slowly over the next year.  Sounds like a diet to me!!

I will post a new video tonight of him using the Biones machine, that actually opens and closes his hand!!

All the cool things he can do!!

This video shows Greg during his electrical stimulation therapy.  You can see they hooked him up to some electrodes that make his hand go up and down!!  Tomorrow he is doing something even neater, that will help his arm go up and down and his hand open and shut.

This afternoon during OT he was able to raise and lower his arm 90 degrees.  He also did an exercise where he was on all four and put his weight on his right arm and picked up things with his left and put them in a bucket.  This may have been more coordination than he has ever had before!!

Tomorrow is his weekly consult with all his doctors and therapists, at this meeting they will give us an idea of when he will go home, what his therapy will be like afterwards.  He is making great headway, he gets tired and he has lots to regain - but such a great day put him in a great mood!

Cos and I think this was a little extreme just to get out of putting the lights on the Christmas tree!!

Sorry we had a break in the action!!

Had to go to OT with Greg - so I lost my place!!

He did some really cool stuff, and I took pictures (surprise) which I'll post when I get home.  I can't do it from Greg's computer.

They really worked him this afternoon - he came back a little sweaty and tired.  Now the doctors is here - so I'll checkk in later!!

Kroger and Back!! and a new Room

Yes!! He did go Krogering in Corryville and wasn't shot!! 

Today has been a good day!

First they moved him across the hall to 2061, phone # 585-3261.   It's a private room, so we can party all night if we want to, Greg might sleep through it - but we don't mind.  It really is nice, now Cosmo can come and do his homework and spend more time with him.  Not much of a view - but we aren't complaining.

In OT this morning - he flexed his arm at the elbow!!  Then they put his arm in an air cast and he was able to use his shoulder to do all kinds of fun things.  He lifted it up above head, move it across his chest and make snow angels!!  Bring on the snow!!

Then he went Krogering - he walked from his room down to the back entrance got in the van and took a ride.  He says they walked the isles, bought a few things and got back in the van and returned to the hospital.  And this is all before noon!!  Who knows what we will do this afternoon.

For anyone who is interested, the dogs miss him and don't always make it easy to sleep.  Do you think I could leave them at the hospital with him?? 

A Week Ago Today!!

A week ago today I woke up and thought is was just going to be another Tuesday, and it wasn't.

A week ago today we were just scared, today we have lots of hope!!

A week ago today I didn't know much about what a stroke is, today I know more than I want.

A week ago today I thought we had lots of friends, today we know just how many friends we have!

Boy what a difference a week makes!!!

So did I tell you about Greg's new roommate???  He is older, a little senile and not a very considerate person.  Greg was awake and loud from about midnight till 4:00 am, listening to this guy wake up from night mares, hack up some icky stuff, have potty problems and so much more.  If tonight isn't better someone is going to get moved!! Watch this spot for a possible new room or roommate!!

Greg had a great time in therapy this morning, they hooked him up to some electrodes and shocked him - keeping his muscles in shape (I think they call this torture in some countries).  He also  did a whole bunch of stairs, which is good news, means he'll be able to get upstairs and take a shower when he gets home.

In the afternoon he went to group therapy, and they took a long walk around the hospital.  They took some rests along the way - he said it was exhausting, but he made it!!  He wanted to take a shower after, but they had run out of towels.  How does a hospital run out of towels?!?!?  This was at 4:00pm, when Cosmo and I left at 6:00 they still hadn't brought towels.  If you visit tomorrow I can't promise he won't stink, I haven't heard if he got in the shower or not?!?!?

Today's picture (sorry I don't know why it's in the middle of the page) is an example of Greg's handwriting with his left hand.  It's better than some people's regular handwriting!!!  He is doing really well with his left hand and as you would expect, tries to do everything himself.  As long as he can take out the garbage I'm good.

Tomorrow he is going on a field trip - he's going to Kroger!!!  So maybe he'll be able to do the grocery shopping too!!!

Day Seven!!!

Tonight will be a week from when this whole thing started, boy time goes fast when you're having fun.

It's 3:00pm and the patient is tuckered out, taking a nap in the middle of the day.  He had lots of therapy today and did lots of fun things.  And as you can suspect he is pushing himself to do more than they ask for.

He got a GivMohr Sling today to help carry that lazy arm around.  It helps with his balance, and will give his shoulder a rest.

He did a full set of stairs, so we know he can do it!!  They like to test him with balance exercises, which he will tell you he couldn't do very well before the stroke- he's like a Weeble, he wobbles but he doesn't fall down!

The internist and the kidney specialist were both in today, and seem to be happy with how things are progressing.  But more importantly my uncle Dr. Krone was in today!!  Many of you may not know, but I have had my own personal doctor who still made house calls for most of my life.  Uncle Bob is my dad's brother, and has always been a support.  It was great to see a friendly face when I walked in today,  His wife had a stroke several years ago, and of course he has had many, many patients who have had strokes, and he was happy with Greg's condition.  He saw a twitch in his arm, and that's a very good thing.

We have a friend Mo who had a stroke and was on 2 west, and she has already called some of her favoite therapists to check on Greg - so I would say he is getting the best care possible.

He is a little bummed, tonight is the first basketball game of the season (not counting exhibition) and he hasn't missed one of those in years!!  I don't think it will be on tv they are playing Mount Saint Marys?!?!?  He is sending our good friend Bill in his place to hold his seat - Bill if you could bring home a winner that would be nice, the football team did nothing to raise his spirits on Saturday!!

I have had lots of people offer to help, or ask what they can do  - I know I've been there!!  You hate sitting around doing nothing when you feel like there should be something you can do to help!!  Right now our schedule is so crazy that there is very little anyone can do.  However, once Greg gets home and through the month of December, some heart healthy meals would be great!!  The kids will be coming and going and Greg will have therapy and work and who knows what else.  We will let you know, and I have a few friends who will help coordinate things.  So for know just keep those good thoughts and prayers coming, they really seem to be helping!!!

Why Captain P???

When I tittled this blog, our son Chandler  asked "is he a space captain or a sea captain?".  As you can see by the pictures, he tried out both!!!  Which is your favorite??

Sunday is a day or rest even in the hospital!!

Only 30 minutes of therapy and in the room!!  Greg was still in his jammies at 2:00pm and I think he's staying that way today.

I went to church this morning - Commitment Sunday - so I made it all the way through the Sermon, Charli you would have been proud!!!  Of course everyone from church sent their prayers and the AV booth just wasn't the same without him. (yes he is a member of the AV squad)

The medical system is so confusing, and you just never know who is taking care of you.  Is it the rehab doctor or the specialist they call in, or should you get someone else???  Today we were visited by a kidney specialist, the rehab doctor apparently over reacted to the creatinin levels - which made us feel better.  They are going to take the IV out after this bag runs out!

Tomorow he has therapy from 9:30 - noon and 1:00 till 3:00, so plan your visits accordingly. 

Thanks again for the thoughts and prayers.

First day of Rehab!!!

Therapy started full swing today!!!  At 7:20am he sent me a text with his schedule for the day, 8:30 - 10:45 and 1:45 till 3:30!!  What a day!!

He started his day with Occupational Therapy and took a shower with another woman!!!  Cat helped my husband get clean and didn't even ask me.  Then he got himself dressed, bushed his teeth  and walked to the therapy room.  He walked a few stairs did a jig or two!!!  He had a little speech therapy where they told him to pucker.

We had lunch together - he had a turkey on marble rye, I had a Jared club from Subway - does that mean I can run the New York marathon now???

I walked down to his afternoon therapy with him and they started by testing his vision which was great.  In OT he moved his right arm back and forth on a skate and then did something weird with his hand in water!!  For his afternoon PT he rode the recumbent cross trainer (they strapped his right hand to the handlebar). Greg suggested Duck tape but they used an ace bandage instead.  He did an obstacle course, have you seen Wipe Out on TV??, nothing like that!!  He walked across the mat over cones and up and down some stairs.

His high school buddy Mark Mueller joined him for the last 15 minutes of PT and said he looked good.

When he got back to his room they greated him with an IV - something about his creatinin levels.  And still everytime a new person looks at his blood pressure they tend to freak a little.  However, based on what it was when he came in, it's not that bad!!

Lots of great visitors today, Jim Schenk, Tom York, Jana Reister, my cousin Taunia and Dr. Mike.  Greg loves the company, it's a great diversion.

Tomorrow he will only have one 30 minute therapy session, I guess even stroke victims get to rest on sunday!!!

Day 4 at Christ Hospital - a new room 2087

So here we are with lots to talk about!!

Charli arrived yesterday around 2:00pm and was so happy to see her Dad. "Other than the arm he looks pretty good, not scary like I thought he might!"  It was good to have her home, if only for about 24 hours!!  She is headed back to school for and all night event.  But I know I did Greg some good to have her here giving him a hard time.

Yesterday was a lot of sitting around and staring at each other again.  Dr. Chadwell doesn't like his blood pressure yet - but said he was ready for rehab!!

In the afternoon the nurse from the Christ Rehab unit came into his room, said "sorry I have the wrong room!"  came back about 3 minutes later "are you Mr. Philpott? Did you have a stroke?  You look to good for a stroke victim!"  That was nice to hear!! 

So Thursday ended pretty uneventful, which was nice for a change!!

Friday and isn't it time for Happy Hour?!?!?

Charli and Cosmo spent the morning with dad, while I took my mom to a doctor's appointment.  The kids tested his arm and hand for sensation, which he does!  And watched him do a puzzle in the Games magazine his brother Tim brought him.  The writing with his left hand is a little frustrating but totally readable.

They told him he was moving to re-hab today, so the insurance company must approve of Christ's re-hab unit!!

When I got to the hospital he was in the middle of an interview with a member of the UC Stoke team as part of a study.  Apparently Cincinnati is one of the best places to have a stroke!!  Go figure?!?!?

We moved down to the rehab unit around 4 and it is definitely like moving to the Motel 6.  Greg is now on 2 west, room 2087 and he is in room phone# is 585-4287.  This area of the hospital has not been remodeled and there are no private rooms, and you order your food a day in advance - Archaic like the old days in the hospital!!!

So all the excitement brought his BP up a little, it's kind of fun to see the look on the nurses faces when they take it for the first time!!  He got checked out by the doctor down on 2west, she was pleased with the condition he is in.  Glad that he has sensation in his arm and leg, and lots of shoulder strength.   So they have lots of good thoughts from all the staff about his prognosis.

His roomate is   a very interesting guy, Dave.   He is a cyclist and was out on a bike ride on Halloween, Had a bad fall and broke his right leg and part of his hip - had surgery with pins and has been here ever since!!  He is going home tomorrow and told us how great the unit is, and that the equipment is first class.  Good to hear from someone who has been here and is going home.  So Bruce and Jack - BE CAREFUL!!!

Tomorrow he starts his rehab, he will have 4 45 minute sessions, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.  So the best time to visit is 12 noon - 1:00pm or anytime after about 4:30 pm.  The room is small but there are several visitor lounges - so we can have a party!!

I have a new picture I will try and post - we'll see how it goes!!

Thanks again for the great thoughts and prayers!!!

My First Post

This is my first time with a Blog - so forgive all the mistakes I will make, and feel free to give advice at any time (Tim!).  And Greg would tell you I am the Queen of run on sentences, too many comas, hyphens and exclamation points - oh well right now he has to count on me to type!!

If you're reading this,you know Greg has suffered a stroke, and want to be updated.  As is the way of the age we are living in - a blog seemed to be the easiest way to do this!!!

First, a big thanks to everyone for their prayers and good thoughts - we know they are helping already.  Also, to those of you who have already picked up the slack - Big Big Thanks.

So here's what happened.
Monday night Greg was feeling wiped out, no headache, no blurred vision, no nausea, just tired.  When we got up Tuesday am to get Cosmo off to school, he noticed his right side was weak.  But Greg Being Greg he wanted to get Cos off to school before he said anything.  After he told me, I did notice the right side of his mouth was droopy a bit.  So he got himself dressed, tied his shoes and we left for Christ Hospital.

If you want good service at an ER - just tell them you're having a stroke!!  We were quickly escorted to the cardiac room and about 6 or 7 people including a doctor went to work on him.  His blood pressure was a little high (228/121), but his heart was great!  They did a CAT scan to make sure there weren't any bleeds, which there weren't, an echo cardiogram and checked his  carotid arteries which were also fine.

 So that was most of Tuesday, we got to his room and stared at each other (OK he slept and I stared at him).

Wednesday brought a day of disappointment and waiting.  Greg woke at 3 am (it is a hospital) with no use of his right arm and more drooping of his face, and a little less control of his right leg.  The doctor was concerned and called for a neurology consult.

The Speech Pathologist visited and said she isn't worried about recovery of his mouth - she told him he just needs to talk a lot to exercise it.  We both found that funny!!  I'm going to get a good romance novel and have him read it to me.

Physical Therapy came at 6:00pm and did an evaluation of his leg.  Although he can walk, when on a long walk his leg began to fatigue and his foot dropped and he ran into things with it!!  She was pleased but recommended in house rehab.

The Neurologist came about 7:00pm and showed us his MRI which was fascinating and Greg asked for his own CD!  He showed us the stroke sight and explained a lot of things, something about a sprinkler and not lowering his BP to fast.  The scan also showed some signs of previous small strokes (YUCK).  He really didn't have a lot to say - but will keep watching him.

So here we are on Thursday!!  Overnight he stayed the same, he still freaks people out when they take his blood pressure.  And we hope to see Dr. Chadwell his internist this morning, to see what our next steps will be.

Occupational Therapy was here already this morning.  Molly is a cute little pregnant lady - and she is supposed to catch him if he falls!!  She was pleased with his shoulder control and gave him some homework!!  She is also recommending in house rehab, so if all the stars line up - he will move down to the second floor sometime in the next week for intensive therapy.  At this point they are all in agreement that he can't move home yet - the stairs, the shower on the second floor, the dogs, the wife  -it all adds up to a crazy life!!

Sorry that today's post is so long, I will try to update daily and keep things shorter!!  Again thanks for all the great thoughts - keep them coming, we need them!!