Detour

Dad has been transferred to St Elizabeth in Edgewood for treatment of a UTI and possible pneumonia. Prayers requested.

Thank you to all who have already sent cards! Your love is felt and appreciated! Cards can continue to be sent to the Providence Pavilion address as we expect him to return there shortly. Thank you!

Card campaign

Hi all! The Jr. Parsleys had a chance to visit with Mom and Dad this weekend at Providence Pavilion. We are grateful that Dad needs a lower level of care but find ourselves wishing we could move the old Drake staff to this new facility. So many relationships were developed during his year at Drake. Yes, he needed constant suctioning, but that suctioning was provided by RTs that grew to know him well and talk to him as a friend. Yes, he was on the call light a lot, but it was answered by friendly receptionists and helpful PCTs. Yes, he was in an awful state at Drake but there were nurses and therapists that knew him and could remark, "He is so much better today!" (than, say, 2-6 months ago!) We are confident that those relationships will develop at the new facility but right now we definitely feel the lack of familiar company to provide encouragement.

Here is where you can help...we are asking you to blast their new room with cards!! In the next 2 weeks let's throw so many cards at Steve and Nancy that they can't help but fill the new room from top to bottom with love and encouragement. Let's warm the place up and remind Steve that he is not alone! Jokes, photos, memories, funny stories, scriptures, encouraging quotes all welcome! Whether you are a close friend or just a casual reader of the blog, we would love to hear from you!! Thank you in advance! I can't wait to post pictures of his walls covered in cards!

Cards can be sent to:

Steve Parsley

C/O  Providence Pavilion Rm 448

401 East 20th Street

Covington, Kentucky 41014 

P.S. Not only will your card send a message of hope to Steve and Nancy, it will also demonstrate to the staff that this man is a valuable member of a community and more than just "the patient in room 448"

May update (by Nancy)

Sorry its been a few weeks since I wrote. We've been learning how to navigate the new facility and there is quite a lot to learn! The emphasis of Providence Pavilion is to give Steve rehabilitation services while getting the supportive and nursing care he still needs. Drake's emphasis was to keep him alive and get him stable medically and they achieved it! Thank you again, Drake and Christ Hospital staff!

A great team of occupational, physical, and speech therapists are working diligently to coax Steve's nerves to find their way to the muscles. And while the nerves return in their own way (and time), the brain is also important in continuing to send the signals to dormant muscles. While we wait and pray for forearms, hands, and legs to "come back" we have seen much new ability in Steve's sitting up and being able to move his upper body in the wheelchair for hours each day, and muscles are getting stronger. He was given a new wheelchair type because he is able to hold himself erectly now and adjust his body.

Big news this week....he no longer needs for food to be supplemented by a feeding tube! One less pole stand and equipment in the room :) The speech therapist is monitoring his swallowing. (We did have an episode where choking resulted in a quick trip to St. Elizabeth ER. He went back on pureed foods for a few days but now is back to a normal diet :) She also is helping him get his "old" voice back and says that when the trach comes out it likely will return completely.

When Steve has visitors, they are able to "sign him out" (ask at nurses station) and wheel him down to the lst floor courtyard if they wish. We have done that several times and it is a wonderful shaded and sunny place where he can feel sun, hear birds, and see the sky. Feel free to come any time.  Therapy may happen late morning or any time from 1:30-4:00. You don't have to call but if you want to know when it is scheduled on a given day, you can call 859.283.6634.  

Thanks for checking in!

Nancy