Widening the lens a bit

One year ago we were so pleased with the picture on the left of Dad sitting outside in a wheelchair. He was on the ventilator, needed full head support, was attached to an array of tubes and wires and was accompanied by a small army of support staff. What a difference a year makes!! Keep looking forward, Mom and Dad!

4th of July

Hi everyone,

We are again writing from a new place! Steve is at Rosedale Green in Latonia, KY room 117. As he wasn't going to be released to home from Gateway (not yet, anyway!), he needs to continue recovery at this skilled nursing facility. He moved July 2. We are already impressed with the rehabilitation therapy team and their enthusiasm to work with Steve, seeing so much potential and that he is, in their words, "young!" We were so warmly welcomed by staff continually going in and out checking on this and that, finding the best fit wheelchair, etc.  

We're so grateful to have had Becky, Flora, and Tim, and most of their children here last week. They helped us research facilities and choose Rosedale. Being with the grandchildren was just the pick-me-up we needed. Blessed!

Steve continues to have an amazing positive attitude and I'm so proud of his fight and trust in God. It inspires me. One comment when he left Gateway shows his sense of humor intact....when they gave him a "graduation" pin with a graduation cap on it, he announced that he would wear it proudly, but "I'm not going to walk!" (in the "commencement ceremony")

Today, Charlie and I will head over and a happy reunion will take place. There are beautiful grounds at Rosedale and hopefully we can spend time outside. Steve's room is very nice, big and has comfortable chairs. Do visit when you can! (4250 Glenn Avenue, Covington, KY 41015)

Love,

Nancy 

Update from Gateway

Hi All,

Steve is getting a therapy workout of about 4 hours per day at Gateway Rehabilitation Hospital in Florence, KY. We find this place to be top notch and pray he can be there as long as possible. Right now, discharge is scheduled for July 2 and we don't know where he would go after Gateway. All depends on the progress he is making according to Medicare. Of course, he only wants to go home.

And he is progressing :) As you know, he got his trach out June 6. A huge milestone and we must again mention the amazing Drake Hospital respiratory team who patiently and frequently adjusted his ventilator settings and gave him so much daily assistance with breathing.  

Last week, his feeding tube to his stomach was removed and he gets all his nourishment by mouth.  He also passed the swallowing test that allows him to drink thin liquids -- bring on the Grape Nehi Soda, his favorite! Speech therapy signed off, satisfied with his improvement. Occupational and physical therapists say he is making progress on their front.

Thank you so much to the many who sent cards, brought food, and visited Steve during my first two weeks post-op from foot surgery. Your faithfulness is a blessing beyond words. Also, the "card shower" launched by daughter-in-love, Flora, brought so many cards to Steve and they decorate his room so he can see the love every day.

Thanking God for you,

Nancy and Steve

Happy Father's Day!

Dad-
We are so proud of how you are doing. Keep pushing forward. We love you! - Tim and Becky

New location!

The past two weeks have been the busiest and most constantly changing in a long while! I thought that scheduling my foot surgery for June 5 would be a time of relative stability in Steve's recovery.  Not so fast.....

Two weeks ago Steve experienced a urethra tear from the catheter and was rushed to the ER and then admitted to St. Elizabeth Hospital. He was then checked out with multiple Xrays, CT scan, MRI, bone scan, etc. to check on not only the original problem but possibilities of pneumonia, broken arm, trach infection, cancer, etc. While we are waiting for one more test to come back, all the others came back with great news of NOTHING.  He was given several heavy antibiotics and will finish off the last of them tomorrow.

I believe he still wouldn't have his trach out if he hadn't taken the "side trip" to the hospital! It is so good to see him without a collar of some kind around his neck! It was also good to have a new set of eyes on him checking him out from head to toe. St. Elizabeth Hospital in Edgewood, KY, is high in my book! Everything was top notch.

It was great to have a visit from Steve's cousin John and his wife Carol while Steve was at St. E. They were here for 4 days and uplifted us both. Good timing, Cousins!

Then, Tim's and Becky's families came to town in shifts for my foot surgery and to help with my recovery and Steve's care. They had their hands full! I'm doing fine, though still confined to keeping my foot elevated and being in a chair most of the time. Thanks so much to those who came by to visit both of us and brought food too, even though I don't remember some of your visits:)

Great news!, Steve moved from the hospital to Gateway Rehabilitation Hospital in Florence, KY, June 10, for intensive therapy. The therapists at Provident Pavillion did good work in 5 weeks and got him ready for this next step. He will be working hard! Thanks to Tim and Becky who researched places, talked with case managers, and kept things moving along toward Steve's release from the hospital straight to intensive rehab!

Prayers would be so appreciated for Steve's ability to keep progressing in meeting therapy goals as insurance will be watching even more closely and progress is a requirement for staying. Also for peace and perseverance for both of us.

Thank you, Friends!

Nancy and Steve

It's out!!!!

Mom went to the hospital to visit Dad this morning and he greeted her with these wonderful words "Look, my trach is out!" He had been discussing it with his pulmonologist and after reviewing his level of secretions, breathing treatments, etc., it was determined that he didn't need it anymore. Since he already had the smallest diameter trach, they decided that they could go ahead and simply remove it. Dad didn't feel anything. Everyone take a big cleansing sigh of relief! Feels good!! ;)

End of May Update (by Nancy)

As you know, Steve was transferred to St. Elizabeth Hospital Tuesday to check out problems from his catheter, UTI, and possible pneumonia. Good news is he has no pneumonia and infections are being chased away with "big guns" antibiotics. He does have a urethra tear but is expected to heal. He should be heading back to Providence Pavillion on Monday, June 1. They were very quick to evaluate this new problem and send Steve to the ER. Grateful for their quick reaction and also for the excellent care at the St Elizabeth ER and hospital. 

So the work of recovery continues... As always, we appreciate the many prayers, cards and visits, and for staying with us on this long journey.

Nancy and Seve

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