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

Directions to Providence Pavilion (written by Kristy Rickert)

Steve's new digs are now at the Providence Pavilion located at 401 E 20th St, Covington, KY 41014 - Room 446. 

He would love his friends to stop by to see the new place and chat a spell. In fact, if you would like, you may join him for a meal in the dining room at noon or at 5:00 PM simply by calling ahead to 859-283-6634. This number is also available should you wish to call to check how Steve is doing on a particular day. More information regarding his regular therapy schedule will be shared as it is made available. 

Steve and Nancy look forward to seeing you soon! Few things brighten up a new place more than the faces of dear friends and family!

Here are directions:
From Scott Street heading South in Covington, turn left on E. 20th street and follow to the old St. E North Hospital (Providence Pavillion) on the right, all the way down to where you would "T" into the parking garage. Park in the hospital parking lot and enter under the large canopy. In the lobby, go to the receptionist and sign in. After 5 you'll need to hit the button outside and there may not be anyone at the desk.

Proceed straight down the hall and take the first left. Then look for the East elevator (just a few feet away). Go to the 4th floor and there is a nursing station there. Ask for directions to room 446. You will be passing through the nursing home unit to the rehab unit where Steve is staying.

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Visit our community site: Steve and Nancy's Helping Hands

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What a difference a year makes! April 2014-April 2015

Pass the Fritos! (Update from Nancy)

What an exciting and emotional week we've had! After I spent four wonderful days being rejuvenated by a visit to my dad, brother, and sister, I came back to a party on Drake 3 West. For Steve! As he likes to put it, the "tenured patient."

Steve was cleared to have thin liquids (no more need to thicken!) since I wrote last and nurse Erin brought him his favorite soft drink: Grape Nehi Soda. He got to pick the menu for the party and we had fried chicken, home made green beans, potato salad, Hawaiian rolls, and four desserts, including a "Best Wishes Steve and Nancy" cake. There was a poster with pictures from his long journey and many wishes from staff penned on it, including several with "thank you for the privilege of caring for you!" Erin had also brought many helium balloons "We will miss you!" which bobbed around the party.

Staff stopped by individually to say goodbye in the room and several commented on what Steve's faith and courage spoke to them. Brenda, unit manager, told Steve his time there had helped shape the spirit and teamwork of the staff. (We did come when the unit was only 5 months old). One comment in particular stands out: "I've watched you and seen such a peaceful glow on your face, especially since the baptism." I have also and we know from Whom it comes.

After the buzz of the party, we were scheduled to leave for the new rehab/skilled nursing facility the next day (Tuesday), and also Wednesday, and also Thursday! High fives and gratefulness to Chantale, case manager, who persistently kept the connection going and provided all they needed and then some! We moved on Thursday, April 23.

Steve is already settled in at Providence Pavillion in Covington, Kentucky, and therapy began in earnest yesterday in the PT/OT room. He is to receive it 5 days a week. He is expected to be dressed and spend most of the day out of the bed and eat most meals in the dining room. Of course he needs help with all of this and it is provided happily and quickly :) It was so great when I arrived yesterday evening to see him in golf shirt and pants, sitting at the table waiting for his meal to be brought! I can't wait to pack a picnic and wheel him down to the courtyard :)

It is weirdly wonderful to give him any food he wants....I keep looking for someone to give permission (but of course that happened before we left the Drake speech therapy team). Shout out to Lindsay and others - many many thanks for taking him from no swallow reflex and no speech to where he is today. So on Steve's tray was a bag of Fritos. We just looked at it. I asked, "Can you have these?" and he said, "Guess so!"  so he ate a Frito :) Sometimes the little things speak so much!

We know you share our joy in this milestone on the journey to recovery. Thank you!

Nancy and Steve

(Flora here- I talked to mom after the move and she was telling me about the party. She was so touched by the kindness of the Drake staff and all of the food that was brought in or  homemade- especially Denise's "wonderful!" green beans, Sue's lemon squares, Erin's potato salad, and  Tasha's peach cobbler. Tasha stayed up until one in the morning the night before the party making the cobbler, and was then floated to Main Drake the day of the party so she wasn't able to be there,  but they were able to warm it up and enjoy it the next day. What a treat!

She was also very touched that Dr. Krause had called to check on him since the transfer to Providence. Thank you for continuing to care for our family) 

Off to work...

Dad has been transferred to Providence Pavilion in Covington, KY. Mom is working on a blog with all of the heartwarming stories of saying goodbye to the wonderful staff at Drake, but I wanted our beautiful blog readers to know of his location change. We are celebrating this momentous graduation from battling illness to growing in wellness. Please contact Mom prior to visiting as he will now have a schedule to keep: therapy, meals in the dining room, etc. Today he will be undergoing assessments and given his wheelchair. All he needs now is his briefcase...

Thoughts about Easter Weekend- by Flora

I waited a year, but I finally got the picture I wanted, a picture of Dad wearing the Easter bunny ears! Last year we took the ears to the hospital but it just wasn't a "put the bunny ears on Poppa kinda day." He was too out of it and just returning to Drake after a long ICU stay. We packed them away with hope and a prayer that next Easter would be different. This year, he was a good sport and wore the ears for us all afternoon. 

When Becky Facetimed in from California she said "Dad, you've got the bunny ears on!!" He dryly replied, "I can't move my hands to take them off!" ;)

Saturday night was such a sweetly emotional night -- seeing the chapel filled with friends and family that have carried us through this last year was very heart-filling. And hearing them sing acapella "There's a sweet sweet spirit in this place" was just about enough to do us all in. So true. 

I was a bit worried that when it was Dad's time to talk that no one would be able to hear him. Tim scurried around asking about a microphone but the chaplain didn't have access to it. Turns out we didn't need it -- Dad's voice was so strong it could even be heard by those in the very back! 

Here is a transcript of what he shared:

"My voice has changed some...but I'm thanking all of you for coming to this today. I really had thoughts about doing this...I've been thinking about re-baptism for many years but I never really thought about it like I have in the last 6 months. I was baptized when I was in the 4th grade. In our church we had a class, at the end of the class you were baptized...and I remember it was also in alphabetical order that we were baptized. The need to be baptized again has come to me as I've meditated and thought about this. And in the last 6 months I've never felt the devil working harder to talk me out of it. He bridges questions like "You've already been baptized, why do you need to do this again?" He raises questions like  "Are you going to really be baptized or just sprinkled? What's the difference?"  And I've faced so many questions and doubts but all of them I just took to God in prayer and the thing that God told me was "Don't be afraid to ask Jesus to be close to you". That's why I'm here today. I encourage all of you to think about this if you have any thoughts at all about doing it. Don't let the devil back you out. It's not a requirement [since he has already been baptized] but it's something that was brought to me through prayer and 6 months meditation on the whole issue. Thank you again for coming."

Last night at dinner we were talking to our boys about the fact that even playing baseball that they can do it for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and it struck us that that is exactly what Poppa is doing -- he is lying in bed for the glory of God. Any action can become an act of worship if you do it enthusiastically for God. And, Poppa, we see that you are doing just that! Thank you for setting that example for all of us! 

Click on this link to see Dad move his forearm!!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10206465340697638

Easter Weekend - blog update by Nancy

Hi, blog followers,

Since I last posted, Steve's progress has been so encouraging to witness!

He left the ventilator behind about 5 weeks ago and recently was able to give up the low level of oxygen he was receiving through his nose. His spelling board is a thing of the past and they took his laser light back to inventory. Steve sounds like himself when he talks (here he will shrug at me and indicate, "Who else would I sound like?") He talks with everyone now and doesn't get winded. I am even enjoying his "tutoring" once again as I try to make his computer behave! Steve passed the last swallowing test and now is only one level down from "normal" food. We still thicken liquids like lemonade and hot tea and he can't have straight water. He calls these his "mixed drinks":)

The last few days leading up to and including Easter have been such a time of celebration. First, Thursday night, our small fellowship group from church had their weekly Bible study in Steve's room. At his turn around the circle, Steve read from the Gospel of John, with his Bible propped up against his computer. He was very much a part of the whole conversation.  

Saturday night Steve was wheeled down to the chapel by nurse Chelsea for his baptism service. As you may recall he has been pondering this for quite a while. He felt the baptism he had in 4th grade was before he really understood what it meant. His testimony of why he is re-consecrating his life now was so beautiful to hear -- inspiring, and touching every person in attendance. Our son, Tim, performed the ceremony and his words about the last year brought many tears to the surface. About 30 friends and family were there and sang several hymns acapella, led by Connie Salyers. The last one was accompanied on guitar by family member Chris Taylor, "Take my Life and Let it Be Consecrated Lord to Thee." This was only the 6th time in the last year that Steve was out of the unit! We are so grateful to Chelsea, Brenda, and Sandy from the Drake LTAC unit for making this service in the chapel possible.  

Soon Steve will be leaving this unit. The staff have become our second family. You kind of get to feel that way when you've seen them save Steve's life several times and cheer him on for a whole year to swallow, talk, and breathe on his own. Steve has been asking for a badge with "Tenured Patient" on it! We may leave within the next two weeks. I've visited several skilled nursing facilities and we are close to making a decision, with the expert help of Chantelle, our case manager. Here the emphasis will be to get Steve frequent rehabilitation services as he works to move his arms, hands, and legs. 

Please keep praying!

Love to all,

Nancy and Steve

Blog post from Becky

We finally got a chance to go back down and visit Mom and Dad last weekend. It had been too long. Alex and the kids helped Mom at the condo, preparing for spring  - which has finally come - and I got in some quality time with Dad.

It is so wonderful how much Dad has improved recently. I cannot help but sit and stare at him when I am visiting. I wonder what he's thinking, I reflect on our past together, and I ... just stare. I watched him as he slept, talking a bit in his sleep, and wonder what he is dreaming. Is he having another dream about Heaven? Is he dreaming of times spent with Tim and me as kids? Is he dreaming of trains? Dreaming of Mom?

As I was leaving, he told me how proud he was of me and how I am raising my kids, how I am doing in school, etc. I tried not to, but I cried. It is SO GOOD to hear my dad's voice again and especially to hear such loving words. He apologized for not being more "entertaining" while I was visiting, but I told him I enjoyed my time with him immensely. It was as if we were just sitting at home, relaxing and watching TV - doing our own thing. It's what we do. And I love it.

Thank you for continuing to pray for our family. It means so very much.

- Becky ;)