(Guest author Karen - Flora's mom)
When Lee and I visited Steve today he was in the middle of a plasmapheresis treatment and was sound asleep because of the Benadryl they give along with it. Flora had already been there for hours but he hadn't realized it. When the treatment was complete and Steve started to rally, Flora leaned over and said, "Good morning, Dad. My mom and dad are here to see you." Immediately Steve started moving his jaw and Flora asked him, "Do you want to talk?" He indicated yes! We all assumed he wanted to talk to Lee.
We started the alphabet deciphering method and when he spelled BA I guessed he was going for BAsketball (March Madness) - when he added a T making it BAT I thought "baseball??" But we continued and when we got BATTLEAX Flora asked him, "Are you calling my dad a name?" "No" "Are you calling ME a name?" "No" "Oh dear, are you talking about Nancy??" "No"
We continued and when we got to BATTLEAXNTNU I was still thinking some sporting event at a college named NTNU - I asked him if he was using abbreviations again - "Yes" - "Will you spell it all out please?" He spelled NIGHT and then we caught on! His night nurse was a battle ax!!! We all laughed and laughed.
He hadn't wanted to talk to Lee at all - he had just been waiting for the chance to report that awful nurse. Flora assured him she would see to it that he never has that nurse again to which he gave an energetic YES signal. The laughter felt good but mostly we loved that in spite of his limitations he still manages to be well spoken.
Updates for family and friends on how Steve Parsley is recovering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome
A Simple Timeline
A Simple Timeline...
March 10- Guillain-Barre diagnosis and progression to full paralysis and intubation
March 12- Transfer to University Hospital NSICU
March 12-26- NSICU at UC
March 26-27- Brief stay at LTAC- Drake Hospital at Christ
March 27- Emergency surgery for bleeding trach, transfer to SICU
March 28-April 14- SICU at Christ (pneumonia and PE treatment)
April 14-19- MICU at Christ
April 19th- Transferred back to Drake Hospital (at Christ) ROOM 3083 (Easter weekend)
July 31- First time outside in 21 weeks
August 25- First meal in 5 1/2 months
October 16- 67th birthday at Drake
October 31- MICU at Christ for treatment of pneumonia and MRSA infection
November 17th- Return to Drake Hospital (at Christ)
Thanksgiving-Christmas-47th Anniversary- New Year 2015
January 17th- Hematoma (dealt with for about a month following)
March 19- 2 weeks off the ventilator! Trach capped for first time ;)
April 4&5- Baptism service and Easter
April 20- "So long" party with Drake staff
April 23- Move to Providence Pavilion rehab center in Covington, KY
May 26- June 10th- St E hospital (trach out, MRSA treatment)
June 10th- moved to Gateway Rehab in Florence, KY (feeding tube removed)
July 2nd- moved to Rosedale Green in Latonia, KY
August 8th- first time sitting in the seat of a car in 17 months
Oct 16th- 68th birthday party at Rosedale
November 26th- Thanksgiving with family+ at the Rickerts
*November 27th- first time in condo since purchase*
January, 2016- began using a motorized wheelchair controlled by head
July 10- move to HealthSouth rehab to prepare for move to assisted living
July 28, 2016- moved to Elmcroft Assisted Living in Florence, KY. After 871 long nights apart finally sharing a roof with wife again!!
August 2018- moved out of Elmceoft. Steve to Emerald Trace. Nancy to the condo.
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