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)