YESSS!!!!!!

Just got the call from St. Mary's. Agnes will get to go home next week. She has been working so hard, she has been a real trooper. I'm moved to tears, it has been such a long ordeal for her. I need to make my airline reservations so I can be there at St. Mary's to get "trained" so I can help her.

If you are able to visit Agnes, she would appreciate that. Especially next weekend, the weekends are hard since she has little therapy and there is not enough for her to do.

Looking up!

Agnes has settled in to her routine at St. Mary's. Two hours of occupational therapy, two hours of physical therapy a day has her on a schedule and working hard. She is strong enough that she is getting bored in the evening, looking for things to do. It will be a few more weeks, they tell me, but the goal is to get her straight home from St. Mary's. She should not have to recuperate in a nursing home, and that is indeed a very good thing, because she would not get nearly the aggressive rehabilitation anywhere else that St. Mary's can provide.

Tuesday

Greetings from Los Angeles, and without the morning paper I don't have the date down yet today. Agnes continues to struggle to do everyday tasks - the goal for today seems to be to use the bathroom rather than the potty chair next to the bed. On Mondays, the committee of her caregivers meet and go over her progress and outline treatment, so we got the 'report' yesterday. I have to agree with Mother, 1600 calories seems like rather a lot for daily consumption. Otherwise, things continue to progress.

Sunday June 21

Unhooked at last. Agnes has gotten rid of all the tubes and wires (well, except for one or two that is only for getting her meds into her). No more oxygen. She is ordering from the menu. She gets herself to physical therapy. She gets to rest up this weekend (only one hour of physical therapy a day) so she can start fresh tomorrow with two hours of physical and two hours of occupational therapy. She is in and out of her room all morning, and gets back around 2:30 so she can rest up for dinner. She is using her walker, a bit haltingly, but compared to a week ago when she was flat on her back, it's more than baby steps, don't you think?

Thursday June 18

Such a blessing to be able to talk to my dear Mother every day. She is not laying about in bed any longer, no sirree. She is up, dressed, and out and about all day, very busy with 2 hours of occupational therapy and two hours of physical therapy. She returns to her room for a little rest around 4 p.m., so that is a good time to catch her on the phone. She has a single (read: small) room and is able to rest better without being disturbed at night. After 3 days at St. Mary's, Agnes is already noticing the difference. Yup, we got her in there to get her home, and it sounds just like that is going according to plan.

Monday, June 15

I hope everyone has a nice Flag Day yesterday. Agnes continues to improve, and is able to do normal activities such as sit at the table in a chair to have lunch. She is doing so well that today she will be transferred to St. Mary's, 6420 Clayton Road, Richmond Heights, MO 63117 Room 617. We had a wonderful experience there with my dad some years ago, and if they work as well with Agnes, she will be getting stronger daily and really on the road to get home.

Here is a link to the directions if you wish to visit http://www.stmarysmadison.com/internet/home/stmaryhc.nsf/documents/Maps+And+Directions and now she is also able to talk to you if you want to give her a call 314 768 5493 x 4617.

Friday

Good news, all of it good. Agnes has been freed from the trach tube, and she is back to talking like herself again. Talking and talking, making up for a month of silence! Probably on Monday she will go to St. Mary's, the place where miracles of rehabilitation are worked, to get her on her feet and on her way home. When we are sure that happens, the address will be here and I am sure Agnes will be ready to welcome visitors from her new digs. Finally, finally, I am confident she is on the road to go home. Hallelujah!

Tuesday June 9

It has been one month and one day since I have gotten to speak with my mother. Today we talked on the phone, briefly. It was good to hear her voice again. Her case manager tells me she is doing very well, but I haven't had the chance yet to find out what the treatment plan is at this point. More phone calls later, but the most important one has been made.

Monday June 8

The very good news is that Agnes has been off the ventilator all weekend. Unplugged, moved out of the room, gone for good. She should be able to do more now that she is not hooked up. It will be a few days before the trachea tube is removed, to be really sure she can continue to breathe on her own, and we will see how she progresses.

Friday, June 5

Agnes had a good day today, they tell me. Breathing on her own, a little oxygen and humidity added for comfort, but no other assist. She is sitting on the bed, and able to eat a little bit. We hope when she is finally free of the ventilator, she can get around a little bit.

Wednesday, June 3

Agnes is making good progress weaning herself from the ventilator. Everything continues to point to progressively getting well. Not much to say, because I can't see her for myself, but I hear she is laughing with Carol (bless her).

Monday June 1

The news continues to be good from St. Louis. Agnes got to watch a couple of ballgames this weekend as the Cards played the Giants - she even got to watch them win one although the Giants won the series (I get bragging rights here). She is eating, she transferred to a chair, and she took a step in her walker. We should have some plan as to her treatment toward the end of the week. Sounds like she is strong enough to have visitors, although of course she is not talking at this time.