Visitation and Funeral Information

This is Laura writing.  We met with the funeral home today to make all of the arrangements for my mom.  It was a very tough meeting but I believe we made the same choices that she would have made.

Sunday, April 3, 2011
Visitation: 2:00-4:00
Service: 4:00

Dowling Funeral Home
7509 New West (at King Road between Central and Sylvania)
Toledo, OH 43617
419-841-8111

If you wish, in lieu of flowers, donations in my mom's name can be made to:
St. Joseph's Church
5411 Main St.
Sylvania, OH 43560

Thank you all so much for your prayers, phone calls and emails.  As you can imagine, this is an extremely painful and difficult time and your support is very comforting.

Worse day of our Lives!

As Tuesday rolled on, Linda's condition continued to worsen and the brain swelling on the entire right side lobe worsened.  The 11AM CAT scan clearly showed the swelling, even impinging on the left side of the brain.  A craniotomy would have saved her life but not improved her physical condition.  She had several severe physical issues such as blindness, inability to swallow easily (feeding tube req'd?) and paralysis of the left arm and leg, and weakness on the right side.  Linda would never have wanted to live like that long term.  Laura and Sean were here at the Univ of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor with their spouses and we all decided to have her assisted breathing tube removed and she passed away peacefully at 6:36 PM today.  This is the worse day of my life.  I have lost my best pal,  friend, boss, and companion of over 40 years!  The one thing that makes me feel even a tiny bit better is that I know she is with her parents, Uncle Zack and Aunt Mamie, other great relatives and old pets Spuddie, Smokey, Julie and Fiona!!

We feel fortune that we were each able to spend time talking to her throughout the night and we believe she was able to hear us.  Up until early this morning, she would squeeze our hand and rub our fingers as if to reassure us.

I will add the info on the funeral arrangements on future blogs.

I want to thank you all for your very kind thoughts, prayers and comments of encouragement to Linda and myself.  It has meant a lot to us both over the last five weeks and will in the future.

Love,
Evan

OMG, OMG!!!

Things go from good to bad. This morning at 7 AM the Flower Hospital called and said that Linda looked like she had another stroke and had been moved to the regular Flower Hosp[ital. After much discussion, she was transferred to the University Hospital (Ann Arbor, MI) to the NeuroICU. She had another ischemic stroke (Clot-type), this time in the right frontal  and pariatal? There was also small amounts of bleeding in two areas. Anyway, she is in worse shape than ever. Since it was in the right side brain, her left arm and leg have no feeling and she can't move them. She looks to the right constantly and I don't think she sees much at this time on the left, again right side stroke. She is very sleepy and can't talk and they think she may have swallowing issues (maybe a short feeding tube through the nose sometime?)

The bad thing is that she may get WORSE in the next 1-3 days, if her brain swelling continues. She does not need a partial skull removal to relieve the pressure yet, but that also has its risks and benefits. They want the family to start to think about alternatives that I never wanted to think about, ever.

Laura and Bill are returning immediately back from Iowa and should arrive at 9 PM tonight. She wants to spend the night here with her Mom. So far she is stable and very sleepy.  This is so very, very, sad.

Keep your finger crossed and say a prayer for Linda! Thanks.

Back to the "Old Home"

Well, Linda was transported to the Flower Rehab Center on Thursday afternoon and settled in.  She was in Room 106 but due to the crowd visiting her roommate was moved to Room 115 at 7 PM tonight.  She is doing well, I think.  She has the same routine of two sessions of ST, OT, and PT each day except the weekends.  She may be here 7-10 days, hopefully less than two weeks as before.

Her new phone number is 419-824-4015.  She is strong enough for visitors, but pretty busy before 3 PM.  Maybe, call first if you are coming to see when she'll be around.

Linda wants everyone to know she appreciates every one's concern and said to say she "Loves you all".

Last Day at Toledo Hospital

Today should be the last day at Toledo Hospital.  Linda had some PT today to evaluate how she is doing.  Her right arm hurts and her walking is not as good as before the second stroke.  Her vision has somewhat deteriorated also.

At any event, she will not be coming home tomorrow, but be going back to the Flower Rehab Center for more in-patient therapies again.  Hopefully, she will not be there for two weeks!  We would then go back to the thrice a week OUT-patient therapy.  Yea!

In a couple of days, I'll write about how the therapy is going.

Well, I was wrong..... no wait, just mistaken.

Linda spent another day in Toledo Hospital.  Her condition is slightly worse with regard to her sight and a numbness under her right eye.  Her walking is slightly not as good as before the second stroke, either.The neurologist said this was not unusual and will get better.... eventually.  He wants her to go to PT training here for an evaluation.  I told him I prefer Total Rehab for eventual rehab vs Toledo Hospital since it is much closer (and Linda likes it better).  As of now, it looks like she may be here till Thursday.  Her BP is holding in the 120-130  over 70-80 quite nicely today. Yea!!  The days are long.  She did have a session of PT/OT this morning, however, and walked OK with the walker all the way back to her room.

Anyway, remember the eICU, the electronic ICU?  It remotely monitors her Blood Press, pulse, O2 content, etc, etc and has two wall-mounted cameras and a microphone.  The Toledo Hospital is very proud of this system and has written a small brochure about it.  I got to thinking, however.  What if the remote central monitoring station was not down the hall at the nurses station but in Bombay, India.

Raji: (Read Raji in a high pitched voice while smiling) How are you doing tonight, Miss Linda.
Linda: I'm fine.
Raji: Very Good, please squeeze your own fingers with your other hand.  Good.   Please repeat with your other hands.Were they strong?
Linda: Yes
Raji: That is very good! Now... please feel your own pulse and count the beats in 15 seconds and multiply them by four.  What is it?
Linda: 78
Raji: Very,very good.  Now raise your arms so I can see them on the camera.
Linda: OK
Raji: For the love of Buddha, Miss Linda, please make sure your robe is closed!
Linda: Too bad you are so far away, Raji.  I've been in the hospital a long time.
Raji: Most excellent!! uh, oh.  Someone in I O UH  has pushed the call button to have their bedpan changed.  I must go now.  Please be very much healthy!!

You know this could be.  The Hospitals are desperate to save money.  It works for Dell.  I must remove my unmentionables from the dryer and iron some shirts (at least one for tomorrow!) and so must go.

No new news yet?

We have heard nothing from the doctors yet.  By this evening, Linda had lost her dizzyness and the pain in her neck.  She even thinks the big bruise on her thigh is improving.  Yea!!  Her BP also seemed to be under control all day and was 95/55 this evening.  That's good news.  I think if "Physical Therapy" can get her up and she can walk without getting dizzy or stumbling, we'll be going home tomorrow?  Could be wrong, however.

She is not wild about the Toledo Hospital and hates the food compared to Flower..... she must be geting better?

I'm too tired to discuss the Toledo eICU today, but think of the TV show, "Outsource".

Goodish News!

Linda was feeling better this morning and was sitting up in bed with only slight dizzyness. They moved her to a chair as she needed to be more upright today.  They also took her off all the IV's, NiCardipine, platelets, and saline. When they helped her walk to the restroom, she got as dizzy as yesterday and asked to lay back down in the bed.  EXCUSE ME, I HAVE TO STOP THE WASHER FROM BANGING INTO THE FAMILY ROOM WALL!! Now, where was I... oh yes, as the afternoon progressed, she felt less and less dizzy and was doing well when I left.  Aside from the dizziness, everything else is the same as before, on Friday.  The nurse said since Linda was the least critical patient in the 10-bed ward, if they needed the bed, they would move her out to one of the regular hospital rooms.  So I don't know where she will be tomorrow.  She may be discharged in a day or two.... maybe.

I plan to cancel the first two outpatient Therapy Sessions this week so she can rest quietly at home, unless they advise differently.  She is pretty tired. (And so am I.!  a house-husband's work is never done!!) (Who gets rest in a hospital?)  Maybe she will feel up to visitors next week?  I'll let everybody know.  She and I both very, very much appreciate everyone who has already visited her but rest would probably be good now.  Thanks!!

I will write tomorrow about the Toledo Hospital eICU, which is an electronic camera, microphone and instrument ICU central remote monitoring system.  It's a hoot!!

One Step forward, Two Steps back!!

This morning around 6:45 AM Linda sat up and found she was extremely dizzy.  Her BP was 177/101 and after her meds it was rising at 192/101.  I called the squad and the firemen that showed up first, gave her an EKG and thought they saw something odd.  The Life Squad then showed up.  The decision because of that was to take her to the Toledo Hospital.  At the Toledo Hospital, a CAT scan showed bleeding on her brain in the same general area of her first clot-type stroke three weeks ago!  Anyway, they took her off of Plavix and are giving her platelets to stem the bleeding and a very strong BP reducing med, (NiCardipine) .  She is in the NeuroICU at Toledo Hospital, 9th Floor, Room 954 , Bed 4.  She may only be there for one-two days and then I don't now what, perhaps a regular room??  The first 24 hours after a stroke they want the person to rest and sleep so Greg and Dixie (Her brother and Sister-in-Law) and I are going back to the hospital at 6PM for dinnertime with Linda.

Once again, this hospital room also has no hooks to hang the visitors coats.  What are people thinking?
More later ...........

Gettin' duked up

Today Linda and Dawn and I went to lunch and then they went her hairdressers at 1 PM and had a manicure and pedicure!!!  They had fun and it made her feel better.  We have three doctors appts and six rehab sessions scheduled for the next two weeks.  Busy, huh?  Next rehab is Tuesday, Wed, and then Friday.

On Monday 3/21, our friends from Chattannooga will be arriving in the evening.  They are staying in a nearby hotel and may leave Sat morning.  Laura and Bill are coming very late Friday night for another weekend of househunting in Cleveland.  This time Dawn AND LINDA will be helping me babysit little Miss Audrey!! Yea!!!!

1st Day as an Outpatient Rehabber

Linda had her first 3 hour tri-session of outpatient rehabilitation at the "Total Rehab" Clinic at Flower Hospital in Sylvania.  She had a 1 hr session of Speech Therapy, 1 hour of Occupational Therapy, and finally one hour of Physical Therapy from 9AM till Noon!!  She did well, considering.  Still has word finding weakness and memory issues, both short and long term.  It was mostly an Evaluation Day and it went well.  We are looking forward to continuing the program.  She will have "classes" three days a week, except on the weekends, which are free days.  Yea!  They said that we will have "Homework" , however over the weekend.  So .......... the hard work now starts.

To celebrate St Patrick's Day as per our tradition started last year, Francee and Ivol Caudill brought a wonderful and tasty "Jiggs Dinner" for us.  It was great and Linda really enjoyed the dinner and chit/chat.  I provided the "delicious "Cherry Pie from Meijers.

Hairdoooo!!!

Linda was feeling better and I took her to her first hair appt in many weeks.  She really enjoyed it and we were able to get around with her walker.  Tomorrrow is her First Rehab session at "Total Rehab" as an outpatient.  Yea!!

Escape to Freedom!!

Today at 12:30 PM Linda was released from the Flower Rehab Center and I finally took her home.  She was tired and we just lounged around all day. Sean and Dawn brought Sloppy Joe's with delicious hash brown potatoes over for dinner.  Many thanks. It was much appreciated.

Tomorrow's The Day!!!

Today I was running around like crazy. I bought two toilet safety bars (to be assembled) and a shower stall seat with back and a vacuum suck shower bar to be installed.  Those of you who know me know I always try to look on the positive side of things, right?, huh?  In any event, on the positive side, we are now the proud and arrogant owners of the coveted blue and white "Handicapped/Disabled Car Visor Card".  Yea!!!  It's good for a year and we can park any where we want!!  Even on sidewalks, I think.

Linda is anxious to get home and a little apprehensive at the same time.  The nurse said we would probable be gone before lunch (Noon) tomorrow.  The three cats and I can hardly wait.  I will let you know more again when her outpatient rehab schedule has been established.  Until then, thanks so much to all of you for your kind thoughts and suggestions during this trying time.  Linda and I really appreciate them all.  Thanks.  Until later, stay safe. 

Evan

The Waiting, the waiting til Tuesday

Linda has been doing well this weekend, especially since she got to see Bill, Laura, and the famous Audrey this Sunday.  She is bored and anxious to get home sometime Tuesday.  So am I!!  Tomorrow, I will be running around like crazy, getting the house ready and safe for her, etc, etc, etc.

I babysitted Audrey while Bill and Laura looked at potential houses in Cleveland.  I only had to change one poopy diaper Saturday and two others. I am proud to say, I did fine and didn't even gag!  Yea!  Dawn also spent the afternoon and evening with me as a much appreciated backup and helper and play date for Audrey.  We repeat the fun in two weeks when they return for more lookee, lookee.

Still on Track for Tuesday escape!

Well, I didn't get to talk to Dr. Jacobs Wed morning since HE WAS OUT OF TOWN TIL MONDAY!!!  I got up early to be at the Hospital at 8AM.  The right hand here dosen't seem to know what the left hand is doing!! His "Nurse Practioner" happened to see me walking out at 8:30PM and we talked as she csually glanced at Linda's records.  Her blood pressure is responding nicely to the new med regimen and they are pleased.... and so am I.

She is still has a heavy dose of therapy each day and is tired in the afternoon.  She continues to do well and things are still on track to come home Tuesday. 

However, last night she tried to put on her PJ's in the bathroom by standing up and pulling them on.  As she stood on her weaker right leg, she fell to the floor and against the door (Which stupidly opens inwardly).  She was kind of blocking the door and had to scooch forward so I could get the door pen and help her up into the wheelchair.  They X-Rayed her today and nothing was broken but her hand and side hurt and she has a huge black and blue bruise on her right thigh.  Honest to God, the "Luck of the Ericksen's" is tiresome some times. They gave her some Tylenol and iced down her thigh tonight.  She's sore but fine.  She and I got chewed out by the nurse for that little trick!!

Laura and Bill and Audrey are on there way here tonight with arrival at 2AM.  I am to babysit Audrey with Dawn's help tomorrow while they look for houses in Cleveland.  I have not changed a diaper for about 37 years, but at least they don't have those damn big safety pins I used to jab myself or my kids with.  Tape tabs should be great??  Maybe I'll take her to the Zoo or Art Museum.  You are never to young for culture, huh?

I got a load of Linda's laundry washed and dried this morning and scrubbed the kitchen floor with our Hoover Floor Cleaner machine. I put off the ironing of the remaining 6 long-sleeved shirts till Monday.  A man's work is never done!!

Good News Tuesday! - I think

Linda still has a busy weekday therapy schedule during the week.  Typically she has two speech, two occupational, and two physical therapy sessions each weekday.  I found out today that yesterday she walked down and back up a full set of stairs with occassional guidance/help.  That is great news!  Memory and vision issues are still there.

In addition, the staff told us that so far she is scheduled to be discharged a week from today, March 15th.  Yea!!  She will then probably be scheduled for 3hrs or more of outpatient theapy (all three kinds), three days a week for awhile?  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes as scheduled!!

They will also schedule her to see a neuroopthamologist after she is dscharged.

I have asked to meet with the Center's Dr. of Internal Medicine, Dr. Jacobs, around 8AM tmorrow during "rounds?" to see what he thinks of Linda's high blood pressure.  The meds she is on seem to do the job lowering it, at least after soon she takes them.  It creeps up in the morning, however.

I bought a new sump pump and ironed seven shirts today!

Sunday and Monday 3/6 and3/7

Sunday should have been a day of rest but Linda had several hours of therapy of various types.  She is still improving a tiny bit each day!

Monday I stayed home, babysitting "Luigi", Sean's dog, as they had to go to Michigan.  I visited Linda after supper and she was tired from a full day of therapy.  Ivol and Francee Caudill visited her again at the Center.

"Easy" Saturday

The weekend staff at the Rehab Center is reduced so Linda only had therapy this morning and had a "free" afternoon.

Bob and Deb Guenther visited this afternoon and took me to dinner, Yea!

Pat Fernandez called and Linda had an enjoyable chat.  They rehashed so much stuff.

Linda and I tried the pudding she made yesterday.  No one had stolen it!  We enjoyed it but could not tell if it was pineapple or vanilla or what.  We threw the rest OUT!!

Linda "Cooks" Pudding today

Linda had two sessions of ST, OT, and PT today and was very busy.  She enjoyed the two dogs for Dog Therapy but only knew that they were "big dogs!"

They have a room here set up as a small apartment to practice "home life" in.  It has chairs, a sofa, a frig, and and electric stove.  She struggled but managed to mix up a vanilla pudding and we will eat it tomorrow.  That is, if some other patient dosen't steal it from the 'Patient" refrigerator. (Luck of the Ericksen's)

Busy Second Day !

This stroke thing is really something.  I have learned alot!! For instance, this morning I learned it is not a good idea to put three big bath towels in the wash with four sheets (They won't agitate enough!!) Soooo.. I put them in the bathroom sink until the sheets were done.  What a drippy mess.!!  Tonight I am going to do the towels!!

Linda had a very busy day as you will see and is doing very well, I think.  She can write a little bit and they are working with math also. They also follow a  less rigorous schedule on the weekend.

7:00 AM Breakfast
7:30 AM  Shower
8:30 AM Occupational Therapy (OT) - arms and hands and fingers
10:30 AM Speech Therapy (ST)
11:00 AM Physical Therapy (PT) - legs and movements
12:00 AM Lunch
1:45 PM OT
2:30 PM PT
3:00 PM ST
3:30 PM - "Off Duty"

The Rehab Center Dr. of Internal Medicine stopped by today and said he was going to work aggressively to get her blood pressure down before she leaves to avoid a second stroke.  I am very, very happy to hear this.

She is getting visibly better each day, if only a little bit and that is what is important. She is looking forward to "Dog Therapy Day" tomorrow.

Linda said , '"She thanks everyone for their kind thoughts and she is working very hard to get better."

Evaluation and Rehab slowly begins!!

Well, we're finally here at:

Linda Ericksen - Room 115
Flower Rehabilitation Center
5150 Harroun Rd.
Sylvania, OH 43560

She has a very busy day. Breakfast at 7, Physical Therapy starts at 8AM, etc, etc.
Visiting Hours are 4 PM - 8:30 PM except for family allowed anytime.

If you want to call her at 419-824-4015, it probably will be best after 4:30-5PM so she is in the room and has a chance to rest for a few minutes.  Thanks. Don't ask questions, that require long responses and if she is havng trouble remembering, let her try for a few minutes before helping her.  That helps build other pathways in the brain.

She had speech therapy and sometimes has a problem called "word finding".  She is really trying, however, and has an amazing sense of humor about the whole thing.  What else can you do , huh?

Daughter-in-Law, Dawn, joined us for lunch and ate Linda's soup (Linda didn't want.)  We found out that as luck would have it, they have a once-a-month Friday Therapy Dog Day and it is this Friday, so that is cool and Linda is looking forward to seeing the labrador Therapy Dog.  We can also bring our own family pets anytime. Yea!  So Chloe, our cat, and Luigi (Dawn's Bichoen) may be in for a treat.  Laura's two cats, Tigger and Belle, who we are babysitting for while they sell their Iowa house and buy one in Cleveland, will come another time.

Linda did 16 minutes (one min more than required, since the therapist was busy elsewhere) on an apparatus which looked like a reclining stair climber.  Now at 2:46 PM she is doing "Recreational Therapy" with playing cards and plastic magnetic letters.  The Rec room has board games, puzzles,PCs to use, checkers, The Toledo Blade, that rag,etc, etc.

Linda finally moves to rehab

Today Linda did a little walking down the hall slowly with the walker.  She is doing a little better every day.  Most of the day was spent waiting for her blood pressure to come down with the oral meds and for a bed to become available in the rehab center.

Finally around 5:30 PM, she was moved to the Flower Rehabilitation Center building and settled in for the night.  It is a large double room with a couple of drawers, an armoire, and a desk which I will use for my PC since WiFi is available.  So far she has no roommate.  Yea!

I will post more tomorrow when I know the details.