As Jen begins to improve in every area we are eagerly awaiting her move to a rehab facility. Her grafts are healing as they should and her health is getting stronger each day. Her spirits remain incredible with the ongoing support of family and friends.
Today we visited Zale Lipshey Rehab Hospital which is part of UT Southwestern. It was an extremely impressive facility in many ways. Very new, small and personable with a great staff. We felt a real sense of comfort and believe Jen would have a wonderful stay. Hopefully she will be beginning her rehab here in about 10 days.
This is some what of a frustrating time for Jen, being in the same bed and room for almost 11 weeks now. She is ready to move on and start learning the things that will help her to regain her independance again. There will be lots of frustration, tears and satisfaction in the coming weeks and we hope that all of you will share in the process at Zale. The visiting times are very liberal.
Babe we are almost beginning the next phase in this amazing journey, what you have achieved so far has been nothing short of a miracle. If it is at all possible I love you more and more as each day passes, you have shown me more courage than I ever thought possible.
I love you Hottie Biscotti,
Hubby
Tuesday
Sunday
Rainy Sunday Morning
Hello Dear Friends....I can't believe it has been 5 days since we last posted. As I have said before, the days just seem to speed by...I am beginning my 10th week in Dallas and more important, Jen's 10th week in CICU.
She has seemed to do well since the skin grafts. The bandage change on Friday was a bit rough but as usual, Jenny handled it with courage. The plastic surgeon will be looking at the wounds tomorrow and we are hopful that the grafts are "doing their job". She is so ready to move on to rehab and at least we now feel we are truly getting closer to that day.
Speaking of which, Nick, Marie, Martha and I are visiting the Zale Lipshy Inpatient Rehab Unit on Tuesday. This is a smaller facility than Baylor but also located in Dallas and we have been encouraged to tour. It is my feeling that following this, Jen and Nick will make a final decision as to where she will go...but it does look as if either way, we will be staying in Dallas.
Martha came back yesterday and will be here several days. Matt came through Dallas on his way to meet Christy and her family for the long holiday weekend and as usual, he and Jen had a great talk. Margene has spent several days with me and she, Marie and I had quite an adventure trying to find our way back to the hospital from Target and ending up in a downpour in Garland, Texas. LONG story but one that Jen just laughed at...and shook her head.
Jenny has really taken a interest in the blog and looks forward to reading it every morning. Thanks to you all for the notes and words of encouragement. We will write again soon and update you all on the clinic tour.
Marilyn
She has seemed to do well since the skin grafts. The bandage change on Friday was a bit rough but as usual, Jenny handled it with courage. The plastic surgeon will be looking at the wounds tomorrow and we are hopful that the grafts are "doing their job". She is so ready to move on to rehab and at least we now feel we are truly getting closer to that day.
Speaking of which, Nick, Marie, Martha and I are visiting the Zale Lipshy Inpatient Rehab Unit on Tuesday. This is a smaller facility than Baylor but also located in Dallas and we have been encouraged to tour. It is my feeling that following this, Jen and Nick will make a final decision as to where she will go...but it does look as if either way, we will be staying in Dallas.
Martha came back yesterday and will be here several days. Matt came through Dallas on his way to meet Christy and her family for the long holiday weekend and as usual, he and Jen had a great talk. Margene has spent several days with me and she, Marie and I had quite an adventure trying to find our way back to the hospital from Target and ending up in a downpour in Garland, Texas. LONG story but one that Jen just laughed at...and shook her head.
Jenny has really taken a interest in the blog and looks forward to reading it every morning. Thanks to you all for the notes and words of encouragement. We will write again soon and update you all on the clinic tour.
Marilyn
Wednesday
Successful Surgery!
Jen had surgery today to cover up her wounds. It went very well with skin grafts being taken from her thighs to do the trick. One early concern was the possibility of not being able to graft enough skin to cover the wounds and having to do another surgery in a couple of weeks but luckily this is not needed.
In the areas that skin was taken from will remain very sore for a few days and feel very much like a gravel burn you receive when falling from a bike. We have both just finished a milkshake with Jen being very upbeat and relieved that there will be no more grafting. With her outlook being so positive we both felt it important to keep the momentum going.
We are missing each others touch very much. Jen is starting to really enjoy me standing leaning my head on her chest listening to her heart while she rubs my head. I miss this togetherness and so does she but we are getting closer and closer each day.
Babe you have jumped another hurdle with flying colors. You never cease to amaze me with your strength and passion. We are almost there Jen and I cant wait until we are home.
Love forever, Hubby.
In the areas that skin was taken from will remain very sore for a few days and feel very much like a gravel burn you receive when falling from a bike. We have both just finished a milkshake with Jen being very upbeat and relieved that there will be no more grafting. With her outlook being so positive we both felt it important to keep the momentum going.
We are missing each others touch very much. Jen is starting to really enjoy me standing leaning my head on her chest listening to her heart while she rubs my head. I miss this togetherness and so does she but we are getting closer and closer each day.
Babe you have jumped another hurdle with flying colors. You never cease to amaze me with your strength and passion. We are almost there Jen and I cant wait until we are home.
Love forever, Hubby.
Tuesday
From Me to You
Hi everyone, this is Jen! I am with Nick and Ryan in my room and have recruited Ryan to be my secretary (he looks great in his skirt, ha!). I've been able to read the blog every other day and I'm blown away by all the love and support that I've been given. Thank you so much for providing me with the much needed inspiration and positive comments.
I never thought that when I went to the hospital I would end up in the situation that I'm dealing with today. However, I am taking everything day by day and understanding that God chose me for a purpose that is unknown. My spirit remains strong and my desire to live life to the fullest still remains. I know I have a long journey ahead of me but I'm motivated to start rehab and learn some new tricks!
I have learned to drink by myself and read magazines. I am also so happy to be able to go outside in my wheelchair the past few weeks, which is very refreshing after being cooped up in here for more than two months. I should be in here another two or three weeks, and then I'm off into the real world! Love, Jen.
P.S. I will post again soon! :)
I never thought that when I went to the hospital I would end up in the situation that I'm dealing with today. However, I am taking everything day by day and understanding that God chose me for a purpose that is unknown. My spirit remains strong and my desire to live life to the fullest still remains. I know I have a long journey ahead of me but I'm motivated to start rehab and learn some new tricks!
I have learned to drink by myself and read magazines. I am also so happy to be able to go outside in my wheelchair the past few weeks, which is very refreshing after being cooped up in here for more than two months. I should be in here another two or three weeks, and then I'm off into the real world! Love, Jen.
P.S. I will post again soon! :)
Sunday
Holding Pattern
The weekend has been good..we are in a holding pattern of sorts right now. Jen continues to be in ICU but in good spirits overall. She will have another bandage change tomorrow and we are hoping the doctor will be able to schedule the surgery to close later this week. Following this, we will have some weeks of healing and then off to rehab. As you have figured out by now, it is all day to day and very hard to make any definite plans but we keep trying to be patient and "stay in the moment" as the surgeon advised us to do.
Jen had a nice surprise when her friend Brenda Cook (from HS) sent a notebook with the blogs to this point printed...she had caught Randy before he left for Texas on Friday and Jen was very, very pleased. This is so neat and so ironical as Thy..a friend from here had done the same thing and now we both have copies! It was such a thoughtful thing to do and something we will both treasure. (The trick will be to keep printing them off but surely someone can teach me how to do it! :>) She loves to read them and to see all the encouragement that has been sent to her.
Matt and Christy were here this weekend and Randy and Ryan are still here but plan to get back to Wichita..and Ryan to Lawrence..tomorrow. Trina and Stephen Butler, good friends of Jenny and Nick, have offered us their home for a couple of weeks while they are on vacation. What wonderful people they are..She from Australia..and both of whom have been so helpful. They live near Jen and Nick and so this space will really help as we have more people come to visit. As I keep saying, it seems impossible to beleive I have been here since March 23...most of the time it seems like it has been months and then others, it feels like yesterday when Nick phoned to tell me how sick Jenny was.
We had a great evening with Marie and Nick's son Matthew last night..my "boys" jumped with him on the trampoline he received for his 9th birthday and tried to talk Marie and I into joining them but...we rightly refused. Randy cooked for us on the grill and we all shared laughs and stories. Jenny was with us in spirit..Nick left to be with her and show her some of the pictures we took.
As always, thanks to all of you for all you have done. We apprecite every single gesture of kindness and every single prayer and card and gift and call...I again need to thank Connie for the gift of this laptop..as Ryan told me today.."Wow Mom..You are so lucky"...and that I am.
All for now..we need to be to the hospital early..I will check in again soon.
Love, Marilyn
Jen had a nice surprise when her friend Brenda Cook (from HS) sent a notebook with the blogs to this point printed...she had caught Randy before he left for Texas on Friday and Jen was very, very pleased. This is so neat and so ironical as Thy..a friend from here had done the same thing and now we both have copies! It was such a thoughtful thing to do and something we will both treasure. (The trick will be to keep printing them off but surely someone can teach me how to do it! :>) She loves to read them and to see all the encouragement that has been sent to her.
Matt and Christy were here this weekend and Randy and Ryan are still here but plan to get back to Wichita..and Ryan to Lawrence..tomorrow. Trina and Stephen Butler, good friends of Jenny and Nick, have offered us their home for a couple of weeks while they are on vacation. What wonderful people they are..She from Australia..and both of whom have been so helpful. They live near Jen and Nick and so this space will really help as we have more people come to visit. As I keep saying, it seems impossible to beleive I have been here since March 23...most of the time it seems like it has been months and then others, it feels like yesterday when Nick phoned to tell me how sick Jenny was.
We had a great evening with Marie and Nick's son Matthew last night..my "boys" jumped with him on the trampoline he received for his 9th birthday and tried to talk Marie and I into joining them but...we rightly refused. Randy cooked for us on the grill and we all shared laughs and stories. Jenny was with us in spirit..Nick left to be with her and show her some of the pictures we took.
As always, thanks to all of you for all you have done. We apprecite every single gesture of kindness and every single prayer and card and gift and call...I again need to thank Connie for the gift of this laptop..as Ryan told me today.."Wow Mom..You are so lucky"...and that I am.
All for now..we need to be to the hospital early..I will check in again soon.
Love, Marilyn
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