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! :)
Tuesday
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
Friday
Chicago Tour
As Nick said, Chicago was quite a learning experience. We were able to stay with my brother Steve who lives on Lake Shore Drive and only a short 3 block walk to the facility. They had reviewed Jenny's records and are certainly able to help her but did stress the need for a strong support system as she works her way through rehabilitation. We are still talking about options but this will all become more clear in the coming weeks....
It has been so good to have Gaylin here...Jen really had a spa treatment yesterday and as I write this..Gaylin is on her way back to the hospital to see if Jen would like another "rub down". She will then head back to Wichita this afternoon. Randy and Ryan are coming tomorrow as well as Matt...Christy will be too.
I forgot to mention that last Sunday, Randy and Vicki Spence came to the hospital and spent several hours...they are so supportive and it was just what I needed! I know they will be back soon...as well as the rest of the DeVasto's.
Jen was able to read more of the blog yesterday...as well as her cards..and just shakes her head at the love that has come her way. Broadlane people have been amaziing...among other things have given her a portable DVD that she and Nick have enjoyed. Yesterday, Jen received a gift and card signed by people from the Pizza Hut legal department where whe worked several years ago..and was again moved to
tears. And then...when she hears from people on the blog that she hasn't talked to in years it gives her so much strength. Thank you all...over and over again.
It is so nice to have Marie here..she and I have become quite the pair as we try to find our way around Dallas. I know Nick shakes his head as we bumble along but somehow, we get where we need to be.
More later....it is another beautiful day here...lots of sun and hope in the air.
Love, Marilyn
It has been so good to have Gaylin here...Jen really had a spa treatment yesterday and as I write this..Gaylin is on her way back to the hospital to see if Jen would like another "rub down". She will then head back to Wichita this afternoon. Randy and Ryan are coming tomorrow as well as Matt...Christy will be too.
I forgot to mention that last Sunday, Randy and Vicki Spence came to the hospital and spent several hours...they are so supportive and it was just what I needed! I know they will be back soon...as well as the rest of the DeVasto's.
Jen was able to read more of the blog yesterday...as well as her cards..and just shakes her head at the love that has come her way. Broadlane people have been amaziing...among other things have given her a portable DVD that she and Nick have enjoyed. Yesterday, Jen received a gift and card signed by people from the Pizza Hut legal department where whe worked several years ago..and was again moved to
tears. And then...when she hears from people on the blog that she hasn't talked to in years it gives her so much strength. Thank you all...over and over again.
It is so nice to have Marie here..she and I have become quite the pair as we try to find our way around Dallas. I know Nick shakes his head as we bumble along but somehow, we get where we need to be.
More later....it is another beautiful day here...lots of sun and hope in the air.
Love, Marilyn
Thursday
Rehabilitation Tour & Improvements
It has been a crazy week with a visit to Chicago, two bandage changes and Jen making lots of solid improvement. Tuesday we went to Chicago to visit the Rehabilitation Institute which is ranked one of the best in the country. It was a wonderful facility and we learnt many new things in relation to Jens journey of improvement. One recurring theme though, seems to be the importance of family and friends during the rehab process.
It is this theme that has proven to be an amazing factor in Jens recovery thus far and will continue to be so in the coming months as she works towards independence. The bandage changes have also been very good with no infections and good wound recovery. Her outlook is amazing and she really looks to be embracing the many challenges that lie ahead. Each day I see a little more laughter in that beautiful face.
Jen baby you are right, Chicago is a beautiful city and one that we will visit many times together over our lifetime. But the way I feel right now it was a lonely night away from you. I missed you very much, if only one night. I cant wait until we can lie together again.
I love you hottie biscotti, Hubby.
It is this theme that has proven to be an amazing factor in Jens recovery thus far and will continue to be so in the coming months as she works towards independence. The bandage changes have also been very good with no infections and good wound recovery. Her outlook is amazing and she really looks to be embracing the many challenges that lie ahead. Each day I see a little more laughter in that beautiful face.
Jen baby you are right, Chicago is a beautiful city and one that we will visit many times together over our lifetime. But the way I feel right now it was a lonely night away from you. I missed you very much, if only one night. I cant wait until we can lie together again.
I love you hottie biscotti, Hubby.
Monday
Sunny Monday
Good Morning! It is a sunny day in Dallas and we are hoping for a good week.
Jen had a very busy weekend...several of her friends from work dropped by as well as other friends of both Nick and Jen who have been so very loyal and so "there". There were several times when she was either busy in the room or sleeping but when told that someone had made the effort to visit, she would always smile. Thank to all of you who have made the drive to Medical City...it is one place I will look forward to seeing in the rear view mirror one day!
Friday, Doug and Nancy Blackman from Wichita, stopped by and we had a really great visit. The timing was perfect and I think we all felt energized by their kind words. Saturday, Jill and Shannon as well as Pam, Jill's mother came for several hours. The 3 "girls" spent some great time together and Marhta and I enjoyed having lunch with Pam. Jen loved it...wasn't quite strong enough to get a new "look" but enjoyed the massage the girls gave her and all of the wonderful laughs, tears and support. It was hard to see them leave...:>
Mother's Day was celebrated in her room..late in the day. Nick, Matthew, my brother Matt, Marie, Martha, Jen and I shared cards and gifts and love..when she whispered "happy mother's day mom" ..I told her that this time next year..we will be able to look back and see how far we've come! Wish we could just fast forward a bit but we are trying so hard to take each HOUR as it comes.
I again thank you all for the cards and comments on the blog and prayers and friendship..we are looking forward to learning on our trip to Chicago tomorrow..and then to keep exploring other options as we more toward rehab...it just can't come quicly enough. Jen continues to try and keep her calories up and work at PT..lets pray she turns a corner with that this week.
Finally...Glenn and Sharon Ringler came from MD Anderson Saturday evening and spent the night here..after seeing Jen for while. Sharon and Jen both shared some tears and dicussed the shared experience of "chest tubes" but all in all gave each other strength. Sharon will learn her course of treatment today in Houston then head back to Kansas to work on getting well. She is in our prayers...
I will check in on Wednesday after we return...Love, Marilyn
Jen had a very busy weekend...several of her friends from work dropped by as well as other friends of both Nick and Jen who have been so very loyal and so "there". There were several times when she was either busy in the room or sleeping but when told that someone had made the effort to visit, she would always smile. Thank to all of you who have made the drive to Medical City...it is one place I will look forward to seeing in the rear view mirror one day!
Friday, Doug and Nancy Blackman from Wichita, stopped by and we had a really great visit. The timing was perfect and I think we all felt energized by their kind words. Saturday, Jill and Shannon as well as Pam, Jill's mother came for several hours. The 3 "girls" spent some great time together and Marhta and I enjoyed having lunch with Pam. Jen loved it...wasn't quite strong enough to get a new "look" but enjoyed the massage the girls gave her and all of the wonderful laughs, tears and support. It was hard to see them leave...:>
Mother's Day was celebrated in her room..late in the day. Nick, Matthew, my brother Matt, Marie, Martha, Jen and I shared cards and gifts and love..when she whispered "happy mother's day mom" ..I told her that this time next year..we will be able to look back and see how far we've come! Wish we could just fast forward a bit but we are trying so hard to take each HOUR as it comes.
I again thank you all for the cards and comments on the blog and prayers and friendship..we are looking forward to learning on our trip to Chicago tomorrow..and then to keep exploring other options as we more toward rehab...it just can't come quicly enough. Jen continues to try and keep her calories up and work at PT..lets pray she turns a corner with that this week.
Finally...Glenn and Sharon Ringler came from MD Anderson Saturday evening and spent the night here..after seeing Jen for while. Sharon and Jen both shared some tears and dicussed the shared experience of "chest tubes" but all in all gave each other strength. Sharon will learn her course of treatment today in Houston then head back to Kansas to work on getting well. She is in our prayers...
I will check in on Wednesday after we return...Love, Marilyn
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