Recovery and Rehab

Mom is still at NMRH. We're hoping she will be admitted to acute rehab at the hospital. Dr. Galloway would like to see her stay in rehab for a couple of weeks, time enough to recover the mobility she had gained before taking the Keppra. The alternative solution is sub-acute rehab in one of the local long term care facilities. We'd rather not have Mom receive services in long term care if we can avoid it, because we don't want her to think we're leaving her there. We had an unfortunate discussion with a doctor back in January who spoke in Mom's presence to Suzy about placing her in a home. It was very disturbing to us and to Mom. If sub-acute is our only alternative, we'll need to assure her that the stay is only temporary.

Suzy told me yesterday that Mom was spacey again. Dr. Galloway ordered withdrawal of the Neurontin and the Tarceva to see if she improves. Mom also has a painful rash from the c. diff.; she receives salve for it, but between the diarrhea and the hours in bed on her back it's becoming a long healing process.

Before I left for Grand Rapids on Monday, Mom gave me an exclusive interview (she turned the major networks away) on her stay at NMRH. The video was 17 minutes of mystery, breathtaking vistas and song, way too large a file for blogger so I had to split it in two - part two is in the next post. You'll notice the red splotches on Mom's face, acne from the Tarceva. She has a special cream applied to it three times a day to clear it up, but it's only a matter of time before she spoils it all with the chocolate.