It has been a while since I signed into the old blog. The old password was kaput, so had to go through the trials and tribulations of setting up a new password. There is no reason for the change except that Google does not like to use old passwords. Finally got through that rig-a-marole and here we go again.
On December 31, 2020 Judie became a paraplegic, she can no longer walk. She developed a blood clot in her lower spine (known as a Hematoma) that essentially crushed the nerves so she does not feel anything from her waist down to her toes. The Neurosurgeon successfully removed the blood clot and all the pain went away but we had to learn a new life style and make a lot of changes.
We had to sell her car and get a Dodge van modified with a ramp so an electric wheel chair can be loaded and unloaded with her in it of course. And we had to remove a bath tub and shower arrangement and modify the space into a hand shower set up so she can take a shower in a wheeled chair. And we had to get a Hoyer lift to get her into and out of her new hospital like bed. And mattress had to be changed to an air mattress that constantly cycles to prevent bed sores.
And she did develop pressure sores, had an operation to get all the bad tissue out and has gone through a long and arduous stay in hospitals get the sores healed. They are not finished healing yet but are close to being healed up. She spent up wards of five months, closer to six months in hospitals and rehab facilities but is home now.
She has gone through a heart procedure to treat her A-Fib to prevent strokes. Her mother suffered almost 10 years with strokes. That was the installation of Atriclip, a clip that goes on the appendage of the heart that leads to strokes. It is an external thing to the heart but does involve poking holes in her left side and various tools used to install the clip. It is considered day surgery but she had reactions to it after it was over. It triggered a lot of A-Fib reactions and the Cardiologist opined it was the heart protesting the clip. Later we found one of the drugs she was taking interfered with the anti-A-Fib drug and triggering A-Fib. We stopped that drug, Airecept, which is a memory enhancement drug. She now takes Pacerone which treats A-Fib. Since she has sworn off the Airecept the A-Fib attacks have stopped.
I am the chief nurse and bottle washer plus cook and dishwasher. Well the dishes get washed in the dishwasher and the clothes get washed in the washing machine. But I am the one that puts in the dishes and clothes and unloads them after washing or hangs up the clothes and puts away the silver ware. But I do cook breakfast, instant grits and turkey sausage plus some fruit daily. The something lite for her lunch and then supper. We have ventured out to eat once so far and probably will do more later. Sometimes I go get sandwiches or to go food.
She has a spiffy electric wheel chair now, trimmed in purple. It could have been blue or green or red but she selected purple ala LSU. It is an amazing machine and should be. We had to pay for one feature, a vertical lift of about 10 inches. All the rest was paid for by Medicare. Here is the startling fact that blew my mine, it cost $31,000. We had to pay $2,600 for the vertical lift mechanization. It has headlights, a horn and a clock in it. Turns on a dime and gives you change and weighs about 300 pounds. So do not get run over buy it. We already have a dent in the refrigerator from a clash with the chair, minor thing but a reminder of how powerful it is.
We are settling in after all the various hospital stays and recoveries. We have long term care insurance and will get her some care people after we finish with the pressure sores. That treatment is paid for by Medicare so we do not have to pay for medical care yet. But once that is over, we will have to pay for her daily care if I can not provide it. Fortunately, we have the long term care insurance and it has been approved.
Life goes on no matter what happens.
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