Here's one I took on our most recent vacation:
Monday, August 30, 2004
Thursday, August 26, 2004
8/26: Gerry's move to a new hospital (from Gina)
As you know, Lori has been working through the insurance company's red-tape to get Gerry accepted to the Transitional Living Center (TLC) at Casa Colina. After much struggle with them these past two weeks, they (Aetna's mgmt. co.) wanted to send Gerry to Ballard Rehab. Hospital in San Bernardino. This was a rehab that was already considered prior to Gerry's move to Casa Colina. We never considered Ballard a valid option because they do not have a separate unit for the cognitive therapy that Gerry needs. Plus, we had heard that it wasn't the place for Gerry from several nurses and therapists. So, when the insurance company again wanted to consider Ballard, we couldn't understand it. However, through this process, we found that Ballard actually seems to be a better option for Gerry at this phase of his recovery.
We went to look at it today, and found that they have a no-restraint policy. We feel that this is very important. At Casa Colina, Gerry gets his three hours of therapy a day, and the rest of the day, he has been restrained into his wheelchair, and we have found him several times in this manner just staring off into space. He was not getting the stimulation that he needs, and he is at the point where he wants to get up and explore or walk, etc. He will not improve if he is not allowed to move. Because of Ballard's no-restraint policy, they will have a "sitter" with Gerry to assist him one-on-one. We also liked the fact that Ballard offers therapeutic recreation in addition to his three hours of daily therapy. This is hobby-time with music or reading, or organized games that they offer for the patients, movie nights, community outings, etc. Just knowing there are things to do to stimulate Gerry's interests in his spare time will make a huge difference to him and us! They do not have a separate TLC like Casa Colina does, but they do have some of the benefits of a TLC. They have a training area with a kitchen, a home-like bathroom and tub, and bedroom area for the patients to familiarize themselves with to make the transition to home easier. And they do have a transitional apartment where the patient stays for a few days before going home.
All-in-all, we were quite impressed with Ballard once we saw it for ourselves, and we all (Lori, myself and my Mom) felt that Gerry would do better here than at Casa Colina for the next 3-4 weeks. During this time, we hope he will get physically stronger and more stable since he will be able to move about, and will then be better prepared for a possible stay at Casa Colina's TLC. We believe that God was not opening the door for Gerry's immediate move to TLC for a reason, and that is that he is not physically stable enough yet. His physical improvement had hit a plateau at Casa, and because of the lengthy restraints, his emotional state was suffering also.
We have been told that the insurance mgmt. company is working out a contract with TLC for Gerry's possible move there when he leaves Ballard. Please continue to pray for God's direction and provision for Gerry to receive the treatment he needs cognitively and physically so that he can return home with confidence to his family.
So, we returned to Casa Colina, and picked Gerry up ourselves, took him out to lunch (which he enjoyed immensely!), and brought him to Ballard. Gerry was absolutely jubilant to leave Casa and he was so lighthearted and happy at lunch and in the car. Although we had told him we were taking him to a new and better hospital, one step closer to home, he still had to adjust and to realize himself that he is not ready to go home yet. He did, and before we left, he was greeting everyone that came his way.
Sun 8/22: Gerry goes home (for a few hours)
From Gina:
I think it went really well today for Gerry. He did get tired and moody at times, but we've got to expect that. It was a lot of stimulation, and he's just not used to it yet. I brought Mexican food over, which he loved, and then when we brought him back we went out to dinner at Farmer Boys across from Casa Colina. He loved that, too.
Lori and I talked about how just being at home was probably a motivating factor. He didn't want to use the walker at home, but the house is small enough to where he can grab on from thing to thing. Lori let him get up as he pleased to explore or whatever. He looked in the bathroom mirror at his teeth and braces and said "that's ugly". Lori explained we're working on getting insurance to o.k. taking them off. He got very emotional when we left the house, crying a lot, and said "I miss this house". He saw his neighbor for the first time, and recognized him and waved "Hi, Tim", while crying and waving goodbye. On the way back to the hospital, Lori played a gospel CD of Alison Krauss that he really loves, and the songs really touched him as he cried some more. Lori and he were talking back and forth about how he'll probably be able to come home once a week, and it won't be long before he's home for good, and also about how far he's come and that he's not gonna give up and to keep on fightin'.
All this emotion is really good, showing that he remembers his home and understands what he's missing and possibly what has happened to him as well. Lori was encouraged because other than the moments when he got moody, in general he remained very alert until we brought him back, which was after 7pm. It was a long day for him, so to stay that alert was great.
I think it went really well today for Gerry. He did get tired and moody at times, but we've got to expect that. It was a lot of stimulation, and he's just not used to it yet. I brought Mexican food over, which he loved, and then when we brought him back we went out to dinner at Farmer Boys across from Casa Colina. He loved that, too.
Lori and I talked about how just being at home was probably a motivating factor. He didn't want to use the walker at home, but the house is small enough to where he can grab on from thing to thing. Lori let him get up as he pleased to explore or whatever. He looked in the bathroom mirror at his teeth and braces and said "that's ugly". Lori explained we're working on getting insurance to o.k. taking them off. He got very emotional when we left the house, crying a lot, and said "I miss this house". He saw his neighbor for the first time, and recognized him and waved "Hi, Tim", while crying and waving goodbye. On the way back to the hospital, Lori played a gospel CD of Alison Krauss that he really loves, and the songs really touched him as he cried some more. Lori and he were talking back and forth about how he'll probably be able to come home once a week, and it won't be long before he's home for good, and also about how far he's come and that he's not gonna give up and to keep on fightin'.
All this emotion is really good, showing that he remembers his home and understands what he's missing and possibly what has happened to him as well. Lori was encouraged because other than the moments when he got moody, in general he remained very alert until we brought him back, which was after 7pm. It was a long day for him, so to stay that alert was great.
Monday, August 23, 2004
8/16: Another visit with Gerry (from Steve)
While we were on vacation, we visited with Gerry ... we, meaning myself, my wife Sue and my son Phil. They hadn't seen him since he'd emerged from the coma, so it was something we were all looking forward to. As is the custom, he was introduced to all of us, though he remembered me without prompting and seemed very glad to see me. He recognized Sue and Phil when told who they were, and later remembered (without prompting) that he used to call Sue "Susan". We watched him go through his therapy and later, we moved to a piano where we tried to get him to play so I could sing "Bring It On Home to Me," a song he, I, Carla and Gina would sing whenever we could find an excuse to. It became obvious, though, after a bit, that therapy had worn Gerry out and he was having trouble concentrating. So we moved to another room, talked to him for a bit, then left.
It was obvious that Gerry had indeed progressed since I'd seen him a month earlier. It was a positive note to leave on...
It was obvious that Gerry had indeed progressed since I'd seen him a month earlier. It was a positive note to leave on...
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Fri 8/20: Update: More prayers, please!
Fri. 8/20/04 9:30pm , from Gina:
Dear Friends & Family,
There is still no decision by the
insurance company, so the good news is that there is no denial yet in
regards to Gerry moving over to the TLC at Casa Colina. But the new
management company of the insurance company is truly giving the
run-a-round in many ways, and much prayer is needed. They now
want Ballard Rehab. to come out and evaluate Gerry, even though Ballard was
ruled out before Gerry even went to Casa Colina because Ballard does not
have the cognitive specialization that Gerry needs. They have
also put off a necessary follow-up cat-scan, an evaluation by a
neuro-psychologist, and the removal of the braces Gerry had when
his jaw was wired shut even though all of these things were
requested by Gerry's doctors.
Casa Colina has requested that Lori take Gerry home for a day visit this weekend, yet
would not approve for Lori and the girls to take Gerry out for just a couple of
hours near the hospital (like out to dinner) for a trial run to see how
things went.
We know that God is in control, and that there is a reason for the delays and uncertainties. We ask for your
continued faithful prayers for approval for Gerry to go to TLC this coming
week so that he may receive the treatment that he needs at this time.
We ask for your prayers for Lori and the stress that she is under as she
deals with the insurance/management company to get the best care for
Gerry. Thank you all and God Bless you!
Dear Friends & Family,
There is still no decision by the
insurance company, so the good news is that there is no denial yet in
regards to Gerry moving over to the TLC at Casa Colina. But the new
management company of the insurance company is truly giving the
run-a-round in many ways, and much prayer is needed. They now
want Ballard Rehab. to come out and evaluate Gerry, even though Ballard was
ruled out before Gerry even went to Casa Colina because Ballard does not
have the cognitive specialization that Gerry needs. They have
also put off a necessary follow-up cat-scan, an evaluation by a
neuro-psychologist, and the removal of the braces Gerry had when
his jaw was wired shut even though all of these things were
requested by Gerry's doctors.
Casa Colina has requested that Lori take Gerry home for a day visit this weekend, yet
would not approve for Lori and the girls to take Gerry out for just a couple of
hours near the hospital (like out to dinner) for a trial run to see how
things went.
We know that God is in control, and that there is a reason for the delays and uncertainties. We ask for your
continued faithful prayers for approval for Gerry to go to TLC this coming
week so that he may receive the treatment that he needs at this time.
We ask for your prayers for Lori and the stress that she is under as she
deals with the insurance/management company to get the best care for
Gerry. Thank you all and God Bless you!
Monday, August 09, 2004
8/9/04 , Update no. 2: Urgent prayer request from Gina
Mon 8/09/04 11:35 a.m.
Dear Friends & Family,
We ask for your prayer intervention today as Lori is having much difficulty with the insurance company today in trying to get Gerry accepted to the Transitional Living Center at Casa Colina. This benefit is not in her plan, and so the insurance company is taking it a step further and saying that if Gerry is well enough to go to the TLC, that it sounds like he is well enough to go home. Obviously, he is not ready to return home, and cannot be left unsupervised as of yet. There is much work to be done. Gerry needs the treatment that TLC will provide for 60 days to help him to regain his self-care skills, his independence, and his ability to go back home to his family. We ask for your urgent and faithful prayers today for God's intervention, and we thank you with all our hearts!
God Bless you all!
Gina
Dear Friends & Family,
We ask for your prayer intervention today as Lori is having much difficulty with the insurance company today in trying to get Gerry accepted to the Transitional Living Center at Casa Colina. This benefit is not in her plan, and so the insurance company is taking it a step further and saying that if Gerry is well enough to go to the TLC, that it sounds like he is well enough to go home. Obviously, he is not ready to return home, and cannot be left unsupervised as of yet. There is much work to be done. Gerry needs the treatment that TLC will provide for 60 days to help him to regain his self-care skills, his independence, and his ability to go back home to his family. We ask for your urgent and faithful prayers today for God's intervention, and we thank you with all our hearts!
God Bless you all!
Gina
Marinucci No. 48 ... Aug. 9, 2004...from Lori
Our meeting with the doctors went well on Friday and they are very encouraged by Gerry’s progress. They anticipate he will continue to improve with therapy. We see evidence that more and more memory and understanding are coming back. The entire team is in agreement that he would benefit from the Transitional Living Center facility at Casa Colina. Gerry would continue with the core 3-types of therapy but therapy is integrated around daily living skills that would benefit his transition to home. Again this is a much more regimented cognitive program involving scheduling and self-care tasks. All of the information has been sent to the insurance company and they are expected to make a decision early next week; PLEASE PRAY! It is a much more expensive program, but exactly what he needs.
His speech is becoming more understandable as he is working on strengthening his tongue muscles to force air through his mouth when he speaks and eliminating the "nasal" tone of his voice. Yes, the tongue is a muscle and must be worked after many months of no usage while in the coma. Memory is steadily coming back as well as emotions and reasoning. He is beginning to understand how many are faithfully praying for him and tears come to his eyes. Physically he is walking well with a walker, good gait and posture, and climbing stairs. He can now walk with family members during our visits. It is hopeful that soon he will not require a walker at all.
I am informed that the rehabilitation insurance benefit is for 2 months and then he would come directly home. Subsequently the out-patient benefit is for 60 consecutive days of out-pat therapy; (including weekends) and not days of treatment. The number of actual treatment days would depend on how many sessions you could arrange in that 2 month time period. I would request prayer that the insurance company re-consider and allow 60 visits for out-patient; not consecutive days. God had been faithful to this point, and again I seek His holy will.
For those who are visiting, he has now been moved to Room 6A. I will let you know if the insurance company agrees to the transfer to TLC located to the back of the campus.
Finally, pray for my coordination of an out-patient appointment with the facial maxial surgeon to remove Gerry’s braces from his teeth (the result of having his jaw wired shut) and the transportation to and from Dr. Tanaka’s office at Loma Linda.
God Bless you all!
Love, Lori
His speech is becoming more understandable as he is working on strengthening his tongue muscles to force air through his mouth when he speaks and eliminating the "nasal" tone of his voice. Yes, the tongue is a muscle and must be worked after many months of no usage while in the coma. Memory is steadily coming back as well as emotions and reasoning. He is beginning to understand how many are faithfully praying for him and tears come to his eyes. Physically he is walking well with a walker, good gait and posture, and climbing stairs. He can now walk with family members during our visits. It is hopeful that soon he will not require a walker at all.
I am informed that the rehabilitation insurance benefit is for 2 months and then he would come directly home. Subsequently the out-patient benefit is for 60 consecutive days of out-pat therapy; (including weekends) and not days of treatment. The number of actual treatment days would depend on how many sessions you could arrange in that 2 month time period. I would request prayer that the insurance company re-consider and allow 60 visits for out-patient; not consecutive days. God had been faithful to this point, and again I seek His holy will.
For those who are visiting, he has now been moved to Room 6A. I will let you know if the insurance company agrees to the transfer to TLC located to the back of the campus.
Finally, pray for my coordination of an out-patient appointment with the facial maxial surgeon to remove Gerry’s braces from his teeth (the result of having his jaw wired shut) and the transportation to and from Dr. Tanaka’s office at Loma Linda.
God Bless you all!
Love, Lori
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