Chapter Two "Back Home"
Well, I have a new found respect for RN's and Aide's. In home care is no walk in the park. My Mom is taking the brunt of the RN care, meds and such...while my brothers and I tend to his physical needs. It take an entire new kind of patience than was needed at the SNF, or the hospital.
I have the "luxury" of going home occasionally, wheras Brad and my Mom are with him day and night. I quote "luxury", as I miss him when I don't get to see him...it is no luxury to not be there, more of a resting and refreshing of the mind.
We set him up in our dining room, and the first weekend was quite the adjustment. Last night worked pretty well, and I could see us really starting to come together and work as a team...making everything smoother for everyone. Stress is running high, though, on everyone and I worry about my Mom. We do have a regular nurse and aide that stop by to check up on him, but the majority of the watch is our own.
To answer your questions, yes, he does seem happier to be home. I have been teaching him how to get around on his own in the chair, and he is doing very well at that...to the point where I had to make him promise me he would not get in the fridge until cleared by the nurses to do so. He still has to pass his swallow test.
We found an Aquatic Center that has "Wave Therapy", which we hope will help in taking those first steps.
All the nurses from the SNF miss my Dad, and have even commented that work is not the same without "Superman" around.
Donations and gifts continue to come in, in one form or another...and although it may be a little redundant at this point...I just cannot thank you enough. Those of you that are close to the family, I encourage you to mail, email, or call my Mom and continue to give her strength and perhaps a laugh or two....though the comedian in my Dad has not been hindered. He is alive and well, and despite what is going on...he continues to entertain his family and protect us from any pain.
We are officially at 4000 hits to the site. I never thought this would reach so many. Continue to read, as I will continue to write.
Much Love,
The Petrovich family.
Help John Heal Fundraiser!! (Thank you!!!)
Dad trying to smile (8-17-08)
Dear Friends,
As many of you know, my father John, has Parkinson’s Disease. He has fought and struggled with the symptoms of this for well over a decade. He is a loving father, husband of 45 years, and one of the kindest persons that many have ever known. At 66 years of age, he is now being forced to learn how to live again. He decided to make a choice for himself, his three sons (Brad, Matt, & Chris), but most importantly for the love of his life and best friend, my mom Claudia.
The choice my father made was for a procedure known as DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation), which can be read about in our Medical Link. He made this choice for a better life, for a long and healthy retirement. The procedure claims to have a 97% success rate, thus he deemed it worth the risk. Sadly, we fell into the 3%, and his story has been said to be one of the most tragic this procedure has seen to date. I know my Dad, and I believe he can come back from this. He is a man that has always put others before him, and would come back just to kiss his wife, one last time and tell us that he loves us. The doctors claim that he may never walk again, that he may never leave his bed. They say that in three months, we as a family; have to make a “decision”…if he has not improved. Now, due to the stipulations of his Medicare, we may not even get those three months.
I invite you to read his story and watch for updates as we prove the doctors wrong. For all of those who have asked how you can help, I have provided information on how you can donate. Thank you and God bless you all.
~The Petrovich family
P.O. Box 310
Kirkland, WA. 98083
The choice my father made was for a procedure known as DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation), which can be read about in our Medical Link. He made this choice for a better life, for a long and healthy retirement. The procedure claims to have a 97% success rate, thus he deemed it worth the risk. Sadly, we fell into the 3%, and his story has been said to be one of the most tragic this procedure has seen to date. I know my Dad, and I believe he can come back from this. He is a man that has always put others before him, and would come back just to kiss his wife, one last time and tell us that he loves us. The doctors claim that he may never walk again, that he may never leave his bed. They say that in three months, we as a family; have to make a “decision”…if he has not improved. Now, due to the stipulations of his Medicare, we may not even get those three months.
I invite you to read his story and watch for updates as we prove the doctors wrong. For all of those who have asked how you can help, I have provided information on how you can donate. Thank you and God bless you all.
~The Petrovich family
P.O. Box 310
Kirkland, WA. 98083
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