Ohhh MAN, it feels like forever since I have blogged. My apologies, crazy week with work and plans and pops and well, everything.
But, as my Uncle Bud has said before...."No news is typically good news".
He has been progressing wonderfully. His smile has come back, and even a chuckle here and there. He is so anxious to get up and walk, my Mom and Brad found him trying to get out of bed two different nights. He apparently heard something outside. We use this metal basket beside his bed as something to hold misc. items, including a bell that he can ring if we are asleep and he needs one of us. My Mom said he had this basket high up in the air, as he was trying to get out of bed. Apparently he was going to club this "burglar" with a metal basket. :)
I tried lifting this thing myself, and it's not the heaviest item in the world, but it IS a bit precarious. I was impressed. Aside from the IV's that we will be giving him for another couple weeks, he is back to where we left off, and then some. The doctors say there will be a scar in his lungs after this episode, likely forever. It was a pretty bad case. The speech therapist has requested another swallow test in about 4-6 weeks, so we have been "working out" with words and exercises to strengthen this area.
My nights down there used to consist of coming over after work, having dinner, watching the news, and putting him to bed, all while catering to whatever needs may come up of course.
NOW my nights consist of walking in the door after work, and getting right to work with an eager patient. Walking, standing, talking, whatever....he doesn't waste a single moment, and I have to beg him to allow me some time to eat. HA! I love this enthusiasm, though it is tiring...on all of us.
Some close friends of mine put together a sweet gift for my Mom recently, for a visit to Gene Juarez with a gift card and an undisclosed amount. I'm hoping she uses this for some back therapy, as she has been aching more and more lately....DESPITE my requests for her to start practicing proper bending techniques!!! AHEM...MOM!!! (I know she is reading this...hehe)
Anyway, thank you thank you thank you to those involved in that. Very sweet!!!
Have a great weekend everyone, and keep the comments comin! I read them all to him.
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
3 comments:
John,
It all goes to show a couple of things. You can't keep a good man down and a Petrovich is one of the most stubborn critters in the world. I cannot wait to get up and see this Superman, but it will probably have to wait for spring. The weather has not been cooperating with travel.
Keep it up Superman.
Love to you all
Bud & Olga
John and Claudia, Hi from snowy Salt Lake City. Keep getting better every day. I keep remembering all the good times we had in Poc and wish you the very best. Jack and Lucy
Hi from Syracuse -- Thinking of you both. Hope you're improving daily. I go for my surgery May 6. Not looking forward to it, but also wish it were over. Colleen has been so nice to "share" with me. Spring has arrived in Central NY, and it's beautiful.
Love from Janice & John
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