Nov. 24, 2008

What started out with a rough night ended with a good day. Jake did not have a good night last night. Sometimes he keeps going and going and doesn't know when to stop. He wants to put on a good front for whoever comes to visit, not wanting them to see how weak or tired he really is. He tends to sit in his wheelchair for hours on end, visiting with everyone who comes by. As a result, his back, neck, and head start to hurt. That's what happened last night. Don't get me wrong. He wants and needs his friends and family to visit so don't stop coming please, but it would help Jake if you would come by before 9:00 p.m. or leave by 9:00 p.m. if you arrive before then. Again, PLEASE don't stop visiting. His days aren't as long and boring when you come and visit with him.
We finally had to wake up Jake at 11:00 a.m. to take him for his radiation treatment. This is the first time I have been to the oncology clinic in Fort Worth. One of the girls from the office was waiting at the door with an ESPN magazine for Jake. They are so sweet to him. We didn't have to wait too long for his treatment. Johnny helps the nurses lift Jake onto the table. The machine is large but takes only 30 seconds after Jake is put into position. After radiation we came straight home as our Home Health nurse was coming by at 1:00 to check on Jake. When we arrived, Stephanie, Ryan's girlfriend, was here for a visit. She really misses Samson and he misses her so she comes by to visit both he and Jake. The nurse arrrived and brought by a wheelchair pad to help with Jake's pain and placed an order for a second pad and a gel mattress for the bed instead of the adjustable air mattress. He also ordered pads to put over the rails of the hospital bed. He checked on Jake and said he is doing as well as can be expected considering. He told us we could increase the extended release morphine to help Jake as the pain increases. Not long after he left, the gel mattress, rail pads, and wheelchair pad arrived. All these should help with Jake's pain. Jake slept most of the afternoon on the couch and seemed to feel better when he woke up. He then went outside and sat on the patio under the heater. We had put one of the pads in the bottom of the wheelchair and Johnny was with Jake but was busy doing something. Mayme and I were inside when suddenly we heard something. Johnny was trying to get our attention as the pad had slipped out of the wheelchair and Jake along with it. Johnny caught him before he hit the ground but was having trouble getting him back in the chair. We finally got him into one of the patio chairs and again had a good laugh. It must not sound like it when you read it, but it really was funny after we got Jake safely in the chair. The pad is a slippery material and I can't believe they didn't send a cover with it. We pinned a flannel pillowcase over it and it seems to be keeping him in the wheelchair. He wanted to go for a walk so with a flashlight in hand, we walked around the block. After the first time around, Lisa and Susie arrived, and they walked around the block a second time with us. When we got back, Sarah and Riley also came over for a visit. We ate lasagna and Texas Toast for dinner on the patio and when it got too cold for Jake, we moved inside. After Sarah and Riley left, I went to Bed, Bath, and Beyond to get a neck/back massager for Jake and then went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few more pajama type pants for him. When I returned, Amber, one of Jake's friends from Benbrook United Methodist Church (BUMC), was visiting. She is going to come back to visit another time to talk to Jake more as it was getting late. After she left, we all went to bed and Jake seemed to be feeling better. He asked for a bowl of Trix and some "cold" grapes and he ate those before he went to sleep. You never know what he will eat and when. I just hope he sleeps well on the gel mattress. If anyone has suggestions for anything health care wise that might help with Jake's pain, please put it in a comment on the blog as we need any help you can give us with things that might help.
Sorry these blogs get so long and wordy. I think I am writing them as a diary for me as well as a blog for you so I tend to go overboard with details.

Keep praying! (I know you do, but I like to type it anyway.)
Love,
Carolyn/Mom