Despite a a fever, that broke, and a historical snow storm, Larisa arrived back in her home on Sunday evening. All the details aren't in, but I wanted to let everyone know that she is home and is thrilled to be with her family and in her own room. They do have a hospital bed set up in the back bedroom and a wheelchair that does fit through the halls. Yesterday a nurse was there going over all the ins and outs. She will be coming by on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. As for a lot of details, I am still waiting to get those and when I do, I will pass them along.
We are happy she is home and doing great! Thanks for all your many many prayers, kind words and support. We know that with out you and your help along with divine intervention, the outcome could have been much worse. Thank you so much.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Trip home postponed
On Wednesday morning, Larisa woke up with horrible pain just below her colostomy bag. As the day progressed it got really bad and she spiked a fever. They ended up quickly loading her up in an ambulance and sent her to Winchester hospital.
After blood work, ultra sounds, and a CAT scan, nothing real specific was determined, except for signs of inflammation around the area that was hurting. It appears that there is some kind of infection. The IV antibiotic that she has been on was to be finished on the 17th. The doctors said that often times this particular IV antibiotic will mask other problems that may be going on. They took her off the antibiotic and were waiting for results of labs and tests to determine what type of antibiotic they would need to give her. Thursday, she was still spiking a fever in the late afternoon, which postponed her trip home for the 18th.
As of yesterday, the fever has broken, and the pain has significantly decreased. She is on another antibiotic and seems to be doing better. However, because of this infection and the huge snow storm that we are getting, it has postponed her trip home until sometime early in the week.
Physically she is doing better, but emotionally, really bummed. Nothing more disappointing to hear you are going home, and then your not. We all want her home, but when her body is in a condition to be home. Right now she is just taking it day by day, we anticipate her to be home for Christmas - but it will be up to her body to determine whether she is ready to go or not.
Now her recovery will require a lot of patience, hope and faith to make it through the long days as all her bones and wounds heal. Not an easy task, but as we all know, when we have experiences that require a lot of patience and faith, in the long run we come out stronger and with new perspective on what we are capable of doing.
After blood work, ultra sounds, and a CAT scan, nothing real specific was determined, except for signs of inflammation around the area that was hurting. It appears that there is some kind of infection. The IV antibiotic that she has been on was to be finished on the 17th. The doctors said that often times this particular IV antibiotic will mask other problems that may be going on. They took her off the antibiotic and were waiting for results of labs and tests to determine what type of antibiotic they would need to give her. Thursday, she was still spiking a fever in the late afternoon, which postponed her trip home for the 18th.
As of yesterday, the fever has broken, and the pain has significantly decreased. She is on another antibiotic and seems to be doing better. However, because of this infection and the huge snow storm that we are getting, it has postponed her trip home until sometime early in the week.
Physically she is doing better, but emotionally, really bummed. Nothing more disappointing to hear you are going home, and then your not. We all want her home, but when her body is in a condition to be home. Right now she is just taking it day by day, we anticipate her to be home for Christmas - but it will be up to her body to determine whether she is ready to go or not.
Now her recovery will require a lot of patience, hope and faith to make it through the long days as all her bones and wounds heal. Not an easy task, but as we all know, when we have experiences that require a lot of patience and faith, in the long run we come out stronger and with new perspective on what we are capable of doing.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
She's coming home
I apology for not writing for the past week -- mainly there has been not much to report and secondly I was in Florida on a family vacation visiting Mickey and the gang.
The past several weeks for Larisa have been just letting her body heal. She had some x-rays done on her wrist over a week ago to determine whether or not her arm could bear any weight. None of the bones are ready to have any weight put on them. This limits what they are able to do in physical therapy - right now.
They had given her the OK to go home. She is VERY excited about this as well as her family. It has been determined that at this point there is very little she can do in physical therapy and her days are spent just resting and sitting. They feel she can just as easily do that at home. She is still on an IV antibiotic - until Dec. 17th. It is because of the IV that she really has needed to stay in Winchester. The IV will be completed on the 17th and as soon as it is out -- she will be OUT.
The wound on her leg is looking really really good. The inside of the leg has healed almost to the surface of the skin. It has not been decided whether or not she will need to come home on the vac. That will be decided in the next day or two.
The family has been busy getting the house ready for her to come home. As I mentioned before, a friend's father built a ramp on the front porch to make it easy to get in the house. The have purchased a hospital bed, mattress, and wheelchair for her as well. Everything is set up, all they need is Larisa -- she will be there soon enough. As it stands right now she will not be returning back to Winchester Rehab Center.
Sometime after Christmas she will be go back to Fairfax to have the bone graft on her thigh done. The date has not been set. It is our understanding that she will be in for the day and back home -- they may keep her one night. That too will be decided after the surgery. They are also looking at reversing the colostomy in the next several weeks - that will be a great change.
Over all she is doing great. She is so thankful and grateful for all the kindness she has been shown and the overwhelming support. It is experiences like these that remind us how blessed we are on a daily basis and that we should never take for granted what we have been given.
The past several weeks for Larisa have been just letting her body heal. She had some x-rays done on her wrist over a week ago to determine whether or not her arm could bear any weight. None of the bones are ready to have any weight put on them. This limits what they are able to do in physical therapy - right now.
They had given her the OK to go home. She is VERY excited about this as well as her family. It has been determined that at this point there is very little she can do in physical therapy and her days are spent just resting and sitting. They feel she can just as easily do that at home. She is still on an IV antibiotic - until Dec. 17th. It is because of the IV that she really has needed to stay in Winchester. The IV will be completed on the 17th and as soon as it is out -- she will be OUT.
The wound on her leg is looking really really good. The inside of the leg has healed almost to the surface of the skin. It has not been decided whether or not she will need to come home on the vac. That will be decided in the next day or two.
The family has been busy getting the house ready for her to come home. As I mentioned before, a friend's father built a ramp on the front porch to make it easy to get in the house. The have purchased a hospital bed, mattress, and wheelchair for her as well. Everything is set up, all they need is Larisa -- she will be there soon enough. As it stands right now she will not be returning back to Winchester Rehab Center.
Sometime after Christmas she will be go back to Fairfax to have the bone graft on her thigh done. The date has not been set. It is our understanding that she will be in for the day and back home -- they may keep her one night. That too will be decided after the surgery. They are also looking at reversing the colostomy in the next several weeks - that will be a great change.
Over all she is doing great. She is so thankful and grateful for all the kindness she has been shown and the overwhelming support. It is experiences like these that remind us how blessed we are on a daily basis and that we should never take for granted what we have been given.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
How is she doin?
Over the past week, with the Thanksgiving holiday -- there was not much to report. That is why you may be wondering if I was ever going to update. Well, now I have stuff to report.
Thanksgiving was great. Larisa had the opportunity to go home for a few hours to each turkey and pie with her family. Transporting her to and from was a little rough, since this was Chantel and Sergio's first time ever doing it. Once they got her in the house, it was a really nice afternoon. She did not want to go back to the Rehab center, but knew she had to. Thanksgiving was just their little family -- which I know they had many moments of things to be grateful for.
Since Thanksgiving - she has spent most of her time, just resting and letting things heal. Physical therapy is not that productive yet and they are limited, because she is unable to bear any weight on any limb. Things have been pretty quiet. She has enjoyed visits from family and friends, that is always a bright spot in her day!
This past Monday Larisa was transported down to the Fairfax area to meet with her doctor for a check up. He seemed pleased with her progress. He did tell them that the bone graft on her thigh will be done shortly after Christmas and that it would also require a skin graft later.
As a result of the appointment and her Doctor at the Rehab center, it has been decided at this point that Larisa will be able to go home on/or around Dec 17th permanently. Needless to say she and her family are very excited. Since they are unable to do much PT -- her doctor felt she could recover at home. She will most likely be assigned an in home nurse that will come frequently to check on her, change bandages and various other medical needs. She needs to wait until Dec 17th in order to finish the IV antibiotic. Once that is complete, barring no complications between now and then - it looks like she will be home for Christmas.
Chantel and Sergio are making preparations for bringing her home. They have purchased a hospital bed and are looking into buying a wheelchair. Over the next several weeks they will fine tune the things they will need to help make the transition home more smoothly.
It is such a blessing to see how far she has come over the past 8 weeks. Daily we express our thanks and gratitude, not only for her life, we should for our own. Despite our own challenges we still have much to be thankful for.
Thanksgiving was great. Larisa had the opportunity to go home for a few hours to each turkey and pie with her family. Transporting her to and from was a little rough, since this was Chantel and Sergio's first time ever doing it. Once they got her in the house, it was a really nice afternoon. She did not want to go back to the Rehab center, but knew she had to. Thanksgiving was just their little family -- which I know they had many moments of things to be grateful for.
Since Thanksgiving - she has spent most of her time, just resting and letting things heal. Physical therapy is not that productive yet and they are limited, because she is unable to bear any weight on any limb. Things have been pretty quiet. She has enjoyed visits from family and friends, that is always a bright spot in her day!
This past Monday Larisa was transported down to the Fairfax area to meet with her doctor for a check up. He seemed pleased with her progress. He did tell them that the bone graft on her thigh will be done shortly after Christmas and that it would also require a skin graft later.
As a result of the appointment and her Doctor at the Rehab center, it has been decided at this point that Larisa will be able to go home on/or around Dec 17th permanently. Needless to say she and her family are very excited. Since they are unable to do much PT -- her doctor felt she could recover at home. She will most likely be assigned an in home nurse that will come frequently to check on her, change bandages and various other medical needs. She needs to wait until Dec 17th in order to finish the IV antibiotic. Once that is complete, barring no complications between now and then - it looks like she will be home for Christmas.
Chantel and Sergio are making preparations for bringing her home. They have purchased a hospital bed and are looking into buying a wheelchair. Over the next several weeks they will fine tune the things they will need to help make the transition home more smoothly.
It is such a blessing to see how far she has come over the past 8 weeks. Daily we express our thanks and gratitude, not only for her life, we should for our own. Despite our own challenges we still have much to be thankful for.
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