Spring 2005, page 1
 03-19-2005I brought this over from Winter 2005 because it is so current and I know Jake would want me to make sure everyone saw his new hairshave. err... I mean haircut. Jake decided he wanted a hair cut. He has clippers at home. He told his friend Bou to use a certain # and she did... but with the wrong attachment. Don't worry, it'll grow back. :) |
| 04-01-05 Jake's been in bed for about 4 weeks now. He doesn't get into his chair at all. They have discovered a crack in his ulcer and that is bad news. He dare not put any weight on it at all (not that he has that much weight). Yesterday he saw a plastic surgeon. He didn't get into his chair but was taken on a gurney. They are going to call Jake early next week with the date for his surgery. |
| Finally some good news! |
| Jake says he has not been weighed yet. I don't know whether that is true or he is just afraid to tell me (what he weighs). |
| Jake's description of the surgery: "they are going to take
muscle and stuff from my thigh and stretch it into and over my ulcer".
This will fill the huge hole that is the ulcer and cover it too.
The doc says between 2-3 weeks in the hospital and then 2-3 weeks in a nursing home. This translates to a minimum of 5 more weeks in bed. |
| The good part about Jake being in the hospital and then the nursing home: he will eat better. |
| Jake said that the doc drew diagrams for him and he would in turn try to show Terri what the doc drew. Terri is visiting Jake right now. |
| Please remember Jake in your prayers. |
| 04-06-05 Jake is not having an easy time right now. Many things seem to be stacking up against him. |
| Jake's nurse allowed him to get into his chair for a short time yesterday. He was able to go outside. That cheered him up. |
| The surgery is tentatively scheduled for April 27th. |
| Prayers will be greatly appreciated. |
| 04-09-05 Well, Terri and Jeff drove up to Jake's again this weekend. Second weekend in a row. There are many issues that need to be addressed. Jake is not doing well at this time. His short-term memory is terrible. We have been blaming it on ADHD but we are beginning to suspect it might be in part due to his injury. Everyone has come to the conclusion that at this time his assisted-living apartment may not be in his best interests. Right now he needs more help than his current aides can give him- both medically and physically. |
| We are looking into group homes- Jake is very upbeat and excited about this. After his surgery the move to a group home will help him heal and he can focus on getting better. He will not have to worry about when to take his meds and when (and what) to eat (right now he must call an aide and ask him to fix something for him- he must tell the aide what to fix and how. He doesn't have a clue what's in his refrigerator since he's been in bed for 5 weeks). |
| He will be able to concentrate on getting 100% better, and then finally think about college. And after he's 100% better, and has gained weight and strength, he can think about assisted-living accommodations again. |
| He has decided to go back on Ritalin. He's been off ADHD meds since the accident. This will help him focus, and maybe his memory will get better. |
| Jake has had good eats the past two weekends. Last week Terri grilled steak, this week (actually as I write this) Jake is eating grilled chicken. :) |
| 04-13-05 Jake is feeling much better- at least mentally. This past weekend was very good for him. His stress level has gone down drastically and he is sleeping better. I am very proud of him. He has weathered many a storm these past 5 years and I think he has come out on top. More has been put on him than on the average teenager. I guess that would qualify as the under statement of the year. |
| Of course he is not a teenager any more. He will be 22 next month. |
| Now he knows that he has options... and he finally realizes just how sick he is. That is the first step in getting better. He has been slowly going down hill so long that he felt that was normal. He must eat better, gain some weight; he must get that surgery behind him (sorry about that- I can't resist a good pun) , he must start back on the road to a healthy body. |
| He had blood work yesterday. Hopefully it will be good news and the surgery will still be on for the 27th. |
| Thank you for all your prayers. |
| 04-24-05 Terri and Jeff made another trip up to visit Jake this weekend. Packed away a lot of his stuff so it can go into storage until it is decided where Jake will move to. |
| 04-26-05 Jake's surgery is tomorrow a.m. As best as he can remember he will be in the hospital on complete bed rest (that part won't be new for him) for 2-3 weeks. Then a short stay at a nursing home for another 2-3 weeks. He may be able to go into his wheelchair in the nursing home- depends on how well his wound is healing. |
| He doesn't remember how long the surgery will be. And he doesn't remember exactly what they will do except the 'hole' will be filled and tissue will be grafted from his thigh. |
| I suggested that in the future he might ask his physicians if they would send him a copy of the dictation from his office visits so that he can review what was told to him. I think that is a reasonable request since he cannot write things down and his memory is not the best. |
| He is upbeat and confident about this surgery. He is a little worried about the pain but I'm sure they will help him control that. |
| Jake will be at Regions Hospital for the next 2-3 weeks. |