| Sunday, August 31st Jake is in his new digs now. He is very excited about his ‘independence’. I felt better about this when I discovered that they check on him during the night. We have been hearing the low rumble of Harley’s for the past week. almost 24x7. I love that sound. It’s too bad Jake is not in Oconomowoc right now. He would have had a wonderful time during the 100 yr Harley celebration. |
| Saturday, August 9th On Monday Jake will be moving from the Courage Center to an assisted living home just north of Minneapolis. He is very excited about this move. Terri and I are slowly getting used to this idea. |
| He is responsible for all his cares and decisions now. From paying the utility bills to getting his meals. There are caretakers there all the time to help with his needs. But he must plan and ask - his dinner will not appear out of nowhere - he must make decisions now. |
| He has been experiencing dysreflexia and very severe abdominal pain lately. To the point where he hesitates to eat or drink because everything causes much discomfort. He is down to 136#. (he's over 6ft tall) |
| The docs assumed it was gallbladder but yesterday Jake was told that the problem is centered around his incision from the Mitrofanoff operation in May. So Jake will not have his gallbladder out - the docs must investigate further. |
| It would have been nice if Jake had a little respite from his medical problems so he could enjoy his first taste of (semi) freedom but that is not to be (yet). |
| He is not able to transfer himself. There are different capabilities
at the same injury level. For example, someone else with same injury level
(C5-6) may be able to transfer himself/drive a car/have more (or less)
wrist movement/triceps movement, etc. One C5-6 quad I know even lives
alone and only has help come in a.m. and p.m. Jake could never do this. We
hope, when he has tendon transfers, that possibly he will be able to
transfer himself. |
| Sunday, September 7th, 2003 Last Friday Terri and Colin, a friend of Jake’s, headed for Minnesota to visit him. They are on their way home as I type (early afternoon). Jake enjoyed seeing both of them. Colin stayed with Jake, and Terri went to a motel. |
| His apartment was sadly in need of cleaning and rearranging. There are aides to clean but Jake had no cleaning supplies. (he does now) |
| He had no food, no paper products, no cleaning things. He has never had the need to buy these things before as he went from carefree teenager (under Mom’s roof) to quadriplegic (hospital to rehab). Now that he is in his own apartment (assisted living quarters) he needs lessons in shopping and Terri obliged. |
| He also needed a haircut! But I don’t know if he got one. Terri said his hair was 6-8” long and since it’s so thick it generally sticks out quite a bit when it’s long. Terri asked if she could cut his hair – Colin chimed in and said he’d do it and Jake said “ok”. But I don’t know if they had time. Sure hope so. |
| Jake’s been having difficulties eating. (aside from the fact that there wasn’t any food). What he eats has been leaving his body within the hour. Also he still has much abdominal pain. Those factors make him hesitate to eat anything. He has lost a lot of weight. |
| Well, Jake now has full kitchen cupboards, a clean apartment, and many notes/reminders strewn about. I lent Terri my camera – sure hope it’s full. |
| Thank you for your prayers. |