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CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 07:41 PM Apr 2014

****WCGreen Update --Wednesday April 16, 2014****

From his wife:

Chris is weaning more and more off the vent.

He passed the sip test, so he is on a clear diet, which includes some fruit juices and jello as well as broth and tea. He is still on tube feeding and tolerating it a lot better. They put the tube into his small intestine, bypassing his very sensitive stomach. He also has meds that help the food to move along.

He will probably be moving to a rehab place before the month is out. Hopefully, Grace Hospital, on Fairview Hospital's 6th floor of the old bldg. He was there the last time he was REALLY sick.
I was at the hospital when Physical Therapy was there to work with Chris. I found out that Chris is not very cooperative in PT. Poor baby is often very tired. Since I was there, I encouraged him, and he stood for the first time (with help).



36 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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****WCGreen Update --Wednesday April 16, 2014**** (Original Post) CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 OP
Thanks, Peggy-- Jackpine Radical Apr 2014 #1
Thank you, my dear Jackpine Radical... CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #4
Excellent, Ma'am! The Magistrate Apr 2014 #2
what a bad time for him! I wish you and him so much luck! CTyankee Apr 2014 #3
It has been a long haul, and tough on him... CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #5
Glad to hear this peggy. boston bean Apr 2014 #6
Eventually his recovery will speed up, though I don't know when. CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #7
A friend had a single lung transplant, and that was an ordeal pinboy3niner Apr 2014 #12
yesiree. I've never met or knew anyone who needed a transplant. boston bean Apr 2014 #13
I've been reluctant to Post in Peggy's threads about Chris pinboy3niner Apr 2014 #27
My dear pinboy3niner... CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #29
He is doing really well, my dear pinboy... CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #14
thanks CaliforniaPeggy spanone Apr 2014 #8
Ms. Peggy: Raine1967 Apr 2014 #9
Well, it's about time you jumped in, my dear Raine1967! CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #10
Thanks for the update Joe Shlabotnik Apr 2014 #11
I am so sorry he has to go through all of this. NCarolinawoman Apr 2014 #15
My dear NCarolinawoman... CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #18
Thanks for the update malaise Apr 2014 #16
I don't know anybody that's had nearly as bad an experiene as poor WC Auntie Bush Apr 2014 #17
Thank you, Peggy! Solly Mack Apr 2014 #19
Appreciate the updates, but I'm looking forward to hearing from him lumberjack_jeff Apr 2014 #20
I hear ya, my dear lumberjack_jeff! CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #22
Thanks Peg!!! - You're The Best !!! WillyT Apr 2014 #21
Thanks for the updates Peg... Ohio Joe Apr 2014 #23
Ah, you're welcome, my dear Ohio Joe... CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #25
excellent Liberal_in_LA Apr 2014 #24
It sound rough, but it also sounds like progress is being made. All the best to him lostincalifornia Apr 2014 #26
Wow! Good news! He's crossed some major milestones with this update riderinthestorm Apr 2014 #28
Nice explanation, CP… You know you gotta get that core strength! MrMickeysMom Apr 2014 #30
Sounding better all the time.... CherokeeDem Apr 2014 #31
thank you for the update. was just thinking about his progress. please niyad Apr 2014 #32
Slow and steady nadinbrzezinski Apr 2014 #33
Thank you for the update Mojorabbit Apr 2014 #34
Thank you, my dear Mojorabbit! CaliforniaPeggy Apr 2014 #35
Thank you, Peggy for the update. gademocrat7 Apr 2014 #36

Jackpine Radical

(45,274 posts)
1. Thanks, Peggy--
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 07:44 PM
Apr 2014

Not just for the update, but for the love and care you are providing for him. I like to think of you as the representative of all of us.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
4. Thank you, my dear Jackpine Radical...
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 07:47 PM
Apr 2014

He and I have been close friends for some years, and doing these postings is the least I can do for him.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
5. It has been a long haul, and tough on him...
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 07:52 PM
Apr 2014

He is, however, getting better! I am so happy to be able to bring you good news!

Thanks for your good wishes, my dear CTyankee...

boston bean

(36,186 posts)
6. Glad to hear this peggy.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 07:52 PM
Apr 2014

I hope he begins to recover in leaps and bounds. Seems as though it's been a really tough hard slog.

The news you bring this evening is encouraging!

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
7. Eventually his recovery will speed up, though I don't know when.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 07:56 PM
Apr 2014

He was so sick when he had the surgery, and that dragged him down from the start. That's how it is sometimes.

I am greatly encouraged tonight as well!

Thank you for your good thoughts, my dear boston bean...

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
12. A friend had a single lung transplant, and that was an ordeal
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:04 PM
Apr 2014

A double is far more of a challenge. Bottom line, though, it's keeping Chris alive--and that's what counts.

boston bean

(36,186 posts)
13. yesiree. I've never met or knew anyone who needed a transplant.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:06 PM
Apr 2014

but reading Peggy's notes here about Chris, it certainly has been eye opening.

pinboy3niner

(53,339 posts)
27. I've been reluctant to Post in Peggy's threads about Chris
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:01 PM
Apr 2014

Because in the end, my friend died and I didn't want to have to say that and be a downer.

But his transplant gave him 8 more years of life (which may have been a record then).

I drove from my home in VA to pick him up in MD and take him back to the hospital in VA for his appointments pre- and post-transplant, and I had an inkling of what a rigorous ordeal that was for him.

He didn't want me to see him going through his PT, so he'd send me down to the lobby and the gift shop--where I'd buy Junior Mints for a treat while I read my book.

Post-transplant, he joked about his "moonface"--the puffing of his face caused by the steroid drugs he was on to prevent transplant rejection.

He really got a kick out of it when I sent him a birthday card I'd made--with a flattened Junior Mints box in it and some stupid words I wrote.

We stayed in touch after I moved to the West Coast, and the last phone call I got was about him planning to come out for a visit.

In the end, he died--as we all do. But for my friend that transplant was a lifesaver that gave him extra years that I will never regret.

R.I.P. Rod Kane, Vietnam veteran, Army combat medic, author, friend.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
14. He is doing really well, my dear pinboy...
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:07 PM
Apr 2014

I am very encouraged, on all fronts...

Thanks for coming by, sweetie...

Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
9. Ms. Peggy:
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 07:57 PM
Apr 2014

I have not responded in any of your updates until today.

I have always enjoyed WCGreen in the past and reading this update made me very very happy.

I am sending my and to you and WCGreen --- this is positive stuff…

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
10. Well, it's about time you jumped in, my dear Raine1967!
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:02 PM
Apr 2014

I'm glad this update made you happy......it made me happy too!

It sure is a big positive step.

NCarolinawoman

(2,825 posts)
15. I am so sorry he has to go through all of this.
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:18 PM
Apr 2014

WCGreen has always been one of my favorite posters here. Naturally, I never told him
this

It is hard to go through physical therapy when you don't have the energy. Hoping for a quick pick-up in the healing process.

Thank you so much for the update.

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
18. My dear NCarolinawoman...
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:28 PM
Apr 2014

Eventually, I think he will read all these updates, and then he will know how much you like him...

Not to worry...

I expect his healing to really pick up in the next month or two.

I'm so glad I can go back and forth between here and Facebook. It means a lot to me to be able to bring these updates to all of you...

malaise

(267,793 posts)
16. Thanks for the update
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:23 PM
Apr 2014

please give Chris and his wife a group hug for me. Glad to hear he's recovering albeit slowly, but that was major surgery.

Auntie Bush

(17,528 posts)
17. I don't know anybody that's had nearly as bad an experiene as poor WC
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:26 PM
Apr 2014

Keep up the good work WC. Yes, PT can be a real pain!

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
22. I hear ya, my dear lumberjack_jeff!
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:49 PM
Apr 2014

I am as well.

It's going to be a while, maybe months. His wife tells me that his fingers aren't very well coordinated these days...

CaliforniaPeggy

(149,296 posts)
25. Ah, you're welcome, my dear Ohio Joe...
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 08:52 PM
Apr 2014

It's strange, but since he cannot talk with the trach, I am not sure just what he's aware of.

I have called and spoken to him a couple of times, but I don't really know (since he can't respond on the phone) just how much of what I say he understands.

Once he reads these posts, then he'll get it, if not before!

MrMickeysMom

(20,453 posts)
30. Nice explanation, CP… You know you gotta get that core strength!
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:18 PM
Apr 2014

Tough love and good breathing technique … more than restorative care, it's true rehab.

WCG… Your DU friends are rooting for you!

niyad

(112,426 posts)
32. thank you for the update. was just thinking about his progress. please
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:26 PM
Apr 2014

let him know that good thoughts and healing vibes continue going his way. you are an absolute treasure.

Mojorabbit

(16,020 posts)
34. Thank you for the update
Wed Apr 16, 2014, 09:35 PM
Apr 2014

I have been following his progress through your posts and am here rooting for him!

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