July 9, 2009

Gene has settled nicely into Kindred Hospital, and they have begun the serious business of rehabilitation. The staff is absolutely attentive and wonderful to him.

This morning Dr. Deversa saw Gene and spoke with some of the family. He indicated that many patients take as long as a month to get off a ventilator, and that if that is what Gene needs, that will be fine, but that he is really much further along than that. This was very encouraging news.

An example of the level of care was explained today. At Erlanger, where he was in an acute care facility, he would be one patient of a respiratory therapist who would have responsibility for patients on 3 floors. At Kindred, there are 3 respiratory therapists on duty for 37 ventilator patients in a much smaller space. It seems that he is seen much more frequently by someone involved with his care. Whether it is a nurse, a CNA, a respiratory therapist, a speech therapist, a physical therapist, or an occupational therapist, it seems that there are lots of people who are working with him. He actually was very tired this evening!

Today Brandy, the speech therapist, worked with Gene's swallowing reflex - she was feeding him small pieces of ice. She explained that her short term goal would be to have him consuming a significant amount of ice. From there she will move to sips of water. She will also begin to give him something of the texture of pudding or applesauce. The long term goal will be to have him able to handle both liquid and solid textures. Brandy explained to us that swallowing is very complex. A person has to suspend their breathing for about a second and a half to swallow and then resume breathing again. She says he will have to relearn this response. Her initial efforts at giving him ice, allows him to have the liquid in very small amounts (the ice melts slowly in his mouth and he only swallows a tiny bit at a time). She says that he has made significant progress since he arrived on Monday. She also told Gene that she and her fiance had signed up for the Master Gardener class in January, and that she was looking forward to him being well enough to teach her. He said "I hope so".

Gene also had physical therapy and occupational therapy visits today. The occupational therapist worked with Gene's arms and shoulders. He also left some yellow therapy putty for Gene to grip, and encouraged Emily to work with him as often as possible. The physical therapist used electrical stimulation on his legs, and Gene was able to feel the stimulation on the highest setting. She was very encouraged and said that she expected for him to continue to have gains using this therapy.

Emily has been spending the nights at Kindred. Today her sisters convinced her to take some time off (while they stayed with Gene) and go to her P.E.O. meeting. Her P.E.O. sisters were so glad to see her, and she seemed to enjoy the opportunity to attend the meeting. Two of her P.E.O. sisters volunteered to take over her responsibility to host the next two times she is scheduled. That will be so much help for her!