JimK's Journal

Tuesday, September 23, 2008 -- 6:21 PM

On an overall basis, this was a good day for me even though I was not able to get much sleep last night.  I still believe that I am having too many stress factors, which are getting in the way of my sleeping.  If that part of my life does not get better soon, I will talk to my doctor about it next week.

This morning began when my nurse came for her weekly visit.  She checked all my vital signs, and everything turned out well.  I was asked how I was getting along with my CNA's, and I told her that I was satisfied with everyone helping me with the exception of one person who comes here in the mornings.  I said that I had asked the director of staffing to replace him, but that she had not done so, as of this morning. 

The nurse told me that she had a lot of paperwork to do, and would stay here while she finished it, so that she could watch this particular CNA.  I said that was fine with me.

This CNA arrived, and sure enough, he began making a mess of things right from the beginning.  The nurse noticed two major things that stood out clearly.  This CNA was supposed to put two different kinds of medical ointments on me.  For some unknown reason, rather than do each one separately, he used both of them together. 

The nurse asked him if he did that all the time.  He replied that he did not, because he did not usually do it at all.  He said that he usually stood by and watched the other CNA do all the work.  The nurse and I looked at one another, and I knew right then and there that this CNA had just cut his own throat.

I received a phone call from the home health care agency this afternoon, notifying me that this particular CNA would not be coming back to help me again.  I had already figured that out long before I received the phone call.

After everybody had left here this morning, I was just getting ready to have breakfast, when my ride came to take me to my physical therapy appointment.  The driver got here one hour early, but I decided not to argue the point, because having some kind of ride was better than having no ride at all.

It was good to get the physical therapy because of the amount of pain I have been having throughout the past week.  A new person had started doing an internship at the clinic, and my therapist was working with him today.  She told him about the problems I have had during the past year, along with the things she had been doing to try and help me.  He seemed to understand everything she was telling him, and her explanations, even helped me to understand more about the different therapies that I have been receiving.

I learned about some of the goals that she hopes to help me achieve during the time that she is working with me.  They will require the combined cooperation of my doctor, his social worker, and my home health care agency.  Her plans sound logical, and if they work, I feel that they will be very beneficial to me.

Before I left the clinic this afternoon, my therapist made out a monthly schedule of appointments for me.  Each week there will be one day when I will receive traction therapy, and one day will be devoted to pool therapy.  It does not sound as though my physical therapy will be stopping any time in the near future.

Quotes for Determination:

"The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person's determination."

--Tommy Lasorda