Join Now
bob59 
Just a short post to let everyone know what has happened!
Over the past two months Lee has gone dowenhill fast. He lost all functions and could not move at sall, not even his eyes.
On Monday we had to make the decision to remove support systems. That was done on Wednesday morning the 18th an he passed away at 5:10pn on the 19th.
Comments
Well everyone I am still around just not on here much lately with all I have to do so I will try and update so you know what is happening.
As you all know my brother Lee has been in the hospital since his stroke in February. He is still there in ICU but doing some better. His Medicaid finally got approved and all we are waiting for is a bed to open up in an acute care nursing home. He is still on the respirator, can’t speak and has little use of his hands and feet. This all should start to improve once he is in the care facility and gets more therapy.
My older brother Jack has been in and out of the hospital since Thanksgiving with heart trouble. He das severe COPD and has been on Oxygen for about 5 years now, he has had 4 stints put in, open heart surgery, and most recently was carotid surgery. He has a pace maker and just got out of the hospital for the carotid surgery the end of April and went back in on the 4th of May with congestive heart failure and pneumonia. He just got home the first of this week, the doctors told him he would continue having heart attacks and strokes and any one of them could be fatal.
The first part of March my niece (Shannon Marie) who has had numerous health problems all her life was diagnosed with stage 4 cancers and it is just a matter of time before it takes her. She spent a month in the hospital and just got home the 2nd of May and had to go back on the 3rd. The last I heard was on the 13th and she was still in the hospital with pneumonia so her kemo treatments had to be put on hold.
My mother has been in a nursing home for a couple of years now and in very poor health. She passed Away on the 4th of May at the age of 89 so I was gone the first week of May helping with her arrangements. Her funeral was on the 7th and she left quite a legacy with her family. She raised all her brothers and sisters starting when she was 9 years old. She raised 11 children of her own, had 40 grandchildren ranging in age from 4 year to 54 year old, 37 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren. Prior to going into the nursing home she was active in her church and ran their community closet, she was active in the local quilter’s guild and an active member of the police auxiliary. Everyone who knew her referred to her as Mama or granny.
So you can see I have had my hands full and not much time to do other things. The biggest question for us now is which funeral will be next. We have 2 family members that will not last the rest of this year and possibly 3.
As for Johnny and I we are doing OK. I had to go to my doctor on Thursday because my COPD acted up and I was out of med’s, they gave me new med’s and I am better now. I can’t walk far now without getting short of breath but I will be getting my parking permit on Monday.
Johnny had to have a bunch of caps on his teeth on April 3rd because of cavities. He is very proud of his silver caps and calls them his super teeth. He took his Grandma’s passing very well, when he saw her in the funeral home he touched her hand and said “Now you can go to Gods house and not hurt anymore”. He has done well in school since Christmas and doesn’t want it to end next week.
Well that is all for now, it is still hard for me to talk or write about all that is happening.
Comments
-
Sorry to hear that ur family has ran into alot of health issues. U know though God has his reasons for everything! I am veryyyy sorrry to hear about mom. That is good though that Johnny toke it well! He is such a big boy!!! Thats good he has begin to like to school and now its over next week 4 him. Tell him Ms. Violett says HI! Bob take kare and talk at u later!
-
wow!!! that is a lot to deal with at one time. i am so sorry to hear abour it all. if there is anything i can do for you or your family please let me know. i will do all that i can. the most important thing right now is to take care of you, so you can be there for that sweet little boy of yours. i know that sounds harsh, but what will he do with out you? then you can tend to everyone else. i do hope things get better and easier for you and your family soon. and remember that God will never put more on you than you can bear. i know we wonder sometimes if he know when to stop, but trust me he does, just look to him and he will be there. with all my love.
-
OH, my. so much you are dealing with...I will put you on my prayer list. God bless you. Kids say the most intriguing things at such times, don't they?
Take good care of yourself, so you can continue to take good care of Johnny.
star.
-
Phew, wow, you are dealing with a lot. I will pray that it can go as easy as possible. You should definitely take all the time you need away from the site, or come write if getting it out helps. It seems like when it rains it pours. I hope good times are ahead ((hugs))
-
you are an amzing man bob..if there is anything i can ever do please let me know.you take care of yourself and sorry about the loss of your mom ...
-
I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your Mom. And I'm sorry about your family's health problems too.
You really have been put through the wringer lately.
God bless you
Hello Everyone,
I am sorry I haven’t given more frequent updates on Lee but there hasn’t been anything new to report. His condition has not changed since the last update. He has had an infection but that was taken care of with some antibiotics, he is still on the vent full time and the feeding tube. As long as he has to bee on a vent he will have to have the traich tube.
I did get some good news this week, I heard from SSI the first of the week and they had to get an updated report from his Dr. and would push his paperwork forward. I got a call on Friday from his case worker at the hospital. She said she found a skilled nursing facility here in Garland that may take him. She sent them his records on Friday so they could make a determination. If all goes well he could be moved there the first of the week. That will give him more of the treatment and therapy he needs and will be easier for Monica and I to visit him more often.
When I saw Lee on Thursday he was alert and in good spirits, I even got him to laugh a couple of times. It is still hard to communicate as he can’t speak and can’t use his hands effectively. We hope that in the near future with some intense therapy he can at least use his hands well enough to communicate some.
Lee can read some in large print and can make out cards so if anyone would like they can send letters to my E-Mail (bnparsons@tx.rr.com) and I will print them in large type and get them to him. If you would like to send cards or anything else you can mail them to him at (4541 Chaha Rd. Apt. 173 Garland, TX. 75043) and I will make sure he gets them.
As soon as I know more, next week I will let everyone know. Thank everyone for their support, prayers and concern.
Bobby
Comments
-
That's great about the nursing facility. Hope the transition goes smoothly and everything works out for the best intrest of Lee. Take care!
-
Thats great, he seems to be doing very well, take each day at look at tiny little improvements, it is going to take a long time, my husband could not communicate for about 2-2 1/2 months. Look into story boards for now, I think that is the speech pathologists that do that, they come up with a board where he can point to things that he may be interested in, including how he is feeling, things that he may like to do, they were going to do a story board type of thing for the people in Ralphs life as he could not remember most of their names. I think if you look on google you may be able to find something about that. The medical profession sometimes is really quick to be very negative, you all need to stay positive, talk about the future and things that are happening in your life, don't always just talk about what is happening with him, but the future as well. Ralph would ask me something when he started to talk about what he wanted to do, so I would tell him that we would make a plan for it!!!then he would forget until the next thing came up. I also (very difficult to do) had him do his personal things like brushing his teeth, washing his face and finally dressing himself, he never listen to the occupation therapist, he did things his own way, the way he use to do it and I think that is why he got so much mobility back on the right side...you take care, say hello to him and I always look forward to hearing from you. I am also very happy that they are moving him somewhere where he may get the more attention he needs to keep going forward...WAY TO GO!!!take care, Joanne
-
That is good news about the nursing facility. I hope his paperwork gets pushed through quickly. I know this has been hard on you and your family. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. It took my grandma a lot of rehab to get back to functioning for herself. It can be done. It may not be perfect, but it is all a success! Keep him focused on the positive, to the best of your ability. All my good thoughts and best wishes to you!
-
i am glad things are begining to look up for your brother.that the nursing facility will help him get the treatment he needs.wonderful.and you got him to laugh that is wonderful also.stay positive and we will keep you all in our prayers.....
Past Entries
Deepest Sympathy Bob, You and the little guy are in my prayers, May Lee Rest in peace, Hugs and Prayers, .....Sharla
Ps, The Kids are enjoying the new fishing poles, they work great, and they love them, Thank you again for being such a big support to them,
sharkdlzl
All my prayers!! Take care! *BIGBIGHUG*
mrslaura
Hi, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I know what a hard, stressful, tramatic time this has been for you. I my hearts of hearts when Ralph was so ill the nurses use to say to me that we would know when he wasn't going to get better and it would be time to let go. Your family and your brother fought very hard, we will keep you in our prayers, stay well and let us know how you are doing, it is going to take time and someone to always talk to, Joanne
dutchmircle
Oh bob I'm so sorry for your loss. You are in my prayers. Take care and be gentle with your self.
BeyBey
I am so sorry about your brother and for you loss....
RainyDey
My deepest sympathy on the loss of your brother. i lost both my brothers to freak accidents in a two week period. I can understand what you are going through. Take care and my prayers are with you.
ncnurse