Still waiting for the final report from the Mayo Clinic

We're waiting on the input from the docs at the Mayo Clinic on the latest MRI. The radiologist in Omaha saw some significant swelling (almost assuredly necrosis continuing), but they mailed up the MRI scan films to Rochester to get their opinion.

Sometimes waiting in the hardest part.

Dad has been a little down, with anxiety and confusion adding to the problems. He's back to "thinking" that he heard something vs. it being actual truth. The sense of time is off (AM/PM), so it's a little challenging right now to keep spirits up until we get the final report. Anxiety is not something that Dad handles well, so upset stomach and headaches are showing up. Hopefully that all gets resolved when we hear the Neurologist reassure him (and us) that we just took out a large lobe of his brain, and it showed radiation damage. Everything I've read and heard or seen in the past few months has me convinced that we need to just get past this swelling and all will actually be just fine.

Convincing Dad of that is a bit harder.

He's been off the phone and the computer (mostly), so there is definite focus on getting his spirits back up and that this is necrosis working at him, and not a big, ugly tumor like he's thinking it is. Physical and Speech Therapy continue with regular visits, which is trying to hold on to muscle mass that the steroids are robbing him of -- steroids are really evil, but the alternative of not having them really isn't even an option. He needs them to keep the swelling at bay. It could be months before they're able to wean him off of them.

In the meantime, Tracy just let me know that they found Dad's sunglasses on the mantle at their house. They'd been missing for quite a while, so they decided that was reason enough to go out and get a TCBY with everyone in tow. Who can argue spending time with those four adorable grandkids, Tracy and Rich, Mom and frozen yogurt? Apparently not even Dad.

Call the house first - but if there's anyone that was looking to stop by and pay a quick visit (or a long one?), I think the company would help lift some spirits around the house. Convincing him that it takes a year to recover from the type of surgery he had, and that it was radiation necrosis and not tumor removed, is an uphill battle right now.

Strength in numbers!!

I'm off to water my plants - it's 105 in Portland today. Incredibly unusual. And this is day four of it. I want my 75 degrees and sunshine with low humidity back, please! :)

MRI and a few labs tomorrow

Well, things aren't as well as they were when Dad returned from the Mayo Clinic about five weeks ago. He's back to leaning a bit to the left, really fatigued (and sleeping quite a bit), and not quite the bundle of energy he was upon returning to Omaha.

The concern is that the necrosis is still very actively creating new swelling in areas that don't have a lot of "give" to allow for the swelling to spread out and let the brain breathe. The neurologist at the Mayo Clinic indicated that this is not entirely unusual, and that there will be ups and downs along the way until the necrosis has peaked (and that will happen). Without having my degree in Neurology, I'd predict an increase in steroids after the results of the MRI are back. The results will come back Thursday afternoon, and a meeting with the oncologist to talk about next steps.

Dad is still actively involved in PT and Speech Therapy, despite being really, really tired and not feeling up to it. It's important to keep that up, however, as the first 60-90 days after surgery offer the best chance for recovery of anything that may have been lost.

We sure missed Mom and Dad in Portland the last five days. Grandma and Tracy and baby Kaitlyn took a flight out here to meet me and Uncle Mike (who drove up from Redding, CA) for probably the best five days I've had in a long time. Lots of laughs, great scenery, and of course some good food. Next time, Mom and Dad are coming out!!

Steroids causing a few unwanted side effects. . .

I feel a little guilty. It's been nearly three weeks since my last post. It's not that I haven't been thinking of you all; it's just been a bit busy back to "normal" life. As I'm sure you can all relate, I've had a big box of things to go through next to my desk. . .since October. That got done today. Why now? Grandma is coming to Portland this week. I want the best possible impression for her, as I'd love to have her come back often. She's flying out Thursday with Tracy and little Kaitlyn. Auntie Mary is beyond excited for the visit. My house hasn't seen the likes of a cleaning effort like this in, well, years.

So back to Dad. . .

He's doing "okay." We're back into the wondering what's going on - is it new medications? Additional necrosis/swelling? Weaning off of the steroids causing problems? Lack of solid sleep since mid-June finally catching up? Not sure. Dad had a good couple of weeks upon the return from the Mayo Clinic. Incredibly energetic, starting back up with physical therapy and speech therapy to continue working on the progress made in Minnesota. The problem? He slept about three hours at a time, no matter what time of day/night. Lots of activity for him - up in the middle of the night having a snack, checking emails/news, etc. Not exactly restful.

After hitting several of the undesirable side effects of the high dose of steroids, the doctors dropped him down pretty aggressively. This has resulted (we think) in once again extreme fatigue, bad headaches, and a bit of a "fog" as he's walking around. So they increased the steroids back up yesterday (to 12mg/day from the 8mg/day dose early this week). Hopefully this will reduce the swelling and give him some relief. Poor guy. He was on top of the world, considering himself to be the luckiest guy on the planet. He's gone from doing "GREAT!" to what he calls, "Good."

There's every reason to believe that the increase in the steroids will help him with the latest symptoms, but hopefully it doesn't rear the irritability and lack of solid sleep again.

Mom is thinking that if there is a day that Dad is up to it, having friends come over and take Dad out for a convertible ride (in the VW Beetle), out to lunch, or out to coffee would be great. Call the house first, but assuming the headaches and fatigue get better within a few days, he'll be ready.

Hope you all had a fantastic 4th of July, and are enjoying the summer months.

Adjusting to life back in Omaha

The frequency of posts is likely to go down quite a bit now that things are a bit calmer and not as much to report. I think Dad is making Cox telecommunications wish they'd never offered him an unlimited calling plan, as he's burning up the minutes on the phone. He's still doing well, but the steroids (we think) are causing him to not sleep very soundly at night.

I'll get an email from him at 1AM, and then again at 5:30AM. . .so I know there's not much more than a series of naps going on back there. He still sounds good, though, but lack of a really good night of sleep is going to catch up with him. I've said it a lot, but when he's tired, everything is more difficult.

The calendar is pretty open for lunch dates, social visits, and phone calls. Just contact Dad directly there at the house or via email.

Life is returning to (and I'll borrow a term from my good friend Eric, here) the "new normal." Mom and Dad are both still pretty exhausted from the past couple of months, but something about being home in their own bed makes things just better. Stopping by for a quick visit with the grandkids and to see Tracy and Rich. . .I don't think any of us will ever take that quick pop-in for granted again after spending the time in Rochester, six hours away from familiar faces.

I'm off to Vancouver, BC, this weekend for the wedding of some good friends. It feels great to be getting on a plane again for fun, and not out of necessity. :)

Home

I look back over the last ten years or so since I've left Omaha, and there have been times I've been very anxious to get home to see everyone and spend time. That feeling I'm sure pales in comparison to the feeling Dad had last night and today as they drove back to Omaha after spending pretty much since May 3rd in Minnesota.

Short story: they're in Omaha and beyond thrilled to be there.

Longer story: so the MRI yesterday was pretty routine - in that they were getting a baseline of post-surgery. As expected, the pressure on the brain stem was greatly relieved. This has resulted in Dad keeping his eyes open nearly all of the time, steady when he walks, and going way beyond just the basics of living. He even helped Rich load the car this morning and unpack the car when they got to Omaha. It sounds simple, but he wasn't able to do those things in April and May - he was focused on just staying awake and doing the bare essentials. Amazing turn around.

The plan is to follow up at the Mayo Clinic in ten weeks. There is no further treatment of chemo at this time (because there is nothing to treat). They're going to watch him closely to ensure that all continues to go well. The MRI also showed great relief in the swelling of the brain - no longer crossing the mid-line because the brain was running out of room on the right. There is no question that the surgery saved his life, and to say he probably had weeks to live had he elected not to do the surgery is not a stretch at all.

I guess the grandkids were all super excited to see Grandma and Grandpa after such a long time, and I know that Mom and Dad were incredibly happy to see them as well. The hope is that things can get back to "normal" a bit for the summer. Dad will still have some speech therapy to do (2-4 times per week) to continue to work on some cognitive rehab, but that will be done in Omaha.

When I talked with them both today, they were both tired, but happy to be home. Dad said that leaving Rochester today was the happiest he's been to be on the road home since he left Vietnam back in 1967. After getting a few days in of some good rest in his own bed, the calendar will open up for visits, lunches out, dinners out, and spending time with the family and friends. It's unbelievable to think that he can now turn his focus to watching tee-ball games, getting little Kaitlyn to smile, telling Emily how much her eyes sparkle like a princess, and helping Sam steer clear of neighborhood traffic on his bike.

Everyone is home where they should be. Finally!

And he's out!

Not much to report, as I haven't actually been able to talk to anyone up in Minnesota outside of a few SMS text messages, but Dad did officially get out of the hospital today in time for his MRI. He completed that, and Mom and Dad are hanging around the Gonda Building where their 3:30PM appointment with the neurologist to review the results of the MRI is taking place.

Dad apparently didn't sleep well last night, but is INCREDIBLY anxious to get back to Omaha. Rich is driving up to Rochester to be there to help load the car and drive back to Omaha tomorrow morning. As always, when Dad's tired, things are a bit more difficult (following directions to complete a process, for example), but he's thrilled that he's out of the hospital and nearly home.

That's literally all I know. One would think that I could have gotten through to them on the cell phone today, but I'm sure Dad was lighting up the switchboards with his calls out that he didn't click over. As I learn more, I'll post it.

On target for getting discharged tomorrow AM - staples are OUT!

Talked to Mom this morning as Dad was just coming back from his morning PT session. They have Dad on track for getting out of the hospital quite early tomorrow (around 7:30AM) in order for him to make his 9AM appointment for an MRI down the street. Could be a hectic morning, but one that we've all been waiting for.

Dad woke up in his new room (better late than never) - more comfortable bed, an AC/heating unit that works well, and had another solid night of sleep without any eye pain. He sounds really good on the phone, and just got his staples out. Mom isn't sure who is more happy - Dad or the staff.

The neurosurgeon apparently was beside himself this morning, and couldn't get over how good Dad looked. That's a nice confidence boost for Dad to have someone that saw him a lot over the last month to say that. . .

So tomorrow - MRI and mtg with the neurologist. Then drive home Friday morning. That's the plan!

"Best I've felt in 5 years" -- Dad

Not much to report, other than Dad continues to feel really well - the best he's felt in five years according to him yesterday. He continues to get stronger by the day, and his "field trips" out to the gardens, to a park, and walks around the hospital continue. His endurance is increasing, as well as his strength and balance.

Yesterday they took Dad out to a park that had a various surfaces (bark chips, cement, grass, sand, bridges, sidewalks, gravel roads, etc.). He did just fine on all of them, and no concerns at all. It was a new place, and they "tested" him on finding his way back to the spot where they were a while ago, and he did just fine.

The best part of yesterday was that for the first time in a long time, he didn't have the pain in his right eye. He didn't know if it was the right combo of tylenol and ice packs, but it left him in the middle of the night and hasn't come back yet. This seems to be the biggest boon to his feeling better - so we all hope it continues (not sure if it's the ice, that the swelling has gone down on a particular vessel relieving pressure, or. . .?). Good riddance to the eye pain.

Staples get out tomorrow, and Dad is getting more and more excited to get home. As I'm sure Mom is too. I think Mom is going to get "Marriott Customer of the Year" for her extended stay, helping Marriott's bottom line for Q2. :)

MRI is Thursday, with the appointment directly following with the neurologist to talk about what's next. All signs point to Dad being home for Father's Day!

Routine continues in rehab

Not much to report out of Minnesota, which is a good thing. Dad has kept very busy with the PT, OT, and speech therapy the past two days. Physically, Dad is doing very well. Still not quite where they want him cognitively, however. They're a little concerned about just how well he looks, that if he were to wander off, he wouldn't raise any attention from the staff. To help mitigate such a circumstance, they've taken a few measures and are working with him a lot with finding his way "back" to where he started.

He's had his picture taken (recent picture for the security folks to be able to quickly track him down), had a wrist alarm that would go off if he left the floor (since removed as apparently they don't work all that well), and are working with him a few times a day in taking him to a new place, and then having Dad find his way back to his room. Looking for landmarks, familiar sites, etc. Not exactly reassuring for Mom who will be trying to keep tabs on him at home, but we're really glad that the medical staff is working so diligently with him on this. Dad says he won't wander off without telling anyone, but we're not entirely convinced that he understands why we're concerned.

Other than that, they're working with him on learning how to work on reading some more. His eyes tend to jump around a bit, merging words/paragraphs together. They say that will improve over time. He's doing exceptionally well with all that they are asking of him - often going over the requested amount of reps or exercises in his appointments.

Dad is going to have his follow up MRI and appointment with the neurologist on Thursday, and hopefully home on Friday. He will get his staples out on Wednesday, three full weeks after surgery. He seems to be sleeping a bit better, and is really starting to realize just how lucky he is to be walking, talking, and laughing. I can't wait for him to get home and tell you all over lunch, dinner, or tea about his experience the past month.

I can't wait for him to get home. Mom, too.

Still doing well in rehab; patterns continue for sleeping

Just talked with Dad, and I realized that I hadn't updated the blog yesterday. Bit of a long day for me getting back to Oregon, work, going through five weeks of mail, and adjusting to just being home. Of course there were a few pints of local oregon microbrews to welcome me home with some friends, so that was a nice way to end the first day back at the office in a while.

Dad has officially returned his wheelchair, and is now walking EVERYWHERE. He even took the nurse down to the chapel at the hospital yesterday. That's no small feat. It's about a 10 minute walk down there - one way. After a day of rehab where he's been doing a lot of physical activity, one would think Dad would have been tired last night. No sleep, however. Or very little. Mom is going to ask the neurologist tomorrow about possibly rearranging the dosing times for the steroids, as that can cause insomnia if taken too late in the evening.

Despite the big hopes of getting staples out this week, it looks like next Wednesday is the day to have them removed. He's still also having quite a bit of right eye pain, which again seems to be referred pain from pressure elsewhere in the brain. Hopefully as the swelling continues to decrease, that pain will go away. He's also having quite a bit of trouble reading right now (paragraphs tend to jump around on him and it's hard to stay focused on the words), but they say that should go away with further rehab, and are actively working on it.

In talking with Dad just now, he said that said he hasn't felt this good for "over a year." He's apparently walking around talking to the staff about how he's "the miracle kid here." Despite not having a good night of sleep, he sounds really strong and had a good, full day of rehab. They were just opening up a care package from Tracy and Rich and the kids when I called. They were digging in to pictures, cards from the kids, cookies and rice krispie treats. He received another care package yesterday, so he's well-stocked for treats. :)

On track for getting out next Thursday. Unsure yet if he'll be back to Omaha before the weekend as they may take the next MRI and see the neurologist while they're up there, but regardless, Mom and Dad are both ready to get back to Omaha and get settled back in.

As strong as I've heard Dad sound in months

I just talked to Dad as I walked around the Denver Airport. He sounded stronger on the phone than I've heard him in MONTHS. And this is after a really packed day of rehab. The big news of the day is that the wheelchair has been removed from his room -- for good. Dad is now walking to all of his appointments, and even got permission to start walking outside (with an escort). He's doing really well, and is even MORE ready to get back to Omaha to see everyone.

The next week and a half is going to be hard on everyone - as he continues to get stronger, his will to get back to Omaha is going to get stronger and stronger. Good luck, Mayo Clinic. :)

Hopefully some better sleep is in store for him tonight, and those staples really can't come out soon enough. The doctors are due to come in tomorrow to evaluate and plan next steps.

It's our hope that Dad is home for Father's Day - or as this year most assuredly will be called, Grandfather's Day.

Pattern of one good day, then one down day, continues

Dad had a good day yesterday overall. They kept him very busy with rehab the entire day, and really only about a 10 minute nap over lunch so he was extra tired when it was time to call it a day. Yesterday they did decrease his steroids from 24mg down to 16mg, so there may be some impacts from that over the next several days (but hopefully not).

There are conflicting reports this morning on just how well Dad slept. The nurses reported he slept pretty much the entire night, but Dad said that he didn't really sleep well at all. Lots of things bothering him - staples, headaches, and the thought of the necrosis continuing to progress. The thought of necrosis pretty much is hard to grasp when you're at 100%, let alone when you're not quite on top of your game. Dad's mind tends to run a bit to the extremes around what is going on right now, and having him listen to the doctors and the medical staff doesn't quite cut it. We continue to tell him that he had the surgery to allow for more swelling from necrosis, and that it saved his life. He kind of gets that - but then immediately falls back to the thought that he might need the "flapper" (as he calls it) - taking out a bone flap from his skull to allow for more swelling. That is NOT an option now, as the steroids worked and got him over that initial hump. At this point, no more surgery is in the works.

Hopefully a full day of rehab (and I mean FULL) will keep him occupied and focused on getting stronger and continue to repair those synapses and neurons damaged with the surgery and the swelling. He's doing really, really well. Being homesick and having too much time to think about "what if's" are his biggest issues right now. We'll take those - as he will hopefully be home in less than two weeks.

I'm off to Portland in a few hours -- anxious to get home myself.

Quick update - tentatively out of rehab June 18th

Got the news that the target date for getting out of rehab is June 18th.  They think he has done well in this short time.  More later tonight after I talk with Mom.

I can confirm he's figured out the calling card

Watch out, everyone. Dad knows how to use the calling card from his room now, which means you could be the next person to get that 6AM phone call. :)

While I wasn't quite ready to be up, it was good to hear that he had a solid night of sleep, and that was once again positive about his progress. He is definitely getting homesick, though, so I anticipate that number of phone calls he makes will go up this week.

I haven't seen his schedule for today, but I know it was supposed to be pretty busy. Between speech therapy (working on his memory and cognitive functions - didn't realize this was "speech" therapy, but it is), OT, PT, seeing the doctors, more OT, more PT. . .he's going to have a very packed day. Hopefully he gets in a nap after he stops back to his room to eat lunch, as he's going to be wiped out from that long of a day. I anticipate that will pretty much be his schedule the rest of this week, with the exception of hopefully getting his staples out about mid-week.

Rules from kindergarten apply: when you're tired, take a nap

After such a positive day, it was tough to hear this morning that Dad didn't sleep well at all last night, putting him in a bad spot this morning.  As we've mentioned ad nauseum on the blog and on the phone, when Dad's tired, everything goes downhill.  Not a lot connects for him when he's exhausted (especially from no sleep AND physical therapy).  It was hard to say goodbye this morning to him after such a positive day yesterday, but I pressed on.

I'm now writing this with second-hand knowledge of the rest of the day.  And the blog will continue, just probably not with the level of detail that I had before when I was living/breathing Saint Marys Hospital.  I did get a report later today from Mom that after a nap, Dad seemed once again like a new man.  Therapies went better in the afternoon sessions, and the therapists apparently even bragging a bit on Dad's progress.  He's at "the top of the class" for the forward progress he's made so far, and for his attitude (early morning discussions with Mom and I excluded).  

He's really doing well, but starting to really want to be home in Omaha.  I think getting the staples out (for the record, there are 40 total, not 72 like he's been saying) in a few days will really help his spirits, and continuing to do well in his rehab will also do some good.  He got some beautiful flowers from a few of his friends at the Rocky group (Thanks Elaine, Ralph, and Diane!), that brightened up his room and he wants to say a huge thanks for all of the phone calls he's been able to make (and receive), emails, and cards.

I'm back to Portland on Tuesday as planned (well, re-planned a few times, I guess).  I can relate with Dad a bit on wanting to be in my own house, my own bed, and around familiar things.  It was a fairly quick journey back to Omaha today with just me (goosing the speed limit a bit and no stops makes it a fast trip).  And the reception I received at the Huff house with screaming children all running to Auntie Mary. . .well, that took the sting out of leaving Mom and Dad in Minnesota just a little.  I can't wait for them to get an even bigger reception in a few weeks (or less!).

What a difference a day makes

Dad just wrapped up a webcam chat with three of the four grandkids, and I think both sides of the camera were thrilled to see the other side. The picture to the left represents a very fast capture of constantly moving kids and literally a scream of "HI GRANDPA!"

Mom and I had to do a double-take upon arriving at the hospital. Dad was in with PT in the gym, and they were just having him stand up out of the chair to do some more balance exercises.

He is walking better now than the week before surgery! Seriously - we couldn't believe our eyes.

They're really working with him on his balance (he's walking a foam balance beam, which Dad claims he couldn't have done even in his high school years), field of vision (asking him to walk in the halls, finding things related to fire: extinguisher, smoke alarms, fire alarm, etc.), bouncing a big exercise ball, doing the grapevine (left to right is good, right to left isn't so hot yet, but he's getting there), and other exercises/activities.

The PT thought he was doing really well. And I cannot tell you how much more rested and more positive about how things are going. He celebrated the end of a good day with a root beer float, courtesy of the staff up here doing a social hour. He's also starting to realize what the pathology report meant. He doesn't really remember us talking to him when we got the results back, and doesn't really remember talking to the Neurologist on Thursday, but it's starting to sink in. At least a little.

Seeing him like this makes it both easier and harder to leave tomorrow. Seeing him improve with such leaps and bounds after even just a day is awesome, and I'm sorry I won't be around here the next week or so to continue to see him improve. But I'm leaving him in VERY capable hands with Mom.

End of the day - everybody's tired

Dad had a pretty frustrating and exhausting day, but he sounded better when I talked to him about an hour ago. He was calling to get the address of this blog, so his nurse could read it in her spare time tonight. His day started at 7:15AM with Occupational Therapy (OT) coming in to help him get dressed, brush teeth, start breakfast and start the day. He then had a bit of a break, and then pretty much went from 10AM until 3:30PM with just a break for lunch. There was speech therapy, OT again, physical therapy (PT) x 2, and meeting up with a recreation therapist to find out what he likes to do and they'll start working on it.

This recreational therapist was pretty interesting - his job is to get Dad back oriented and able to get out into "the real world" and not the protected bubble of the rehab hospital. He's been doing this for 32 years, and clearly loves his job. He was talking about how he takes the patient out across the street and takes them to the grocery store, coffee shops, bank ATMs -- things "normal" people do, to make sure they can return and function once they leave. This rehab goes way beyond just the physical, which is so important.

The trip to the West side of the hospital (as the sun was going down) was well-received. Warm sun on the face felt good to Dad, and we were out there about 40 minutes. We then went inside to let him have his dinner (which keeps causing heartburn - the steroids he's on can do that as well), and he was heading for a nap when we left. The best part for Mom and I was to see Dad get out of bed, pretty much on his own. Two days ago he had to have two people help him. Today, he basically did it alone with some monitoring. He's getting stronger by the day, and his balance is getting better as well. Great to see!

Tomorrow's schedule is quite a bit lighter. He sees OT at 9:15PM, and then a few doses of PT scattered in through the day. Likely the same for Sunday. Some well-deserved rest after hitting it pretty hard the first few days. Mom passed the "I can do this" test (since I'll be leaving up here Sunday) today. I made her take the keys and drive down to the clinic, park the car, and we talked with the Mayo Clinic staff about where she asks for help when getting off the elevator (the walk to the MRI is about three blocks or more by the time you wind your way around the buildings). I think it made me feel better, and I know it helped Mom to have a dry-run.

Posts in the coming weeks may be a bit shorter (since I'll be relaying information instead of actually seeing it in person), but I'll keep up as much as possible. Have a good weekend!

Family Picture and quick report from the day

Front, left to right: Emily, Dad, Jan, Dillon
Back left to right: Tracy, Sam, Rich, Mary

(Missing: Kaitlyn, who today is 4wks old)

Dad had a pretty good day - full of rehab, which means he's pretty tired and even a little grouchy. He's beyond frustrated that things that were so easy before the past month are now really hard to do. He's realizing just what deficits he has (because they're testing him for them), and that's pretty frustrating for him.

I'm going to take him outside before the cold front comes in and brings rain in this weekend.

Picture is worth a thousand words

Hard to believe that just a few days ago he was nearly unresponsive. This is a picture of him walking the hallway with the help of just ONE person (with a really good grip):

And this is a haircut he got in the room today. He felt so much better after getting cleaned up. A new haircut to head on downstairs to rehab just a few hours later:

"Hello, Rehab"

Over the course of the past few hours, we've met no fewer than 12 people that will be tightly woven into Dad's days of rehab. Physicians, occupational therapist, physical therapists, speech therapist, pharmacist, care techs, nurses, recreational therapist, and social worker. They're all going to keep Dad quite busy each day, with the goal of going home as soon as possible.

Mom and I got the tour of the floor, learning where the laundry facilities are, seeing all of the different rehab areas, the "kitchen" (toast, pudding, juice, water, ice), computer room, and the outside area. The unit is split into two areas - brain injury/stroke, and spinal injuries. There are 40 beds in this unit. Even more impressive is that there are 40 physicians that work in this area. All very specialized, and the agenda for the next few weeks will be tailored for Dad's needs as both we see them, as well as what they determine he needs.

Overall, Dad is doing very well; and while really tired now, he's tired because he's been so active today and not because he's too fatigued from surgery. A big day today with haircut/shave, shower, moving, PT X 2, OT x 2, neuro eval, neurosurgery eval, and evaluations by two doctors once in rehab. I'm tired, and all I did was watch.

Kind of a bittersweet afternoon, though. Dad was oriented enough to finally get the news about his friend from Utah passing away earlier in the week. As expected, it hit him incredibly hard. He hopes to talk to the family yet tonight.

Dad should be up here for a little while (a week or two), so if anyone has been looking to send a card or words of encouragement, you can send him an email or a card. The address up here:

Roger Dillon
Patient Care Unit - Mary Brigh 3F
Room 3-632B
Saint Marys Hospital
1216 Second Street SW
Rochester, MN 55902

There were a bunch of cards that Tracy just mailed up here today (the mail had been stopped), so he'll get those either Saturday or Monday.