Hello Friends and Family,
We have news!
Mom has been moved to
City View Care Center located at
5801 Bryant Irvin Road
Ft. Worth, TX 76132
817-346-3030
City View is a nursing home that has an Express Recovery Unit for Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Our fervent hope is that this will be a VERY short stay and that Mom will be able to return home on Friday, July 2nd! Yesterday, I wrote out a goal sheet and told mom that we intend to have a family get together at her home on the 4th of July, so she had better work hard this week so she can be at home for her party! Brad said we are going to have fireworks ~ oh dear!!!! He is such a kid when it comes to the 4th of July, ha ha ha, hopefully I can convince him to stick w/ sparklers!
Mom was moved to City View on Friday, June 25th in the afternoon. It is a nice place with a large private room. So far our only complaints are about the food & furnishings. The food was sub par on Friday night and Saturday ~ probably because we had just arrived and did not get to fill out menu request forms. Thankfully, I did ask for the menu sheets on Saturday night which we discovered is when you should fill them in for the entire week. So, hopefully, the food will improve, Mom seemed more pleased on Sunday. It is still not as good as LifeCare, which not only offered 3 large meals a day, but also an evening snack. Greg and I are supplementing what they are serving. Another very positive note ~ Mom has an excellent appetite!
As far as the furniture, 1 bed and 2 arm chairs. Mom had become very attached to her recliners at LifeCare and at Harris CICU. The arm chairs are just not very comfortable for sitting and Mom has NO intention of staying in bed during the day!
If you remember mom in your prayers this week, please pray that our merciful Lord would strengthen her legs, strengthen her lungs enough that she will not have to go home on oxygen and give her the confidence she needs to return home!
This has been a long trial for our mom and family. We could have never walked through this time without the prayers, love, and support of so many friends. For this we are eternally grateful. We know that our Heavenly Father carried our entire family through this process. We praise His name for His mercy and grace in healing our mom. I will update this blog a couple more times and will for sure let everyone know when Mom is able to return home.
With much affection and gratitude ~
In His Embrace,
Jean Brown's family
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Friends of Jean,
For those of you who have not heard, Mom is making great strides. She has 3 hours of physical therapy a day! & will most likely be at LifeCare Rehab Hospital for this week and next. We doubt that her insurance will allow any additional time.
The address at LifeCare:
6201 Overton Ridge Boulevard. Fort Worth , TX , 76132
Mom is in room 204
Here is a glimpse of Mom's daily schedule:
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Pulmonary Therapy in the gym - this is really cool. They have about 5 different breathing exercises with equipment that Mom breathes into. The idea is to exercise the lungs and to teach Mom how to make the most out of her current lung capacity. It is hard work, but with a good attitude and determination it should pay off with big dividends. Already they have decreased her oxygen setting to 2 which is down from 6. Of course our goal is to get her completely off all oxygen!
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Group Exercise Class in the gym with light weights, seated. 30 min upper body / 30 min lower body
11:00 - 1:30 Back to room, then lunch and short break
1:30 - 3:00 ish 1 hour of one on one physical therapy in the gym. This includes exercise with a bar, balls and walking.
3:00 - 3:30 back to her room
The most difficult part for mom is being stuck at the hospital. She is trying to work diligently so that she can resume her normal activities.
We are trying to keep her motivated for the next 2 weeks, so that she will be able to receive the full benefit of the therapy she is receiving.
If you have any opportunity to drop her a note of encouragement or if you can drop by for a quick visit it would be greatly appreciated! Note ~ due to Mom's busy rehab schedule the best time to visit is after 3:30 in the afternoon through the evening hours.
Thank you for keeping her in your prayers,
Tracy
817-715-0097
P.S. Mom's email is still down at the new hospital, LifeCare. They have a wireless card so that she can get on line in her room, but we could not get it hooked up last week as there was a glitch & the technical computer person was out on vacation. We hope to get mom back on the information super highway later today or tomorrow.
For those of you who have not heard, Mom is making great strides. She has 3 hours of physical therapy a day! & will most likely be at LifeCare Rehab Hospital for this week and next. We doubt that her insurance will allow any additional time.
The address at LifeCare:
6201 Overton Ridge Boulevard. Fort Worth , TX , 76132
Mom is in room 204
Here is a glimpse of Mom's daily schedule:
8:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Pulmonary Therapy in the gym - this is really cool. They have about 5 different breathing exercises with equipment that Mom breathes into. The idea is to exercise the lungs and to teach Mom how to make the most out of her current lung capacity. It is hard work, but with a good attitude and determination it should pay off with big dividends. Already they have decreased her oxygen setting to 2 which is down from 6. Of course our goal is to get her completely off all oxygen!
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Group Exercise Class in the gym with light weights, seated. 30 min upper body / 30 min lower body
11:00 - 1:30 Back to room, then lunch and short break
1:30 - 3:00 ish 1 hour of one on one physical therapy in the gym. This includes exercise with a bar, balls and walking.
3:00 - 3:30 back to her room
The most difficult part for mom is being stuck at the hospital. She is trying to work diligently so that she can resume her normal activities.
We are trying to keep her motivated for the next 2 weeks, so that she will be able to receive the full benefit of the therapy she is receiving.
If you have any opportunity to drop her a note of encouragement or if you can drop by for a quick visit it would be greatly appreciated! Note ~ due to Mom's busy rehab schedule the best time to visit is after 3:30 in the afternoon through the evening hours.
Thank you for keeping her in your prayers,
Tracy
817-715-0097
P.S. Mom's email is still down at the new hospital, LifeCare. They have a wireless card so that she can get on line in her room, but we could not get it hooked up last week as there was a glitch & the technical computer person was out on vacation. We hope to get mom back on the information super highway later today or tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Exercise Class Day 1
Hi everyone,
Well mom continues to make great strides! She participated in her first group exercise class in the gym at LifeCare. She of course tried to outdo everyone else in the group. She was pumping iron (1 lb weights) and doing all kinds of leg lifts and curls. Additionally, they bumped her O2 level on her canula down to 2 - it had previously been at 4 for resting and 6 for any activities. So, this is another big accomplishment.
Mom you will note is sporting the Heights baseball spirit shirt which says "Loud and Proud". Well, she is not very loud, but we are all quite proud of her and the wonderful spirit she has shown.
We are very excited about mom's progress and hope that she will continue to move forward so she can get back home and resume her busy life!
Please pray for Jean that our Gracious Lord and Savior will continue the healing process of Mom's lungs and that she will keep this wonderful attitude. She has been so patient and kind to everyone who has been there helping her through this illness.
Also, now that Mom is in a regular - private room, at the new hospital, we would like to arrange visitors for mom. This is going to be at least a 3 week stay, so we know that seeing her friends will bolster her spirits. However, we would like to set up a schedule so that she can have quality - one on one time with her many dear friends.
If you would like to stop by for a visit with Jean, the best times are either at lunch or early evening, as she will be in exercise classes in the mornings and in the afternoons.
Please call me - Tracy, her social director, to schedule a visit. My cell number is 817-715-0097.
Thanks again for all your prayers, care and concern.
In His Embrace,
Jean Brown's family.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Mom has a new address!!!! Praise the Lord!!!
Hello everyone!
We are delighted to announce that Jean has been moved from Harris CICU to
LifeCare Hospital
6201 Overton Ridge Boulevard
Fort Worth, TX 76132
(817) 370-6078
She is currently in ICU, however we anticipate that they will be moving her into a regular room before too long.
We are very thankful to:
Dr. Bolaji for fighting for mom's rights. The Care N Care people with whom our mom has insurance denied her coverage for the treatment plan both her doctors said that she needed. Very frustrating couple of days. However, we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Dr. Bolaji who was willing to immediately call the doctor with Care N Care, who made the decision, and argue mother's case over the phone to this man. Thankfully, with many prayers for conviction of this man's heart and for God's grace and mercy for our mother, Care N Care reversed their decision.
Shawna with LifeCare, a lovely Christian woman who also worked diligently to present Mom's case to the people at Care N Care and pushed Mom's cause through the ranks at her company in order to secure a positive outcome!
Phil Prosser, Vice President of LifeCare, who spent an entire day yesterday, working out a compromise with Care N Care to settle on an agreement for Mom's care. LifeCare actually made concessions to Care N Care for our mom, because they had become committed to her and her care.
Wow! We can only give the glory to God for His provision for our Mom. We know on our own strength we are powerless to turn a man's heart, that can only be done through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Our God, who alone is worthy of our worship and praise is trustworthy and faithful!
Although none of us knows what will happen even the remainder of this day, we can be confident in knowing that we are held in His Grace. That our Heavenly Father knows the plans He has for us and He alone directs our path. We also cling to the knowledge that He has promised to NEVER, NEVER leave us - or forsake us. Psalm 56, Psalm 118 and Hebrews 13: 5 - 6 all three remind us, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" So, with this in mind, we continue to pray for God's peace over Mom's heart, for His healing of her body, mind and spirit and for those of us who are involved in the process of standing beside our Mom during this process of healing.
Please pray this passage for us, Jean's family & for her Christian family. It is from Colossians 4: 3 - 6
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
We are humbled by the outpouring of love for our Mom and for us. Your prayers are coveted by us all. Our gratitude is overwhelming.
In His Embrace,
Jean Brown's family
We are delighted to announce that Jean has been moved from Harris CICU to
LifeCare Hospital
6201 Overton Ridge Boulevard
Fort Worth, TX 76132
(817) 370-6078
She is currently in ICU, however we anticipate that they will be moving her into a regular room before too long.
We are very thankful to:
Dr. Bolaji for fighting for mom's rights. The Care N Care people with whom our mom has insurance denied her coverage for the treatment plan both her doctors said that she needed. Very frustrating couple of days. However, we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Dr. Bolaji who was willing to immediately call the doctor with Care N Care, who made the decision, and argue mother's case over the phone to this man. Thankfully, with many prayers for conviction of this man's heart and for God's grace and mercy for our mother, Care N Care reversed their decision.
Shawna with LifeCare, a lovely Christian woman who also worked diligently to present Mom's case to the people at Care N Care and pushed Mom's cause through the ranks at her company in order to secure a positive outcome!
Phil Prosser, Vice President of LifeCare, who spent an entire day yesterday, working out a compromise with Care N Care to settle on an agreement for Mom's care. LifeCare actually made concessions to Care N Care for our mom, because they had become committed to her and her care.
Wow! We can only give the glory to God for His provision for our Mom. We know on our own strength we are powerless to turn a man's heart, that can only be done through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Our God, who alone is worthy of our worship and praise is trustworthy and faithful!
Although none of us knows what will happen even the remainder of this day, we can be confident in knowing that we are held in His Grace. That our Heavenly Father knows the plans He has for us and He alone directs our path. We also cling to the knowledge that He has promised to NEVER, NEVER leave us - or forsake us. Psalm 56, Psalm 118 and Hebrews 13: 5 - 6 all three remind us, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" So, with this in mind, we continue to pray for God's peace over Mom's heart, for His healing of her body, mind and spirit and for those of us who are involved in the process of standing beside our Mom during this process of healing.
Please pray this passage for us, Jean's family & for her Christian family. It is from Colossians 4: 3 - 6
"And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
We are humbled by the outpouring of love for our Mom and for us. Your prayers are coveted by us all. Our gratitude is overwhelming.
In His Embrace,
Jean Brown's family
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Update + Prayer Request
Well, the good news & the bad news - Mom might not be sick enough.
Our health system up close and personal, isn't it great!
Mom's doctors say that she needs to be treated at a Long Term Acute Therapy Hospital. That is where she will receive the very best care for her current medical condition.
So, over the Memorial Day weekend ~ Greg, Karen and I all visited the various places, interviewed their staff and polled all our friends in order to make the very best choice for our mom.
On Tuesday, we met with the Social worker (yes, Mom now has a social worker), her Internist, and the representative from LifeCare, the hospital we have chosen for mom. Shawna, the rep from LifeCare explained to us that she is concerned that Mom might not have enough wrong with her & that the insurance company might deny the doctor's request to have our mom admitted to their facility. This just does not make any sense to us, especially since mom is still in ICU and will be transferred to their ICU???
At any rate, this is not a good thing, because if they do not admit her, then the only other option is skilled nursing care - in a Nursing Home.
Please pray that Care N Care, the company Mom has her Medicare Replacement Insurance with, will approve the request of her doctors. This is a very new company. The lady from LifeCare has only dealt with them one other time. Also, they are specific to Tarrant County, Parker County and one other rural county nearby. In other words, they are VERY small and VERY new! We hope this does not turn out to be a bad thing.
Also, please continue to pray for healing. Jean had a CAT scan the other day that showed 2 small Pneumothorax on both lungs. Definition - Pneumothorax: Free air in the chest outside the lung. This can result in collapse of the lung, however in Mom's case the CAT scan showed that they were very small, less than 10% of her lung capacity and the hope is that they will resolve on their own. Mom still has the pulmonary embolisms. The short answer is that Jean's lungs are still in very bad shape. Please pray that Our Lord, in His grace and mercy would heal Mom's lungs.
What medically cannot be done, our Lord is more than able to do.
Also, pray that Mom will be able to endure this trial with grace, dignity and with patience. That our Heavenly Father will cover her in the feathers of His wings and will carry her in His arms so that she will know that He has hold of her with His strong right arm and that she will be filled beyond all measure with His peace.
In His Embrace,
The extended Brown Family
Our health system up close and personal, isn't it great!
Mom's doctors say that she needs to be treated at a Long Term Acute Therapy Hospital. That is where she will receive the very best care for her current medical condition.
So, over the Memorial Day weekend ~ Greg, Karen and I all visited the various places, interviewed their staff and polled all our friends in order to make the very best choice for our mom.
On Tuesday, we met with the Social worker (yes, Mom now has a social worker), her Internist, and the representative from LifeCare, the hospital we have chosen for mom. Shawna, the rep from LifeCare explained to us that she is concerned that Mom might not have enough wrong with her & that the insurance company might deny the doctor's request to have our mom admitted to their facility. This just does not make any sense to us, especially since mom is still in ICU and will be transferred to their ICU???
At any rate, this is not a good thing, because if they do not admit her, then the only other option is skilled nursing care - in a Nursing Home.
Please pray that Care N Care, the company Mom has her Medicare Replacement Insurance with, will approve the request of her doctors. This is a very new company. The lady from LifeCare has only dealt with them one other time. Also, they are specific to Tarrant County, Parker County and one other rural county nearby. In other words, they are VERY small and VERY new! We hope this does not turn out to be a bad thing.
Also, please continue to pray for healing. Jean had a CAT scan the other day that showed 2 small Pneumothorax on both lungs. Definition - Pneumothorax: Free air in the chest outside the lung. This can result in collapse of the lung, however in Mom's case the CAT scan showed that they were very small, less than 10% of her lung capacity and the hope is that they will resolve on their own. Mom still has the pulmonary embolisms. The short answer is that Jean's lungs are still in very bad shape. Please pray that Our Lord, in His grace and mercy would heal Mom's lungs.
What medically cannot be done, our Lord is more than able to do.
Also, pray that Mom will be able to endure this trial with grace, dignity and with patience. That our Heavenly Father will cover her in the feathers of His wings and will carry her in His arms so that she will know that He has hold of her with His strong right arm and that she will be filled beyond all measure with His peace.
In His Embrace,
The extended Brown Family
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Sunday, First day of a new adventure
Mom is going to be making a big move here in the next couple of days! We, Greg, Karen and I are going to need to choose an Acute Long Term Rehab Center / Hospital for mom. The front runners are LifeCare and Regency. If any of you have pros or cons regarding either one, your opinions would be greatly appreciated. Also, with each new expectation put upon Mom, she has shown some apprehension; her confidence is a little shaky. Please continue to pray for God's peace over her heart.
With regard to Mom's health. She is doing better. She is still in CICU and is still on oxygen, however, she is getting stronger and is able to walk very short distances (20 feet) w/ the aid of a walker. The ongoing problem is that her lungs are not working properly. There is no liquid in her lungs. The problem is that her lungs are not moving the oxygen she breathes in from the atmosphere into the body's circulation. So, whenever she exerts herself even slightly, her oxygen saturation level drops like an elevator going down and her heart rate soars.
If the doctor's diagnosis is correct, Mom has BOOP. As the pneumonia resolves, sometimes instead of disappearing, the pneumonia becomes 'organized' into 'inflammation'. This inflammation is often BOOP. Prednisone therapy is usually helpful and results in complete resolution. So, Mom is on Prednisone and thus far is responding positively to this treatment.
She will most likely be in a rehab center for 2 months. Initially, she will be transferred from the Harris ICU to the Rehab's on site ICU. Once we have made our final choice of which one, we will update the blog with all the details.
We continue to feel very fortunate that our Mother has so very many who love and care about her. The comfort we receive in knowing that even when we are stretched and exhausted, others are lifting us up in prayer, brings an inner peace that "surpasses human understanding".
Have a wonderful Sabbath ~
This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!
In His Embrace,
Tracy ~ on behalf of Jean and family
With regard to Mom's health. She is doing better. She is still in CICU and is still on oxygen, however, she is getting stronger and is able to walk very short distances (20 feet) w/ the aid of a walker. The ongoing problem is that her lungs are not working properly. There is no liquid in her lungs. The problem is that her lungs are not moving the oxygen she breathes in from the atmosphere into the body's circulation. So, whenever she exerts herself even slightly, her oxygen saturation level drops like an elevator going down and her heart rate soars.
If the doctor's diagnosis is correct, Mom has BOOP. As the pneumonia resolves, sometimes instead of disappearing, the pneumonia becomes 'organized' into 'inflammation'. This inflammation is often BOOP. Prednisone therapy is usually helpful and results in complete resolution. So, Mom is on Prednisone and thus far is responding positively to this treatment.
She will most likely be in a rehab center for 2 months. Initially, she will be transferred from the Harris ICU to the Rehab's on site ICU. Once we have made our final choice of which one, we will update the blog with all the details.
We continue to feel very fortunate that our Mother has so very many who love and care about her. The comfort we receive in knowing that even when we are stretched and exhausted, others are lifting us up in prayer, brings an inner peace that "surpasses human understanding".
Have a wonderful Sabbath ~
This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!
In His Embrace,
Tracy ~ on behalf of Jean and family
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Help Needed
Hi everyone,
Greg, Karen and I are going to have a meeting with Mom's doctor's today at 4:00 P.M., we would appreciate your prayers for this meeting. That we have wisdom in the questions that we ask and that the doctors would be forthcoming in their answers and the information they give us regarding Mom's health.
Also, one of Mom's doctors told her yesterday that she needed to start thinking about where she would like to go for rehab. We would love to hear from those of you who are in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, that may have had excellent or less than good experiences with Rehab centers in our area. With Karen living in Irving & working in Dallas, Greg in Mansfield and me in West Fort Worth, we are open to whatever facility will offer the BEST care for Mom.
Mom is slowing making some progress, however, her lung function is still terribly compromised. Mom walked with a walker out to the nurses station and back 2 times yesterday. None of us were there at the time, so we can only go by her report that she did fine... At present, Mom has a great attitude and spirit.
Thank you for your continued prayers for healing. Please pray that she will be able to retain her great muscle tone and strength. Of course, with each passing day, this becomes more of an issue. Mom has received a huge outpouring of emails and cards. She has been bolstered by the knowledge that she has so many people who love and care about her. For that we are eternally grateful.
In His Embrace,
Jean and Family
Greg, Karen and I are going to have a meeting with Mom's doctor's today at 4:00 P.M., we would appreciate your prayers for this meeting. That we have wisdom in the questions that we ask and that the doctors would be forthcoming in their answers and the information they give us regarding Mom's health.
Also, one of Mom's doctors told her yesterday that she needed to start thinking about where she would like to go for rehab. We would love to hear from those of you who are in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, that may have had excellent or less than good experiences with Rehab centers in our area. With Karen living in Irving & working in Dallas, Greg in Mansfield and me in West Fort Worth, we are open to whatever facility will offer the BEST care for Mom.
Mom is slowing making some progress, however, her lung function is still terribly compromised. Mom walked with a walker out to the nurses station and back 2 times yesterday. None of us were there at the time, so we can only go by her report that she did fine... At present, Mom has a great attitude and spirit.
Thank you for your continued prayers for healing. Please pray that she will be able to retain her great muscle tone and strength. Of course, with each passing day, this becomes more of an issue. Mom has received a huge outpouring of emails and cards. She has been bolstered by the knowledge that she has so many people who love and care about her. For that we are eternally grateful.
In His Embrace,
Jean and Family
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)