Things have calmed down...

Before I left Denver on Sunday, I asked Dad what he wanted me to put on the blog. His reply was quite simple..."No pulse and no blood pressure means dead. But, tell everyone G-d wasn't ready for me yet." He said he didn't see any white light or a tunnel but Mom did see her life flash before her eyes. She said she was yelling in his ear too loud for him to go too far.

His little "bump," as I called it, turned out to be bigger than we originally thought but ultimately, it didn't win. On Wednesday morning, Dad's heart did stop, although his pacemaker did maintain electrical activity. CPR was performed and he was given 12-14 chest compressions. He was given medication and then transferred to Swedish Hospital. Thankfully, everything turned out and we were able to get him back to Craig on Thursday around 3:30. He is still on antibiotics for pneumonia but he is feeling a lot better than when I got there.

The Jones' arrived on Thursday and on Saturday night we all tried our first Cricket burgers. Dad felt good enough to come to Mom's apartment for dinner and some NCIS. He was very excited for the NCIS marathon today (Monday) and I think more excited that Mark would be there to watch with him (Mom just doesn't get that into it.)

So, bottom line....things were a pretty awful for awhile but everyone made Dad promise he wouldn't do it again. We don't think this will greatly impact his progress and he still should be home at the end of June.

Below are some recent pics...

Dea and me after his shave...

a couple pics from the park...

pet therapy with the Newfoundlands...

Andrew, Jeremy, and Dad working on the COW (computer on wheels)...Dad is working with some really cool voice recognition/word processing equipment. They also have his phone up and running so give him a call.

the babies...

We all need to take a deep breath and hang on tight...."as you ramble through life, whatever your goal, keep your eye on the donut, and not on the hole!"

love and blessing to y'all...

suz

A bump in the road...

Around 5:30 Wednesday morning, Mom was called to Dad’s room. When she got there, his room was filled with at least 20 people. Dad had coded and they were not able to get a pulse. Although his pacemaker was keeping his heart beating, there was not enough profusion. They did need to perform about 12-14 chest compressions but because he was being monitored so closely, the staff was able to get things under control very quickly. He was given some epinephrine and Dopamine to get his blood pressure back up and, because of this, he had to be transferred to ICU at Swedish Hospital (next door to Craig and connected by a tunnel.)

Once at Swedish, they performed a bronchoscope and were able to suction out a lot of fluid. They did determine that he has pneumonia (that darn lower left lobe of his lung is causing trouble again) and he is being treated with antibiotics.

My panic mode set in and I hopped a plane to Denver and arrived late last night. Dad was still pretty sedated and sleepy so we convinced Mom to head back to her apartment to get a little rest. We got back to Dad’s room around 7:30 this morning (after Mom’s 4 phone calls over here last night) and he is much better! He is off all extra blood pressure medication and is more alert, talking, and getting ready to eat some lunch.

So, what caused all of this? Although we are not certain, most agree that it was caused by a blockage in his airway (called a mucus plug) from his lungs that was not draining properly. The moral of the story….he will most likely need the ventilator at night for the rest of forever.

Our goal now is to get him “home” to Craig. As things are now stable and he is off the continuous infusion of blood pressure medication, the entire staff of 3W are working to get him back. Kate, his respiratory nurse practitioner who has worked with him since day 1 at Craig, is working with the doctors here at Swedish as well as Dr. Hsu. They all agree that everything they are doing/monitoring now at Swedish can be done at Craig.

We can’t say it enough, but the staff at Craig has been wonderful. In fact, many came over to Swedish yesterday not only to check on Dad, but on Mom as well. It was also perfect timing that Morgan was in Denver for conferences and was able to spend some time with Mom yesterday during all the unknowns.

Yeah! Dr. Hsu just left and they are set to take Dad back to Craig at 3! Good news! Dad says the food is better there anyway…..a man with my priorities!

The best day...a beautiful day...a post from Mom

The following excerpts came from Mom's journal...

May 20, 2010

...the best day...at 2:00 P.M. we went outside for occupational therapy/life skills, so Marty could learn to drive his power chair on the sidewalks, grass, etc. As soon as Marty hit the sunshine, he felt truly warm for the first time since his injury in December. He didn't think he would ever feel warm again. He knows now that there is more "warm" waiting for him. G-d bless this exceptionally special man....he is my true HERO!


May 21, 2010

...a beautiful day...went on an outing with recreational therapy to Wash Park. We "walked" and the enjoyed a picnic that the department provided. We realized that this was our first picnic in l9 years. We have been missing so much...there will be more picnics, hopefully many more...see, another blessing . I have my boyfriend back and I love him so much!

It's a BOY! and a GIRL!

It's official! We Rosenfeld's all have a new little brother and a baby sister!

First the little girl....we don't know which one yet and hope to get more pictures soon of her eyes open...

...and next our new little (okay, not so little) brother. And the best part is that Mark is a package deal...so we also have a new daughter/sister-in-law, Kate, and a new babe on the way!

Mark will begin working with Dad and Mom when they get home. He will head to Denver in a couple weeks to get training on Dad's new needs and then fly back the end of June to drive them home. This has been the best news. I do not know who to originally wrote, "People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do," but that seems to sum up Mark. He originally came with a specific reason, but, everyone knew exactly what to do, and now he, Kate, and the babe will be with us for a lifetime.

As for our new sister, she will fly in from Texas soon after Mom and Dad get home. She is a Coton de Tulear and will grow to about ten inches tall and about ten pounds...perfect for Dad's lap.

So, the rest of the good news...

Dad drove his "bus" (chair) with his hand for the first time on Thursday. It appears that the injections (given in his biceps to allow his elbows to straighten) worked and, after just one in the series of castings, his muscles were stretched enough and his arm pronated enough to allow him to drive. The geniuses at Craig will continue with the castings and soon work on improving the movement in his wrist.

The Bear family, Robin, Phil, and Mason, visited last week on their way home from Chelsea's graduation. I know it was a special visit and they all can't wait to catch up even more when Mom and Dad get home. I hope someone took pictures and I will get them up soon.

Jeremy and Andrew got to Denver yesterday...more father/sons bonding time. Jeremy will leave tomorrow but Andrew will stay until Wednesday. With the two of them there, hopefully I will get some pictures e-mailed soon (hint, hint!)

It has been a long journey but Mom discovered the quote that seems to sum up the situation the best...

"Impossible you say? Nothing is impossible when you work for the circus."

Love and blessings to you all....

suz