Aldean Redman
Update on Recovery
Current Update, November and December,
2007 |
Chapter 12, November/December 2007 Recap: as of November 2007: The previous chapters take you up to mid-September. We returned from the cabin just in time for the transfer to Chris Ridge Village. On September 25, Aldean was transferred to Chris Ridge. I had been taking her to the YMCA for exercise on their machines. She started therapy again after arrival in the care center at Chris Ridge. She had good and bad days. We suspected it was (it has been again and again in the past) medications and more changes in medications causing the problems. Finally I called in help for her in the form of two of her previous doctors. From Senior Horizons: Dr. C. who is a "Diplomat, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry. From Barrow Neurological Institute: Doctor F. who has seen her in the past and is: Chief Neurovascascular Section, Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute Stroke Center. Both agreed: Her blood pressure was too low and the heart was not pushing blood "through" the brain, especially when she was seated or standing. One of her other physic medications was being given in the wrong dosage at the wrong time. When these were corrected we noticed an immediate improvement. Right now we don't know if someone at Chris Ridge has made another change in her medications, or if it is simply not enough liquids. Her primary care physician is making a few changes, which may or may not be helping her. On November 8th she is moving into her own one-room apartment in the Village Garden at Chris Ridge Village She may have to make a few adjustments and we are very hopeful this will have a positive impact on her as a step in the right direction. Pictures of Aldean's new room at Chris Ridge Village Garden I am with Aldean each morning. Sherry comes in about 12:30 for the rest of the day except for Sunday and Tuesday. Aldean will benefit by visits from friends. For her updated day-by-day schedule you may call Gene 602-309-9766 or Sherry at 602-502-4940. November 22, 2007 Thanksgiving at Steve Redman's House What a beautiful day to be alive and among family... Aldean was having
a good day. We are so thankful she could attend. Thanksgiving was very nice. Of course with the turkey Steve supplied and baked, and all the other good food brought in...leading to the pecan and pumpkin pies, no one remained hungry. We are so happy Kathleen's Mother-In-Law Marjorie Converti and her son Mark could join us. Let's hope they are available next year. We are glad "Reb" Rebekah could attend with our great-granddaughter Aurora Rose. Aurora didn't know what to make of me, it has been too long since she has seen me. Hopefully, Reb will correct this in the future. Aurora has grown so much and was having a ball running around and playing with the dogs. Steve will soon be leaving Phoenix. Chrysler is closing the Arizona Proving Ground and moving it to the larger one they bought from Ford near Kingman. Believe Steve will be moving by next April. Hope his new house has enough space for our motor home. Thanksgiving afternoon; Aldean enjoyed being surrounded with her family so much. There were a lot of hugs and kisses upon which she thrived. She tired easily and we had to leave shortly after dinner. She went to bed as soon as we reached Christ Ridge and her room. She was soon fast asleep. Saturday November 24th Her doctor from Senior Horizons was in to see her. He spent over an hour evaluating her and reviewing her medications. He made a few changes we hope will help. Sherry and I have some leads on some other drugs we will research that could help by increasing the oxygen in her body. Aldean is now sleeping through most nights, but she looks for me to be with her as much as possible. She is growing weaker as she is not receiving therapy at this time. I am disappointed she cannot at least use the "standing frame" which helps her the most. We can't use the one in the therapy room due to liability. Wish I knew where I could find one for her to use. I have helped the therapists enough so I feel confident of being able to operate it. Aldean's prognosis doesn't look good. We will continue the best we
can. We are thankful for her family and friends who visit her. Over the weekend another change in medications. Aldean is calm, her speech is clear and she seems to be better. Morning BP 131/61, P=80. Later in the day BP 113/89. Her blood sugar was 113 at breakfast. A short time later it was 189. For several days she has complained orf her legs hurting, back of her thighs.. She is unable to straighten her left elbow without pain. General weakness. She was having problems in the evening. Called me on her cell phone asking that I come over. I called and talked to Bret, her RN. Said he was with her when she called, advised me not to call her back. Said she was tucked into bed and they thought she would be OK through the night. Tuesday, November 27th At breakfast BP 120/76. Too low for her. P=83. She woke lying on her left side. Couldn't move her left arm from under her.body. Unable to straighten her left elbow. In intense pain when we tried to straighten it to pull on her sweater. Complained of pain in her ankles and feet. She is weaker. Couldn't give us much support when transferring her. She ate about half of her breakfast, then wanted to return to bed. Friday November 30th Very weak. Leans to left when sitting at breakfast with face lowered toward plate. After breakfast, in bed 115/54 P=75. One hour larter, stitting 122/58 Depressed, she is scared for her and for me,
same as the last few days. Saturday, December 1st Still weak. Wants to spend day in bed. Introduced to new reclining lounge chairs near dining room Hope she will make friends with others. BP 129/67 P=83 Sunday, December 2nd Was alert, sat upright. Spent 12 minutes on sitting-step machine in gym. BP 149/72 P65 taken after breakfast. Still not eating very much. At lunch she left after eating only her soup. Very depressed in the afternoon. Every day she is very anxious when she is by herself. Monday, December 3rd This morning Aldean was almost her old self. She was very calm, stonger and lucid. Two days ago a hold was placed on Acicept and Zocor. This morning she saw her primary care physician, Dr. M. who had signed off on the above changes and made other changes in her medications. We will see how she responds during the next 30 days. A test for cholestrol is being made. Vitals: December 6th: 148/72 Pulse 86, BSugar 93. Having a good day. December 7th: 141/69. Another good day December 8th: 102/59, P 83, BS 23 Norvase given after vitals were taken. Very weak this morning. Ate only a little of her breakfast and lunch. Very Depressed. Told another resident she was, "I am O.K. but will do better if I can get rid of this depression." December 9th: 149/76 P 72. A much better day mentally and physicaly. December 10th: December 11th: She was having a bad dream when she slipped out of bed, skinned knee on wheelchair bracket. December 12th: December 13th: Still having bad dreams, but doesn't remember the content. December 14th: Drowsy, unable to hold fork or drink without help. December 15th: December 16th: Now they will wake her, take her to the bathroom, dress her and put her back into bed until I arive or it is time for breakfast. December 17th: Did very well this morning. They woke her early, dressed her and returned her to bed until I arrived about 7:30. This is to be continued. December 18th: Aldean is having a good day. She had an afternoon appointment at Barrows. 8:00 AM: BP 149/73 Pulse 93. Blood Sugar 93 Trouble sitting upright in wheelchair, leans to one side. Could not hold fork or spoon correctly. I had to feed her. At 10:00 AM went to dining room for activities. She just sat at the table, looking toward the other side of the room, not participating. Slept the rest of the day. She is very anxious when I am not there. Several
calls from her during the morning and early afternoon. Wants me to come
get her. Thursday: December 20th: 8:00 AM: BP 126/60, P 82, Blood Sugar 89 Much like yesterday, really not very responsive and weak. Slept all day. Friday, December 21st: BP 119/66, P88, B.Sugar 65 Very dazed. Could not sit upright in wheelchair. I had to feed her at all three meals, only a little at a time. Only ate a little of each meal. No appetite. Very weak, especially her legs and torso. Tried to eat, but when she brought the fork up toward her mouth, she placed her mouth at the upper end of the handle near her thumb. Again and again. We (Bret Pierce, RN) speculated on the possibility of another TIA sometime during the last couple of days? Very anxious until after her 4:00 PM medications. Aldean complaines of her eyes hurting. I received a number of phone calls from her during the day, asking me to come get her. Aldean can no longer pick up her cell phone, nor remember how to use it to speed dial. BP: 123/64, P 83, Blood Sugar 75 Aldean conplained all morning and early afternoon of her eyes hurting. She is comfortable with a wet washcloth over her eyes. Sitting upright this morning in the wheelchair. She had her face upward for the first time at breakfast. She almost always has been looking downward while trying to eat, so the food often falls from her mouth. This morning as I sat next to her, I had her plate mostly in front
of me while I cut up her food. She has trouble with left arm and left leg.
She can push her wheelchair with her right arm, but doesn't even put the
left arm onto the wheel. She can help push with her right foot, but doesn't
seem to recognize her left foot is dragging under the wheelchair. She telephoned me three times during the morning while sitting in the large lounge chair near the entrance, in the hallway across from the dining room. Perhaps she should have a small morning dose of Psych. Meds at 8:00 AM? 8:00 PM: A trip to the drugstore to purchase eye drops containing zink. Hope this will help. Notes: There have been changes in her medications over the last 60 days. Norvasc is being withheld when her BP is below 90/... or when I request it be withheld for the day after I check her vitals. Since the doctors have recommended a BP of 140 to 150 so the blood will go through/into her brain I asked for the Norvasc be on hold on the days she has a lower BP accompanied with slurred speech, weakness and lack of balance. The RN on the floor is concerned with too low a diastolic blood pressure reading, seemingly more important then a low systolic pressure. I guess the ideal would be around 135/80 for Aldean. I believe the
RN has requested permission of our family doctor to hold B/P meds below
<110/70. He cited the lowest BPs of 90/58 and 80/53. I had suggested holding the B/P meds (Is Norvasic the only one?) when the systolic falls below 130/.... Sunday, December 23rd Before breakfast: BP 149/86, Pulse 84 and Blood Sugar 103. 7:00 AM, Aldean was asleep and didn't want to rise. (The Aides had taken her to the bathroom at 5:00 AM, dressed her and put her back in bed.) I let her sleep until 7:30. Applied drops to her right eye. After breakfast she wanted to return to bed and immediately fell asleep. During the morning she phoned me several times calling for help and wanting me to come get her. Around 10:00 they moved her to her lounge chair for the rest of the morning. At the noon meal she was much stronger. She ate very little lunch and wanted to immediately return to bed for the afternoon. At dinner she was a little more alert, I had to feed her and she ate very little. She did take an energy malt. 8:30 PM: Received a call from the Med Aide at Chris Ridge. Aldean would not open her mouth to take her meds. When I arrived Aldean was in bed with her eyes closed but not asleep. She told me she didn't want the meds. She said she wanted to go to the bathroom. Afterwards, while sitting up in her wheelchair she took her meds. from me with no problem. In bed again she just stared at the wall beside her bed. About 15
minutes later she fell asleep. Monday, December 24th BP 136/78, Pulse 87, Blood Sugar 101 6:30 AM Aldean was very sound asleep in bed. I had trouble waking her. She had been dressed and returned to bed. I noticed the bed pad was missing and the top sheet was damp. 7:30 at breakfast she was lethargic and kept staring toward the TV, although I believe she was not concentrating on the program. She ate a few bites or egg, just a little oatmeal and some water. She did finish her cranberry drink. Afterward she wanted to return to bed. She was fast asleep within minutes. She was fed a few bites at lunch. She had a difficult day. 7:45-9:30 PM: She was sleeping when we entered the room with her medicine. We moved her to her wheelchair so she was sitting upright. She failed to swallow any part of her medicine. It took over an hour to get her to swallow a spoon of chocolate pudding with the meds mixed in. She has some congestion in her upper chest, most of which she spit up. I left her with the head of the bed raised to about a 30 degree angle. The eye drops are helping her right eye.
She doesn't like the drops and gives me a bit of a hard time, but it is
worth it. December 25th: Merry Christmas! 6:00 AM BP 147/74, Pulse 99 7:30 AM BP 132/66, Pulse 102, Blood Sugar 224 Unable to wake Aldean for more than a few seconds. She gives no help when transferring. Did not eat anything at breakfast nor could she take her medicine in chocolate pudding. Would take only a sip or two of liquids: Cranberry Drink, Coffee and Water. Returned her to bed and she immediately fell asleep. I had no trouble putting a drop of medicine onto her right eye. The eye looks normal, much better. The RN feels she is dehydrated. The plan is to let her sleep for an hour, then take her out to the lounge chair and try to get her to take some liquids. 4:00 PM. BP 142/88, P108, Blood Sugar 152 They could not move her to the lounge chair. She slept all day. Temperature is now 101 degrees. 7:30 PM: Her eyes open and clear. For the first
time she appeared aware and could reply to me. She could hardly be heard
speaking. She was glad to see me and asked me to help her. Her forehead
felt a little warm. Wednesday, December 26th: Midnight: BP 137/70, Pulse 90, Blood Sugar 142., Temperature 100.6 degrees. 2:30 AM: Deep sleep, lying on her back. She woke up clear headed and bright eyed. She could hold a conversation with me. Administered Tylenol suppositories with no trouble. Tried to get her to drink some water, refused. 2:45 AM: Temperature 99.8 degrees. 6:45 AM Temperature 97.5 degrees. Her eyes look good. I again put drops in her right eye. She permitted this. Apparently these don't hurt as they did during the last two days. Aldean did not eat much breakfast, only one-half spoon of egg, a taste of gravy and she wanted to return to her room.. Took two sips of cranberry juice and one sip
of water. Note: Two days ago the RN noted congestion in her upper lungs. During breakfast she keep trying to to slump over and suddenly appear to be asleep. Took her to bed in her room. She promptly fell asleep. Last night and this morning she has been speaking in only a whisper. 5:00 PM: BP 160/82, Pulse 96. Blood Sugar 120 Took only a little soup and liquid at dinner. 11:00 PM: Tylenol suppository administrated. Temperature is 98.7. Will discontinue Tylenol. Thursday, December 27th 7:00 AM: BP 152/72, Pulse 89, Blood Sugar 241,
She had a small carton of cranberry drink, a half-dozen small bites of egg and hash browns with 10-12 sips of coffee. Her mind is clear compared to the last few days. Her voice is low. After breakfast she wanted to return to bed. She immediately fell asleep. Did not go to lunch or dinner. Trying to get her to take liquids. She slept most of the day. 4:00 PM Blood Sugar 56 8:00 PM, Temperature 100.6 Tylenol suppositories administrated. By 9:00 PM she was in a deep sleep, breathing was rapid and shallow. I could hear phlegm on every exhale. Friday, December 28th 2:00 AM Temperature 99.7 Tylenol suppositories and eye drops administered. Aldean was in a deep sleep. Short, rapid and shallow breaths. Mouth open. I could hear phlegm on every exhale. Never woke up, even when we rolled her over twice to change her briefs and pad under her. 7:00 AM Temperature 99.0 Tylenol suppositories and eye drops administered. Aldean never woke up. Same type of deep sleep as last night. Her lungs may be a 'little' more clear. BP 119/65 Pulse 101 2:00 PM Temperature hasn't risen. X-rays were taken yesterday afternoon. The report came back today, "Pneumonia." (And she had flu and pneumonia shots last October.) I made the decision, no antibiotics. Aldean is now enrolled with Hospice of The Valley. She will remain in her private room at Chris Ridge Village, Garden Village, Room 112. If any friends wish to visit, it is suggested they do so in the next two or three days. Saturday December 29th 12:30 AM Aldean is sleeping peacefully. She is receiving oxygen and has been given a light dosage of morphine to ease the pain she has been experiencing in her legs. Tylenol suppositories and eye drops administered. BP 141/65, pulse 81, temperature 99.9 7:30 AM BP 154/69, Pulse 87, Temperature 99.7 Tylenol and eye drops administrated. She took a little water, several spoons of broth and just a little apple juice. Will try again in a half hour or so. 4:00 PM Aldean came out of sleep to find Kathleen and Steve, as well as Sherry and myself with her. She was so happy to have her family with her. We talked quite a bit, Steve showed some pictures
from his camera through the TV in her room. These were of Thanksgiving when
we were all together through the Christmas gathering which Aldean couldn't
attend. There are some beautiful shots of the holiday decorations outside
and inside his house. Sunday, December 30tth: 7:30 AM: BP138/65, Pulse 84, Temperature 100.1 Aldean was relaxed and looking good. She had
a very light breakfast and we talked and held hands much of the morning. Late afternoon: Sherry, Kathleen, Rachel and Michael left for dinner at the Village Inn. I believe the girls had Michael outnumbered and put him on the spot. Sherry says he came through with flying colors. He and Rachel have set a date for the wedding in April. In the early evening I gave Aldean some jello, soup and juice. She was tiring and dozing every few minutes. I turned on the oxygen (first time today) and within 15 minutes she was resting peacefully. Rebekah stayed with Aldean until Sherry returned. Sherry said Aldean had trouble going to sleep. She left about 9:30 PM. Monday, December 31st. 7:00 AM. BP 154/97, Pulse 100, Temperature 97.9 Aldean woke up alert. She looks good this morning, rested. Believe this will be a good day for her. A new RN from Hospice came in to interview Aldean. Aldean answered the questions with no problem. I spent the morning with Aldean. She became tired about 11:00 AM. She will doze lightly for a few minutes, then come awake. Sherry took over about 12:30. The visitors yesterday apparently didn't faze her in the least. She seems to thrive on these visits. I believe visits from friends are helping her feel better. I hope she has more visitors this afternoon and tomorrow, New Year's Day. Tuesday, January 1, 2008 8:00 AM. BP 151/80 Pulse 98, Temp. 89.7. Aldean is awake, calm and in no pain. She is alert. She took several small bites of jello and a little apple juice. She wanted to sit up so I raised the head of her bed. She was watching a little TV and dozing when I left about 10 AM. Sherry will be with her this afternoon and I will return tonight. Aldean had two visitors in the late afternoon. She enjoyed them very much. In early evening a rise in temperature, wet towels (mixture of water and alcohol) on forehead and chest brought down the temperature. Wednesday, January 2, 2008 4:00 AM Temperature normal. No meds. given. 6:30 AM: BP: 155/70, Pulse 105, Temp 101 8:00 AM: 153/78, Pulse 106, Temp 101.2, Tylenol administrated. 10:00 AM Temp. 102.6 which is highest so far. Noon: BP 152/95, Pulse 127, Temp. 100.9 Oxygen still in place since yesterday evening. Aldean is breathing easily and is comfortable. Aldean is unable to take jello. I mixed it with a small amount of water so it is thin enough to drink. She took 8-10 small sips through a straw. She likes it. Only a few little sips of water this morning. We expect she will feel better this afternoon. Sherry will be with her this afternoon and evening. 4:30 PM: The hospice Chaplain was with her and prayed with her this afternoon. Aldean was very happy he was there. Aldean indicated to him she was ready to go "Home." Sherry was with them at the time. Tonight, Sherry and Steve (our children) each, when alone with Aldean, told her she has their permission to leave us. I intend to do so when alone with her tomorrow (Thursday) morning. She is failing very fast. At this time I don't (personally) expect her to last more than a week from today, if that long. But, she is a tough lady and has fooled me before. The Final Day Thursday, January 3rd Aldean's vital signs have been changing all day, sometimes high and low at other times. Her temperature is under control and she is comfortable. The Tylenol has been doing a good job. Aldean has been sleeping much of the day. There is no question that she does listen to and she does understand what is being said to her and said about her. Last night
Sherry and Steve each spent time alone with Aldean. They each talked to
her in their own words: Shortly after this she was given her Tylenol and a dose of liquid
morphine. Dr. W. of Hospice of the Valley came about 6:30 PM. After examining Aldean he spent over an hour with Sherry and I. He made the same comments we had heard all day, about how relaxed and peaceful she is. He told us he didn't expect Aldean will last more than 24 to 48 hours. Many of you have been praying for Aldean. Now we ask you to change your prayer. Request her to stay calm, peaceful and with no pain as she passes on to her "Home." 9:50 PM: I have just finished writing the above and my phone is ringing. It is the night aide from Chris Ridge. She has spent much of the last hour with Aldean, holding her hand. She tells me, "Aldean has just passed on." I asked her to call the mortuary. I am leaving now to be there when they pick up her body. Steve and Sherry will meet me there. 12:30 AM: Home again. Goodbye sweet love...
During better days; Our campsite
for the month we worked in
|
