10.28.07
Floyd Jr. Visit…coming to an end
It has been a whirlwind 10 days in
Tulsa that has come to an end. My wife, Susan, made it to
Tulsa safely on Thursday after fighting the So Cal fires before leaving. Although the fires got within a mile of our house she left somewhat assured we would have a home to return to. We celebrated Al and Tanya’s new marriage yesterday in Tulsa as they hosted their
Tulsa wedding reception.
Dad has come a long way since I have been here. The easiest way I can pass on his progression is when I arrived I would have put him at about a 5 on a 1 to 10 scale. I visited with him yesterday and would move him up to an 8 or 9. He has been off the ventilator for a couple of days and had a new voice box installed yesterday. Hooray!!! He can now talk again and easily carry on a conversation. I expect him to return to Inola to join Marilyn sometime this week. The surgeon has tentatively scheduled his gall bladder surgery in 4-6 weeks. Dad needs some time to build up his strength and to reduce the inflammation in his gall bladder and the surrounding areas. All in all dad looks good, his spirits are good and he is on his way to recovery. He has worked hard this last week to get to where he is and is anxious to join Marilyn back in their new Inola home.
Marilyn has made some huge strides in Inola. She was lifted into a chair on Friday and was able to spend 2 ½ hours sitting up. She enjoyed the change and was a real trooper through out the process. She is getting her ultra sound whirlpool baths every other day, a very rigorous physical therapy routine and they have just started on her speech therapy with the plan of getting her on a voice box soon. Depending on the day and how she is feeling, she can sometimes talk now so our hopes are the addition of a voice box will simply make speaking easier for her and more consistent. We are in the process of getting a TV installed in her room so she can watch her only show, The Young and the Restless, along with other programs, Jenks football and movies she may want to see. We got her new gowns, footies and her own personal hygiene items. We expect Marilyn will be able to be mobile enough soon to experience her surroundings at the care center to include a visit outdoors. The staff told me this is huge to a patient like Marilyn because she can then see first hand her new home. The experience will answer a lot of questions and clears up a lot of confusion she now has about her new home.
Please visit Dad and Marilyn in Inola. I know they would love to see you!