Joni Update

Joni's estimated time of departure is Wednesday! She's very excited. Cleo and I went to visit for a couple hours on Friday and Cleo was a hit! I dressed her up in her pumpkin costume and you should have heard those residents! They loved her! She even performed a few tricks for some of them. I went to PT with Joni and it's obvious how much stronger she's getting. She is still getting pretty exhausted from the PT but she says that's getting better too. She had to get to bingo by 2:15 so I headed out then.

Camilia Rose

My mom has worked there forever it seems but I've never been close to a client that was there until now. It's very strange. Anyway...

Joni is doing really well. I went to see her on Thursday and she was in really good spirits. She was so upbeat and positive and happy she's there. She is loving the food, the staff, her room with a view, and all the activities offered. She said that during her physical therapy it's exhausting so she's glad she's there getting the help she needs. It really is a relief that she's doing so well and has such a positive attitude.

Friday she had high blood pressure and high blood sugar so they weren't able to do the morning physical therapy.

Today (Sat.) we stopped in and she's doing ok but I think she wasn't having the best day. We went to her physical therapy with her so she enjoyed that and then we took her outside for some fresh air. I guess her roomie snores! We have to get her some ear plugs! She told us that her sister Kathy and niece Shawn stopped by Thursday and hung out with her for quite awhile. She really enjoyed that. I think the company and phone calls are really whats helping her get through this. She talked about wanting to get home to her gardens. It must be so frustrating to want to do so many things but knowing you can't due to physical limitations. She is ready to be back to normal!

Update

Well, it's been a few days now and Joni is on the mend. It took them a while to control her allergic reaction to whatever medication they gave her. She ended up with a bright red face, redness around her eyes, and a rash under her nose. That is slowly but surely clearing up. Sunday they took her temp and it was high and they discovered that she got E. Coli in her bladder from the foley cathedar they placed in the ER. They thought that she would go home Monday but because of the new infection with her temp they decided to keep her a few more days. The staff there are also experiencing her extremely hard to control blood pressure which hovers around 200 (systolic). That is too high. They are also wanting to control that before she goes home.

There was also another development. My mom recommended that she enter the nursing home where she works in there short stay therapy and rehab program. It is for people just like Joni that are on the mend and just have to get their strength back. She was hesitant at first but after discussing it with her she agreed that it would be the best choice before going home. This is a load off for Troy and I. We like the idea that she is going to a place that will get her up walking and that will teach her exercises that she can do at home.

I didn't talk to the doctor directly but heard through Sandy that Joni can't even get the chills. Her immune system is really low and weak so if she does she has to go straight to the ER. That is a big deal.

Tomorrow Todd will bring her to Camilla Rose and I hope she finds it helpful and worth while.