Mom has been home a little over a week now.  🥳 She is doing really well.  She has been walking and doing her shoulder exercises. 

Last week was a busy week with lots of appointments.  We have a nurse coming out once a week for six weeks to just check on her and make sure everything is still going well.  Physical therapy did an assessment last week and she does not need their services at this time.  Occupational therapy will most likely be out this week to start working with her.  

Last week, she had an appointment to establish a primary care physician.  He was able to give her a medicine that has been helping tremendously with her sleep, which has been an ongoing issue.  She’s been sleeping all night since starting it and has finally been able to sleep in her bed the past two nights.

We had an appointment with the spinal doctor for her occipital condyle fracture (at the base of her head) and neck brace.  After seeing the X-ray, they told for her to wear the neck brace for another 4 weeks due to some degeneration in her discs (which is due to aging).  She was disappointed but is willing to do it so everything heals correctly.  

We also saw the oral surgeon last week.  He told mom she looked really good and that her surgery for her facial reconstruction was the most complicated one he’s had in many many years.  He took an X-ray, pushed into her cheek bones, down on her jaw, and up on her palate.  He had her open and close her mouth several times while he felt her jaw movement.  He asked if any of it hurt her, and she said no.  She could just feel the pressure from him pushing.  In two weeks, he will take off her arch bars (the wires on the top and bottom of her teeth that hold her jaw in place) and if everything feels stable enough he may be able to advance her diet.  

Mom is scheduled to get her PEGG tube out on August 2nd.  She hasn’t needed it for any feedings, but they won’t remove it until 8 weeks so that the stomach lining has time to heal.  So we just flush it twice daily with water and clean the PEGG tube site.  

This week we shouldn’t have any doctors appointments.  We have three follow ups next week (wrist and shoulder follow ups on the 27th and facial surgery follow up on the 28th).  We have a follow up in Joplin on August 11th for her neck brace.  Hopefully by then she will be able to have all the braces and sling off.  

We are all SO happy she is home and are enjoying time together with her!  Thank you to everyone who continues to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.  ❤️