Teresa (T)’s Story

Site created on November 14, 2021

Welcome to our CaringBridge website. We are using it to keep family and friends updated in one place. We appreciate your support and words of hope and encouragement. Teresa has been in the hospital since October 5th. She is finally out of ICU but getting stronger day by day. Thank you for visiting.

Newest Update

Journal entry by Leo Johnson

Hello everyone, 

T has been home for almost a month. Its been slow going at 1st. Pretty much the same thing. Going to dialysis, home, church, resting, no PT and no OT. Nate going to work, Miah at school and both coming home being with T and helping her get better and stronger. And they get to spend their weekends together. Our family helps Monday-Friday during the day until Nate gets home. We have still got to spend time with T, as she gets better. Most of the days you will find my dad up their helping T heel. I fill in weekly and where I can. Their home is further than the hospital. I can usually make it to her place in an hour. My parents live closer so that is why Dad is their most of the time. We hadn't heard from PT/OT but we do have some good updates now.

Finally PT/OT are coming to see T at her home. Working with her on walking of course more and doing stuff around the home. Dad and I will do the same thing except for three of the days we get her after dialysis when she is tried. She isn't getting sick like she was before. I don't think I have seen her get sick since she has been home. But with us she is working on walking around her house. Her legs and knees don't buckle as easy as they use to. She is getting stronger. We help her and assist her with making her lunches and doing other things she might want to do in the house. And now that PT/OT is coming she has done some good work lately. Last week one of her days she walked over 80 feet. Yay! I believe they now see her twice a week. I was getting frustrated because she went from seven days a week working with someone to no one working with her. I think it took about two weeks for them to finally get people to their house. This week now that she has shown improvement they will practice going up some stairs and the ramp to her house. And doing more things around the house. This will also get us closer so she doesn't have to have someone around her 24/7. I know Nate and Teresa are a little nervous about this but she is doing great and getting ready for this next step. I'm sure Miah is tried of Auntie Leo being around lol.

So on another great note. Teresa has been going to dialysis three days a week. Anywhere from 4-6 hours depending on when she is done there and getting back home. She has been seeing some improvement where they aren't taking off as much of fluids as before. They take this out of her body because her kidney was not working and doing the job it should for her body. After a few check up and today news/checkup. They are moving her down to two days a week and pulling less fluids off her body. They don't have to pull as much because her kidney is working and doing what it should do. They also said her kidney function is doing so great and if it continues at this pace. She could be done with dialysis as early as 3 weeks or as long as few months. This is huge news! Of course you all know the doctors and others kept giving us bad news. When leaving saying "she will be on dialysis for the rest of her life."" She will have to do this weekly forever, could be more days." So to know she might have an end in site soon was awesome news today. We are excited for them to have some of their life back, to have a great summer and to just be able to spend some time together with out all the other junk.

Sorry its been so long since we have posted. I know everyone has been crazy busy and exhausted. And I feel like Spring/Summer is just going to be as busy. T and her family are still figuring all this out. They have had some friends visit which T is always excited for. Going forward I am hoping to help her make more meals like dinner. If anyone has any recipes to share for great freezer meals ideas that we can prep and throw in a crockpot. We would like to start meal preps to help her and Nate out for dinners. Feel free to send me any ideas. 

Thank you so much for believing in my sister, she sends her love!

Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Teresa (T) Stay Connected to Family and Friends

A $30 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Teresa (T)'s site for one month. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?

Comments Hide comments

Show Your Support

See the Ways to Help page to get even more involved.

SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top