Journal entry by Brea Murphy —
Monica is doing great settling in at home. She feels and looks wonderful, and is doing well balancing her activity with her 10lb weight lift restriction, asking for help when she needs it, and accepting help when offered. She had some visitors on the porch this morning, a good buddy Trish and neighbor Michelle, and they enjoyed muffins that Monica had made the night before, as they chatted. She decided she feels comfortable and confident enough to not use the walker, and even went up and down the basement stairs this evening.
The rest of this week will be busy, with lots of VA visits for Ted, in home care assessments tomorrow for both Ted and Monica, and her first follow up with her cardiothoracic team this week. We anticipate Monica will begin in home PT and get visits from nurses soon, and are hopeful to begin a home health aide for Ted soon as well.
Recovery looks like a total of 4-6 weeks of no driving and movement limitations, alongside 8 weeks of not lifting more than 10 lbs. Cardiac rehab will begin in October, 2-3 times a week for up to 12 weeks. So while recovery continues, we're so pleased with how Monica is still very much Monica, and won't let a little thing like an aortic valve replacement stop her.
If you'd like to call and say hello (and maybe even plan a visit!), please do. Monica is doing wonderfully, and would love to hear from you. If you do plan a visit, plan to wear a mask at least for the first few weeks of recovery. We have some at the house, available for guests.
Brea (the gatekeeper of visits and calls) is headed home to MN tomorrow, so long as all goes well with the in home care assessments. Monica and Ted are set up nicely for the next several weeks of Monica's recovery, and if there's an update - you'll hear it next time directly from Monica!
Blessings: Thanks to Joan, John and Carl (Amber's husband, who has been so incredibly helpful with getting Ted where he needs to go) who are/have helped with transportation later this week, Denise for visiting and great meals, Trish and Michelle for the visit and for the wonderful food, and Royal and Nancy for the lovely packages today.
Prayer Requests: Continued phenomenal progress in recovery, great and clear path forward with in home care assessments, and glowing reviews from PA James at this week's first check in.
The rest of this week will be busy, with lots of VA visits for Ted, in home care assessments tomorrow for both Ted and Monica, and her first follow up with her cardiothoracic team this week. We anticipate Monica will begin in home PT and get visits from nurses soon, and are hopeful to begin a home health aide for Ted soon as well.
Recovery looks like a total of 4-6 weeks of no driving and movement limitations, alongside 8 weeks of not lifting more than 10 lbs. Cardiac rehab will begin in October, 2-3 times a week for up to 12 weeks. So while recovery continues, we're so pleased with how Monica is still very much Monica, and won't let a little thing like an aortic valve replacement stop her.
If you'd like to call and say hello (and maybe even plan a visit!), please do. Monica is doing wonderfully, and would love to hear from you. If you do plan a visit, plan to wear a mask at least for the first few weeks of recovery. We have some at the house, available for guests.
Brea (the gatekeeper of visits and calls) is headed home to MN tomorrow, so long as all goes well with the in home care assessments. Monica and Ted are set up nicely for the next several weeks of Monica's recovery, and if there's an update - you'll hear it next time directly from Monica!
Blessings: Thanks to Joan, John and Carl (Amber's husband, who has been so incredibly helpful with getting Ted where he needs to go) who are/have helped with transportation later this week, Denise for visiting and great meals, Trish and Michelle for the visit and for the wonderful food, and Royal and Nancy for the lovely packages today.
Prayer Requests: Continued phenomenal progress in recovery, great and clear path forward with in home care assessments, and glowing reviews from PA James at this week's first check in.
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