Something we forgot to put for yesterday... Melinda Diefenderfer, a friend of Annette's, brought some of her famous home made toffee. It was enjoyed by a lot of people!!
She's done a lot to help raise money and awareness for our dad and we are so grateful for her efforts and involvement! She is a gifted photographer who has taken pictures of the grandkids and family in the past.
You can see her work and a special promotion for our dad on her website at
She's done a lot to help raise money and awareness for our dad and we are so grateful for her efforts and involvement! She is a gifted photographer who has taken pictures of the grandkids and family in the past.
You can see her work and a special promotion for our dad on her website at
http://kissntalephotography.smugmug.com. All of her work has been discounted and the proceeds will go to Jeff's gofundme account!
Now to today....
Now to today....
Jeff had a slightly disappointing start to the day with the dreaded morning crash session. It's been a few days since he's had to fight that and it was not a welcome return.
During physical therapy Jeff wanted to map his route on Strava as he pushed himself in the manual wheelchair. In order to do this they took him outside. He quickly learned that it's much more difficult to travel outside than in.
The uneven slopes were a challenge as he had to figure out how to maneuver his body's weight to his advantage. It was also a challenge when he needed to push one wheel harder than the other to continue heading in a straight direction. Even the different textures of the ground made a difference in how much effort was needed to go where he wanted.
His goal was to circle the entire hospital and part way through he said, "This is harder than I thought! I have a long way to go." It took just over a half hour, but he made it! He only needed help in a couple of places. Never one to give up, we are proud of our dad for accomplishing this goal today!
Not surprisingly, his trip outside really tired him out. No rest for the weary, it was then lunch time. Peggy came and brought Annette lunch not long after.
Before the accident Jeff and Annette had made arrangements to go on a cruise. It's set for January. They've been talking to the cruise line to figure out if it still might be a possibility. Besides needing a wheelchair accessible room they have a million things to consider.
Many of those things have nothing to do with the cruise and everything to do with Jeff's health. They have to think about his extensive hygiene needs, mobility restrictions, assistive devices, medications, etc. This doesn't mean they are giving up on going. It just means they have a lot to consider and plan. It also depends on how well Jeff is feeling by then. If he's just not up to it then his next cruise will have to wait.
Occupational therapy was also strenuous today as Jeff practiced transfers from the manual wheelchair. He's determined to go home with a manual instead of electric.
The difference with these transfers is that he now has to learn how to slide to the front of the chair to clear the tire instead of just lifting the arm and sliding out the side. It takes a significant amount of strength and balance to do this.
When Jeff finally got a chance to rest, the cleaning lady interrupted and very loudly did a great job emptying the garbages and completing her other tasks. We are grateful for a clean hospital! However, we wish they had set nap times with no interruptions. Lol!
At home there was a lot accomplished on the bathroom today. The framing was completed, the plumbing was moved, and measurements were taken for the necessary fixtures and shower. We are so grateful for everyone who has given of their time and talents to help move this project forward!
Perry Jones, Jeff's friend, also showed up to figure out what needed to be done for the tiling. He actually did the original tile when the house was built!
Jeff had several visitors today for which we are so grateful! Max Nielsen came again to spend more time with him and he enjoyed it! The High Priest group from his ward came and they had a little meeting during their visit. And Jeff's Stake President came with one of his counselors. Each of you has helped to uplift our dad and we are thankful for your willingness to serve!
We are inspired every day by how hard our dad works to do everything they require of him. He is challenged physically and mentally and meets those challenges head on each and every time. Even when the tasks before him seem to be a bit enthusiastic, he rises to the occasion without complaint.
During physical therapy Jeff wanted to map his route on Strava as he pushed himself in the manual wheelchair. In order to do this they took him outside. He quickly learned that it's much more difficult to travel outside than in.
The uneven slopes were a challenge as he had to figure out how to maneuver his body's weight to his advantage. It was also a challenge when he needed to push one wheel harder than the other to continue heading in a straight direction. Even the different textures of the ground made a difference in how much effort was needed to go where he wanted.
His goal was to circle the entire hospital and part way through he said, "This is harder than I thought! I have a long way to go." It took just over a half hour, but he made it! He only needed help in a couple of places. Never one to give up, we are proud of our dad for accomplishing this goal today!
Not surprisingly, his trip outside really tired him out. No rest for the weary, it was then lunch time. Peggy came and brought Annette lunch not long after.
Before the accident Jeff and Annette had made arrangements to go on a cruise. It's set for January. They've been talking to the cruise line to figure out if it still might be a possibility. Besides needing a wheelchair accessible room they have a million things to consider.
Many of those things have nothing to do with the cruise and everything to do with Jeff's health. They have to think about his extensive hygiene needs, mobility restrictions, assistive devices, medications, etc. This doesn't mean they are giving up on going. It just means they have a lot to consider and plan. It also depends on how well Jeff is feeling by then. If he's just not up to it then his next cruise will have to wait.
Occupational therapy was also strenuous today as Jeff practiced transfers from the manual wheelchair. He's determined to go home with a manual instead of electric.
The difference with these transfers is that he now has to learn how to slide to the front of the chair to clear the tire instead of just lifting the arm and sliding out the side. It takes a significant amount of strength and balance to do this.
When Jeff finally got a chance to rest, the cleaning lady interrupted and very loudly did a great job emptying the garbages and completing her other tasks. We are grateful for a clean hospital! However, we wish they had set nap times with no interruptions. Lol!
At home there was a lot accomplished on the bathroom today. The framing was completed, the plumbing was moved, and measurements were taken for the necessary fixtures and shower. We are so grateful for everyone who has given of their time and talents to help move this project forward!
Perry Jones, Jeff's friend, also showed up to figure out what needed to be done for the tiling. He actually did the original tile when the house was built!
Jeff had several visitors today for which we are so grateful! Max Nielsen came again to spend more time with him and he enjoyed it! The High Priest group from his ward came and they had a little meeting during their visit. And Jeff's Stake President came with one of his counselors. Each of you has helped to uplift our dad and we are thankful for your willingness to serve!
We are inspired every day by how hard our dad works to do everything they require of him. He is challenged physically and mentally and meets those challenges head on each and every time. Even when the tasks before him seem to be a bit enthusiastic, he rises to the occasion without complaint.
No comments:
Post a Comment