#9 Derry’s Medical Report
As of today, Saturday, January 14, 2012, Derry is making great strides in his swallowing. Friday, during his speech therapy, he was given to eat ground fish and mixed vegetables, apple nectar, and chocolate pudding. The first thing he told me when I arrived was what he had eaten and he liked it. Upon my arrival in the afternoon he happened to notice that I had Blue Bell ice cream in my lunch. Derry immediately wanted some. At this time, no one can feed him but the speech therapists. I asked his therapist, Nancee Dixon, and she came down to his room and fed him a cup of vanilla ice cream. Water flows faster through the throat and causes a greater risk of water going down into the lungs. The nectars flow smoother and slower and goes down the esophagus better. It was a thrilling sight watching Derry hold his cup and drink for himself.
Last night, the nurse removed the triple line from his upper right chest area where the medications were being given. Since he is able to swallow crushed pills in the nectar, it was time to remove the port that was no long needed. They also administer the crushed pills through the stomach tube and will continue to do so until he is able to eat enough calories to sustain him. He only has two tubes left to be removed: the catheter and the feeding tube.
He thoroughly enjoys ALL visitors. They stimulate him and keep him aware of everything that is going on. Derry feels very much a part of what is going on in the lives of people, School of Veterinary Medicine, First Baptist Church of CS, Football, Basketball, politics, etc. He was so disappointed in LSU not showing up for the game. He had a lengthy conversation with Steve, our son-in-law in Miami, about football. Derry kept repeating, “Jefferson is no quarterback.” “Jefferson is no quarterback.” I thought, “What a shame the LSU coach did not know that!” We all felt that the coach should have replaced him with Lee after the first fumble.
Derry asked me to ask Patrick to bring Katherine by to see him. Pat brought her by last Tuesday and Patrick, Jennifer, Conner, David, and Katherine will visit him this afternoon. One door in his room is covered with artwork done by Nour Hilal, Sarah Hilal, Connor Schilling, David Schilling, great-granddaughter Mia Johnson from Lebanon, TN.
Derry told his nurse that when he gets well he wants to teach the physical therapists human anatomy so that they will know why one has to be careful sitting a male during showers, etc. (As you know, Derry will tell it like it is!)
Last night, Sandra and Gerald Wynn (truest and greatest friends anyone could have) went by our house, picked up and brought to Rehab Derry’s warm long tee shirts last night and took back to wash his new shirts and putter pant bottoms for him to use this weekend and next week.
Derry’s first cousin, Dr. Charles Bridges, passed away Thursday morning, and he has asked me to attend the wake for us. I told him that I would and would ask someone to come sit with him while I am away for the wake (Monday evening, I believe.)
Wishing you a restful weekend! Thank you for your love, acts of kindness, and prayers.
In Christian love, Dora
I’m thanking God for each little step in Doc’s improvement! What a joy it will be to see him in Kentwood again one day!
Anna Lee
The Prayer Link 