May 12, 2006
Mail call: Thanks to Mom G, the Auburn Math Dept, Piotr Minc, and Ronnie and Pam Levy. The Levys sent up some books: The Mayor of MacDougall Street by Dave Van Ronk, whose name we recognize from the Dylan book (which we just finished); Patrick O’Brian, Master and Commander (we saw and enjoyed the movie); and Calvin Trillin’s Obliviously On He Sails, the Bush Administration in Rhyme – even the title had us laughing.
Gary had a little more to eat when I returned last night. He liked everything but had trouble with the jello (evidently there’s not always room for it). We think that is probably because he wasn’t sitting upright enough and he choked on it a little. He said what he really wanted was a chocolate milkshake, so I later told the nurse this to see if they could put in a request for it, which they said they could. Gary practiced with the speaking valve for only a few seconds – saying, “this is work,” so we decided not to push it. The nurses then came in and sat him up for a while in a special chair. He always feels uncomfortable with it at the beginning, but then seems to adjust. While he sat, I read some of the Jimmy Carter book to him. After they put him back in the bed, we watched some more of “Walk the Line.”
In the morning, some of his first (spelled out) words to me were, with a smile, “Where’s my milkshake?” I said I didn’t know when he would be getting that. He said the nurse told him I could go out and get one for him. We double checked and they said that would be fine. I asked him if he wanted it badly enough for me to go and get it now (there’s a place about a block away that would have them), but he said he could wait until I returned from the chiropractor. The speech therapist came in and gave Gary a different speech valve to try. Theoretically this one was supposed to offer more resistance and so be harder to use, but Gary found it easier. His voice is still very weak, and the therapist thinks this is due to the ulcers on his vocal cords, causing the cords to vibrate irregularly. I asked if the purpose of the speech valve was to exercise his lungs; she said it was partly that, but primarily for communication, and also that the valve normalized the pressure in his airways and so would he would be able to cough and swallow more easily. Gary likes this therapist a lot – she explains things and is upbeat and friendly and intelligent.
After seeing the chiropractor I went and did some shopping for him – I told him this is a sign of my true love because I absolutely hate shopping, and most particularly in real space as opposed to cyberspace. From the Shepherd website I had gotten a list of clothing he would need there. Since I’m not sure I’ll be making a trip to Auburn first to pick up any of his own clothing, he needed the basics as well – underwear and socks. Sweat pants were on the list but no one carried them. A Walmart person suggested something called sleep pants that were of a weight between pajamas and sweat pants and which she claimed men wore on the street. They did seem suitable, so I bought a pair. When I showed them to Gary he liked them, so I will have to get some more. I got him a button-down shirt and a crew shirt, but when the physical therapist here saw them she said I should get him some T-shirts (and by the way, she said Shepherd was the place to go – the only one from here to admit that). Oh, well, now he has two new shirts for other purposes – at least he liked the looks of them. I also picked him up swim trunks, picking out the most sedate design I could find – I have learned over the years that he will not wear the flashier things I buy for him ;-). He liked them, as he did the other things I’d bought, so I was quite pleased with myself. The last thing on the list was athletic shoes in a size bigger than he normally wears, but I decided to hold off until we’re at a place where I can easily return them in case they don’t fit. I finished off the shopping excursion by buying him a triple-thick chocolate shake, the biggest one they had – which was definitely over-optimistic on my part, though he did savor what he could drink of it.
When I returned, I found that they had already downsized Gary to a four. Hooray! He said that, knock on wood, he was finding the breathing to be easier. He also seems to be able to talk better with it when we put the speaking valve over it. Talking is still work, so we only did it for a few minutes. In order to make out his words I have to practically put my ear on his mouth. But at least it now pretty much sounds like him (with a bit of Darth Vader in there, which he said would be good for teaching).
Well, I’m stopping mid-stream tonight.
Mail call: Thanks to Mom G, the Auburn Math Dept, Piotr Minc, and Ronnie and Pam Levy. The Levys sent up some books: The Mayor of MacDougall Street by Dave Van Ronk, whose name we recognize from the Dylan book (which we just finished); Patrick O’Brian, Master and Commander (we saw and enjoyed the movie); and Calvin Trillin’s Obliviously On He Sails, the Bush Administration in Rhyme – even the title had us laughing.
Gary had a little more to eat when I returned last night. He liked everything but had trouble with the jello (evidently there’s not always room for it). We think that is probably because he wasn’t sitting upright enough and he choked on it a little. He said what he really wanted was a chocolate milkshake, so I later told the nurse this to see if they could put in a request for it, which they said they could. Gary practiced with the speaking valve for only a few seconds – saying, “this is work,” so we decided not to push it. The nurses then came in and sat him up for a while in a special chair. He always feels uncomfortable with it at the beginning, but then seems to adjust. While he sat, I read some of the Jimmy Carter book to him. After they put him back in the bed, we watched some more of “Walk the Line.”
In the morning, some of his first (spelled out) words to me were, with a smile, “Where’s my milkshake?” I said I didn’t know when he would be getting that. He said the nurse told him I could go out and get one for him. We double checked and they said that would be fine. I asked him if he wanted it badly enough for me to go and get it now (there’s a place about a block away that would have them), but he said he could wait until I returned from the chiropractor. The speech therapist came in and gave Gary a different speech valve to try. Theoretically this one was supposed to offer more resistance and so be harder to use, but Gary found it easier. His voice is still very weak, and the therapist thinks this is due to the ulcers on his vocal cords, causing the cords to vibrate irregularly. I asked if the purpose of the speech valve was to exercise his lungs; she said it was partly that, but primarily for communication, and also that the valve normalized the pressure in his airways and so would he would be able to cough and swallow more easily. Gary likes this therapist a lot – she explains things and is upbeat and friendly and intelligent.
After seeing the chiropractor I went and did some shopping for him – I told him this is a sign of my true love because I absolutely hate shopping, and most particularly in real space as opposed to cyberspace. From the Shepherd website I had gotten a list of clothing he would need there. Since I’m not sure I’ll be making a trip to Auburn first to pick up any of his own clothing, he needed the basics as well – underwear and socks. Sweat pants were on the list but no one carried them. A Walmart person suggested something called sleep pants that were of a weight between pajamas and sweat pants and which she claimed men wore on the street. They did seem suitable, so I bought a pair. When I showed them to Gary he liked them, so I will have to get some more. I got him a button-down shirt and a crew shirt, but when the physical therapist here saw them she said I should get him some T-shirts (and by the way, she said Shepherd was the place to go – the only one from here to admit that). Oh, well, now he has two new shirts for other purposes – at least he liked the looks of them. I also picked him up swim trunks, picking out the most sedate design I could find – I have learned over the years that he will not wear the flashier things I buy for him ;-). He liked them, as he did the other things I’d bought, so I was quite pleased with myself. The last thing on the list was athletic shoes in a size bigger than he normally wears, but I decided to hold off until we’re at a place where I can easily return them in case they don’t fit. I finished off the shopping excursion by buying him a triple-thick chocolate shake, the biggest one they had – which was definitely over-optimistic on my part, though he did savor what he could drink of it.
When I returned, I found that they had already downsized Gary to a four. Hooray! He said that, knock on wood, he was finding the breathing to be easier. He also seems to be able to talk better with it when we put the speaking valve over it. Talking is still work, so we only did it for a few minutes. In order to make out his words I have to practically put my ear on his mouth. But at least it now pretty much sounds like him (with a bit of Darth Vader in there, which he said would be good for teaching).
Well, I’m stopping mid-stream tonight.
posted by Peg Daniels at 8:39 PM
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