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WOW! What a way to learn about healthcare in the U.S. The doctors signed Ang off as being medically 'done' and in a hot minute you are suppose to pick a facility to provide the next level of care and do it now. If a facility says they have room, it really doesn't matter if you like it or not, you have an option and now you best take it or the Insurance company will decertify you and send you the bill. Those of you who know me know how I might not take too kindly to being told what to do with no time to process. Fortunately, Josh and I could tag team the poor sap stuck with the job of crowbaring us out of Harborview. We gained an extra day and a few more evaluations that looked quite promising about getting her back in rehab when her bones heal.
After all today she spelled atrocious and thermometer (among other words), did simple multiplication problems, and sang songs from Mary Poppins, Bob Marley, and church ahead of the record or me.
HOWEVER..... We are moved. We are located in West Seattle at ParkView West. The address is 1703 California Ave SW, Seattle, 98116. We want you to visit and we need you to know:
a. Max of three people in her room at one time. Josh and I have strict instructions to enforce this from her therapists as her attention span is short, too many options make her brain fire incorrectly, and we are all about SUCCESS! ! !
b. Therapy times / appointments take precedent over all else. We do not have a schedule yet but I can post more when we do.
c. Nursing staff get priority second and can kick anyone out the room when they need to do care tasks. We have to be aware of them and their schedules.
d. Until she is doing better, we have to limit people visiting while she eats because she gets easily distracted and we cannot have her choking.
With all those caveats, we would love to have you visit. There are small sitting rooms where you can wait if she is in an appointment or has to go to an appointment or needs to eat or get a diaper change or ??? Information we got from staff indicate that visitors should try and be out of the facility by 8:00pm so there is another limitation. There is usually street parking as the place is in a residential area.
When you do come visit, please know it is best if you:
1. Talk to her as you normally would just a bit slower.
2. Put your hand on her arm, leg, foot, (something) and say "hi, Ang, this is (your name)." Please do not be upset if she calls you someone else's name or doesn't know you right away. Today she called me gramma all day. This is all part of her TBI injury.
3. Watch for signs of fatigue and give her space.
4. Anticipate that she might undress, say inappropriate words, whack you or her ... this is all part of stage IV! ! ! The books and the doctors all say "this phase will pass" but it can be quite disconcerting and it happens quite quickly.
5. Sit down quickly if you feel faint. You will not be the first one to faint but I do feel bad when I am focused on Ang and don't even notice that you are in stress. I am so excited about how far she has come but if it is the first couple of times you have seen her, it can be quite a shock from the Ang you knew.
Please excuse me if this is all too mothering!
Another thing we invite you to do .... We want to wallpaper her room with cards so please send cards. She can now read them herself and bright pictures, few words, special notes are really appreciated. We would love for her to laugh (or cry) so there will be a prize for the first person who sends her the card that makes her laugh!
Love to you all,
Teresa (and Josh)
