Sue Scott Gough has provided the following update on her husband's medical condition. John has been hospitalized since early August.
I asked John if he cared if I went to Sunday School & Church tomorrow since I haven’t been in a while. He said he does not want to be alone up there as he needs me there right now (Ricky was going to go with me to church) but, Ricky said he would be up there for him. So, I will go up there after church. John is getting stronger now “Thank God” and he did stand up straight two times on Friday after he did his exercises in the bed first to “warm” his muscles up.
He has gotten very dependent on me being there all of the time for him – he just does not want me out of his sight. He gets the nurse to call me on my cell phone from his room to find out where I am and when will I be back. (The other day I just wanted to get away for a while so, I left around 3:00 p.m. and told him I would be back for his supper feeding before 5:00 p.m. – Well, my cell phone rings about 4:45 p.m. and it is the nurse tracking me down for John – he got on the phone and wanted to know where I was and I told him right across the street at Wal-Mart – he said what in the world are you doing at Wal-Mart when all that "stuff” was going on up there where he is – so, I left and went on up there – just in time to feed him.
I have gotten 4 wreaths decorated and working on the 5th one for one of the nurses up there. She wanted to have Red, Green, & White as her Christmas colors. I am charging $35.00 per wreath so I can get back money to help me out with the supplies that I have purchased. I am trying to keep my hands, mind, & body busy doing something while sitting up there each day.
Ricky, our son got in this afternoon from NC. Ricky will be working here at the house from 7:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day here. Then he will go spend the evenings with John – so, I will be there during the day and leave once Ricky gets there so, I can have some “me” time!
John is able to sit on the side of the bed with the nurse helping him sit up – and he did this 3 times today when his breakfast, lunch, & supper was brought in – then I fed him but, he was doing pretty well on his own today too.
Kenneth the PT guy told John, to get plenty of rest this weekend because come Monday he was going to encourage John to stand up and take a few steps for him.
Tina the PT gal came by Friday and said she will no longer be working with him because he had advanced on up to get Occupational Therapy from another person. She will be working with John to have him wash his face, brush his teeth, and brush his hair. As he gets to the point he can walk again he will be learning more “life skills” like going to the bathroom on his own, etc.
John is more than ready mentally but not physically to come home. So, just keep those prayers coming! The ICU nurses have been coming by and praising John for coming this far in his recovery from his illness. There were times they all thought that he would not make it – but like one nurse told me only prayers and God would be able to heal him. She told me his story is not over yet!
Well, need to head to bed so I can get up and go to Sunday School & Church tomorrow!
Love,
Sue
Saturday, October 17, 2009 7:49 PM, CDT
