home from hospital

FYI update, [even to immediate family]

Dan was released from the hospital yesterday afternoon

long ride home in rush hour traffic

had a tasty meal provided by friends

[up a few times during the night]

feeling somewhat better over all

the CUBS won.

Life is good.

Dan's family

[clockwise: Dan, Emily & Matt, Jeff & Jen, Mike,
Bill & Addy, Deb & Gabri]

Well, this past Sunday's family gathering was too much fun, went by too fast, and all 10 of us Knudsen's gathered at our Old Kirk Road home for the last time. It was the first time that all 10 of us have been together since the family expansion this year with a new son-in-law Jeff, and two very cute, twin grand daughters, Addy & Gabri.

[Jen & Jeff
meeting the twins
for the first time.]

For those of you who are in the early years of raising children, perhaps you occasionally think about the day when they all will leave home. Those of us who are empty nesters love the holidays when all the kids are home. It was all that and more.

Twins: Mike, Dan, Gabri & Addy ...
(in the right order per Emily)

MEDICAL UPDATE: We are trying to line up home nursing care so that Dan can come home from the hospital. If you know of anyone who is a nurse [RN or LPN] and would like to work a few hours on their day off, please give them this email address: checkinondan@gmail.com

There is no insurance money available for this, and because of that, 2 home care nursing agencies have turned us down. There is some limited state money that can be provided soon. We really need skilled care for Dan at home at this time. We feel that prevention will help keep him out of the hospitals in the long run.


Medical update in previous blog below.

1st after home Hospital visit

1. Keep Dan in your prayers this afternoon as I am currently blogging from our local hospital. Dan started experiencing sharp pains in his foot and groin area. He has a urinary tract infection [UTI], and is running a slight temp of 101. He is on strong pain killers.
   
2. Dan has been through a litany of tests, blood work, x-rays and a battery of what, when, where questions. His pain is somewhat lessened thanks to strong pain killers [drugs are bad], and he is catching up on sleep. He did have a double portion of the meat loaf & mashed potato lunch. His X-rays and other tests have returned with everything being okay. "Just a bad case of UTI"
   Someone asked "how can he have pain in his foot but yet not have any feeling below his neck??" There is that pain called "phantom pain", or Dan does say that he feels internal pains, like hunger in his stomach and spasms which can make his body shudder. Not sure why it is the groin and foot at the same time.
3. Saturday PM - We are still at the hospital. Same pains, lots of antibiotics, constipation issues added to the mix and just trying everything to get all this cleared up. Still eating good. Thanks for your prayers as always.
   

We knew that a hospital visit would happen some day, and are still glad that we avoided the "1st week out of the RIC hospital visit" like many patients. Also pray that Dan gets released Saturday. All the family, Bill & Deb, Matt & Em, Jen & Jeff, Mike, Dan, Gabri & Addy too, will gathering from far and near, for the last time at our Old Kirk Rd home. We are out of there Oct 5th.
It will be the first time all 10 of us have been together.

Dan came home for a few hours, but was still not well, so we borrowed a van, and Bill and Dan's Aunt Mary Kay drove him late Sunday night to Northwestern Memorial Hosp. in Chicago. NMH has great medical resources and also know his medical history best.

He is still here as of Wednesday AM.

More tests, more pills, had the chills, then a fever, His blood work, x-rays and cultures were all taken and are being examined by a team of doctors, He saw his neurologist, his plastic surgeon and will hopefully meet with the spinal cord injury doctor. His spasms have increased, due to the UT infection, He says his toe pain doesn't hurt when he sleeps, and requests more of his sleep meds. He has been sleeping much of the day time hours, and awakes every 1-2 hours for a drink of water. His eating is off but not stopped. The hospital vent seemed "different" to him, so we are using ours. That also requires us to be in his room most of the time.

On a good note,in the past week, Dan set a record of 4.5 hours on the pacer in one sitting, or should I say in bed. Yes, there is always good during the dark times.

Van needs

We have found a van. Finally.

We are ready to purchase a '06 Dodge Caravan, rear entry van with 23K miles, handicap modified by Freedom Motors of Battle Creek Michigan. The total cost is $32,250. There is also a $2oo delivery charge, unless I can figure a way to get it home. The van is ready now for pick up, as soon as I secure all the funds. We are selling Deb's '94 Olds Cutlass to help pay for "Dan's wheels", which will go back to Cedarville when Dan goes back to school.

I was not going to say anything about this need, as I doubt that many of you had financial help with the purchase of your last vehicle, and I sometimes feel like I am talking to the faithful choir. But going through some old emails I came across a request from someone to asked me when they could help with the van needs, and maybe there are others.

Some of my business customers [I provide credit card processing for merchants] have already given money and others are doing fundraisers for this van need. Thank you for your help. Thanks especially for the putting up with the lack of service or attention from me. Everything has changed these days. My time is so unpredictable when caring for Dan. Your continued support for our family means much to me, and I trust that I can return the favor to your business in the future.

Thanks to the many families with handicap vans that have emailed us about the advantages of their particular van etc. Please know that we have taken those suggestions into account, have done additional research, visited, driven and borrowed many types of handicap vehicles over the past few months. This is a good reliable vehicle for Dan, in his current new injury condition.

Pacing, Power Chair, Jouse and the CUBS

Pacing is good for the most part. Sunday was the best with 2.5 hours in the chair. We can get that long of a time first thing in the morning, in bed and doing nothing , but it dwindles fast during the day. We continue to chart if he has been deep suctioned or if we used the Inexsuffalator AKA "the coughilator". It is a machine that shoves pressure into the lungs, expands them, and sucks it back out, (like a cough) hopefully getting the bigger mucus or "luggies" deep down cleared out.

YOU WANTED TO KNOW THAT RIGHT?

This morning Dan even got washed up, dressed and into his chair during pacing. Transferring him without tubes was nice. This was a first, as any movement or touching of him in the morning causes lots of spasms and would affect the pacing. It also knocks his SpO2 levels down below 94, which is where the headaches begin. Dan's is usually at 99 or 100. So, progress at a steady pace.

His power chair is possibly going to be delivered to the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago this week. The wheel chair company requires that an occupational therapist check him out with the new device. I sense another 1 day road trip in the works, but am getting better at packing all his travel stuff.

The Jouse mouse showed up today. [We're feeling a little gypped because we paid for 2nd day air from Canada, and it took 13 days. Such is life.] Anyway, we got it hooked up and Dan is perusing the Internet with a bit more speed. Thanks to the ones who provided the funds for this device.

What is with those CUBS? Yes, we watch every game, every day. We now have a 2nd CUBS banner hanging up, and CUBS necklace, [thank you Sharon at Party Setters], watch with the CUBS blanket, and CUBS cap on. We even get vocal [but not like Uncle D.] at the TV when plays are blown, knowing that we could have done better. LOL I don't think it's something to pray about because the Brewer fans are praying for the opposite way. [Sorry to Uncle E. Aunt L. S&T, but we feel the Cardinals are too far out of it for a comeback this year.] If you want great insight to the game and players, stop by and join us.

We're Still Here

Dan is doing well. Sorry we don't post more often -- we're pretty busy -- I thought I was exaggerating when I told people that Dan's care would take a few hours each morning and evening once we got home. I was not exaggerating, but short of reality!

Dan's pacing is slow but sure. He is able to stay off the vent much longer when he is in bed or reclining than when he is upright. His longest time was 1 hour and 20 minutes. As I'm typing now, it's been 30 minutes. That's the longest so far while in his chair.

I love seeing Dan use his computer. In addition to checking his email and Facebook, he gets to view photos of his nieces (which he loves to do) and is doing a Bible study with his OPE guys.

Dan is really wanting to be at Cedarville for homecoming, so we'd appreciate prayer about getting those details worked out. We still need a van -- they're out there, but we're hoping to find one a bit less expensive. Oh, and would you pray that Dan's power chair would arrive soon. What a difference it will make when Dan will be able to move himself about and have some independence.

Neither has the eye seen a God besides Thee,
Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him. Isaiah 64:4

Labor Day '07

Pacing today started with a record 32 minute session this morning while Dan was still in bed and another 20+ minute session later on in his chair. Progress is slow but good, and we are still excited about getting rid of those "watch my tubes" forever.

We have enjoyed a lot of visitors this weekend.
Cedarville students took advantage of the 3 day weekend
and a few of them "checked in on Dan".

Long time family friend and CU student, Talitha stopped by Sunday to say "HI" and drop off a few things from Dan's twin brother, Mike. She'd love to have Dan back at the 'ville, to practice her nursing skills on him.

Jared [OPE brother]
& Katherine
['07, who was with Dan
on the Mexico trip],
stopped by after
visiting family in Chicago.

Mark ['07] was nearby and just stopped by again, to watch the Cubs game with Dan. Wearing a Cubs hat, and Cubs blanket [Thank you Lyle's] did not help the Cubbies win today :(

Later, the cutest grand kids
in the world stopped by,
just back from visiting
the zoo and the beach.

Cousins Madeline, Emilie & Davey
brought by the evening meal.

Did I fail to mention there were "bottle works"* that ended the evening?
Just some Labor Day fun at Dan's.

* Legal Disclaimer - no children were hurt when they helped make "bottle works" [plastic bottles and tin foil and some other stuff] and shake and toss and run for cover with their parents.