Wednesday, April 16, 2008

WEDNESDAY'S QUIZ

To start today's posting I am going to give you all a short quiz:
  1. Who, at the last minute) did NOT have to have dialysis yesterday?
  2. Who, for the second time in two days, spent over an hour in Physical Therapy yesterday?
  3. Who, for the first time since being sick, spoke to her dad on the phone last night?

If you answered anyone but Molly, then you are either on the wrong blog, or in need of serious consultation (feel free to contact me separately and I can hook you up with some good health care folks, it will however, require a short drive to Ann Arbor)

Molly had a great day yesterday. It all started when i arrived around 9am to pick up her breakfast tray to take it to her in the dialysis unit, and she was still in her room. I at first thought something was wrong or they had forgotten her, but she told me, in her yet stronger almost normal voice, that they ran blood work first thing in the morning and said her Creatine levels are stable and she did not need to go to dialysis. Her level was at 1.6, anything under 1 being "normal" but more important than the level is its stability and she was at 1.6 on Monday and Sunday. So no dialysis. Later in the day Dr. Heung, one of the nephrologists (kidney doctor) came in and was very excited and pleased. He said they would continue to monitor her blood levels each day and would make a decision each day about dialysis based on that. He did say though that because of how quickly her numbers and output leveled out over the past few days that he believes we are done with dialysis and her kidneys are functioning almost normally again. YEAH!!!

Molly also went to the one of the therapy rooms and spent an hour with Sophie the physical therapist on sitting up, stretching, transferring from bed to chair, etc. She did great! Needed a fair amount of assistance to do most of these things, but was able to do them all. and Sophie was very excited and pleased with how well she could do everything. Molly has a long way to go to regain her strength and flexibility and to relearn how to do somethings, but she is motivated as am I and the therapist is certain everything will come back, and come back quickly.

In addition to the physical therapy, Molly had a long visit from Terry in Occupational Therapy. this was done in her room, but did a lot of exercises and activities. Including a visit from Carol the "Occupational Hand Therapist", (how specialized is that?) to re-design some splints for her hands and to determine some overall function. Carol's department is right next to the rehab center and has scheduled Molly to come to the Hand Therapy department each day after she completes the intense rehab each day. This will be for both hands as the left had the amputations of the index finger and half the thumb. Also for the right hand as it is very weak and she has lost a lot of function with it due to the compartment syndrome and many weeks of non-use. Carol said her hand function will come back and they have a lot to work with, it will just take some time and hard work.

In addition to all this, the dietitian was in and felt that if Molly can up her protein intake daily that she would make a recommendation to the doctors to discontinue the Dobbhoff tube (feeding tube). Although that may still be a few days as she still needs the extremely high calorie count to help with the wound healing. But should be very soon to get rid of the tube.

Well, today is the big day, as the dressings come off today to let the doc's and surgeons take a look at the skin grafts and the donor site. If all looks good, we will be looking at just a few more days in the Trauma Burn Unit and then on to Rehab. Her wounds, other than the grafts and donor sight now only require daily cocoa butter. My guess will be that within a day or two her graft and donor site will only need cocoa butter as well. Then will be the big move.

Once in rehab she will be assigned several therapist that all specialize in different areas. They will each see her 2X per day for approximately for an hour each time. There will be very few breaks during the day because every single thing she will do will be turned into a therapy session. Then once that is all over she will see the hand specialist for an hour. This will require a lot of strength, courage, pain tolerance, stamina, and mental strength as many of the things they will be having Molly do were once second nature and required no thought, and now those same things will require a lot of energy and thought to even attempt. But if anyone can do it it will be Molly, and I am sure she will excel and will impress the therapists the same way she has impressed all the doctors and nurses in the other units thus far.

SPECIFIC PRAYER NEEDS

  • NO MORE DIALYSIS, NO MORE DIALYSIS, NO MORE DIALYSIS
  • Get the wounds healed so she can reduce her calorie intake and get the feeding tube out.
  • Hand function so she can start doing more things on her own
  • Physical strength to endure rehab
  • Mental strength to endure rehab as well as the continue to endure her recovery and being away from home. Being away from home is beginning to wear at both of us.
  • Nurses and doctors in trauma burn (the unit has been on lock-down, because a new patient was admitted due to a brutal assault and the assailant has not been caught. This puts the staff on edge.)

Molly and I continue to thank God each day for all of you and your support. I know I say this about everyday, but there is no way to fully express our thanks for the thoughts, prayers, cards, comments, emails, gifts, support. Each and everyone is felt and appreciated. Thank You!

God Bless you,

Love,

Molly and Jamey

11 comments:

Sandy said...

WAY TO GO MOLLY!!!! It all sounds so wonderful. Just think how all that patience you've always had with your small students is now paying off big time. I know Rehab will be very intense and tiring, but I also know that not only can you do it all, but that you'll excel at it marvelously!
I'm so happy that you got to speak to your Dad, I'm sure that helped both of you.
Work hard.
Hugs,
Sandy

Susie Ross said...

Molly and Jamie,
I wanted to let you know that we are praying and rooting for you! I don't know you, but I feel like I do through your blob. Hang in there! Susie, East School

Anonymous said...

AWESOME, AWESOME MOLLY,

You are doing so great. I am glad you got to talk to your dad. We had a nice time with him. I am sure hearing your sweet voice made his night GREAT!!!!!!!!!
I know you are going to fly right through the Rehab. What a work of ART you are from GOD. He has given you a spirit that is beyond .
Keep up that great work. Soon you will be close to home and I will be able to see you so much more. Sometime this weekend I am going to work in your yard. I think I know where I will put the bulb plants.
Love ya,
Michelle

Anonymous said...

Molly,

All I can say is WOW!!! You continue to amaze and inspire all of us. Your spirit is one to be admired by each and everyone of us. I know you have a long road ahead of you but you are a true competitor and you have the will to take on this challenge like no other. Keep up the good work Molly!!!!

Sending you love and light,

Sheri (Bettinger) Bryant

MamaJ said...

Molly and Jamey,

We just found out about what was going on from my parents, who directed us to the blog. So sorry we didn't hear sooner so we could have contributed to the prayers, but count us in now! I am so glad that things are getting better every day. It's going to be hard, but the two of you together can overcome anything. We are spreading the word through our friends and family, and you are in our thoughts and prayers every day.

Love to you both,
Jennifer (Hart), Mike, Anna Stapleton

Anonymous said...

Wow!!! You go girl. What fantastic news. Jade asks me everyday how Mrs. French is and I keep her posted!!!

You are such an inspiration. We are so proud of you!!! Keep up the good work and we will see you in Ohio soon!!!!

We thank of you everyday!!!

Love, The Beseckers, Jodi, Jimmy, Jade and Duder

Anonymous said...

Molly,

You are awesome! I know you will rock rehab. I know it will be a long, and sometimes frustrating process. You need to keep in mind how much of an inspiration you are to all of us....

Love,
Debby, Adam, Alec and Jordan

Anonymous said...

When your story is told publicly, and I think it should be- No one in the world should ever doubt the power of prayer to heal, and that yes there is a "God". Praise the lord for you sharing your story of healing and You both know how much you are loved by friends and family. Way to go Molly, I pray for you to come home to Ohio in a few weeks !!! You both are awesome, what a witness for "Christ", and your faith in him. Love and Prayers, Carol H.

Toni Henninger said...

Praise God for His blessings! I to have been struggling with why this had to happen to such wonderful people. I have repented, but seeing HIs hand in all of this and Molly busing that wonderful spirit He has given her is amazing! Jamey, as I said before you are her rock, and may Gos bless you for it! The kids ask and pray everday for their Mrs. French. It is SO great to be able to tell them good news! Everywher I go in town , you and Molly come up. So many people are praying! The road ahead will be tough, but knowing it is getting on the road to normal and home should help. Our prayers and love to you both!

The Henningers, Brad, Toni, Rachel, Liam, and Zach

amy said...

Sounds wonderful!

Anonymous said...

ALL I CAN SAY IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WE LOVE YOU!!!!! THANK YOU LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!THE BOOKERS