Yesterday I received word that I will be returning back to work part time starting Tuesday May 5th! THANK YOU SPRING MEADOW!!!! (You guys are awesome!)
So if you’ve been waiting for the chance to visit Dan, here’s your opportunity. I would like to try to set up a schedule of visitors for Dan while I’m spending more time away. It would do his spirit wonders and keep him from getting too lonely. If anyone out there can afford to visit during the week, let me know the date(s). If it is best for you to come on weekends, let me know the date(s). I am working with Amy the social worker here to reserve a room in Guest Housing for visitors but I need definite dates first. Guest Housing is just a short walk away and has secure parking. The room reminds me of an old HOJOs but it works in a pinch. I will even include directions to Greek Town, Hockeytown Cafe, Cheli’s, Pewabic Pottery and other points of interest to make your visit to Downtown Detroit even more enjoyable than visiting the Penthouse at Karmanos. Oh yeah, there are casinos nearby too.
If you would like to help us in this way, please email me at djlimbaugh@chartermi.net and let me know your availability, whether it’s one day or a few. Please include a phone number too. Just so you know what you might be getting into, Dan doesn’t need a lot of entertaining, just conversation with short naps in between. (Feel free to join in on the naps) So if you have a laptop or a good book, bring it along.
My intention is to work Tuesday through Thursday and visiting Dan on weekends as much as possible. With Nick’s involvement in Tulip Time and his busy Lacrosse schedule, me getting down here will be difficult. Visitors would be welcomed – just not all at once! So please let me know when you might be thinking of coming down. Thanks! 
And what about Dan…By now you all know this is the roller coaster ride from hell. So it should really be no surprise to anyone that we continue to go from one medical challenge to another. This week his blood cultures have been negative for 5 days (GOOD!) which means they think they have the infections under control but not without suspecting that the mersa is hiding someplace in the body (SCARY!) so they are waiting and watching. Meanwhile…Dan’s THREE colonoscopy attempts from last week have enlightened the docs that his graph versus host disease is back in his gut (DAMNIT!) which means that he is not eating again until his gut settles and the medicine starts working. He’ll probably start back on clear fluids by tomorrow morning. Because he continues to be on nutrition through his IV, his liver levels and sugar levels are whacked out. And guess what? I learned that bacteria feeds on sugar so thanks to the nutrition sustaining his body, the mersa has something to feed on too.
(Imagine the famous artwork THE SCREAM here…that’s me.)
So that’s what is going on with Dan under the surface that I know of. He is working as hard as he can to do the physical and occupational therapy but he is still extremely weak – much stronger than two weeks ago but yet so frail. Once the medical stuff backs off and stabilizes, he can focus on just the physical – but it will take awhile. And as we know already, timing is everything. He’s got to get the higher hand on that damn mersa and slap it out of his system sooner rather than later.
We continue to be grateful for all of your support and comments. Dan loves it when I read him your notes! It’s the little things that make our day! Thanks!
April 28, 2009 at 8:53 pm |
Hi Dan,
Hope things are going better each day. You sure have been through the wringer. Every week that I am at church, I write your name down on the sick list so the whole parish can pray for you. Your name was even mentioned twice a couple of weeks ago, so that was double prayers! Looking forward to hear how you are doing soon.
Lauri Keifer