Fran, August 31

A bigger setback than we thought.  Daughter-in-law Rachel, an experienced nurse, noted that Fran had excessive pain in the left hip.  She suspected a hip fracture and we took Fran to the Scripps Encinitas emergency room again.  Rachel was correct.  Fran has hairline fractures of the pelvic bone.  This does not require surgery, but she cannot put weight on it until it is healed.  She is hospitalized there in room 271. We are really not capable of caring for her at home at this time. By the way, they also discovered hairline rib fractures, which were missed on Monday. Her spirits are good, expecially after she got enough medication to knock down the severe pain.

Brooks

Brooks

Fran, August 30

A temporary setback.  Fran fell yesterday, while getting up without calling for a spotter.  She hurt herself very badly, apparently landing on the buckle of her gate belt. Four and one half hours in the emergency room demonstrated no serious injury but she is in terrible pain and essentially can't move. Even breathing hurts. We expect rapid improvement, but at the present, she is very unhappy Of course, the quality that is driving her recovery, pushing the limits, sometimes puts her in jeopardy.

Brooks

Fran, August 22

Sorry for the inactivity.  Anita Arkin finally goaded me into action.

Fran continues to improve, amazing the therapists who dealt with her in the early days.  I see two significant developments in the past month:


1.  The hospital bed is gone from our house. Fran now sleeps with me in our bed. I cannot tell you how much better the room feels when it does not contain a hospital bed! Perhaps hospitals would be more pleasant if...

2. Fran can walk with no assistance.  We still require that she have a spotter, but the spotter has never had to act.  She does not need the cane or anything else.

In the next few weeks Fran will be caring for grandson Miles while Maliq and Rachel attend a wedding out of town.  Fran, and many of her friends, are delirious about the prospect.

Brooks