Friday, October 30, 2009 – Happy Halloween Eve

Today has been one busy day for Beverly and I.  Started off 7:00 am this morning.  Today we went to Good Samaritan Hospital to meet with Dr. Singh and his staff.  After a delay of over 1 hour we were finally seen.  Dr. Singh was pleased with Beverly’s progress.  He said she was coming along at a good rate.  He did change some of her medicines.  This will help with the pain from the nerves reacting.  He was glad to see she was walking better, especially with the Kane.  He hope she will be walking with only the Kane on her next visit.  We are shooting for that.  After Dr. Singh’s visit we went up on the second floor to visit with the nurses and Mary Beth in PT.  They were all so happy to see Beverly and see how far she has come in her recovery.

Next stop was her house to get her badge for Goddard.  We forgot it.  Next stop was Bldg 21 to get the letter that Dr. Bydon faxed to her stating that she could now go back to work for 12 hours a week.  She is over joyed with this.  She will be returning on Monday, Nov 2nd.  See pictures below:

Bev and the nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital

Bev with Dr. Singh who is explaining the feelings she has and why

Now we are leaving Good Samaritan Hospital and heading for GSFC.  Her co-workers have gone over and above once again.  They had a Halloween Party in honor of Vicki Stewart (who is undergoing health problems of her own) and for Beverly.  The party was the best.  So many people.  They had a pumpkin carving contest, dessert contest and a costume contest.  The hallways were all decorated and the crowd was outstanding and enjoying themselves.  This is what real friends are all about.  See pictures below:

This was the flyer they put out to everyone

Beverly coming down the spooky hallway

The spooky hallway

Some of the pumpkins in the contest

Some of the Costumes

Great pumpkin designs

Code 450 is the WINNER

More designs

This one was beautiful

Drunken pumpkin

Boy there were some really good dessert there. Some were spooky.

More desserts

Still more desserts

These were worth trying - They were really good though

Beverly with Maureen Madden - Mo is dressed like a cowboy - Looking good MO.

Table of pumpkins

Beverly talking with some of her friends

One more look at the spooky hallway

Oh no it's Carol sitting on the window edge

As you can see from the pictures it was a wonderful afternoon spent in Bldg 12 with all Bev’s friends and co-workers.  They really put a lot of thought and work into this party.  Thanks all Beverly an I both enjoyed it very much.  Happy Halloween to you all.

We had one busy day filled with doctor’s, pumpkins, desserts, costumes and now we are back at home to rest.  I know Bev is tired.  She will lay down now and take a nap.

Keep praying, sending comments, keep the smiles on your faces and most of all set your clocks back one hour on Saturday.  Enjoy yourself over the weekend and Happy Halloween to you all.

Carol

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Today we had a craft fair at Goddard.  Have to say I did pretty good.  I sold all 24 cakes and some of my towels.  Thank you all that bought something from me.  See you at the Spring Craft Fair.

Pick Beverly up at 3:30 and went to PT.  It’s getting easier for her now to get in and out of car, up and down stairs and to do all the exercises at PT.  See pictures below:

The new look at PT - all remodeled

More pictures of the new PT Gym

Bev and Chris on arm pulleys

Bev doing weight lifts

Lifting Kane with weights 2lbs.

This is Chris. She is the receptionist and helper at PT

Sharon the Therapist helping Beverly work her shoulder and arm.

Beverly walking the Gym with only the Kane - Sharon the Therapist walking along with her.

Tomorrow is a big day for Beverly.  We will start the day by going to Good Samaritan Hospital to meet with Dr. Singh and his staff.  This will be an all morning event.  When we leave we will be going to Goddard to join the gang at the Halloween party that has been planned in honor of Vicki Stewart and Beverly.  Hope to see you all there.

Well that is it for today.  More to come tomorrow.  Keep praying for sunny days ahead for Beverly.  Send your comments and your smiles. 

Carol

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Not much to report today.  Things have really been busy for us.  Running here and running there.  We are tired.  Hospital and doctors and blood work can make you tired.

To all the GSFC workers – Don’t forget the Goddard Craft fair in Bldg 8 on Thursday, October 29th from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  I will have plenty of pineapple up-side down cakes available for $5.00 each.  Also,  I have German Chocolate cakes for $5.00 too.  Come early because they go fast.  I start with 24 cakes and I am already down to 17.  People have called and place their orders and the craft fair isn’t until Thursday.  I will also be selling my kitchen hand towels.

Beverly is up and about walking around her townhouse with her Kane.  She is getting better at it too.  She wants to come back to work so bad.  But, it’s all up to the doctor.

Please pray that it doesn’t rain on Thursday and ruin our Craft fair.  Continue to pray for Beverly, send your comments, and sneak a visit in once in a while.

Carol

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Yes it is raining again today.  It has been awful nasty outside.  Today was PT day.  She did very well at everything she did.  I will let you be the judge by looking at the pictures below:

Beverly and Donald talking while Bev does her arms on the machine

Beverly walked twice around the room with the Kane.

Beverly on the pulleys - look how high her arms are getting

She is getting better with the arms going up high

Steps ups - she was going fast with this

Thumbs up Bev

Here Donald is moving the shoulders around to loosen them up

This is the bad shoulder

Donald is doing ultra sound on the big shoulder and arm

She loved the ultra sound

Beverly said that when Donald was pulling and moving her arms around it really didn’t hurt much.  In fact, it made her shoulder feel a lot better.  The ultra sound also did a lot on the shoulder.  She could move it a little better now.

She accomplished a lot at PT tonight.  Next class is Thursday.  She will do more.

Continue to send those comments, prayers and come to see her when you can.  She continues to walk around her townhouse without the walker and the Kane and does a great job at it.  She needs to dance some more.

Carol

Monday, October 26, 2009

Not much to report today.  She has had a quite day.  Continues to walk around her room.  Continues to do her exercises.  Tomorrow is PT again and wait til they see what she can do now.  They will work her hard tomorrow.

Keep praying, sending those comments and visit when you can.

It will soon be time to do a Girls Night In again.  Keep it in your minds and join us if you can.

Carol

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Today is Sunday and I got up and went to 6:30 am Mass.  Beverly of course , watches on TV.

Today she went upstairs with my help, got into her own bath tub, well shower and loved it.  Washed her hair and was really feeling great when she got out.  She even went into her bedroom walked around it.  She discovered things she had but didn’t remember where they were.  Next, we went down the stairs.  She did both very easy.  Pretty soon she will be able to do it by herself.  After cleaning up somewhat and separating clothes I left and went back to my house.

Boy, this women is full of surprises today.  She called me about an hour after I left her house and told me to watch the video of her.  I was shocked.  She is standing without a walker and a Kane.  She was dancing to the music on the laptop.  Moving her legs and her arms.  She said she was sitting there in the chair and just decided to get up and try it.  So she did.  I couldn’t attach the video because it was done on the laptop under some funny program.  If I can figure it out I will attach it later.  This was a happy day to see her go up and down the stairs and then to dance some. 

She said her arms, hands and finger were feeling weird.  Also, the back felt tight and down the sides.  These are those muscles that she hasn’t used in a long time reacting to the movements.  As far as the arm, hands and fingers go we will still need to work a lot on this problem.  But look what she has accomplished today.  I am very very happy with her progress.

See the Lord guided her to do this on his day.  All those prayers from everyone has paid off two-fold.  Keep them coming, send the comments, and come visit and watch her dance for you.

Carol

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Today we were out early.  Took Kevin to Arundel Mills and Beverly and I went to Wal-Mart to get her food shopping done early.  Bev loves riding or should I say driving the motorized wheelie in the store now.  She is able to get up and down the aisle with easy.  Can’t reach things on the top shelves though.  I am there to help her when she needs something.  After Wal-Mart we went back to her house to put everything away. 

Nothing else to report except it has really been raining today.  Good day to stay in and get some things done.

I made her two pans of enchiladas for her dinner tomorrow and one for the freezer for a late date.  Got to keep the weight on them at the Townsend house.

 Please attend church tomorrow and pray for Bev and her healing of the fingers and hands.  Send the comments and come to visit.

Carol

Friday, October 23, 2009

Today marks 3 months since Beverly was operated on. (July 23, 2009)  Johns Hopkins Hospital by surgeons Dr. Bydon and Dr. Solmom and the rest of the Spinal Cord A-Team.  I won’t go into details but everyone knows what the surgery entailed.  Or at the time we thought we knew.  Not until Beverly and I sat at Johns Hopkins Bayview and watch the video of the surgery.  We both were shocked to learn how big it was and how it was removed.  You had to be there to watch it before you can believe that this woman has gone through a nightmare.  But, there is light at the end of the tunnel as each day she is improving.  Unfortunately, she has to do it again after Christmas to remove the other tumor in the center of her back.  We basically will start over again.

 Beverly will continue PT, going up and down the stairs, all the excercises around the house to improve more.  The TENS unit is on order now and this will help with the pain and discomfort she feels.  It will also help to wake up the neves that are still sleeping in that Spinal Cord.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Today is Kimberly Ann Fisher’s birthday everyone.  Please wish Kim a Happy Birthday.  For those of you that don’t know Kim, she is  Beverly’s sister.  I know you have read about her on the Blog helping out with Bev.  Hope today was a SPECIAL day for you Kim and many more to come.

Well, we have hit a milestone in Beverly’s progress today.  At 7:00 pm tonight she called me to tell me that she has made it up the stairs and into her bedroom.  She has not seen her room since July 23rd in the morning when she left to have surgery.  Kevin helped her up and down the stairs with just a little problem at the top on the landing and coming back down on the landing.  This will improve as we tackle it again and again.  She will improve each time she does it.  Way to go Daughter.

I turned back the pages of the BLOG to July 22, 2009.  Boy,  you can really see the progress over the past 3 months.  Each day there is an improvement in her progress.  Some days are good and some days are bad.  Determination is the key here.  She proved that tonight going up the stairs.  Let’s see what is next in the healing of Beverly.  She is full of surprises.  Just for the heck of it you go back and turn the pages and you will see what I mean.  Mother’s have the right to be proud and I am very proud of where she is today.  She trys and she works hard to improve.  She knows we will always be close to her and to help when we can.  This is what a Family does in time of need.  I wish I had a magic wand and I could wave it over her so she could walk without a walker or Kane.  She could go up and down stairs without help.  Drive her little PT Cruisers again.  These days are coming.  You will see.

Last night here friend Steve came to visit with her.  Steve has been a real doll and comes at least once a week to spend time with her.  Bev looks forward to his visit.  I wonder if he brought his Burger King and Diet Dr. Pepper for Bev this time.

Keep praying, sending those comments, phone calls and visits.  Strongest healing medicine ever.

Carol

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Tonight we went to PT.  Some new things were introduced to her.  See Pictures below.

Beverly is walking with only the Kane.  She did an excellent job.

She is riding the bike and burning calories

This is for balance control

Here she is doing Kane lifts with a weight attached

More Kane lifts with more weights

And yet more to come. 
Hey look in the window behind Beverly and who do you see.  This was funny.

She even had the shoulder pulled again.  It is very painful for her.  She realizes that it has to be done to improve the shoulder movement.

That is it for today.  Keep smiling and sending those comments.  Prayers would be nice.  They have really helped with Bev’s healing.

Carol