The mantra of the SICU: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
There must be a more interesting way to keep saying the same thing, something for the non-runners among us. Since I’ve never run a marathon (but have always admired those who do) I don’t actually know what this means. I guess it means its a loooooong race– that takes a different kind of training and mindset. This hit me today when I found out that the other two long-term families (who came in after us) and have been watching their loved ones’ recovery (one with an aneurysm, one with a stroke) will be leaving this weekend. No, they aren’t leaving for home, but for rehabilitation hospitals elsewhere. They are on that next phase of the journey, where we are still making teensy steps forward…and the occasional step back.
The Oral Surgeon removed the wires from Vernon’s jaw with no problems and tells me he is done with his work here . He gave me a card to check up with him in 6 months. Apparently his mended jaw is still so sore, that even without the wiring, it will be hard to move. We shouldn’t expect to hear any words from Vernon for a while. He will also continue to be fed his “vanilla milkshake of perfection” from tubes through his stomach. However, I did see him yawn for the first time today! Progress!
The gastro-surgeon was able to find the problem of bleeding in the stomach and has cauterized the problematic vein. AMAZING what these people can do via mini-cameras. Whatever small pride I felt as a photographer has been humbled with one fell swoop. I certainly haven’t saved any lives with MY camera.
Today, yet another infection was discovered through his regular CT Scan. This time it is a large hematoma in his upper pelvic area. For those not aware of this medical term (like me, till noon today) a hematoma is a localized collection of blood outside the blood vessel. It needs to be drained but only if it hasn’t turned into a clot. Ugh, if its weird reading terms like this, try to understand that it’s even weirder for me to be using them…let alone understanding them. What a surreal world.
We need Chris Adams back in town to make this stuff sound more interesting and clear. But yes, Vernon still needs prayer. With every step forward, there is another problem. Not life-threatening, as the doctors get on these things as soon as they see them. But still the body is a complicated eco-system of its own…what heals one area may cause a reaction somewhere else.
And so we continue the race…without previous training.
We like our headgear, apparently.
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thanks Dorothy Dunn for today’s photo. Thanks for you mentor-support. Can I be like you when I grow up?
what a run!! he is doing just fine …. with help along the way my brother is going to finish this marathon… it has changed all our lives , but WOW!! the sun will shine brighter , the flowers smell more perfumed ..every day will be a blessing xx love you ..hugs to my brother xx
Thank you for the update 🙂 I can’t go to sleep until I read it… Dear Vernon I’m praying for many more steps forward. I love you both (and the kids of course) I’m so proud of you Allison xoxo
Love you Allison! Continually praying for Vernon’s healing and for you. Been keeping up with the blog, and just wanted to let you know you’re pretty amazing and I admire your abundant patience, optimism, and trust in God (amongst several other things) throughout this process.
Allison you are doing just great!!! …and you have no idea what your camera can accomplish! Marathon not a sprint…. means you have to relax and just keep a good pace, not get too down, not get so excited you forget how much farther you have to go…. it’s a little up, not too much down…. you and he will get to your destination in time. I came by yesterday afternoon, played some guitar with Chris, talked with Tom, joked with Vernon, prayed, left some graffiti on a piece of paper on the wall, signed the book of infamy… etc… Hugs, your brother Luke
sounds like you found yourself in a good crew last night. I even played one of Vernon’s Songs, Space Oddity for Nurse Tom, earlier in the day…hehhehehe I thought he would appreciate that …and so might you!
Allison, you may not be saving the lives in the traditional sense, but your images of this entire experience is saving YOUR life right now, and the lives of everyone who loves you and Vernon. Okay, keep on running lady, you can do this!
Shot to the heart, Kendra! And you say I have a way with words. Wow, thanks for that! mwah!
Hey love,
Kendra did put it perfectly, and indeed this is what I was coming on to comment to you about. Our art and passion are our saviours and definitely this is a time when your amazing eye and heart go hand-in-hand with each image you post. Watching you publish each one is that which I feel your heart and soul in; and in return, you receive ours. Keep posting, and know the love is pouring forth in admiration of your strength for you and your family during the greatest challenge you’ve surely ever had. Praying each morning and night for all 4 of you. <3
Thanks Lady E. I know you understand all this more than most, what with both your parents in hospital and beyond so recently. I guess our expensive art school educations were worth the money after all! 🙂 Little did we know when it would all pay off, right? Bless you, dear one. xoxox
Thank you so much for explaining everything so well! Youre doing the job so, so good. Maki just read the update and we are now having pizza (that Maki made With the help of Jenni) and waching Music videos. Big hug to you, Justine and Vernon.
I know Maki will come back with an enhanced sense of the music world based on Simon’s videos! It is always fun to see how his taste changes after visits with Simon.Hugs back to you, of course. Miss you guys!
Father, Thank you for Vernon and Allison. Thank you for the life and creativity that you have breathed into them. Thank you for the creative miracles that you do every day. Thank you for the healing blood of your Son, whose very life gives us life. You have made a way. And in the waiting, we thank you for for healing and restoration for Vernon. We are all touched and moved and reminded of our own humanity. And yet we believe that You do the impossible. Your ways are not our ways. You are so much bigger. Breath new life into Vernon Lord. Heal every part of him. Touch him inside and out with your life-giving love. Reveal your resurrection power in and through him.
What a great comment/prayer, dear Kevin. Amen to that! mwah!
Don’t give up! Carry on running. We are all so proud of how well you are doing, and so glad that Vernon is making progress!
I have used the marathon analogy with patients countless times but there are other ways to think of it too if you, like me, are not marathon inclined.
I once had a dear family with an elderly father recovering from a stroke. He and his wife were definitely not marathon material and she was clearly disheartened by the analogy thinking they could never get through this. She would sit by his side every day working on something with her hands – embroidery, knitting, crochet – she could do it all! I started describing the recovery journey like crocheting/knitting an afghan instead of a granny square…without a set pattern for instructions and with various discovered kinks along the way which required the unraveling of a few stitches or even a few rows of progress. The pattern varied from day to day and she never knew if the next day would be pearl stitch, a double crochet, or an unraveling; it was a long term project and often the small steps of every day recovery seemed discouraging, but without a little work every day the end would never be realized. Her husband went on to have an amazing recovery, a true miracle before our eyes, and by the time he was discharged his wife had finished a full king size afghan for their bed. It was the most unique thing she had ever made because she did not follow a pattern, she incorporated all her different crafts, and the design varied in the most unexpected ways. It was beautiful.
What a fantastic story….thanks for sharing, Hannah.
My track coach used to tell us before we ran the 330 hurdles “just keep your arms moving, your legs will follow.” So that, when we were exhausted,rounding that track corner and looking at 10 more hurdles to leap over, we would have a rhythm and tools to keep us running the race. I found that just breathing and concentrating on breath was also a great reminder that I would survive. (That was before I met Fran Bennett) …I was never good at the sprint, but the cross country or the 330 hurdles, I could handle. Ali, like many others, I am in awe of your grace, your love and your spirit. I am with you, too. I am cheering you and your family on. I send you light, health and happiness with my full heart.
that is really interesting, Trena. Thanks for sharing. I may just have to keep my arms moving then! 🙂
allison, it’s so hard to comment on your beautiful blog today. you and all the dear people in yours and vernon’s lives express everything so well that all i can do is to tell you my prayers are with you all every day. you are so brave…
Allison,
Keep up the marathon and you and Vernon will win out in the end. We are enjoying your stides down the road and I do believe that God is watching over the whole family. We love all of you. God be with you as you keep up the march.
Love,
Becky
Allison;
Have been praying for your husband since the accident. I am praying for complete recovery and healing.
“For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth” Ps. 71:5