Vernon’s accident happened 13 weeks ago. He spent exactly 8 weeks in the Surgical ICU and another 5 in the Progressive Stroke Unit. Tonight, Vernon has moved to the next level of care in his recovery to a sub acute center in Brea, about an hour drive away.

I’m not thrilled about the drive, but it sounds like a very nice facility, so I’m feeling positive. Maybe I can start listening to audio-books—yeah, I would  actually LOVE to start catching up on my reading.  The place I visited about a month ago just felt wrong for Vernon, and until today, that was the only place that seemed interested in taking his complicated case. And there will be dialysis ON SITE! (At the other center, he would have had to be driven by ambulance across town every other day.)

The news of his transfer came as a surprise about mid-day today, but the truth is, he is ready. I am ready. He is ready for more aggressive physical therapy in the midst of his nursing-needs, and I am ready to see him start progressing at a faster rate.  I feel at peace about this.  I don’t actually know he feels, but since I am the speaker for the both of us, I say WE are ready for change.

I have moved a lot in my life…I can’t count how many times. And Vernon has always been a pretty flexible and resiliant guy.  So we can do this.  Here we go again into the unknown…moving from strength to strength, even in weakness.

I was strangely excited when I heard the news today. The hardest part was taking down all the pictures and cards that have accumulated over the past 90 days. Here is a little visual journal of packing-up the walls. If you even have a loved one in the hospital for long, take my advice: DECORATE!

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I am expecting that all the tape we used gets absorbed into the hospital bill. Insurance covers tape, right?

 

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