STEP-DOWN

Today Lee was transferred to the step-down unit.  This is still an intensive care unit but the difference is that he will not have one on one nursing.  It will be more like 1:3.  He is still connected to monotoring for his heart and his oxygen and he is still receiving tube feedings.  They started today having him swallow a couple of his pills with a small amount of thickened juice.  He will have thickened liquids gradually until he will eventually get to have the stomach tube removed.  That will not happen quickly though, this could go on for several more weeks.  He walked 200 feet again today and the goal will be to make four rounds in that area before he will be moved here.  We anticipate that he will be in that unit one to two weeks.  Visitors are still limited to short periods and family only.  No children under the age of 12 are allowed in that area.

I know that many of you would like to visit with Lee and we both look forward to the time when that will be done eventually.  I want you to understand and to realize that visits should be planned prior to coming.  When he gets back to the condo, visits must be limited and no more that 2 or 3 for short periods of time.  He still tires easily and as he gets stronger I am sure he will welcome more visits.  He has come a long way and we are still in the first critical 30-day period when he is being carefully monitored for primary lung rejection.  We will have to take many precautions to prevent anything that might contribute to that condition.  We will be asking you to do the following:

1.  Call and schedule a visit after the 30 day critical period
2.  Be prepared to use hand sanitizer
3.  You may be asked to wear a mask
4.   Limit your visit to 20 - 30 minutes , depending on how many visits he has that day

Our condo is very small and we have been advised to keep the number of people in one area to no more that 2-3 persons @ one time. Whenever he returns to the condo, his mornings will be busy with medications and home health care.  There will be weekly scheduled visits to the clinic for blood tests, chest x-rays and a doctor visit.  Bronchoscopies will be done frequently.  He will also be reevaluated for the Center for the Living and rehabilitation will begin five days a week for 23 sessions, and these will be from 12:30 -4:00.  As you can see, his week-days will be full.

I want to thank you for being understanding and cooperative during the next critical months of Lee's recovery.  We just have to remember that he is on medications that lower his immune system to keep him from rejecting the lung but it also makes him extremely susepticle to any other germ or organism.  Lee is a very personable person and has always been comfortable with displaying affection, especially with our children and grandchildren.  Hugs and kisses have to be given from a distance for the time being, so we are teaching our kids to blow kisses and let Grandaddy know how much they love him in some different ways.

More Later..................................Brenda