Some miraculous news...

Okay, once again, it's been too long since my last update. It's been a grind, what can I say... But I have wonderful news!

Biff is scheduled to be discharged from rehab on December 30th! He's been doing very well with therapy. He's worked really hard, and it has been difficult, but he has excelled and exceeded the expectations of all his therapists. 

There will be Home Health care to follow (a nurse will visit once a week, and he'll have physical therapy twice a week). Possibly some private help, in particular I'm exploring the possibility of a night-sitter, which will (hopefully) allow me to sleep better through the night knowing someone is ready to help him if he needs it for any reason. No matter what, we must avoid future falls!!!

Further, when I called to leave a message for his Oncologist about the discharge, he answered the phone himself! (I was so shocked, I acted like an idiot LOL.) We've already scheduled a CT Scan for the 3rd, and we'll meet with the doctor on the 4th to discuss resuming his cancer treatment!

And now, for something entirely different, I'm sharing the poster for the movie Biff finished shooting the weekend before his throat surgery back last December: Self-Reliance.

Look at Biff, right there in the center!

It will be shown in 250 AMC theaters across the country on January 3rd only. A very limited theatrical run before it drops on Hulu.  Click here to look for locations and times! If that doesn't work, run a search for "Self-Reliance AMC January 3 2024" adding your area at the end. Obviously, it isn't going to show up everywhere - but there will be Hulu after that, which is available everywhere! 

I'm so glad we'll be able to go see it once in a "real" movie theater!!!

Also, I've already arranged to take him out of the rehab facility for the afternoons of both Christmas Eve and Day (which also happens to be our wedding anniversary). Woo hoo!

So, here we are, about to turn another corner in this crazy adventure! This man, this Biff Wiff, continues to beat the odds. Seriously, people at the rehab (nurses, aides, therapists, guests of his roommate, etc.) all tell him they are amazed by the improvement since he was transferred there on December 4th.

Not to mention the difference from November 19th in the hospital after his second surgery when it looked like he might not make it home ever again...

Love to everybody - may all the days be merry and bright, at least in spirit! May there be peace on earth and goodwill to all.

And, for something sweet and joyful, if you'd like to learn more about our surprise wedding back in 2018, click on "Read more" below.

Catching up...

Well, it's been a busy week or so, and I'm always out of time and energy to get back on the blog. So, here's the major news, to get you all caught up on the current situation.

The night of December 4th, Biff was discharged to a Skilled Nursing Rehab facility. In some ways it's great, but, of course, he still wants to come home. Really, really wants to come home. Unforuntately, although he is doing well with Physical and Occupational Therapy and improving every day in every way, he's still too weak to come home just yet.

The facility is okay. The food is much better than the hospital! And his swallow function has improved a lot, and he's able to eat regular food, though still on the softer side. He's still struggling with appetite, but at least he's happy to eat most things they bring now, and the appetite seems to be growing a little. He did lose a pound in the last week (down to 138 lbs.), so I try to be there for one or two meals every day, encourage him, help him when he needs help feeding himself. He's gotten much better at all of that, although soup is still too tricky. But his right hand is getting stronger and the fine motor skills are working hard to come back. 

He speaks better and better, too, and he's getting quite steady on his feet, walking with a walker and supervision more and more. We all, Biff included, consider keeping him from falling again a top priority, but he's able to do for himself more every day, even as he's supervised. He also is starting to really get into doing exercises in bed for his arms and legs. And I've brought him pen and paper, encouraging him to practice writing a little every day. His hand wears out fast, but he keeps at it.

One of the nice things is I can take him outside (and he can wear his own clothes!). Here's the first time I took him out on the 7th:

He wears a sun hat and sunglasses when he goes out now.

A little "blinded by the light" here. LOL

There are sliding glass doors to a courtyard in his room, too - having the natural light is a big help. Here he is working a word search puzzle - practicing with the pen!

There have been visitors, always fun, including one that created a potential COVID "exposure" (okay, that isn't fun, even though the visit was). The visitor who later tested positive was masked the entire visit, and Biff and I are both recently boosted on the vaccination, too. Neither of us ever had any symptoms and tested negative, but they did ask me to stay away for 3 days and test negative again before returning. It was lonely for both of us, although we spoke on the phone multiple times each day. I've got his phone set up so he can more easily call me. And he's poking his head into emails and texts a bit, but it's hard for his hands to manage the cell easily. So, small steps, you know?

One of the coolest things that's happened is the trailer has dropped on YouTube for the movie he did with Jake Johnson called Self-Reliance. One of Biff's last projects before he had to start cancer treatment. It's finally going to drop on Hulu next month! He actually shot some new, additional footage the weekend before he had surgery on his throat last December. I can't wait.

Okay, finally, they removed more than 62 staples and one thread suture from the incisions on his head. If you would like to see pictures of the scar (it's a doozy), click the "Read more" below. Otherwise, I'll be posting another update as soon as I can manage it. Our dear guy has dodged death about 3 extra times this go round. It boggles my mind. 

Now, over all this, we have to get him healthy enough to resume his cancer treatment as soon as possible. Keeping a close eye on all that, as we battle this new front. Gotta hand it to him: his determination is undaunted. Me and the dogs can't wait till he can come home safely.

The dogs, as I left to go see Biff this morning.

Out of the ICU...

So, he was moved to the 4th floor around midnight Wednesday night (time according to Biff). He's now in room 4221. It's smaller, but there is a window! Unfortunately, it's not in his line of sight, but he can see the natural light in the room. I have also taken pictures of the view to show him. (Visitor chair is also more comfortable!)

The care is a step down from ICU, in the Tele-Neuro unit. He needs to use the call button to call for help in this room, and I've shown him how, and he can push it, but I'm not entirely sure i?the concept is sticking yet, so I keep working on that with him. This morning he at least can always find it when I ask him where it is.

He's mostly alert, speaking well, although some confusion still occurs. Like, he asked me to give him his clothes a few times, so he can change... But the last time, he stopped himself, remembering he can't put on his own clothes just yet. 🥹

So far, they have continued to restrain him at the waist, to prevent him from trying to get up on his own. They have spoken to him about it, and I've spoken to him at length about it, and he acknowledges, understands ("You won't survive another fall, honey" - "I know!)... And, a little later, he starts trying again to get up and/or asks me to help him stand... ("You always tell me No!")

Today they have advised they are going to remove the restraint and put a video monitor in his room. They assure me someone is always watching that monitor and will immediately inform the nurse if Biff tries to get up without help. 😬

Pill medications they were crushing and putting in via the feeding tube are now crushed into apple sauce... Which he does not care for... 😖

Eating is tough. He hates almost all the food, most of which is pureed, with thickened liquids only. His swallow function is compromised, and their is serious reason to worry about food/liquid going into his airway. We are working on exercises for that. And the special diet. So far, although his arms and hands are functioning better, he has to be fed (also helps push him to eat more - a constant refrain of "one more bite"). I do the feeding when I'm here.

Sadly, he hates the food so much (the whole cancer messing up his taste buds contributes to the problem), my threat that they will install a feeding tube in his side, is not working so well. Yesterday, he said he might prefer that. 😖

I've been advised that kind of feeding tube isn't necessarily permanent, but it's a minimum of 6 weeks if they install it, even if he starts eating regular food more quickly. It doesn't prevent him from eating and drinking anyway. And the crushed medications can be put in that way, which probably is better than meds crushed in apple sauce or pudding or any other food...

The nurse says their goal here is to get him ready to move to the next step - long-term care (convalescent facility?) or Acute Rehab... I am expecting to speak to the Case Manager today.

He's doing well with PT. He was on his feet again yesterday, and took several forward steps with a walker (and therapist holding him with a belt to make sure he didn't fall), and then he sat in a chair for more than half an hour, even had his lunch while in the chair.

He insisted I take his picture like this.

Giggling like a kid, he said, "I'm an asshole."

Not sure what prompted that, but it tickled him.

Today, he walked to the doorway of his room and back (again, with walker and therapist spotting him), and sat in the chair for half an hour again - but this session was before lunch. His right arm and hand are gaining strength and function every day.

He was very tired and happy to get back in bed after that, snoozing as I write this. He had a rough night. Pulled the urine pouch off 3 times, and kept fighting the restraint, trying to get up.

I'm nervous about the planned change to a video monitor, but they feel strongly they can't keep restraining him. Which he really doesn't like. I'll keep reminding him to use the call button for help. Try to trust they will monitor him closely, make sure he is safe. Everyone, Biff included, understands he cannot survive another fall!

So, a corner turned. We'll see what the next few days bring. ❤️