Location update

Location update

After I was moved out of ICU, I was transferred to a neurology unit, Tower 709 in Baptist Medical Center. Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. There is no limitation on visitors as long as we’re not having any raucous parties. People are certainly welcome to stop by and visit if they’re able.

Since it’s a holiday weekend there’s still a lot up in the air about future treatment plans and about whether I’ll be pursuing rehab in the hospital or will be discharged to a rehab facility for rehabilitation for the paralysis. When physical rehab arrived this morning in the persons of Elizabeth and Elizabeth, one of them was of the impression I hadn’t been out of bed yet at all and was clearly ready to kick some ass. When I explained that I had been out of bed the previous day and had walked a few steps she put the cattle prod away and we had another PT session where the chair was simply placed farther from the bed than it had been the day before. With the aide of the walker and their support I was able to walk about 4 feet out of the bed and 3 feet back into the chair, where I’ve now been resting for about three hours. Luckily, to get people back into bed they have a piece of equipment called a patient mover where they just gather you up like a fish in the net and then swing you back into the bed.

Probably the next few days will reveal a lot about future treatment plans and I’ll give updates on that as it occurs. I do have a beautiful view of downtown Jacksonsville, so the room is pleasant and comfortable. Hospital food is as one expects.

I know that many people have started subscribing the blog, as I’ve been receiving many, many comments. And while I’m unable to respond to any of them individually at this time, I’m very grateful for the signs of love and support that people are making. I’m able to receive them on my Blackberry without any difficulty, so, please, keep the comments coming. They’re a source of strength to me.

Since my initial bout with melanoma two years ago, one thing I discovered very strongly about health care in the United States is that while we may have the best health care available, each person absolutely needs to be their own health advocate. If you haven’t had a physical exam recently, if you haven’t been to a dermatologist for a standard skin check, if you have some ache or pain that you’ve been putting off finding out about, stop putting it off. See a doctor for your own peace of mind and so you can understand exactly what is going on in your own body. Had I not done that over the past several years, the situation I’m dealing with right now, as trying as it is now, could be worse. You owe it to yourself and to your families to take care of yourselves as best you can. If you have questions about advice your physicians are offering you, challenge it. If you don’t feel you’re getting the care from a physician that is appropriate, change your physician. The Web can be a wonderful place for information, but it can also be a very dangerous place for information. Be sure the information you’re reading is appropriate and vetted and current.

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