Update on Dad

This week dad has been at the trauma center in Fredericksburg wearing a back and neck brace for his broken T-7 vertebrae. It did have 3 small bone chips that came off, but they did not damage the spinal cord. He will have to wear the brace for some time and will see a spine doctor this next week for further treatment.

He has had his feet in splints along with air bags on them to maintain circulation. He crushed the heel bone in both feet. These will both require surgery to correct after the swelling has reduced. He meets with the foot surgeon this next Friday.

All week we have been waiting for the insurance to approve his transfer from Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg to a skilled nursing facility in Richmond. The doctors in Richmond will take over his care and perform the surgeries. After lots of paperwork from the hospital, nursing home, and the insurance company, hopefully he will be transferred on Monday.

This will allow mom to actually start school like she was supposed to this last week. My cousin DeLeigh has been helping out at the hospital during the night shift. Mom has been with him during the day & Kim has been with dad during the afternoons. DeLeigh will return back home to PA in a week.

I met Pat & Rachel & Cody in Commerce, GA Friday afternoon. Rachel was trying to drive to VA but her car has had some trouble. So Pat drove her part way & I drove her to my house. John & Grayson then drove down to get her on Saturday. Rachel, Cody, John & Grayson left this morning to drive to Richmond.

Rachel will help dad out during the day at the nursing facility, The Laurels of Bon Air. Also, she is going to enroll Cody in kindergarten. In Alabama, he has to be born after October 1, but in VA, he has to be born after Sept 1. His birthday is Sept 20. So Rachel will be able to use mom's address for the next couple of months while he goes to school. Then hopefully, he will be able to transfer into kindergarten when she returns to Alabama in a few months.

Pat and Ravyn will stay in Alabama. Ravyn has lots of friends (& parents of friends) that will help her get home from school and get to her dance lessons.

It's been an interesting week. We've been able to visit with family and talk to them on the phone all week. Dad has been monitored for his oxygen levels as they have been getting a little bit low, but overall, his spirits are up and he's doing well.

Dad has wheeled himself down the hall in a wheelchair and has been doing leg lefts with the P.T. and O.T. folks. They are keeping him busy at the hospital.