Coleman's Journey 10/24

It's been almost a year since Coleman suffered his brain bleed and stroke.  While he still works to return his left arm, hand, and leg to normal, he's lucky to be where he's returned to.  We continue to ask for your prayers and hopes for recovery.

Coleman's Journey 5/30

Coleman's been working half days all of this week.  He continues with occupational therapy and other treatments as well.  Thanks to all for your prayerful support.  

Coleman's Journey 5/9

Coleman's been driving and continues his occupational therapy.  He starts working this coming Monday.  It will be interesting to see how that goes for him.  I'm sure he'll do great.  He's been doing everything that those that have been caring for him ask of him.  

Thank you for all of your well wishes and prayers.  I firmly believe that they help him as he heals.  Afterall, he still has a wedding to attend.  Coleman and his fiancé Sophia continue to plan their wedding.  

Coleman's Journey 4/24

Coleman's been making progress on the long road back.  Some positive steps include:

He's approved to return to work with limited hours.  He's been discussing with his lead what his return to work might look like.

Another recent step taken includes getting back behind the wheel of his car.  He'll have to start out like a student driver and do some practice driving.    

He's discussed what's next with his doctor - like another Botox session coming up and the adjustments that they'll make since the first treatment.

He's discussed with his occupational therapist how he's going to continue on at home with the electrical stimulation on his left arm.  There's more tone in his left arm now.    

Yesterday was the best that he's done with a timed walking exercise.  

Overall, his balance has improved.

We've come a long way from that first week in November of last year.

Coleman's Journey 3/22

Coleman was given Botox injections in his left arm to kick-start it in to recovery.  The Botox is intended to loosen up the muscles in the arm and hand.

Additionally, Coleman was officially downgraded from a falling risk.  He was pretty proud of that update.  

Another couple of milestones.  Woo hoo!

Coleman's Journey 3/13

Today, Coleman received a set of Botox injections in his left arm.  The intent is that this treatment will help to relax the muscles in his fingers, hand, and forearm.  It's possible that it could take a number of weeks before he see's any change, but this was the next step in this long journey.  

His blood pressure has been right where it needs to be for the last couple of weeks.  Looks like they've got the right mixture of drugs for that job.  

Coleman's Journey 3/7

Coleman gave me quite a scare yesterday.  It appeared to me that he had a seizure of some sort, right when I was looking at him.  It didn't last very long, only a minute or two.  He was unresponsive during the event.  During the event, he said that he could hear me talking to him.  After it was over, he felt warm.  

It wasn't too long after that he laid down for a nap, but soon after that, he vomited  Considering what he's been through, we took him into the hospital yesterday.  He vomited at the hospital too.  Last night, after receiving migraine medicines, he started feeling much better.  He got his appetite back last night as well.  

This morning, he was his normal self.  Eating a good breakfast and no headache.  He had an  echocardiogram, which checked his heart.  He also had an electroencephalogram (EEG), which is a recording of brain activity. During this painless test, small sensors are attached to the scalp to pick up the electrical signals produced by the brain. These signals are recorded by a machine and are looked at by a doctor.  The neuro doctor is estimating that Coleman will  probably have to be on low dose anti-seizure meds.

Coleman was just given the ok for discharge.  He has a new anti-seizure script. There was no obvious sign of a seizure in the EEG readings, but the doctor said that is very common.  Coleman should follow-up with neuro in a few months.

Coleman's Journey 2/20

Coleman's done with Speech Therapy now.  Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy still remain.  Another milestone in the rear view mirror.

Another milestone today - upon arriving for therapy this morning, the wheelchair was left in the car.  The therapists liked seeing that.  

Coleman's Journey 2/14

Yesterday was the start of Coleman's 2nd week of out-patient rehab.  He's getting around our small townhouse better with each day.  Yesterday, he mentioned how he's trying to rely less on his cane when moving around our townhouse.

Best wishes for healing go out to Denise and Larry.

Coleman's Journey 2/7

One step forward ... Coleman was able to wiggle his toes in his left foot today.  Still making those neural pathways.  

Coleman's Journey 2/6

It's official.  Coleman was discharged this morning.  His first out-patient rehab will be Thursday and Friday.

Doing laps

Checking out the ducks

Coleman's Journey 2/5

Well, it looks more official now.  Tomorrow will be the last day that Coleman will be in an in-patient status since last Halloween - 3 months and 1 week - he's progressing from in-patient status to out-patient status.  Tonight will be his last.  He'll continue to receive physical, occupational, and speech therapy at Mercy in Coon Rapids, MN on an out-patient basis.  His first appointments at Mercy will be Thursday afternoon.  He'll stay with Deb and I during the week and then on weekends, he'll stay with Sophia, his fiancé.    

It's yet one more step in the right direction.  Truly a journey of many steps.  

Coleman's Journey 1/28

Today, Coleman is coming to visit Deb and I at our home.  Coleman is allowed day passes.  His first trip out of Courage Kenny Golden Valley was to visit his soon-to-be in-laws and their family dog, Moose.  Moose was very excited to see Coleman.  

Coleman's Back!

Part of being able to move on to Courage Kenny in Golden Valley was to get the stiches removed.  These stiches were from his skull piece going back in.

Olive Garden was where Coleman and Sophia were heading for lunch after he proposed on Halloween.  Better late than never.

Coleman's Journey 1/18

After about 2.5 months, Coleman was finally discharged out of Abbot Northwestern yesterday. Deb and I drove him his acute care rehab program to his next level of care, e.g., a Transitional Rehabilitation Program. 

First trip outside since 10/31/2023

They will work him hard there.  

Working on the stairs.

Coleman's Journey 1/16

This morning, Coleman's blood filter that was installed to prevent chunks heading to his heart, was removed after having used a blood thinner for 2+ weeks.  This was his last medical procedure that we had planned.  

Saw him do some laps walking with the aid of a cane and a therapist this morning.

We're still on schedule to head to the next rehab center in Golden Valley.  We get to drive him there.      

Coleman's Journey 1/15

Coleman can now transfer from his bed to his wheel chair without assistance.  

We're still on schedule for the blood filter to be removed tomorrow followed by a day of recovery and then finally making our way to Courage Kenny (CK) in Golden Valley (GV).  He is so ready to move on to the next step.  

I'll bet that Coleman is in a pretty good mood this morning after the Green Bay Packers embarrassed the Dallas Cowboys big time last night.  The final score is in no way indicative of how badly the Pack won.  They started pulling their starters and were just running out the clock.

Coleman's Journey 1/11

Yesterday, Coleman's feeding tube was removed.  Additionally, the sutures in his scalp were removed.  No haircuts for another 2 weeks. 

Things we learned today from the Care Team:

• The blood filter continues to be an issue holding up discharge.  The filter was put in originally to prevent blood clots from going to the heart when he wasn't mobile.  He has to be on a blood thinner for two weeks prior to it being removed, which is next Tuesday.  In the early days, blood thinners would have been bad for the brain hemorrhage that the Neuro ICU was trying to stabilize.  He is getting 2 shots a day in the stomach of the blood thinner.  It is now scheduled to come out Tuesday or Wednesday of next week with discharge on 1/18.  Once the filter is out, he needs to lay flat for a number of hours.  It needs to be removed because there is a long-term possibility that the filter could come apart and pieces could find their way to his heart.
• Deb and I will likely work with Therapy to learn how to do transfers to and from the car and the wheelchair. 
• Coleman is now scheduled to be discharged to the Courage Kenny facility in Golden Valley where he'll be receiving more rehab.

Coleman's Journey 1/9

Coleman will have his blood filter removed on Monday and will have to stay a day for observation.  After surgery, he comes back to CK for another day, not the hospital.  He then can go to CK GV to continue his rehab therapy.  He's disappointed that he can't leave here on Friday as he's been planning for a week.  The new and revised plan is now to go to CK GV on Wednesday, January 17.

In therapy, he was measured for his own knee brace and a foot / ankle brace.  He's also allowed to solo transition between the chair to the bed.

Coleman's Journey 1/8

Last week, Coleman was walking with a cane and a harness for backup.  This was a first.  

 

Coleman's Journey 1/5

The Neuro department came by today to check on his sutures.  They are giving him blood thinner injections for the next couple of weeks so they can remove the blood filter in his vein.  

Coleman has advanced to a regular wheelchair.  He can now move himself.  This is really a big advancement for him.

Things are still looking like Coleman will transition on 1/12 to Courage Kenny (CK) - Golden Valley (GV).  It will still depend on the blood filter coming out of a major vein and the stomach feeding tube coming out 1/11. His scalp sutures will come out early next week.  He's doing very well and is working extremely hard at his recovery.  He said that therapy had him walking backwards today and that it was very hard.  He's walking with a brace on his left knee and hanging on to a handrail.