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.

Coleman's Journey 1/4

It looks as though Coleman's care team thinks that he is still on track to transition to the Courage Kenny facility in Golden Valley.  He will likely be there 2 to 4 to 6 weeks. Before he leaves Courage Kenny at ANW, he still needs his scalp sutures removed, his feeding tube removed and his artery filter removed.