Re: Very Off-topic, update on Don from Noreen

[Nora Balcer]

On Nov 3, 11:33�pm, "YarnWright" <no...@this.lifetime> wrote:
> Noreen said:
>
> +It's been awhile since I updated. �You'll recall that he had a terrible,
> +debilitating accident in June (17th), involving his right, dominant hand/wrist.
> +
> +He is progressing very s-l-o-w-ly. �We work with the OT (occupational
> +therapist) at the VA now only twice a week. �I still continue his therapy at
> +home 2-3 times a day, seven days a week.
> +(We both preferred the three times per week �OT sessions.)
> +
> +For those who don't know, he severed the radial artery, median nerve, flexor
> +tendon, many other nerves, vessels and tendons... resulting in a massive blood
> +loss (I nearly lost him!), and loss of the use of his thumb, first finger,
> +second finger and half the ring finger.
> +
> +Ultra-sensitivity in part of the palm is now one of many current issues. �What
> +is luke warm to you and I is excruciatingly hot to him. �What is comfortably
> +cool for us is painfully freezing cold to him. �Textures also can send him to
> +the ceiling.
> +
> +While we continue to flex and stretch and manipulate, the DIP's (fingertips)
> +still will not cooperate. �He cannot feel things, and has to look at what he is
> +doing. �There is, still, after 4 1/2 months, some edema that comes and goes.
> +
> +He used to describe his entire right hand and wrist as being in a baseball
> +glove, ie, try to bend your fingers in one!
> +He now describes the 'feeling' as 1/2 of his hand being bound or wrapped in
> +duct-tape. �Again, try bending and manipulating your fingers like that!
> +
> +Issues with his shoulder are now appearing. �We are quite certain that the fall
> +also resulted in a tear in the rotator-cuff.
> +
> +For a finish-carpenter who was also highly artistic, this all �has been ... in
> +a word, devastating.
> +
> +The entire incident is directly related to the chronic fatigue he has endured
> +since undergoing treatment for Lymphoma.
> +
> +We thank you all for your healing energies and prayers. �We will see the
> +surgeon again in December, at which time he'll evaluate and recommend our next
> +course of treatment and action.
> +
> +On a side-note, because Don IS a Service-Connected disabled Veteran, we are
> +seeking an increase of his current disability of 40% to a more reasonable
> +percentage. �This is a long process, and in the meantime the wait, while his
> +case is being decided, along with our inability to work, both due TO the injury
> +AND being in treatment, has affected us severely, financially.
> +
> +We both remain positive, and ask your continued prayers for both of us.
> +
> +Love and Light,
> +Noreen
>
> I forgot to mention that Don gets "travel-pay" from the VA... and the reduction in days at OT also affects our financial well-being....
> Hugs,
> Noreen
>
> --http://www.paradisefibers.net/KA-Classic-Bamboo-Circular-Knitting-Nee...

Hi Noreen,

Healing prayers for both you and Don. Yes, OT is a great help, but
you are the most help to him. Been there, done that with Tom and his
leg.

Hugs,

Nora

[Spikedriver]

Hello Noreen & Don,

I feel for you both.

You are in our prayers and thoughts always, Go Navy!!!

Hugs,
Dennis & Gail

[Carey N.]

"YarnWright" <no...@this.lifetime> wrote in message
news:xn0gh7qknmgai...@news.individual.net...

> It's been awhile since I updated. You'll recall that he had a terrible,

> debilitating accident in June (17th), involving his right, dominant
hand/wrist.
>

> He is progressing very s-l-o-w-ly. We work with the OT (occupational

> therapist) at the VA now only twice a week. I still continue his therapy
at

> home 2-3 times a day, seven days a week.

> (We both preferred the three times per week OT sessions.)
>

> For those who don't know, he severed the radial artery, median nerve,
flexor

> tendon, many other nerves, vessels and tendons... resulting in a massive
blood

> loss (I nearly lost him!), and loss of the use of his thumb, first finger,

> second finger and half the ring finger.
>

> Ultra-sensitivity in part of the palm is now one of many current issues.
What

> is luke warm to you and I is excruciatingly hot to him. What is
comfortably

> cool for us is painfully freezing cold to him. Textures also can send him
to

> the ceiling.

>
> While we continue to flex and stretch and manipulate, the DIP's
(fingertips)

> still will not cooperate. He cannot feel things, and has to look at what
he is

> doing. There is, still, after 4 1/2 months, some edema that comes and
goes.
>

> He used to describe his entire right hand and wrist as being in a baseball

> glove, ie, try to bend your fingers in one!

> He now describes the 'feeling' as 1/2 of his hand being bound or wrapped
in

> duct-tape. Again, try bending and manipulating your fingers like that!
>

> Issues with his shoulder are now appearing. We are quite certain that the
fall

> also resulted in a tear in the rotator-cuff.
>

> For a finish-carpenter who was also highly artistic, this all has been
... in

> a word, devastating.

>
> The entire incident is directly related to the chronic fatigue he has
endured

> since undergoing treatment for Lymphoma.

>
> We thank you all for your healing energies and prayers. We will see the

> surgeon again in December, at which time he'll evaluate and recommend our
next

> course of treatment and action.

>
> On a side-note, because Don IS a Service-Connected disabled Veteran, we
are

> seeking an increase of his current disability of 40% to a more reasonable

> percentage. This is a long process, and in the meantime the wait, while
his

> case is being decided, along with our inability to work, both due TO the
injury

> AND being in treatment, has affected us severely, financially.
>

> We both remain positive, and ask your continued prayers for both of us.
>

> Love and Light,
> Noreen

Noreen,
I'll be keeping good thoughts for improvements for you guys, in all areas.
Make sure Don (or you) stay in contact with a good DAV rep to get him his
disability increase; the "unemployability" category may be something to
discuss with rep.
Best wishes,
Carey in MA