Saturday 09/03/09
Bette looked for shoes for Mike. She went to the store and back to the hospital quite a few times to get the right ones. Thank you to Aunt Judy for giving Bette money for something that Mike needs. Now he has shoes! I guess they are going to do a revision on Monday for Mike's eyes. Dr. Cochran will use some skin from the inside of Mike's arms (the parts that weren't burned) and take a full thickness piece and revise the lower lids. It sounds like he will have his eyelids sewed shut for about three days while healing takes place. Insurance said something like his stay would be up on Monday unless he had something happen like surgery. Bette has not talked to a real person or case manager or care coordinator yet. I think it's poor care to kick someone out of the hospital because they think, well you've been here long enough, we're tired of paying so go home.
That reminds me of a joke where a doctor, nurse and HMO worker all died and met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter asked the doctor "why should I let you into Heaven?" the doctor replied "well, I have dedicated my life to helping people and have saved many lives" so St. Peter tells him to go in. He then turns to the nurse and asks the same thing. The nurse replies "well, I too have dedicated my life to helping people AND I had to put up with all the doctors" so St. Peter lets the nurse into Heaven. He then turns to the HMO worker and asks him why he should let him into Heaven. The worker replies" well, I made sure that people had insurance so the doctors and nurses could take care of them". St. Peter looks at the worker, thinks for awhile and then replies "Ok, you can go into Heaven, but you have only been approved for a three day stay".

Chris came down today to see Mike and will go home tomorrow. The physical therapists are working with Mike all the time. They had him working for about two hours on upper mobility and lower mobility, walking, fine motor skills and whatever else they do. Mike gets pretty tired by the end of the day.

The last I heard, Mike had just finished his supper and they were going down to the cafeteria to look for a smoothie or slushy or something like that.

Thank you all for your continued prayers for Mike and for following this blog.
More later,
and so we go
JaCee