In Need Of Morale Boost

[Joe Dirt]

Hay folks, as some of you know, my wife went into the hospital ER Thursday morning with a shortness of breath.
She was immediately admitted with her blood oxygen level being 82.

Kim, my wife, is still in the hospital with no release date in sight!
She has been diagnosed with COPD, which we were already aware of - just hadn't yet been confirmed by a doctor.

She is not responding well to the breathing treatments and the steroids typically used for this disorder.
We are waiting for test results from a lung specialist as I sit here typing.

She is NOT on her death bed by any means. She just can't breath if she stands or walks - her oxygen levels drop immediately
when she gets up out of the bed.

O.K. with all that being said, Kim is the "Energiser Bunny." She is NON-STOP, from morning til bedtime.
All this "bed rest" is driving her batty, and she has become very discouraged and depressed.
We have a BRAND NEW granddaughter and Kim has only seen her 1 time.

Can anyone help me think of ways to boost her morale while she is confined to the hospital bed?

All prayers are graciously appreciated, but I HAVE TO do something to get her mind back on track!

Thanks and God Bless, guys, for any and all.


I have told her about you guys and when she see's me on the computer she asks if I'm talking to my friends.
The answer has always been "Yes! I am!"
Her e-mail address is: [email protected]

Please send her some jokes or tell her a story, just anything you can think of.

God Bless yen's,... Joe

[orvet]

OK Joe, Kim & you are in my prayers!

[philco]

Joe,

I'm praying for you and Kim. I know a little about COPD and it's no picnic, but she can have a good life even with the condition. She may have to learn to slow her pace a bit but she will soon reach a point where she will adapt.
In the meantime, put her in a wheelchair and take her for a ride and pop some wheelies as you roll her down the hallway. If that won't work, how about having a singing telegram delivered to her there in the hospital. If the hospital rules permit, how about having her favorite restruant prepare a meal and then serving it to her yourself. It might cheer her up more than flowers or a card.
I think the thing that will mean the most to her is what you are doing, being there for her and showing her you care.

Phil

[Joe Dirt]

Well, the diagnosis has changed to include Emphysema and Bronchiectasis on top of the COPD.

Not good news, guys.

I, myself, have been disabled since the age of 32. That's 16 years of dealing with a major lifestyle change.
What I'm saying is "been there, done that." I know what is coming up next.
Attempting to adjust to this type of a change is extremely challenging. Depression is the first to raise it's ugly head.
Anxieties are next. An overwhelming sense of "I have let everyone down" follows. Emotions... "what am I going to do?"

I can go on and on about this but I chose not to.

My focuses are on keeping her comforted in any way I can throughout this whole, life long, drawn-out, ordeal.
Preparing myself emotionally to help her emotionally. "I CAN DO THIS"

Thank you for your prayers. I know God has his plan for Kim.

..... Joe

[DRS]

Joe what Phil said I agree with means alot just being there do small things.even though these are tough times enjoy the small things and just think of all the ways to spoil that new Grandbaby. May God Bless you and Kim and Bring you peace as only he can.I pray for this in Jesus name Amen.
Donald

[Miller Bro's]

Joe,

Hope your wife gets well soon

[big monk]

Prayers sent your way,Joe surely am pulling for you and Kim,as you fight this battle !!!!,Monk

[Earl]

Good thoughts and prayers sent your way Joe. Email sent to Kim

[gino]

Joe, you and Kim are in my prayers.

[Gunsmoke47]

Joe, my prayers are with you and Kim. It may not be easy, but it is a blessing that you know what to expect. You can be her rock. With the Lords help, you both will prevail. Kelley

[mike97]

a good time consuming item is a neocube. its about 200 or so tiny magnet balls that you make in to different shapes. go to neocube.com to see it. it may take a few days to get there but if you have the time i would definently get it

[Joe Dirt]

Well, the Energiser Bunny is BACK in the hospital.
Kim's legs had been swelling and yesterday afternoon she was to a point where she couldn't hardly stand up.

ANOTHER flare-up of the COPD and this time with right side heart strain causing the swelling.

It's only been 3 weeks since she's came home last time. Hope this is only a warning to her, to SLOW DOWN!
She's in good humor, yet scared to death at the same time. I don't know what to do - I'm scared to death also.

I've sure put in some extra prayers for Johnnie at this point - not breathing REALLY sucks.

Anything to cheer her up will be much appreciated (again)... she got a good laugh from the e-mail Earl sent her last time -
It was a recipe for cooking a turkey with whiskey! funny, funny, funny!
(Thank you Earl! God Bless ya!) [email protected]

More prayers will be appreciated and God Bless all of you....

Joe

[whitebuffalo58]

Hey Joe, just came across this for the first time. Man, i'm sure sorry for the troubles you and your wife are going through and me and mine will pray hard for things to get better. I know it's not easy, but keep YOUR spirits up and Kim's will be lifted with it. Best wishes buddy, hang in there.
WB

[Knife Nut]

Prayers going your way, Joe and Kim.

Paul

[gringo]

still praying here joe.

eat more chili...helps the circulation.

[orvet]

Still praying here too!
Thanks for the update.

[Earl]

Still praying here also Joe,email sent to Kim......

[singin46]

Joe, I'm sorry you guys are going through this. If there is anything I can do, please let me know.
I'll be praying for the both of you in the meantime.

[Joe Dirt]

All is well at the present time folks... many thanks for your support and prayers.

We went through a rough one this time.

A diagnosis of Pulmonary Hypertension was the root
of problem this time - (stress of the right side of her heart). A short summery is that her
heart was working overtime to make-up for the insufficient oxygen supply caused by the COPD.
Scary, man, scary!

She came home Wednesday and went straight to sweeping an mopping . This girl is
non-stop, I'm telling ya.
By evening, her legs had began swelling again - thought we were going right back to her "reserved room"
at the hospital
The doc told her to "GET OFF YOUR FEET" and prop them up. The swelling was down the next morning,
THANK THE LORD!
But hang on, it ain't over yet...
With all the new meds she now had, she accidentally took too many of one, thinking it was another!
Luckily (Thank You Lord) it was not something that would poison her... just made her pee every 5 minutes
(please excuse my emotions but the humor is like medicine to me and she was laughing as well)
I think (hope) she got her wake-up call this time.

I just wanted to give you guys an up-date and God Bless each and every one of ya!

..... Joe

[big monk]

Great news Joe !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ___________still got prayers headed your way,wishing you both the best

[geno1201]

PRAYING FOR BOTH OF YOU.

[TripleF]

Hang in there!! Hang in there.

Wishing the best for both of you!!

[DRS]

May God bless yall in all you need and are going through in these tough times.

Your Friend Donald

[Joe Dirt]

Kim went back in the hospital this past Monday afternoon.
Another Bronchiectasis/COPD flair up.

Things seemed to be settling into a routine around here and I was glad to see it come.
Part of the routine is in the bigger picture though... frequent hospital stays.
Something I had over looked.

Today we are waiting on test results looking for blood clots in her legs.
I'm praying all turns out on a favorable manner.

..... Joe

[TripleF]

Thinking of you and Kim, Joe. Hoping for the best!!