Saturday, December 7th, 2002
Today marks the third day at Methodist Hospital. It was fairly uneventful
for Daniel; mostly receiving antibiotics and dealing with depression. He is
very discouraged and, quite frankly, I don't blame him. I am sure that I
would not have held up nearly as well as Daniel or Toni. Right now it looks
like Monday is the earliest we can hope to be out and maybe not even then.
The big news today is about Toni. This morning she fell in the hospital
parking lot and broke her ankle. At least she didn't have far to go to get
to the emergency room. Toni is trying to use crutches without much success
so far. She isn't supposed to drive for six weeks so she is making plans to
find alternative ways to accomplish everything she has to deal with.
I can hardly wait for 2002 to end. Medically, this year stinks. Anyway, we
remain hopeful for the future and grateful for our friends and family. Jim
Fox
Sunday night, December 8, 2002
Toni reports:
So, as I am lying in the parking lot at Methodist Hospital I am
thinking...how foolish do I feel? (But, I'm sure it's just a bad sprain.) I
managed to flag down an aide who was wheeling a patient to his car. She
looked at me a bit suspiciously (I did have that bag lady look about me after
landing in the dirt), but came over and rolled me into emergency. They had
me lie down because my blood pressure was low and I looked a little pale (it
was actually my Albany SICU tan). Anyway, since I didn't have any ID they
called Emily and Daniel in Daniel's room and they brought everything down.
They even gave me "Moosie", Daniel's stuffed moose, to keep me company.
Imagine my astonishment when they said I had broken my ankle, put me in a
splint, gave me crutches, and told me to come back on Monday for a cast that
I would need to wear for six weeks. Hello? Isn't it somebody's else's turn?
The experience has been humbiling (and hobbling)but I have several insights:
a. Crutches are trickier than they look...and the gift of balance does not come naturally to me.
b. A hospital parking lot is a very convenient place to break your ankle.
c. If you are going to break your ankle try and make it your "non-driving" left ankle.
d. Having a family member already in a hospital room when you are injured works out quite well.
e. Finally, on the very brightest side...I now MUST wear my favorite outfit
(pajama's) every day because nothing else fits over the cast.
On to different topics...Thank you to everyone who has been bringing over
meals. We are delighted and we even sneak most of the food into Daniel, who
has not lost his appetite. The food at Methodist is actually pretty good,
the service is nice, the nurses and doctors are terrific, the room is
beautiful...but we still want to be home. It looks like that may happen in
another couple of days.
The doctors believe Daniel has an atypical pneumonia and are fine tuning the
antibiotics to fight it. He ran a slight fever yesterday but so far today
his temperature has been normal. They have drawn blood and are doing
cultures (is that right, medically?...you know what I mean)to see if they can
pinpoint a cause. The lesion on his tailbone was partially drained and they
are also studying that fluid for clues.
They brought in a cot for me last night and Daniel and I both slept well. I
know he could probably stay alone but he is so discouraged and it seems to
make him feel better. (I'm obviously not going anywhere, anyway.) Emily,
Betsy and Jim have been able to spend much of the weekend with him which also
cheers him up. I took a break today and was able to clean out a closet and
rest on my very own couch. Daniel's afternoon included Legally Blonde with
Emily, the Sunday comics with Jim, and hanging out with Betsy. I'm due to go
back shortly but wanted to say a quick hello. Hope your weekend was filled
with family, friends and fun. All our love, The Foxes
Tuesday night, December 10, 2002
Shhh...we're home, (don't tell any bacteria or viruses). Daniel was given a
clean bill of health today, plus a flu shot and he was out the door. We even
had dual wheelchairs. Daniel wants you all to know that his won. Kyle and
Jeannette Weinberg stopped in for a visit just before Daniel was released and
Kyle was gracious enough to give us a ride home (when I realized that I
didn't have a car and couldn't have driven it even if I did). We didn't have
a key to the house but luckily the back door was unlocked and Daniel let
himself in. It's weird to have him waiting on me...he is by far the steadier
of the two of us. We do however, have matching walkers. So, now we get to
have races through the house.
Yesterday began with a visit to Dr. Takei for me and a new blue cast. Marcie
Hays played chauffeur and we laughed a lot. We stopped at Starbuck's, then
picked up a walker for me (yes, I have graduated to a more steady mode of
transportation), and then went to lunch at Sesame Grill. While I was gone
Daniel got a CT scan and took a cat nap.
Last night Michael Hawkins stopped by the hospital with zucchini bread and
cookies which was a great surprise. We ended up in a discussion about
chemistry, gross skin diseases and the like. (It made sense at the time.)
Daniel's CT scan showed nothing abnormal, no fever or cough for two days so
he was in good humor.
Daniel wanted me to be sure and tell you he is up for visitors but, at the
doctor's urging, asks that if you are not feeling well to phone instead. He
is hoping that this is the last unplanned trip to the hospital. Until he
gains some weight and gets stronger he doesn't have the ability to fight off
some of the bugs that just pass the rest of us by.
Well, the house is now full as all the Foxes have returned for the evening so
I'm off to check on the family. Take care and rest well...Love, Toni
Friday, December 13, 2002
This morning I decided to have a very full breakfast because we have lots of
good food around the house: leftovers from Green Street provided by Mr.
Michael Hawkins (MH to the website regulars).
With my mother practically immobile due to her broken ankle and lack of a
walking cast, there has been an appropriate reversal of caretaker roles in
this house. Now that I am the most suited to walk around the house, I
prepare lunch and fetch items like address books and paper towels. I'm three
days into my job as caretaker (I actually prefer caregiver because I'm giving
care, not taking it) and I'm already worn out. My mom is incredible to have
been my caregiver for 7 months.
Our days are very uneventful, but at least they are uneventful at home rather
than in the hospital. Which is good.
My mom and I are expecting a visitor now so I will bid my farewell. Ciao! ~
Daniel
Monday, Decmber 16, 2002
Hello everyone. After spending last week confined to the house,Daniel and I
had a Saturday filled with errands just ready and waiting for one of our
family chauffeurs. Emily and Betsy made early escapes, so Jim had the
pleasure of our company all day. We returned dishes, went to lunch, got the
car door oiled (this may seem boring to you, but for us it was a field trip),
stopped by the bank, and picked up a Christmas tree. It was so nice just to
be cruising around Arcadia.
Last Friday,Josette Schwartz stopped by to pick up some photos for the
Charity Show and we had a great visit. One of her close friends was Emily
and Betsy's first grade teacher at Longden Elementary (and definitely a
favorite). Such a small world...
Yesterday Daniel accompanied Emily grocery shopping at Von's. He managed to
help pick up items for most of the trip before he went to the car to rest.
It definitely was a good workout. He commented that the store has been
remodeled since we were last here. My question...Is there a conspiracy to
redo grocery stores just as I figure out where everything is located?
(Negative reinforcement for shopping).
While they were gone.Betsy was at CV doing her grades, Jim was fixing lights
in the back house and I was sorting through the stacks and stacks of papers
we seem to accumulate so easily. Coupons from 1992, old, empty medicine
containers from 1995, birthday cards that were never sent, lots of
Publisher's Clearing House contest entry blanks and notes from numerous
workshops on such fun topics as Suicide, Depression, Bi-Polar Disorder and
the like. I apparently take very good notes, although I have little or no
memory of the workshops themselves...they are now filed neatly where I will
probably run into them again in five years when I clean out the filing
cabinet.
As evening approached Jim put the tree up in the living room...Chris Tanner
works at the Christmas tree lot and helped us pick out a winner. It smells
wonderful and if we don't get around to putting on lights or ornaments we
will simply have a natural Christmas. Things are going to be very low-key
this year.
This week we have a couple of Doctor's appointments to look forward to...(I
know there is a way to write without ending a sentence with a preposition but
I'm too tired to figure it out). On Wednesday we visit the cardiologist for
follow-up and Thursday we both go to the Orthopedist. I am going to throw
myself on his mercy and beg for a walking cast...I have found I am an
impatient patient.
Emily's boyfriend Madison arrives from Tennessee either tonight or tomorrow
with his parents. We are very excited to see Madison and meet his parents,
who took such good care of Emily when she was in Tennessee. Daniel and I
already have several trips planned with Madison as our driver if we can
coerce him with the promise of our stimulating conversation.
Thursday we are looking forward to the Charity Show at AHS. Daniel wants to
sit on the very top row, but I will settle for making it into the gym. It
will be our first trip back to the hallowed halls of AHS and we can't wait to
see more friendly faces. Until then, we bid you farewell. Our task today, if
we should accept it, is to consider getting dressed...Love, Toni and Daniel
Monday, December 23, 2002
Whoa! Where to begin. It has been an amazing week. Madison (Emily's
boyfriend) and his parents arrived on Tuesday and it was wonderful to finally
meet. Jerry, his dad, is 6'8" and makes Jim look short...it cracked me up.
His Mom, Linda, sells quilts, bracelets and other items on e-bay and
introduced me to her website...what fun. We can understand how come we like
Madison so much because his parents are great. We exchanged stories (some to
Madison and Emily's dismay)and dined on Green Street delicacies. In the
morning Jim, Emily, Madison and his parents went to breakfast before his
folks headed off to Las Vegas and the trip back to Tennessee. Those of us
who are walker impaired stayed at home to get ready for a cardiologist
appointment.
Madison returned to take Daniel and I off to Pasadena to see Dr. Conrad. We
asked for referrals from five different people and all five gave us the same
name. Quite a recommendation. After hobbling to the wrong Cotton Building
we managed to cross the street and find the right building. I sent Daniel
ahead since he is far and away the faster of the two. Every time we fill out
a medical history we get a little punchy...Have you been hospitalized in the
past year? Our answer...He's been nothing BUT hospitalized. We may soon
critique forms...easy to fill out, thorough without being
obessive-compulsive, room enough to fill in all information, uses boxes to
check (yes!). Dr. Conrad rates an excellent in all areas. He was also very
nice, gave Daniel's scar a thumbs up, and said except for yearly scans to
make sure the "patch" is holding, Daniel can see him on an as-needed basis.
As much as we liked him we're hoping we don't see him much.
On the way home we introduced Madison to some of our rituals...Burger King
and Starbucks. After depositing me at home, the two of them were off to pick
up a handicapped placard at the DMV and rent movies for our afternoon
pleasure. Madison to be the voice of reason for "normal" flicks and Daniel
to represent the "indie" crowd. They returned with four movies, two with
subtitles. The three of us found our favorite spots on the couch and watched
I AM SAM, while we waited for the troops to return. It was a very poignant
movie and I even liked Sean Penn (which isn't normally the case).
Just as the movie was winding down we got a call from Betsy that began with,
"Mom, I'm okay." (This is not a good sign at our house). She was calling
from Pasadena, from the site of the car accident in which she had just been
involved. She rear-ended a truck on Green Street in rush hour traffic and
was waiting for the tow truck. On the positive side she was under the speed
limit, had turned on her blinker to change lanes, checked her blind spot and
when she turned back the truck in front of her had slowed nearly to a stop
when she hit him. His truck had no damage, he was not injured at all,
although he mentioned he hoped his neck didn't start hurting the next day,
(no comment that I can print). On the negative side, Betsy's car had to be
towed because there was major damage to the front. Madison, Daniel and I
hopped in the van to go pick her up...we found her bravely sitting on the
curb talking to her insurance company. Once we arrived home Betsy retired to
her back house for journal writing, a few tears and some peace and quiet.
Her parting comment, "I try really hard to be positive but sometimes it's not
easy." Amen. Our goal for 2003 is to be the most BORING family on the
planet!
Thursday brought a double orthopedic appointment for Daniel and me. Marcie
Hays accepted as our chauffeur, (thank you, thank you) and she brought a book
to read, since she had accompanied me to my last appointment. I had two
x-rays but Daniel got eleven so he was the x-ray king. However, after having
my cast cut off (it tickles), I got a new one so I am the foot cast queen.
Although I had my heart set on the purple cast they were out of purple so I
settled on Christmas green. I also got cleared to use the foot as long as I
only put half my weight on it and still use the walker. I am estactic...and
although it may seem slow to others I feel like I am just a blur of speed.
Dr. Takei, another wonderful doctor, is most concerned about Daniel's left
foot, ankle and toes. Daniel experienced drop-foot from being in bed so long
(even though he did have foot braces to help keep his ankle at a 90 degree
angle). There are three possibilities...(and I'm certain for those of you
who are medically knowledgeable I will mangle this, but that never stops me).
Daniel may have suffered nerve damage and it can regenerate, he may have
suffered muscle damage(or some other thing)from the trauma and will always
need the leg brace, or...I can't remember the third thing. Anyway, he will
need a lot of physical therapy to try and stretch the tendons, uncurl his two
largest toes, get much better range of motion in his ankle and hopefully get
his foot to respond so he can bend it up. When Dr. Takei touched a spot
there was some response, although weak, so he is encouraged. Only time and
therapy will tell how much the foot will respond. Surgery to take out the
screws and rods will probably be sometime this summer. There is a lump on
the bottom of Daniel's foot that is a bit of a mystery and will be looked at
further (maybe scar tissue) and possibly some foot surgery down the line
depending on what happens after seeing how PT goes. After all is said and
done, Daniel's foot may be one of his biggest challenges. We feel lucky.
After our appointment we went to Barney's in Pasadena for lunch. The idea
was to treat Marcie but her son-in-law owns the restaurant and the bill never
arrived at the table. (People are so incredibily nice!) If you get a chance
try the calamari...too good to be true. We dropped Daniel off at home where
he spent the afternoon entertaining Madison with old tapes of Emily's color
guard competitions. (Emily was sooo pleased).
Marcie and I took off for Toys R Us with my new found foot freedom and spent
a couple of hours picking out some gifts for her grandkids and three children
whose ornaments I picked off a tree. We laughed and giggled our way through
the aisles and had a great time.
(DF)
That night was the Charity Dance Show at Arcadia High. Every winter holiday
season, Liza Tedford, the dance instructor at Arcadia High, organizes a
performing arts show featuring the dance ensembles and classes from the
school. The proceeds from the show go to charity. Last year the show
benefitted 9/11 funds, and this year the proceeds went to my accident fund to
help pay for medical bills.
Luckily our family received tickets much before the show because the tickets
sold out a week before Thursday night. Another lucky break for our family
was my mom's connections with the school. We were able to pull the car up to
the entrance of the gym (aka Arcadia High School Performing Arts Center) so
that my mom and I didn't have to walk very far with our relatively gimpy
legs.
Upon entering the gym, people started to clap and cheer. My mom assumed the
commotion was for me; I just allowed the commotion to embarrass me.
Therefore, we both stared at the ground which later prompted my dad to
chastise the two of us for being anti-social guests of the show benefitting
us.
Once we sat down, there was plenty of time before the beginning of the show
to meet and greet old friends and coworkers. It was very nice to talk to so
many people, and surprising to see some faces that I hadn't seen for years.
And then the show started.
Orchesis began the show with a very fun number, music provided by the school
orchestra (which I still maintain plays much more in tune than my college
orchestra). During that number I was drawn to the dancing of this one blonde
girl in a red shirt who had very good technique and was all-around a great
dancer.
The rest of the show was equally great. The beginning and intermediate dance
classes did fun numbers, color guard did a quick holiday piece (to music by
GUESS WHO ---> Mariah Carey), and some non-school hip-hop groups brought much
energy to the show. I was most impressed by two performers who did solo
pieces. It takes a lot of confidence to, as a high schooler, get up in front
of your peers and dance for four minutes or more. And both of them danced
very well.
The last part of the charity show was a slide show with pictures of me.
Actually, it wasn't really a SLIDE show since no slides were used; instead,
Mrs. Schwartz used Powerpoint to make the presentation. While Imagine by
John Lennon played, everybody watched pictures of me starting from before I
can remember going through high school graduation. After that, they showed a
picture of the exterior of Albany Medical Center where you could see the
window to my room in SICU. At this point my mom began to cry, and she sat
close to me and held on to me. I felt bad not only because she was crying
but also because I would giggle and laugh as they showed pictures of my
nurses and therapists from both my major hospitalizations.
And then the show ended. Instead of heading straight home, we cruised around
Arcadia looking for a place to get ice cream before settling for Denny's.
After ice cream, cheesecake, and some raunchy cherry lemonade, we made it
home around midnight. Long night, but well worth it.
All in all, we felt very blessed by all the support shown to us that night.
We wish the kindness that has been shown to us for the past 8 months to be
shared with all of you as Christmas approaches. We will update more,
probably tomorrow, but right now my eyes are very strained from the monitor.
Merry Christmas! ~ Daniel