A Visit From an Old Friend...

If anyone wants me to post how your visit went just email me at keribatchelder@qwest.net
I love hearing how he's doing! Thanks Lem.

From Lem Harsen:

Went to visit Dave Yesterday (June 24), he was doing as well as could be expected under the circumstances. I learned very quickly not to ask to many questions but instead just talk to him and tell him things or ask questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. David understands any questions you ask him very well and he knows how to respond; the problem is he is having trouble getting the answer out and that makes him frustrated. Katie came and brought him new shoes.

Good luck Dave, I will be back many times.
Lem

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Well, I talked to my dad briefly yesterday for Father's Day - he's not one for phone conversations these days but it is nice to hear his voice. He was eating pizza when I called so I don't blame him for wanting to get back to it.

Katie and Maura went to visit him in the afternoon and brought a cake that Maura baked and our cards. I'll be visiting again July 2 and 3 and look forward to spending some time with Dad and seeing how things are progressing. I've heard he has had some visitors from old friends which is great! Keep coming as he really enjoys it.

Out of the Hospital - Finally!!!

David has finally left Detroit Receiving Hospital and is continuing his recovery and physical therapy at the Martha T. Berry Medical Center in Mt. Clemens, MI. Dave is continuing to work at improving his speech and is eating real food throughout the day - great progress from last week. I talked to my Dad on the phone tonight which broke my heart just a little bit because I wasn't there. But he very clearly said, "Hi Keri." I asked how he was doing and he told me, "about the same." We didn't stay on the phone for long but Katie told me he had a huge smile on his face while we talked. Hopefully I can come visit in another couple of weeks.

Please visit Dave anytime between the hours of 11am and 8pm. Because of room availability he is currently in a restricted access area but we hope he gets moved soon. He is on the 3rd floor in room 3267. The hospital staff can help direct you. See attached link to MTB's website and note that you can only enter off of Elizabeth, not Grosbeck. He would love visitors from friends and family - he really lights up when old friends come in.

http://www.macombcountymi.gov/marthatberry/map.htm

The usual suspects visited throughout the day today: Dave's son Scott, daughter Lori, and wife Katie.

Dave's getting hungry!

We had a fairly shocking occurrence today (the good kind)! They were going to test my dad today to see if he could swallow so that he can begin to eat real food again - he drank some water and ate some crackers! This is his first food and drink in 3.5 weeks! We are hopefully that he will eat some breakfast tomorrow and will eventually be off the feeding tube. Great progress!

Dave is going to move to a nursing home/rehab center on Friday June 5th. I will post visiting hours and room number when we have that information. He will be in Mt. Clemens at the Martha T. Berry Medical Center.

http://www.macombcountymi.gov/marthatberry/map.htm

The Last Three Weeks...

As most of you know, David had a massive left-hemisphere stroke on Saturday May 9th. He was taken to Mt. Clemens General and then later transferred to Detroit Receiving Hospital because of its excellent neurology department.

Dad is stable but as a result of the stroke he is paralyzed on his right side and his language center is effected. On top of the initial stroke Dave has had some setbacks. First was pulmonary embolisms - clots that form in the legs and travel to the lungs. Then he had a small brain bleed due to the blood thinners that were fighting the clots. The most recent development is more clots in his right leg. The doctors put a filter in his leg vein to prevent those clots from traveling to the lungs. He is back on the blood thinners which is risky, but better than the clots.

David is talking more and more each day and lights up when friends and family come to visit. I was able to spend the last three weeks in Michigan so I could visit him every day and I am grateful that my work was so flexible. Katie, Maura, Scott, and Lori have been right by his side as well. And because Dave has charmed all the nurses, he even received a special visit from his beloved Velvet on Sunday!

If you would like to go and visit with David you can find him at Detroit Receiving between 12pm and 8pm. Just park in the garage, check in at the reception desk and they will direct you. He will most likely leave the hospital this week and I will post an update as soon as that happens. He would very much love to see friends and family. http://www.drhuhc.org/