Day 45 // Leaps & Bounds

Hey all,

It's been a few days since JoAnne's last update... see below for brief updates!

HIP- JoAnne's wound vac cleanings have been going well, and the doctors are saying that it may only be a few more cleanings required before the wound can continue to heal on it's own! The every-other-day OR visits this week (Mon/Wed/Fri) have been tough on JoAnne (now that she's awake and all), so we are all relieved that she's got the weekend to rest up before going back into the OR Tuesday (likely when I'll write/post again).

INFECTION- Dr. Chang came by today and said that he plans to order a CAT scan mid to late next week to see if the small infections they'd found a few weeks back are still there. They're hoping that the constant influx of antibiotics has blasted them, but we'll find out soon enough. We're grateful that Dr. Chang is making sure things are a-ok before discontinuing the antibiotics that have been so critical in keeping her infection-free!

STATS- JoAnne's blood levels have been generally low due to the repeated surgeries (that naturally cause her to lost a bit every time). This blood loss most recently has caused a worrisome dip in her blood pressure, which the staff is monitoring and working on with constant checks and daily blood transfusions. JoAnne's breathing is still steady, though she still has trouble with (and anxiety about) wheezing now and then, not to mention swallowing. She is slowly improving on both those fronts, which is great news! She's unfortunately had a few negative reactions to medications, and the docs are attempting to work that out and supplement replacements that will get the job done. Though JoAnne seems to be out of the woods with the more serious stuff at present, these day to day concerns are still worrisome... though expected. She's a real trooper, alright!

DISCHARGE- JoAnne's discharge date is unknown, though possibly imminent. We've been talking with the social worker who says that it could happen within two to six weeks! It all seems to depend on how soon the surgeons end her wound vac cleanings, deeming her ready for a skilled nursing or acute rehab facility. We're in the process of figuring out how things will be paid for, where JoAnne will go next, etc., and what's next depends on what her condition when she leaves! Will her wound still require care in a skilled nursing place, or will she be healed up, rocking and rolling with PT/OT in acute rehab? This is difficult to foresee until the surgeons give the go-ahead, so we're doing our best to examine the options, her situation in Spain, and to plan for the best possible care for her either her or there. We'll keep you posted on our progress!

JOANNE-  JoAnne has been improving in leaps and bounds... nurses & doctors who haven't seen her in a few days are dumbstruck when they see the normal (to us) "JoAnne" that she's slowly becoming. Her awareness is increasing, her fine motor skills are improving and she's communicating and expressing things and more like herself. That said, it's been a tough week for her, as her increased awareness is not matching up quite yet with her currently limited physical/mental abilities, if that makes sense. She expresses that she's ready to wear normal clothes, read books and talk to friends throughout the day... though she's not quite there just yet. She's continually battling pain & discomfort and anxiety about breathing, not to mention dealing with crazy pain meds and continuous ups and downs with other medication adjustments that make it hard to stay on an even keel. We're doing our best to make sure that JoAnne feels safe, cared for and more and more herself, though hope that within the next few weeks she'll improve enough to be able to be (not just desire to feel) more autonomous. It's a tough position to be in relying so much on others, and she's doing remarkably well, considering what an independent, kick-ass woman she's always been (and will continue to be).  :)

SHARING- JoAnne's days have been looking very similar to one another schedule-wise, so I'll be posting as needed (likely twice a week) with any changes in her recovery, improvements, wounds, etc. Aside from the fact that the routine has been somewhat streamlined and that the critical nature of her surgeries is slowly reducing, we are also spending more and more time with JoAnne herself, focusing on her daily needs, mental health, rehabilitation and discharge/payment plans. If you've got a yen for more information about the day-to-day, please feel free to check in with me or close family to get it!  :)

GRATITUDE- JoAnne's friend Mary Ann (from Bcn) has been so instrumental in holding down the fort this week, being there for JoAnne and allowing Kelty and me to get some much-needed catch-up accomplished. Nick & Susan have also spent many evenings (with many delicious treats in tow) with JoAnne. We really, really appreciate the help that everyone is providing! We really are so grateful.

More updates to come, and much love to you all,

Team JoJo