Day 51 // All's Well!

Hi guys,

I know it's been a few days since I last wrote, but not too much has been happening, save for slow and steady progress on JoAnne's part!

HIP- JoAnne had another cleaning yesterday, but we haven't yet been able to talk to the doctors for the specifics. It of course went well, but we're yearning to know about their assessment as to how many more cleanings JoAnne will require. It's apparently not something they can exactly predict, so much as assess every time they go in there.  Last week they'd said things were healing pretty well, and that the packing they've had in there has become smaller and smaller every time they re-do it... things are closing up on their own. Good news!

TRACH TUBE- JoAnne's trach tube is no longer there!!! Earlier in the week they took her off the humidifier, and yesterday after her surgery they removed her trach tube, replacing it with just some gauze and tape that will allow it to heal properly. YUP. This doesn't necessarily mean she won't go into surgeries again, but it means that she's done with the constant procedures, and breathing well enough on her own to lose the trach tube. She is so delighted about this, and sounds more and more like herself, now.

INFECTION- JoAnne is going in for another CT scan today to make sure that the two small pockets of suspected infection are gone. Dr. Chang, the specialist, wants to make sure of this before discontinuing her antibiotics! We'll keep you posted on what they find.

EATING- JoAnne is eating anything and everything, at this point, hoping to get rid of her feeding tube as soon as possible. Until she can reach a certain number of calories per day with regular food, she'll have the tube in, so we've been calorie counting and trying to bring her delicious fare (noodles, sushi, bento, tacos, cobb salad, you name it!) to build up her appetite. She has requested a box of Sees candies just today... progress.

REHAB- Her PT/OT are going well, as JoAnne is super motivated to get healthy and back to Spain. She's now sitting up to two hours in a special chair every few days, and has even sat on the bedside a few times. Her hands now function just about perfectly, though she hasn't been writing just yet. She has a big bar over her bed with a triangle hanging down that she can grab to adjust herself in bed, so her arms are also getting stronger! We're still waiting to hear about her discharge timing and plans, but plan to go with Susan Stier next week to check out skilled nursing/rehab facilities in Portland. Hopefully a month or two of focused rehab will prepare JoAnne for a first class flight back to Barcelona, where she can continue rehab and strength-building at home.

VISITORS- JoAnne's friend Mary Ann has been so instrumental in helping us all to survive the past few weeks. She's been at the hospital every day, allowing Kelty and me to work in between visits, and has been there in so many ways for JoAnne.... we can't even begin to explain what her visit has meant to us all. She heads back to Barcelona tomorrow, and we wish her a safe trip! JoAnne's niece, Trena, will be with us this weekend to visit and help out... we can hardly wait to see her!

JOANNE- JoAnne has been remarkably more herself and aware since this last Saturday (I write this Thursday). She's less needy and anxious, has been sleeping better, smiling and chatting, and most exciting is that she's beginning to muse on the past and the future- not just the present. She's been making and taking calls from friends and family, applying her own making and doing her own hair, and mentioned to me yesterday that she's slowly opening up the drawers of her life, bit by bit, to let things in again. We can't imagine how overwhelming this is, but it's also provided so much comfort to JoAnne, who also told me that the last few days she hasn't felt scared or lonesome anymore... that she feels part of a web bigger than herself. Yay.

Many thanks to all of you who continue to send emails and comment on the blog. Email me (HannahOlavarria@gmail.com) for JoAnne's phone number, or for my home address if you'd like to send her a card! She's now up for both, and I'm sure would love to hear from you.

Much love,

Team JoJo