Dearest family & friends,
Today was THAT day....the 1st, since surgery, it was the doctor visit and grade. They took x-rays, looked at my back, and handed back my homework with a "A" on it. I cried and hugged them and they smiled at me and at their handiwork. They said the people who know me the longest will understand the difference the easiest...straighter, taller.....I told them that that was probably why cousin Steve and my mother seem so amazed.
I love your standing by me........I hope to spend some time seeing those of you who can visit in the next month--I'm good before the evening- Probably I need another month and a half at home...then I can see begin to see clients in Oct/Nov. and start once a week physical therapy at U-M in Dec.
Those who are far away, I cherish your notes............so much love, laura
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
And....we're back
Hello, dear friends.
It's been a month, almost, since you've heard from us. What that means is my 22 million staples have been taken out and thrown away (so much for the contest) because the nurses and doctors said you can't do much germ-ier than to save somebody's disgusting staples. I walk a little, I read a little, I laugh a little and I still cry a little.
The narcotics send me to the moon on a regular basis but sweet Marty keeps pulling me back. It's been clear that the caretakers really do suffer just as painfully as the patients and Marty has been my hero.
But none of this getting-well stuff would have happened without the mega doses of love from you all. I've truly felt how much we all mean to each other and there are no words for that except to say how much I love you all.
On Friday I'll get my first assessment from the doctor on whether or not my bones are fusing and the surgery has been a success. Check the blog and we'll let you know that news.
Again, all our love.
Laura (and Marty)
It's been a month, almost, since you've heard from us. What that means is my 22 million staples have been taken out and thrown away (so much for the contest) because the nurses and doctors said you can't do much germ-ier than to save somebody's disgusting staples. I walk a little, I read a little, I laugh a little and I still cry a little.
The narcotics send me to the moon on a regular basis but sweet Marty keeps pulling me back. It's been clear that the caretakers really do suffer just as painfully as the patients and Marty has been my hero.
But none of this getting-well stuff would have happened without the mega doses of love from you all. I've truly felt how much we all mean to each other and there are no words for that except to say how much I love you all.
On Friday I'll get my first assessment from the doctor on whether or not my bones are fusing and the surgery has been a success. Check the blog and we'll let you know that news.
Again, all our love.
Laura (and Marty)
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Hey, creative minds!
We need your help. On Monday Laura is scheduled to have her staples removed, all 69 of them. She wants to keep them but she isn't sure how. That's where you come in. What would you do with them? Keep 'em in a transparent container? Make a sculpture out of them? Use them to build something? We want ideas. If you can't write on the blog, email me at mfkohn@aol.com
No prize, but everlasting glory--your name in the blog. Staples: Yeah, we've got that.
More seriously, Laura says her days consist of wildly fluctuating ups and downs but the one constant is your encouragement and affection. You can't overestimate how much this means to her.
Marty
No prize, but everlasting glory--your name in the blog. Staples: Yeah, we've got that.
More seriously, Laura says her days consist of wildly fluctuating ups and downs but the one constant is your encouragement and affection. You can't overestimate how much this means to her.
Marty
Friday, August 14, 2009
At home
Slowly, Laura improves each day, although she's still thirsty, itchy and in pain. The narcotics alleviate the pain and cause the other two conditons. She's been seen by a visiting nurse and an occupational therapist and they both say she is doing well.
We appreciate all your offers of food and assistance. We will gratefully take you up on offers of assistance (we'll let you know) but please channel your food generosity toward Gleaners, Yad Ezra or the food bank of your choice. We are well provisioned.
Thank you and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
We appreciate all your offers of food and assistance. We will gratefully take you up on offers of assistance (we'll let you know) but please channel your food generosity toward Gleaners, Yad Ezra or the food bank of your choice. We are well provisioned.
Thank you and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
She's home
Laura has left the building and is reacquainting herself with the comforts of home. If you're looking for oxycodone stay away from the CVS at 11Mile and Coolidge: they're out. I finally got her prescription filled at another drugstore; it was past her time for her next pain medication but she managed.
World's best thing to say to telemarketers: My wife is in the hospital and I can't deal with anything else. Stops 'em dead.
When Laura can negotiate stairs (tough negotiatiors, those stairs) she'll come up and take over the blog. Until then, I'll continue posting updates, you continue to keep on the sunny side. The thing that really counts happened today.
Laura's back.
World's best thing to say to telemarketers: My wife is in the hospital and I can't deal with anything else. Stops 'em dead.
When Laura can negotiate stairs (tough negotiatiors, those stairs) she'll come up and take over the blog. Until then, I'll continue posting updates, you continue to keep on the sunny side. The thing that really counts happened today.
Laura's back.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
She's going home tomorrow!
Cleared for takeoff, Laura will be going home tomorrow (Wednesday), on her birthday. She can walk up and down stairs and get in and out of bed by herself. She and Junior Walker have been tearing up the hallways. Laura's mom, with her now, can't get over how straight and tall she is. We are all ecstatic. She has a lot of recovering to do, visits from nurses and physical therapists, follow-up appointments (one with a staple remover) but she's going home!
Thanks for all your good thoughts (don't stop now) and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Thanks for all your good thoughts (don't stop now) and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
In true Motown style...
Laura took a few steps yesterday with a youth-size walker (she's not THAT tall) which she immediately named Junior Walker. Thought you'd like to know.
A Note From Laura
Dearest Friends and Family,
Thanks can never be enough for walking this walk with Marty and me. It's a painful sunny side but I thank you for being there with me.
Thanks can never be enough for walking this walk with Marty and me. It's a painful sunny side but I thank you for being there with me.
Monday, August 10, 2009
She sleeps
Laura finally had a restful night and looks terrific. The doctors said she looks better every day. We took a very short walk in the hall this morning which tired her out. Two of her three drains--the little plastic hand grenades that collect blood and ick (medical term)--have been removed and the third one is due out today. Also gone is the port in her neck that looked painful.
The overnight campout was very successful except they wouldn't let us toast marshmallows because of all the oxygen. Something about the hospital burning down. I'm spending the day doing necessary evils, like mowing the lawn.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
The overnight campout was very successful except they wouldn't let us toast marshmallows because of all the oxygen. Something about the hospital burning down. I'm spending the day doing necessary evils, like mowing the lawn.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Camping out
6:15 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9
I'm going to camp out in Laura's room tonight; there's a decent recliner and they'll give me a blanket and pillow if I need them. She isn't sleeping much and maybe if she doesn't have to call the nurse every time she needs to roll over she'll sleep better.
Good progress today, especially for us together as we're doing many of the things nurses were doing previously, like getting Laura in and out of her clamshell brace, in and out of bed, in and out of chairs and taking a bunch of steps. Laura ate some real food. Her stupid iPod clock radio went off early this morning but we figured out how to shut it up so it will be nice and quiet tomorrow morning.
Laura and I thank you for all your good wishes and comments. Keep em coming and keep on the sunny side. By the way, I worked out a new arrangement of that song this morning.
Marty
I'm going to camp out in Laura's room tonight; there's a decent recliner and they'll give me a blanket and pillow if I need them. She isn't sleeping much and maybe if she doesn't have to call the nurse every time she needs to roll over she'll sleep better.
Good progress today, especially for us together as we're doing many of the things nurses were doing previously, like getting Laura in and out of her clamshell brace, in and out of bed, in and out of chairs and taking a bunch of steps. Laura ate some real food. Her stupid iPod clock radio went off early this morning but we figured out how to shut it up so it will be nice and quiet tomorrow morning.
Laura and I thank you for all your good wishes and comments. Keep em coming and keep on the sunny side. By the way, I worked out a new arrangement of that song this morning.
Marty
Saturday, August 8, 2009
We've moved
So long, NICU; hello, room down the hall. Laura is now ensconced in a regular hospital room with room for her iPod. It's room 4104. Much closer to the parking structure. There are 80 staples all down her back. She walked several steps unassisted, holding on to one of those i.v. thingies.
Wednesday Aug. 12 is Laura's birthday and she's spending it right here in the Wolverine Hilton. I'm hoping that by then she'll be able to eat cake. If you're so inclined, send her a card:
Laura Kohn
University Hospital
Patient Unit 4A, Room 104
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor MI 48109
Send good thoughts and keep on the sunny side
Wednesday Aug. 12 is Laura's birthday and she's spending it right here in the Wolverine Hilton. I'm hoping that by then she'll be able to eat cake. If you're so inclined, send her a card:
Laura Kohn
University Hospital
Patient Unit 4A, Room 104
1500 E. Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor MI 48109
Send good thoughts and keep on the sunny side
A revelation
11:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8
Laura has at last seen her x-rays, which show an astonishing before-and-after difference in her spine. Finally, she gets it. She's very happy. Also making her happy: she just had her first cup of coffee in five days. They're letting her eat quasi-foods: cream of wheat (blecch), custard, milk, coffee.
Wearing her brace, she sat in a chair for two and half hours today.
Every so often they remove one of the things sticking into her--drains, catheters, i.v. lines; it's sort of a post-surgical striptease.
Keep good thoughts coming--it's working--and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Laura has at last seen her x-rays, which show an astonishing before-and-after difference in her spine. Finally, she gets it. She's very happy. Also making her happy: she just had her first cup of coffee in five days. They're letting her eat quasi-foods: cream of wheat (blecch), custard, milk, coffee.
Wearing her brace, she sat in a chair for two and half hours today.
Every so often they remove one of the things sticking into her--drains, catheters, i.v. lines; it's sort of a post-surgical striptease.
Keep good thoughts coming--it's working--and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Friday, August 7, 2009
She stands, she sits
10:40 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7
In an otherwise lousy day rife with discomforts Laura stood up, took a couple of steps and sat in a chair for an hour, with the help of her Wonder Woman brace and a physical therapist. Laura is now taller than her mother. It's unbelievable.
I went home tonight for the first time since Tuesday morning.
Back for more tomorrow.
Marty
In an otherwise lousy day rife with discomforts Laura stood up, took a couple of steps and sat in a chair for an hour, with the help of her Wonder Woman brace and a physical therapist. Laura is now taller than her mother. It's unbelievable.
I went home tonight for the first time since Tuesday morning.
Back for more tomorrow.
Marty
TGIF
9:45 a.m. Friday, Aug. 7
Right now Laura's having an X-ray done; if it looks good they'll start her on real food, or at least foodlike substances. Plans for today: 1. Have Laura sit in a chair, wearing her plastic, custom-made $1800 clamshell brace that makes her look like Wonder Woman or a baseball umpire, depending on where your fantasies lie. 2. Move her out of NICU to a regular hospital room. 3. I go home and sleep in my own bed after spending three very pleasant nights at Lily and Paul's, 15 minutes from UM Hospital (10 minutes at 3:30 in the morning when all the red lights are turned to blinkies and there's no traffic).
Thanks for all your comments, emails, calls, text messages and good thoughts floating in the ether. I relay them all to Laura. She's been eyeing her cell phone covetously and may give it a try one of these days.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Right now Laura's having an X-ray done; if it looks good they'll start her on real food, or at least foodlike substances. Plans for today: 1. Have Laura sit in a chair, wearing her plastic, custom-made $1800 clamshell brace that makes her look like Wonder Woman or a baseball umpire, depending on where your fantasies lie. 2. Move her out of NICU to a regular hospital room. 3. I go home and sleep in my own bed after spending three very pleasant nights at Lily and Paul's, 15 minutes from UM Hospital (10 minutes at 3:30 in the morning when all the red lights are turned to blinkies and there's no traffic).
Thanks for all your comments, emails, calls, text messages and good thoughts floating in the ether. I relay them all to Laura. She's been eyeing her cell phone covetously and may give it a try one of these days.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Better
11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6
The intestinal problem is more than likely caused by the anesthesia during surgery and the massive amount of narcotics she received yesterday (which she needed). It can shut down the digestive system. She's better today; they're watching her closely. Today's problem is a bad sore throat possibly casued by previous intubation.
The intestinal thing is called an ileum which is another name for Troy, isn't it? The one with the Trojan Horse, not the one with Somerset Mall--excuse me, the Somerset Collection.
The computer keyboard in the NICU has all the letters rubbed off the keys so I'm calling on all my newspaper typing skills.
The good news about leaving the hospital at 3:30 a.m. is you don't have to pay for parking because the attendant is gone. Maybe I'll try it agian.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
The intestinal problem is more than likely caused by the anesthesia during surgery and the massive amount of narcotics she received yesterday (which she needed). It can shut down the digestive system. She's better today; they're watching her closely. Today's problem is a bad sore throat possibly casued by previous intubation.
The intestinal thing is called an ileum which is another name for Troy, isn't it? The one with the Trojan Horse, not the one with Somerset Mall--excuse me, the Somerset Collection.
The computer keyboard in the NICU has all the letters rubbed off the keys so I'm calling on all my newspaper typing skills.
The good news about leaving the hospital at 3:30 a.m. is you don't have to pay for parking because the attendant is gone. Maybe I'll try it agian.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Tired
3:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6
Yes, 3:30 in the morning and I'm leaving the hospital. A little after 9 p.m. they became concerned about Laura's abdomen, which was hard as a rock. After many hours, X-rays at CAT scans (at 2:30) they believe part of her large intestine may be paralyzed. It's blocking food and water from leaving her stomach and they had to suction out all the apple juice and water we fed her. This may be causing her dehydration and constant thirst. They told me this at 3:15 so I'm a little unclear. Anyway, Laura may be on intravenous feeding and hydration for a while. She's cranky. I'm cranky. Good night.
Marty
Yes, 3:30 in the morning and I'm leaving the hospital. A little after 9 p.m. they became concerned about Laura's abdomen, which was hard as a rock. After many hours, X-rays at CAT scans (at 2:30) they believe part of her large intestine may be paralyzed. It's blocking food and water from leaving her stomach and they had to suction out all the apple juice and water we fed her. This may be causing her dehydration and constant thirst. They told me this at 3:15 so I'm a little unclear. Anyway, Laura may be on intravenous feeding and hydration for a while. She's cranky. I'm cranky. Good night.
Marty
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
She eats
4:40 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5
Laura had a little soup and bread, her first real food since the operation. She's majorly thirsty, needs water every two or three minutes---lots of fun for Maggie and me all day and now Anna. She's also had a little juice.
Dr. LaMarca was in, showed us today's CAT scan pictures: What a straight back! Especially compared to the BEFORE picture. Laura was slathered in cloth and plaster andmolds were taken for a plastic clamshell brace she'll be wearing. We saw her back and the hump appears to be pretty much gone.
She is supposed to get out of bed tomorrow. We'll see.
The hospital is like Ice Station Zebra. Anna just arrived with sweatshirts for us. Yay!
Besides thirsty, Laura is majorly itchy from the pain medication. They gave her something for the itches with a name like Atarax who I think was the king of the Ostrogoths.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Laura had a little soup and bread, her first real food since the operation. She's majorly thirsty, needs water every two or three minutes---lots of fun for Maggie and me all day and now Anna. She's also had a little juice.
Dr. LaMarca was in, showed us today's CAT scan pictures: What a straight back! Especially compared to the BEFORE picture. Laura was slathered in cloth and plaster andmolds were taken for a plastic clamshell brace she'll be wearing. We saw her back and the hump appears to be pretty much gone.
She is supposed to get out of bed tomorrow. We'll see.
The hospital is like Ice Station Zebra. Anna just arrived with sweatshirts for us. Yay!
Besides thirsty, Laura is majorly itchy from the pain medication. They gave her something for the itches with a name like Atarax who I think was the king of the Ostrogoths.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
She lives
11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5
Laura is:
Awake
Coherent (but a little drugged out)
In pain
Thirsty
In the NICU (Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit)
Doing well, they tell us.
She says hi.
She looks like someone I used to know.
They're taking for a CAT scan in a little while. I offered to bring in Isabel or Julia but they said it wasn't the same thing.
Keep sending good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Love to all of you,
Marty
P.S. I have found a secret computer at the hospital.
Laura is:
Awake
Coherent (but a little drugged out)
In pain
Thirsty
In the NICU (Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit)
Doing well, they tell us.
She says hi.
She looks like someone I used to know.
They're taking for a CAT scan in a little while. I offered to bring in Isabel or Julia but they said it wasn't the same thing.
Keep sending good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Love to all of you,
Marty
P.S. I have found a secret computer at the hospital.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
A long wait
9:30 p.m. Tuesday
We won't be able to see Laura for another hour-and-a-half or two hours. Maybe. 11 or 11:30.
Marty
We won't be able to see Laura for another hour-and-a-half or two hours. Maybe. 11 or 11:30.
Marty
She's out
6:45 p.m. Tuesday
Surgery is done. Because of Laura's lousy bone quality they couldn't do everything they wanted to but Dr. LaMarca, the surgeon, says they did a lot and that Laura should feel significant relief, albeit three to six months from now. She doesn't have enough strong bone to hold all the screws they wanted to install but they did correct two significant curvatures and there are two metal rods in her back. Laura will be in ICU for a couple of days. We will be able to see her in three hours but she may not be conscious. Anna was here to hear the doctor's report.
Laura faces another week to 10 days in the hospital (in hospital, for you fans in Canada) and a lot of pain but a much-improved back, assuming she heals as they expect her to.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Surgery is done. Because of Laura's lousy bone quality they couldn't do everything they wanted to but Dr. LaMarca, the surgeon, says they did a lot and that Laura should feel significant relief, albeit three to six months from now. She doesn't have enough strong bone to hold all the screws they wanted to install but they did correct two significant curvatures and there are two metal rods in her back. Laura will be in ICU for a couple of days. We will be able to see her in three hours but she may not be conscious. Anna was here to hear the doctor's report.
Laura faces another week to 10 days in the hospital (in hospital, for you fans in Canada) and a lot of pain but a much-improved back, assuming she heals as they expect her to.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Still in surgery
6 p.m. Tuesday
Laura is still in surgery; they say everything is going well but it'll be "a few more hours," which suggests that it will all be done today. This is good, though not a done deal, as she could have had as many as three surgeries over a week.
Bea has been here with us since 6 a.m.; Anna and Maggie will arive later. Our friend Ellis stopped by before he headed back to California.
I'm reading two books: "World's End" by T. Coraghessan Boyle and "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout. When I get tired of one I read the other. Have had breakfast and lunch in the hospital cafeteria and it looks like dinner is on the menu. I have found several places to plug in the cell phone charger.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Laura is still in surgery; they say everything is going well but it'll be "a few more hours," which suggests that it will all be done today. This is good, though not a done deal, as she could have had as many as three surgeries over a week.
Bea has been here with us since 6 a.m.; Anna and Maggie will arive later. Our friend Ellis stopped by before he headed back to California.
I'm reading two books: "World's End" by T. Coraghessan Boyle and "Olive Kitteridge" by Elizabeth Strout. When I get tired of one I read the other. Have had breakfast and lunch in the hospital cafeteria and it looks like dinner is on the menu. I have found several places to plug in the cell phone charger.
Send good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
The adventure begins
8 a.m., Tuesday
Just before they wheeled her off to the O.R. , Laura asked how surgeons can stay focused and alert for a nine-hour surgery. This is where we learned what they tell 'em in medical school: "Sleep is a luxury you can learn to live without."
Having woken up at 4 a.m. to day I'm not so sure.
In pre-op we met a profusion of doctors, nurses, medical students and, I think, some guy off the street who was looking for his lost schnauzer. This is as big and as scary an operation as we thought but everyone radiated confidence and competence, promising to take good care of Laura. I think she's in very good hands.
Laura remined me to include this quote from the message board of a church in our neighborhood: Worry ends where faith begins.
Send your good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Just before they wheeled her off to the O.R. , Laura asked how surgeons can stay focused and alert for a nine-hour surgery. This is where we learned what they tell 'em in medical school: "Sleep is a luxury you can learn to live without."
Having woken up at 4 a.m. to day I'm not so sure.
In pre-op we met a profusion of doctors, nurses, medical students and, I think, some guy off the street who was looking for his lost schnauzer. This is as big and as scary an operation as we thought but everyone radiated confidence and competence, promising to take good care of Laura. I think she's in very good hands.
Laura remined me to include this quote from the message board of a church in our neighborhood: Worry ends where faith begins.
Send your good thoughts our way and keep on the sunny side.
Marty
Monday, August 3, 2009
The time is...
Surgery is officially scheduled for 7:30 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday, Aug. 4). We have to get there at 6 a.m. At least we won't be fighting traffic.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Welcome to Marty's gift to me and you! I'm staying in a zen, light, positive space to take me thru the surgery and keep me serene and yes, mom, smiling, and capable to steer this very large boat. Your support and prayers and love WILL reach me-- so stick around and help Marty watch this spinal deformity Mardi Gras! Love, Laura
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