April 28, 2008

Rhonda Writes-
While walking to my car tonight, I realized I haven't updated you guys on Eric for several days. Tonight, I spent the evening packing up all of Eric's belongings. Connect Four that he and Carol play during the day, the Bible that my cousin Karen brought for him, all the pictures of the kids and me & Eric… it's been one of those "feel good" nights.
Eric's going to the Durham Rehab Institute tomorrow. Friday was an emotional day full of doubt and frustration as his Case Manager told me that Eric was not approved by the insurance company to go to rehab. The insurance company felt he was not ready to leave Select and that going to rehab would be risky and he might not be strong enough to endure three hours of rehab a day. We learned all of this after the awesome tour that we had Friday given by the Director of DRI and after Eric had his hopes so high that he couldn't stop smiling. When we heard the news that he wasn't able to go, he looked as if someone sucker punched him. Carol and I left the hospital hoping that something or someone could change this decision.
I got a call from the hospital around 6:30. It was Eric. He was so excited telling me he was going Monday… of course I reminded him that the insurance company denied it, blah, blah, blah and he said "listen to me… I'm going". His case manager got on the phone and was telling me it was true! Eric's doctor and the doctor at DRI both called Cigna and convinced them that Eric was truly ready. We all screamed and laughed together and Eric's case manager "churned the butter and shook her groove thing". This is how Eric described it tonight. Also, his doctor stopped a particular medication that started at Duke. Miraculous things have happened over the weekend. The medication was causing depression, low blood pressure and a whole array of negative side effects. In two days, Eric's voice has returned. His secretions seem to be better, he has more energy and is using his right arm more.
It's like a miracle…. Another miracle. Scary to think a medicine that was prescribed to help him could affect him that way. He talked non-stop tonight. It was hilarious. It's like 2 months worth of things he's wanted to say crammed into 2 hours. :) He told me how happy it made him to spend every day with his Mom. This is something they've been unable to do since he was 18 and left for the Navy. He wanted to talk about the kids and the dog and all of our friends and Desperate Housewives… He asked, "when and how did Carlos go blind?" I'm sure there are days when he asks himself "how did I get to this point?"
Eric had a lot of visitors today. He absolutely LOVES seeing folks and said tonight it's good that people can finally understand what he's saying. I can't even begin to know how frustrating that's been for him. Once he's in his new digs, I'll post the room number. He's "movin' on up" to the 7th floor, hopefully by lunch time Monday. DRI is like a luxury condo! The rooms are HUGE and so nice. He said he was moving up to the Penthouse. He also told me tonight that he'll be home in 30 days. He made the 2 week prediction about leaving Select and nailed that one, so let's see if he's right about coming home. Our 10th anniversary is June 13. How cool would it be for him to be home and able to have dinner with his family? We're looking forward to that day. So tomorrow, Carol and I will decorate his new home with all the pictures, the beautiful lighthouse that Joann brought him and the infamous Hello Kitty CD player. To finish off a great Monday, we'll take Garrett & Erica up for a visit with their Daddy. I couldn't think of a better way to kick off the week.