Jim's Getting Out of Dodge

As Deb would say.

St. Francis turned Jim down. His condition is not acute enough for their program. I knew that he would not fit with SF when I visited the facility this morning. SF rehab is working with patients coming out of ICU on ventilators or recovering from strokes to give them as much of their lives back as they can before they are sent to an outside setting, be it home, assisted living, nursing home, or whatever.

I didn't tell Jim about not thinking SF would be a fit for him. When I got to Shipley, the SF nurse was there reviewing Jim's chart. She left a message with his room nurse before she left (without speaking to Jim) that he was not a fit.

Jim started to take another dive into anger/depression when I said, basically: I made you a promise you would not be at Shipley at week's end, and you won't be. If SF won't take you, you are coming home and you are the only one who can stop it. I went to tell the social worker, but she and the head of nursing are out at training for 2 days. I told the head of PT, and he said he would inform those who need to know to make this happen. When I got back to Jim, he was looking even more anxious. I asked him what the problem was. He said he didn't think I would keep my promise, and that he is scared he might cause me problems or get hurt if he comes home. (Why didn't the boy listen to this before now?) I told him that until the discharge, he could change his mind, but that after that, he's in my care, come what may. (But I hope he knows that I will put his safety first.)

I started working this afternoon on trying to find a certified nurse assistance to watch Jim for 5 hours next Thursday when I have appointments with Dr. Cutter and with the radiation oncologist. I also started working on a cancer grant to pay for this "respite care."

We'll also need to work through Shipley to get an RN in for weekly blood draws and folks in for physical and occupational therapy. If ordered by the DR, those will be paid for by Medicare for an "appropriate" amount of time.

I went to Target to stock up on some needed "home patient" supplies. I also called one of our friends to move a bureau from a bedroom into the family room where Jim will be staying. I have to start setting his familyroom/bedroom up tonight.

Thanks to all who have provided such strong shoulders the last couple of weeks: here, email, FDMB PM, in person, and on the phone. Lordy, I really know I could do this if I had you all camping out in the backyard. Kind of like that Singular Network commercial, where the pack of people follow the cell phone user around? Absent that, we just have to trust that Jim and I can do it with your encouragement!!