Hello Family and Friends. I apologize for not getting back to everyone with updates about LuAnn. I would first like to thank everyone for donating to help LuAnn. I can't tell you how much that has helped us with expenses throughout this ordeal. Last December LuAnn was released from Good Shepard Fairview Nursing home to come home. She was placed in a program that was supposed to help her during the day while I was at work. The program turned out to be a joke and did not follow through with what they promised they would do for LuAnn. LuAnn was home for 2 weeks at Christmas time. Although they said to me, Nate and Adam that she was ready to come home, she was not. The 3 us told the Social Worker we did not think she was ready. She said that LuAnn had met the qualifications. They never prepared her to actually be in a household. Never put her in a kitchen to see how she could handle it. Asked her to make coffee, bowl of cereal, nothing. How about a stove. Nope. LuAnn was home for 2 weeks. During the 2 weeks, LuAnn almost set the house on fire with a mistake with the coffee maker and 2 times with the stove. She fell during the night and hit her head causing it the bleed and swell. She was taken to the ER where they treated her and gave her thorough exam. They determined that it was not safe for LuAnn to be at home. They wanted her back in a nursing home.
The only available nursing home that could/would take her was Bridgewater Nursing home in Binghamton. This place did nothing for LuAnn, she went to therapy for approx. month and they stopped it saying she was at her plateau.
The Business Office screwed up her Medicaid application along with the BC Medicaid Office. Her Medicaid Insurance was changed as a result. Which resulted in us having to pay out of pocket for her treatments. There was one ray of sun light who worked there. Gail Arcangeli was always there to help us when needed. She did whatever she could do. Through STIC (Southern Tier Independent Center) and a Case Manager named Krystal, she was able to get LuAnn into the Open-Door Program for clients with traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The Case Manager, Deseree chose LuAnn for the tremendous program with allowed us to have aides to be in our home to help LuAnn get acclimated to be back home.
LuAnn came home on the first of August this year. I immediately got her a new Doctor. He ordered Physical, Occupational and Speech therapy. Plus did a thorough exam with blood work and scans. Since LuAnn has been going to these therapies, she is a new person. She no longer goes to physical therapy as she met all her goals. She is working her ass off. She is no longer on medications, except for Extra Strength Tylenol.
With that said, the CT scan of her abdomen, showed a spot on her liver and another on her gall bladder. Her doctor has now ordered MRI for this Friday. I pray for her every day that this MRI will come out OK.
For myself, I have been struggling with my own serious issue. 4 years ago, I had a neck fusion of my 6-7 vertebrae which was 100% successful. About 4 months ago, started feeling terrible nerve pain on both shoulders, arms, hands and fingers along with both my legs. I currently walk like I have polio. It is now my 5-4 vertebrae. I have my MRI also this Friday with another surgery coming up in December.
LuAnn is doing so well you wouldn't believe how good she looks and how well she feels and how well she is getting acclimated to home. She is cooking on her own for the most part. She is starting to remember things so much better but still struggles a lot with her short-term memory and her eyesight is not the greatest as the swelling of her brain almost made her blind. That is being worked on in therapy.
When I retired, like all folks who retire, you feel you are financially set to be OK in your retirement life. Over the last 2 1/2 years, there has been such a drain on or finances along with the wonderful donations from everyone. I pray that everything will be OK with LuAnn and that my surgery will also be successful as I have to be healthy to take care of LuAnn.
I want to let all of my family, friends and those who donated how much you all have meant to LuAnn and myself. Your prayers, calls and visits to her helped her get home. I wish you all Blessed Merry Christmas and a very Happy and Healthy New Year. LuAnn still has a way to go and I will spend every dime I have to make sure she gets back to being the beautiful, intelligent, loving, caring wife, mother and friend she has always been. It has been nothing short of a Miracle from God and LuAnn's incredible internal strength to get better and to be where she is at.
Blessings to everyone and your loved ones. Keep them close and love them every day. You just never know what is coming next, good or bad. God saved me when I got shot by another police officer while executing a search warrant. LuAnn was 8 months pregnant with our first child and she miscarried the next day. With God at our side, we overcame all that and we will overcome this. Thank you in advance for any considerations you might make to keep LuAnn going.
Blessings,
Steve
