Mike Messages: Crazy Week!

First of all I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of generosity and support! Mom and dad have received gift cards, wish list items and had numerous visitors this past week! We cannot tell you how grateful we all are and how helpful it all is.

Saturday Grandma Joan and Grandpa Jim came over for a bit, and then their friend Terry Donovan stopped by with goodies and spent a few hours with them. Then they had a fun dinner with their friends Colleen and Clayton Packard on Sunday night. Sounds like they may have had too much fun as they usually do with the Packards! Monday night they BBQ'd at Angie's house. Angie said dad was pretty wiped and out of it but it was a nice evening and always nice to get him out and about. Tuesday they had more visitors!! Mike Davidson and his fiance Reese came over and watched the voice with dad (which he loves!) and sounds like they had a nice visit as well.

Dad and Clayton Packard!

Wednesday us kids got an email from mom saying that they had found a placement for dad and that she was going to get a week of MUCH NEEDED respite! She was really nervous to tell him about it, but all of us were 100% behind her. She actually text all of us that evening and needed just an hour off... Angie went over and mom was asleep within 20mins of her being there and slept all the way until 9am! So Thursday morning mom told dad about the respite and he lost it! He was extremely upset and felt betrayed by his doctors and thought they were going to never let him come home. Angie rushed over there and by the time she got there he was much more calm and starting to accept it. Basically mom just needs a week long nap! He's not being sent away forever... its just one week! He had a doctors appointment on Thursday as well with a new neurologist. She told dad that this week is going to be great for him as he is going to have tons of intense physical therapy and many nurses focusing on just him all week long! That made him much more comfortable with it all.

Dad's ride to the doctors

Thursday night moms sister Christy came over with her little dog lily who dad just loves! So although it started out as a rough day it sounds like he was completely fine and happy at the end of it :)
My biggest concern with him getting so upset about this respite is that he blames himself. Instead of being mad at the disease he takes it on as though it is his fault that he is a 24 hour job. He is trying so hard to continue to do everything for himself but it is a not safe and that is why mom is up all the time with him. I asked if he could have some one on one counseling while he was away for a week, but they want him to focus on PT and then they will provide the counseling once he is home. I just want him to come to grips with what is happening with his body and realize that it is not his fault.

On Friday Angie and I got to their place around 10:30. Dad was still asleep and mom gave us the list of things that needed to be packed and then she left for a hair appointment we had made her for her birthday! I was insistent that she didn't cancel it because we had already rescheduled it about 5 times! :) So Angie and I finished their laundry and got dads bags all packed up and then dad was up around noon. He had his first pills and some breakfast and we just sat and talked for awhile. He is definitely more accepting of his week away now. He is just mad because (in usual mike kissler form) "there is so much that needs to be done around the place!" And he is upset because he will miss a run that Johnny is doing on Sunday morning. Mom asked if he wanted her to pick him up for it but it is WAY too early so even if dad was home he would probably miss it. So I made sure that everything I packed for dad was ok and then I walked to Safeway to get him some travel toiletries and some lunch stuff. We had a nice lunch on the deck in the sunshine! Mom got home around 2:30 and we loaded up and headed to West Seattle.

dads packing list :) :(

Dad is at Providence Mount St. Vincent until next Friday May 18th. We pulled up and it is a very nice facility with AMAZING views of Elliot bay and the city! Dad also has pretty decent views of the Olympics from his room. We were told to head straight to the 5th floor nurses station to check in. I was a little nervous when we got up there because it definitely had more of a hospital feel as I was walking down the hall. I found the nurses and they said "oh yes! Mike is in room 524 right next door!" So I peeked in and it is perfect! Obviously very simple but he has a private room with an actual door...(not a sheet like some of the others) a big window overlooking the grounds with beautiful flowers and the peak through view of the Olympics! Mom of course brought TONS of pictures and made it home in no time! A nurse named Stephanie checked him in and was extremely thorough and very fun and young! The woman who would be his evening nurse also came in to introduce herself and she was great as well! Then another man came in who I believe was from the PT department! He was cracking all kinds of jokes with dad and dad was all smiles! We were told that they can give him alcohol if we supply it so Angie and I went and got him a bottle of his favorite Rose :) We also left him with a box of treats from Macrina Bakery (All his favorites)!

I feel very positive about him being in this facility and think it will be really good for him. I think this will be the best way for his entire medical team to really asses the level that he is at and be able to give him future help even when he is back home. Although I don't think he was extremely happy about the twin bed :), he seemed very relaxed and comfortable when we left. He is definitely in really good hands and we are all going to go over there tomorrow after Johnny's race!