Update : 9pm

Dieter moved today to a rehab hospital.  Every move is time consuming, with the transportation, the transition to a new staff, paperwork to complete.  With these moves, it’s up to me (it shouldn’t be, but it is) to make sure that the full and accurate story of the last two weeks gets communicated and recorded.  Otherwise, details get dropped and each specialist, concentrating on his or her own area, might not see the whole picture.  So that took up the afternoon and evening.

As for the pneumonia:  it turns out that Dieter had pneumonia at the first hospital, but he now has what’s called “aspiration pneumonia,” which means getting little particles of stuff in your lungs as you eat.  So he’s being watched to make sure it doesn’t turn into anything more serious.

These past couple of days, Dieter has had physical therapy plus walks with the family.  So he’s sleeping more soundly as a result of the exercise.  His mobility and independence are increasing.  At the new hospital today, he was told several things he’s not allowed to do (because his safety in these areas hasn’t been tested yet), but since they are all things he was already doing anyway, he ignored the rules and went ahead and gave the nurses a scare.

Dieter is in what’s called “acute level rehab.”  “Acute” makes it sound bad, but actually what it means is that he is considered strong enough for at least 6 half-hour sessions per day.  So that begins tomorrow.

Thank you for praying for our family.

Val

Update : Sunday 4pm

I can only say I am so very, very tired and reiterate my desire that you pray for all of us to be ready for whatever is coming.

We should know more tomorrow about the pneumonia, which is neither growing nor going away completely.  Val

Update : Saturday 3pm

Dieter has had visits from a German chaplain, physical therapy with a Dutchman, and speech therapy from a woman married to a German.  So he is getting lots of jokes about the German work ethic!  But it’s working for him, as he has walked several times and is regaining movement and strength.  We will be moving early next week to a more intensive rehabilitation program.

For those of you who live locally, I ask that you please do not visit us at the hospital.  Dieter is usually working on rehab, off getting tests, or resting from all of the above.  His rest is really important, so thank you for honoring my request.  One friend with whom I was discussing my request said, “I want him to know that people haven’t left him, that we’re here for him.”  And that friend is right, so I am telling Dieter your names as you call or write to let us know of your friendship and prayers.

I don’t have a way right now to thank you all for your prayers, except to share the answers to them as they come.

I also want to thank all of you who have brought us meals, run errands, put out the trash, mowed our lawn, and let it be known that you want to help.  In some cases, I don’t know who you are (who did mow the lawn?), but thank you.

Dieter’s pneumonia is lingering, but now that he can get up and walk and cough, he should get over it.  Our most pressing concerns are for his rehabilitation.  For these past 12 days, time has run differently for me than it usually does, and I think the next weeks and months will be yet another version of time running differently.  Everybody tells us that rehab is fast, then slow.  There’s progress, then frustration.  3 hours a day of rehab is the maximum, because it is so exhausting.  So, again, please pray for all of us to be ready for what’s coming.

Thank you so much.
Val

Update : 3pm

Good News!

Dieter got up and walked with a physical therapist today. All of his therapists were impressed by his motivation and quick progress. His health and strength are steadily returning.

We will find out later today of there is any remaining pneumonia. We’ve consistently been told the family’s role in rehab an important one. Please pray for us as we get ready for a time when Dieter will have to work very hard and face a lot of frustrations.

We are so grateful just to be with Dieter and know that he is fully present with us.

Thanks,
Val

Update : 7am

Yesterday, Dieter had three therapy appointments. As you can imagine, he tackled them with hard work, and he did better than the therapists expected. We are being encouraged about the good chances Dieter has to do well in rehab. Finding the right place for rehab, and working through our insurance, are the next steps.

I want to share with you one story from the hospital. When we arrived, another family was in the waiting area and had already been there for two days. We met, and one of the women is named Esperanza (Spanish for “Hope”), which is my middle name in Spanish. The two families talked every day and sometimes ate together. Yesterday, Esperanza and I had another chance for a longer conversation. She told me that as a girl, she didn’t like our name we have in common, because it was different, but that now she does, which is how I felt, too. Then she pointed out to me that, in Spanish, the first part of the name is “esperar”, which means “to wait.” So having hope also includes waiting.

Thanks,
Val

Update : 9pm

Dieter had a really good day.  He is expressive with his face, he recognizes people, he is moving as vigorously as he can.  We are very encouraged as he shows improvement each day.  He no longer needs intensive care and  has stepped down one level.  Today he had two short appointments with a speech pathologist and an occupational therapist.  While I continue to work the system to get him to the best possible next location, I intend for him to have those kinds of appointments every day, until he is in rehab.  We hope he will be approved for rehab soon.

I imagine that you are wondering what Dieter’s capacities are right now and what he lost as a result of the stroke.  That’s not something I’m ready or even able to go into because, as I’ve been told many times, we really don’t know right now.  I would love those answers, too, but they just aren’t to be had at this time.

My goal for tomorrow is that Dieter would have a full evaluation by the right therapists to determine what level of rehab he should begin.  Please pray that I can work through the system to get that evaluation, while simultaneously working on the move out of the current hospital.  We didn’t move today after all, but I’m pretty sure we will tomorrow.  I believe we can get what we need for Dieter fairly near home, and that is what I want.

Thank you for staying with us through this.  I have times of being terribly tired.  My desire isn’t so much to be strong as to be up to the tasks.  More important than the tasks, though, is our family, and I want to be present to Dieter and our sons.  Please pray for that, too.

Update : 6am

Yesterday, Dieter was completely off sedation, had his breathing tube removed, and had a chest X-ray that confirmed the pneumonia is really gone. He recognizes the family members who come to his room.  These are such good steps!

 

These developments happened so quickly that, by late yesterday afternoon, our insurance providers began talking about moving Dieter to another hospital.  My impression is that Dieter would respond really well to being able to do something constructive and is ready for rehab.

 

Please pray that today would be a day of quick, decisive steps to choosing the best place for Dieter and getting him there.  I am at the hospital with him, and he has a temperature, which could indicate infection. 

 

Whether Dieter is moved near or far, he will be moved, and that is another transition for our family. 

 

Please pray.

Val

Podcast from Sunday

BayMarin Sunday Message Podcast Available

For those of you who are asking/interested, David Cobia’s message from this past Sunday is now available to listen to here (right-click here and “save-as”). You can also download the podcast via iTunes (click here). It’s called “Big Questions.”

David talked about Dieter’s situation, and how to process the spiritual questions that many are wrestling with around it. It also points powerfully to the unique opportunities that God opens up in these kinds of times. Definitely worth a listen on lots of levels.

DAVID COBIA
Lead Pastor, BayMarin Church
www.baymarin.org

Update : 10pm

Today was a big day. In two quick moves, Dieter is on sedation only as needed and is breathing mostly on his own. These steps, plus his eyes being open and his movements, are progress. He’s also not on very many medicines anymore, which is just one step closer to health. And today’s chest Xray shows a slight reduction of the pneumonia.

At the same time, today was one of the hardest days for me emotionally. Maybe it’s because of being one full week into this. Maybe it’s because my mind goes forward to the future or back to the past and fills me with fear. When I can stay right in the moment with Dieter, I’m okay or grateful or at peace with just what that moment holds.

Thank you to all of you for praying, and to those who have brought meals, and to those who cleaned our house today!

Please pray for Dieter’s recovery, and especially for peace for him as he wakes up further and further. Please pray for wisdom for me and the doctors as we discuss the best care he can get for the next stage.

Thank you,
Val

Update : Feb 10 - 11pm

The doctors reduced the sedation for Dieter, and he opened his eyes and had some movement. We are so glad to have seen his eyes. At the same time, I’m brought more forcefully into contact with all that we don’t know and can’t know yet, and I’m finding that very hard.

The pneumonia continues and has spread a little to Dieter’s left lung.Dieter’s temperature is returning to normal, and his blood pressure has been normal without any medication.

Please continue to pray.

Thanks,

Val