AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums Talk Belize Chat Area Denny MIA

Still visiting your blog Denny (and helping belikin fund there lol) and sending good thoughts your way

Thanks for news Windjammer

taco girl- what do you mean helping beliken fund?

I didnt know Denny was ill. Thanks for letting us know.

Spl

I have link to Deny's blog on my blog links. Denny has ads on his site to earn income, I used to joke with him that every time we pm'd it was a reminder and I would go to his site and help his belikin fund ha ha.

You're a peach Becky!! And Debbie!! Y'all are great for helping Denny. Good thoughts to you Denny!

While I appreciate the thanks and comments of being a "peach" or "angel" which I've tried to convince people for years but they just don't believe :D, more the angel flying too close to the ground, no thanks are needed. I truly believe that if the tables were reversed and any one of us was in Denny's place and he was capable of doing what I've done (which isn't much) he would.

His sister & I keep playing phone tag. She left a message today that the nurse she talked to said he just wanted to sleep today which is mostly how I have found him on all visits.

I did go by after work and did not see much difference but do know he is "there" and does not have brain damage. While he just pretty much sleeps, I did get him to open his eyes a few times, squeeze my hand, asked him if he wanted to go to San Pedro with me and did he want a Belikin or Rum & Coke, got a bigger squeeze on the Rum & Coke. Asked him to give me a thumbs up which he did. Continued to tell him lots of people want him back on his computer, communicating.

My biggest concern is the same as his sister's, that he needs and is not getting enough stimulation. While I can't get him awake totally, I do get responses and his family is in Philly. His ex-wife does visit some with young girls but don't know how often. It has been almost a month now since the last stroke and he has not really been "awake" for any length of time. We need him to wake up & talk.

I will continue to visit as often as possible and report what I know. Just keep telling him he has to wake up if he wants the visits to continue. Can't imagine being in his condition/position/ and basically alone in a hospital hooked up to feeding tubes and breathing equipment while your mind still works. Hugs to all that are sending good thoughts.

;(

thx, you are an angelic peach!

Windjammer, I am concerned that your remark that he "doesn't have any brain damage" may be misleading. Depending on where his stroke was, and the kind of stroke he had (hemmoragic vs. thrombolitic)he probably DOES have brain damage, and although he WANTS to open his eyes and be able to communicate, he can't. He probably can at times, but total control of this has to be re-gained. He can hear you, and can want to respond to your stimulation, but perhaps he has damage in the part of the brain that allows him to respond to what ever your request is.
I'm sure he's very tired and the sleep is a much needed retreat from his tiring efforts. Even to breath is difficult, and while we see him as not making progress very quickly, if he can squeeze his hand with more force now than a week ago, that's progress. In stroke patients, even the smallest improvement is a major victory.
We all need to continue to keep Denny in our prayers, and Windjammer, please keep us up to date on what ever progress, however small, our Denny is making. I can't imagine how hard it must be to have full thinking capacity, but unable to communicate to those around. God Bless you all, and especially Denny.

Thanks Sun&sand for setting the record straight. I did not mean to imply that he "doesn't have any brain damage" as I'm sure he does. What I meant to say is he does have "some brain function and is not laying there totally brain dead". The first 7 strokes were thrombolitic and the last hemorragic. As was reported in the early pages by Travelqueen he has no movement or feeling on his left side. I can tell you that even my first visit when he was still in St. Luke's ICU his grip of my hand was strong and really hasn't changed much. Lukily he is not on a ventilator but does have a trach which seems to be connected only to the oxygen and he does breath on his own. I watched my mother on the vent prior to her death so this is much better.

As I said, my main concern is that where he is and without family and daily visitors stimulating him, he may not be able to re-gain total control and it breaks my heart. I do not feel and I hope I'm wrong that the staff is trying to help him regain anything. They told his sister he's just sleepy today and doesn't want to wake up. Knowing Denny and if by chance he does have "full thinking capacity but unable to communicate to those around, sleeping would be his choice". I have no say as I am not family, but just when I had him moving and yawning, I wanted to swab the YUK from his mouth, but didn't find the swabs or would have. Yes God Bless Denny and hopefully allow him to function again to some degree. He is very adaptable.

I'm not positive, but I'm quite sure he is receiving some form of physical therapy. He may be very busy at times when he is not receiving visitors. What I mean by that is .... he has people around him and not totally alone. He will get to know them like he has us.
I've seen and cared for many (CVA) 'stroke' patients and I agree, every tiny improvement is a victory!

Is this messaging to us breaking any violation of HIPPA?
Just curious. I want to know his progress as well as the rest of you but...... just wondered.

Bless Denny and his family. They all need strength.