Another victim of Aaron’s driving
I don’t even know how to describe to you today’s event with the wheelchair. Aaron had a male nurse today he has never had before. He normally works on a different floor. He was a very nice guy, very attentive to Aaron, checked in on him quite frequently. One of the times (and I believe it was the last) he came in to check on Aaron he positioned himself between Aaron in his wheelchair and Aaron’s bed. Obviously he hadn’t heard of Aaron’s driving mishaps or he would have NEVER chose that spot to stand to talk to Aaron. Well, with no warning, Aaron’s head went back into the headrest, which commands the wheelchair, and the chair moved forward and pinned the nurse against the bed. I had to jump up out of my chair, run to the wheelchair, turn it off, then remove the brake from the bed and throw it into neutral to move the bed, so the poor guy could get as far away from Aaron as possible! The nurse was amazingly patient and understanding with Aaron. He was more concerned that Aaron may have gotten his feet twisted up somehow under the bed than he was for himself. Not a good experience. I know this isn’t very nice of me, but when I replay that scene in my mind, I can’t help but laugh. Just a little bit, though, a very little bit. Not an out and out chuckle or anything.
Aaron was on the trach collar when we (Aunt Deb and I) arrived this morning. He spent several hours with no oxygen, no trach collar, no ventilator. Just good old room air. And he did exceptionally well today. He wasn’t as worn out and sleepy as he has been. The mucous was in check and his appetite was good. Many things to be thankful for today. And when we left, he was still on the trach collar.
Aaron was a little bit blue earlier this afternoon. Sometimes it’s hard for him to realize his accomplishments and to see how far he has come since the accident. And sometimes when he’s down, he doesn’t especially want me to be the “cheerleader”; to talk about all the positives things and downplay the negatives. Sometimes he needs to talk about those negative feelings and today, we did. He was feeling pretty depressed when a woman we had never seen before knocked on the door to his room. She came in and introduced herself. She was a liaison for the facility in Harrisburg where Aaron will most likely go next to be weaned from the ventilator. She told Aaron she had just reviewed his chart and was so impressed over the progress he has made over the last few weeks and how hopeful she was for him. She said she was amazed that he looked as well as he did, she hadn’t expected to see someone so healthy and alert. This did wonders for him. He needed to hear those things from someone other than Mom and Aunt Deb. Someone who didn’t know he was feeling blue at that point in time. It was perfect timing on her part and I thank God for sending her to him. I call that Divine Intervention; Aaron’s a bit skeptical about that, but I’m working on him.
So, in my opinion, it was another good day at Magee. No, it was a great day! As always, I ask that you continue to pray for Aaron and for his recovery.