Thanks again, Keith

Keith, you don't have to post this, I just want to say thanks again for managing this page the way you have.  Yes, it's unfortunate that idiots still exist in what is supposed to be a civilized society, but they are out there and we have to deal with them as best we can.

Joe, you know I'm thinking of you and praying for your speedy recovery.  It was good to see the video today and know that you're looking good, even if you're not feeling the best.  Hope to see you before Christmas.  And I will be available to help whenever I can, in whatever capacity you need, when you return.

Go surprise your therapists!

Tom 

People are Stupid

Because people are stupid, I've had to change the rules on this blog. Please feel free to add entries, however, they won't post until they are approved. I'll approve them on as regular basis as possible.

If the idiot who made this happen would like to contact me directly, feel free.

He Speaks!

Joe wanted to thank his supporters.

CLICK HERE!

It's Moving Day
Mood:  happy

The drivers are standing by and Joe is moving today. Yay!

Once he's settled I'll post the address, etc. And soon, Joe is going to have to take responsibility for these posts. Typing one-handed is not that tough.

How much heavy metal?
Mood:  cheeky
Well, well. Now you've done it. Messed up that beautiful Elvis pelvis. Does this mean you will have to wear relaxed fit jeans. How much metal did they use to secure your butt? When you do go home you will set off the airport security(not kidding) so don't forget your card that says you have 50 screws in you pelvis. Then they will take that wand and pass it all over your junk and it will make that crazy sound. This is sounding like a Sienfeld episode. Get some video, Keith. Get Well, Tony Ryan

When it's time to change...

It's time to leave Grady Hospital behind. Grady saved Joe's bacon, but now it's his turn to work. We're hoping that tomorrow Joe will be moved to the Piedmont Rehabilitation facility. Chicago rehab will have to wait, but two weeks or less and Joe should be on his way home.

I'll post the information when it actually happens, but let's all hope he changes hospitals tomorrow because as soon as he does, the serious rehab begins.

 Looking Forward...Keith

Good news

Joe,

Glad to hear your moving around. I doubt any of your friends have stopped thinking about you for the past several days.  I think it's the first time I have actually lost sleep over anything you did.

My thoughts are with you; wish I could make it down, but I'll be available for anything you need when you return to the frigid tundra of Chicagoland. (current temp... 13 degrees)

 Best,

Tom 

Therapy Thumbs Up

Joe had a workout with his PT and OT yesterday and they said he "passed the test." That just means they feel he both has the ability and the willingness to begin his first round of rehab. They had Joe, with help, swing his legs off the side of the bed and his feet touched the floor for the first time in more than a week.

Now that the therapists have done their evaluation and green-lighted him for the next step, they will consult with his social worker and talk about the where, when, and how. With luck, we may have some of those answers today. Stay tuned.

Joe will have a couple more visitors this weekend. Both his brother Tony and friend Tracy McBride will be in town. With me there, we'll have the foursome that motorcycled through IL, WI, and MI this past summer.

Looking Forward...Keith

Thinking of You!!!

Joe,  Just heard the news from Keith!  It sounds like you got lucky - although you probably aren't feeling lucky right now....  We are glad to hear you made it through surgery without any serious complications.  The drain in your wound is to allow excess blood not to drain and not accumulate - so it does not put pressure on your incision site.  As nurses, Tony and I recommend you listen to your Dr. and your nurses and eventually your therapists!  We know you are not one to follow rules - but in this instance you might want to.   We are thinking of you and wish you a speedy recovery - and in the meantime enjoy your "bed baths"!!!  Take Care and we will be following your progress via this blog.  Keith, thanks for the communication!

Social Worker Conversation

We just had a very good conversation with Joe's Social Worker, however she could only answer so much prior to speaking with Joe's Physical Therapist (PT) and Occupational Therapist (OT). We haven't met them yet, but hopefully they'll be in before the day is over. It is their recommendations that will hold the most sway in deciding the next steps.

Everything else being equal, Joe would like to do his two week rehab in Chicago. Unfortunately, things are far from equal so that's where we're very interested in what the two therapists have to say. They will be taking everything into consideration including Joes wishes and what's best for the patient.

These two weeks of initital therapy will probably (I say probably because again this is subject to the therapists inputs) consist of three hours per day of intense work and will require him to stay in a facility. Managing his pain will be an important part of this, and I believe he will soon be moving from the self-administered morphine to a more regularly scheduled medication routine administered by the pros.

So, bottom line is that the Social Worker knows his wishes and we're waiting for what the PT and OT have to say after their full evaluation of his condition. On the business side of things, the social worker is also checking into exactly what the insurance will and will not allow. The bean counters are involved in everything! Chicago may be the goal, but Atlanta may be the reality. If so, then the goal switches to getting Joe home by Christmas. Keep your fingers crossed.

By the way, Joe's beard is coming in nicely and he's trying to decide whether or not to shave. I'll try and get a new picture up so you can all help with the decision. Maybe a poll will be in order!

Looking Forward...Keith

For what it's worth...

After a bad back injury, I did a pretty long, very productive stint in and out of the Rehab Institute of Chicago. It's an amazing place with amazing staff. My Musculoskeletal specialist, Dr Smith, is the CEO there now too. It's where Tom Mackechney was for therapy. It's also a lot easier to heal emotionally when you're near your friends and family obviously.

Glad to hear things are getting clearer. 

bertocchi 

Near Future Thoughts

Over the next couple days Joe hopes to gain focus on what his next steps are and where they may take place. In rough timeframes, he has a bit more time to spend in the hospital he's in currently; probably a week or less. As of last night, he had not been moved out of the ICU, but that likely had as much to do with logistics and finding another room than it did with his condition. He's expecting to move rooms at any time.

Following this hospital, Joe's understanding that he'll need two weeks in a rehab center. One complication to Joe's rehab is his broken arm. Not having full use of the arm will prevent him from fully supporting himself while he works on strengthening and rehabbing the pelvis injury. That means he needs a lot of support from health professionals in the early going.

The biggest question right now is what rehab center he will go to and what city it will be in. It can obviously be done right here in Atlanta, but Joe's still trying to figure out the possibility of moving to Chicago for that two week session. Doctors make it sound like they would only recommend travel via ambulance or medical flight. Pros and cons will be weighed and the risks of travel evaluated before he makes any final decisions. More later.

Looking Forward...Keith

GREETINGS FROM THE SCRIBNERS
Joe,
John, Katie, Becca and I are sending out a big, but very gentle, hug to you. Do what they tell you, if it means hastening your escape from the green jello confines. You have a really big cheering section wishing you to get well.
With all our best,
Patti & Co.

Conspiracy Dreams

Hey Joe-

 Judy and I saw from a previous post that you are having some interesting conspiracy dreams. Since we can't be there to wish you well or help you understand your dreams, we're  sending a good friend of ours, Oliver Stone, to help you decipher them. (I think he is also looking for inspiration for his next "fact based" film, but who cares)

Seriously, we hope you heal quickly and return home soon. Just don't laugh too hard at all these posts or you'll throw your hips out of alignment!

You obviously have some great friends that care a lot.

Be good-

Mark & Judy Shelstad

The Morning After

A quick update this morning. I just spoke with Joe's father who reports that Joe is sleeping soundly. A tough morning had him being shifted and moved a bit which made things hard on him. It sounds like they have increased his morphine a bit so he's getting some needed rest.

The really good news is that they'll move him out of the ICU later today. To me, that indicates another step away from an urgent situation and towards recovery. I'll see Joe later this evening.

Right now I have to go vote! Things aren't over in Georgia!

Wow. Thinking of you...
Mood:  spacey

Hey Joe:

 

For crying out loud, feel better fast, would you?! My G-d...I can only imagine how terrifying that all is. We are all thinking of you and looking forward to youbeing able to put all this behind you. And we will provide you with a lifetime supply of bubble wrap, for future endeavors.

Counting blessings seems like a really good idea right about now. Hang in there,

 

Pamela 

One Step Back

Well, from a pain perspective it's one step back as Joe is really feeling the surgery. No doubt this will be followed soon by some big steps forward. Since the surgery he has been in kind of a haze. He says he had the craziest dreams while he was under and is convinced he's part of a conspiracy. I'm not 100% positive that he's not messing with me, but I do believe it's mostly the drugs.

Anyway, he's sleeping a lot right now which is just as well. His body has some healing to do. There has been talk of getting him up and moving in as few as two or three days from now. It sounds agressive, but it will be great to see. As far as what the rest of a schedule looks like over the next two weeks, I think it's still a little wait-and-see. I know all the Chicago folks are anxious to get him home and I've never wanted so much for him to leave Georgia! (I think you kow what I mean).

Since sleep is in order, I'm not going back tonight and his parents are just staying long enough to go back in after the shift change to say good night. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Hey Everybody...Good job with all of your prayers, energy, well wishes, and good thoughts. There's no doubt in my mind that all of this is contributing to the healing process.

Lastly, one point of clarification. The "drain" I posted about earlier is actually for the surgery associated with the pelvis, not the arm.

Surgery is Complete

I just received a brief update from Joe's father. Joe has just come out of surgery and the doctors said it went as planned. I take that to mean there were no complications. A "drain" was put into the arm, but I'm still not clear on what that's for although I did get the impression it's definitely a temporary thing.

Joe's parents will probably get to speak with him in the next half hour or so, and I'll be heading down shortly to get a first-hand update. I believe Joe will soon be alert enough to let us know how he's feeling. I'll update again as soon as I know more. Keep the good thoughts coming!

By the way...it snowed in Atlanta during his surgery. Maybe Chicago was blowing a little support his way!

Looking Forward...Keith

Surgery Morning

They took Joe off to surgery this morning at 6:45. A good portion of today will be spent putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. I'll give more updates as they come in

Keith

Surgery Eve

Joe's family spent most of the day with him and they report that he slept for most of it. I just left him about 30 minutes ago. He had a fever today and it has broken, so he was due for a change of sheets. After the fever broke, he was feeling better and says he is definitely ready for tomorrow's surgery.

They have officially scheduled his surgery for 7:15 am and will be wheeling him out of his room at 7:00. It will be a full day for the surgeons. I'm hoping to get some status updates as the day goes along. I wonder if the surgeons are on Facebook...(Joe's surgeon is thinking he'd rather be golfing than fixing a broken pelvis right now).

   Looking Forward...Keith