Friends of Marcy,
Mom changed rooms once more (hopefully this is the final transition). Her current & CORRECT mailing address is:
Marcy Cox
NHC Place- Cool Springs: Rm. 2101-A
211 Cool Springs Boulevard
Franklin, TN 37067
Her 100 days of therapy runs out March 31. It may be possible to apply for an additional 13 days of care. After that, my understanding is that no therapy is available.
Mom is weepy frequently. Please pray for the God of all Comfort (2 Corinthians 1) to show Himself to her in a way that she can receive from him.
Thanks,
Tom
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Monday, March 19, 2007
ZIP CODE, etc.
Folks,
Mom's new zip code is 37067. I had listed it incorrectly in a previous posting.
Cindy made it to TN. Due to the weather delays, her flight was ppd. from Fri nite until Sun AM. M & Bo got out as planned Sat nite, perhaps w/ a delay.
Cin held the phone up for Mom last nite and my children & I spoke to Mom.
All for Now,
Tom
Mom's new zip code is 37067. I had listed it incorrectly in a previous posting.
Cindy made it to TN. Due to the weather delays, her flight was ppd. from Fri nite until Sun AM. M & Bo got out as planned Sat nite, perhaps w/ a delay.
Cin held the phone up for Mom last nite and my children & I spoke to Mom.
All for Now,
Tom
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
MOM'S BIG MOVE
Friends of Marcy:
Yesterday Martha & Bo moved Mom to a new care facility. It is closer to the Hjorths' home (less than 5 minutes away), more in the direction of their daily travels, and is a much nicer-bigger-newer facility. Here is Mom's new address:
Marcy Cox
NHC Place- Cool Springs: Rm. 1715B
211 Cool Springs Boulevard
Franklin, TN 37067
This will be her residence and room indefinitely. Her 100-day period of intensive therapy for this "episode" (the Dec. 15 massive stroke) is finished at the end of March, but she will remain in this room, as far as we know, even after that.
Martha has been praying for an opening here for some time and is already pleased at the quality of care Mom is receiving.
Mom enjoyed the car ride over and they drove thru McDonald's for a cheeseburger and coffee. Mom's weight is down to 114 lbs. She is on an anti-depressant/appetite stimulant. She has good days and bad days. She cries a lot, to be honest. She has not made much progress at all in speech or walking since I was there in late January.
Cindy, the middle child in our family, will fly in to TN late Friday nite and see Mom starting Saturday. Marth and Bo fly out for some much-needed vacation Sat nite and return on Thurs. Cin flies out a day or 2 after their return.
Pray for Mom's emotional well-being and for her transition to this new room (still a semi-private 1st floor w/ a window). Pray for Martha to feel good about leaving for her family vacation and that she would be refreshed by time away. Pray that the Lord would use Cindy to fill the gap while Martha is away.
All for Now.
Because Jesus is the Bread of Life,
Tom, for the Coxes
Yesterday Martha & Bo moved Mom to a new care facility. It is closer to the Hjorths' home (less than 5 minutes away), more in the direction of their daily travels, and is a much nicer-bigger-newer facility. Here is Mom's new address:
Marcy Cox
NHC Place- Cool Springs: Rm. 1715B
211 Cool Springs Boulevard
Franklin, TN 37067
This will be her residence and room indefinitely. Her 100-day period of intensive therapy for this "episode" (the Dec. 15 massive stroke) is finished at the end of March, but she will remain in this room, as far as we know, even after that.
Martha has been praying for an opening here for some time and is already pleased at the quality of care Mom is receiving.
Mom enjoyed the car ride over and they drove thru McDonald's for a cheeseburger and coffee. Mom's weight is down to 114 lbs. She is on an anti-depressant/appetite stimulant. She has good days and bad days. She cries a lot, to be honest. She has not made much progress at all in speech or walking since I was there in late January.
Cindy, the middle child in our family, will fly in to TN late Friday nite and see Mom starting Saturday. Marth and Bo fly out for some much-needed vacation Sat nite and return on Thurs. Cin flies out a day or 2 after their return.
Pray for Mom's emotional well-being and for her transition to this new room (still a semi-private 1st floor w/ a window). Pray for Martha to feel good about leaving for her family vacation and that she would be refreshed by time away. Pray that the Lord would use Cindy to fill the gap while Martha is away.
All for Now.
Because Jesus is the Bread of Life,
Tom, for the Coxes
Friday, February 9, 2007
THE BIG 3
Folks,
Here are the main areas for Mom's development and for prayer:
1) Swallowing- she has moved up to a "soft-mechanical" diet: Praise God!
2) Walking- continuing to practice w/ a "hemi-walker".
3) Speech- is stringing a few sounds together, but no intelligible words on her own yet. W/ prompts, she can say a couple of words.
Mom is roughly at the halfway mark for this Medicare-covered period of intensive therapy. The Care Plan Team will then work w/ Marth & Bo on what level of care and which facility will be most suitable for her needs after this timeframe.
Her apartment has been closed out completely. It is my understanding that the property managers were very understanding of Mom's situation and waived the penalty month for "breaking" the lease. We are grateful to the Lord.
Mom is still in good spirits and has not become weepy w/ Martha for the past 4 to 5 visits. Martha has been going to see Mom in the AM w/ Bo away so that she can be home for her son in the afternoons.
Cindy should be making a visit to TN some time in March.
Because We are Born Again to a Living Hope,
Tom, for Mom
Here are the main areas for Mom's development and for prayer:
1) Swallowing- she has moved up to a "soft-mechanical" diet: Praise God!
2) Walking- continuing to practice w/ a "hemi-walker".
3) Speech- is stringing a few sounds together, but no intelligible words on her own yet. W/ prompts, she can say a couple of words.
Mom is roughly at the halfway mark for this Medicare-covered period of intensive therapy. The Care Plan Team will then work w/ Marth & Bo on what level of care and which facility will be most suitable for her needs after this timeframe.
Her apartment has been closed out completely. It is my understanding that the property managers were very understanding of Mom's situation and waived the penalty month for "breaking" the lease. We are grateful to the Lord.
Mom is still in good spirits and has not become weepy w/ Martha for the past 4 to 5 visits. Martha has been going to see Mom in the AM w/ Bo away so that she can be home for her son in the afternoons.
Cindy should be making a visit to TN some time in March.
Because We are Born Again to a Living Hope,
Tom, for Mom
Sunday, February 4, 2007
quick recap
Friends of Marcy,
Tom here. Not sure I have a whole lot new to say, but wanted to add a post. Mom is continuing to make slow, steady progress. She is on a pureed diet and may soon move to a "mechanical" diet. Her apartment is about emptied (which fact she does not know...).
She is learning to wals again by use of a "hemi-walker" but it is painstaking to cross a 20' foot room and return. She needs much assistance.
Pray for her right wrsit, which is very swollen and has the propensity to turn in. She is wearing velcro straps and some plastic pieces (mafo braces on her leg and arm). Emotionally, whe gets weepy virtually daily. Martha's friend, Linda, fixes her hair weekly which makes her look more like herself and feel better. The facility permits them the use of the beauty shop, which is nice.
Bo is away all this week. Pray for Martha while he is away. Cindy looks to visit in March, probably. Not sure when next I can get there. The PCA's Gen'l Asembly is in Memphis in June, so I hope to go to that and make a visit in conjunction. Perhaps I can manage another one before that as well.
Mom is roughly 45 days into the 100 day (per episode) period covered by Medi- care/caid? After that, then what?: probably long-term care/nursing home. We hope she can someday progress to Assisted Living. Who knows? Who knows what the Lord will permit her to achieve...
"Lord, teach us to number our days, that we might present to Thee a heart of wisdom." (Ps. 90, I blv.)
Because He Lives,
Tom
Tom here. Not sure I have a whole lot new to say, but wanted to add a post. Mom is continuing to make slow, steady progress. She is on a pureed diet and may soon move to a "mechanical" diet. Her apartment is about emptied (which fact she does not know...).
She is learning to wals again by use of a "hemi-walker" but it is painstaking to cross a 20' foot room and return. She needs much assistance.
Pray for her right wrsit, which is very swollen and has the propensity to turn in. She is wearing velcro straps and some plastic pieces (mafo braces on her leg and arm). Emotionally, whe gets weepy virtually daily. Martha's friend, Linda, fixes her hair weekly which makes her look more like herself and feel better. The facility permits them the use of the beauty shop, which is nice.
Bo is away all this week. Pray for Martha while he is away. Cindy looks to visit in March, probably. Not sure when next I can get there. The PCA's Gen'l Asembly is in Memphis in June, so I hope to go to that and make a visit in conjunction. Perhaps I can manage another one before that as well.
Mom is roughly 45 days into the 100 day (per episode) period covered by Medi- care/caid? After that, then what?: probably long-term care/nursing home. We hope she can someday progress to Assisted Living. Who knows? Who knows what the Lord will permit her to achieve...
"Lord, teach us to number our days, that we might present to Thee a heart of wisdom." (Ps. 90, I blv.)
Because He Lives,
Tom
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
A Happy Sad Day
Friends of Marcy,
I ended the day with a couple of hours at Mom's bedside. Martha was an hour or so ahead of me-- there are concerns about Mom's right wrist: the muscles are tightening and turning in.
I had a long 1-on-1 talk w/ Mom. It appears that she can answer yes or no qstns by nodding or shaking her head. I think her mind is quite well intact. I think she understands 80-90% of what I was saying. If I am right, her thinking is pretty clear, but the messages her mind is sending to her speech center and motor skills are interrupted. In other words, she knows what she wants to say or do, but her body is not cooperating by producing the appropriate speech or action.
I am less sure re: this, but I think she can also read fairly well. She pulled a book out of a pile and I got the idea she wanted me to hold it and turn the pages for her. She seemed to be able to follow the story line. Large print helps.
If I am on the beam re: my communication w/ her, she knows what's what and is sometimes frustrated and discouraged at her situation. Yet she remains tenacious. She is exhausted from concentrating so hard to accomplish the simplest task. She is weary from 3 hours a day of therapy.
She is feeding herself one-handed (w/ the left!). Tonite she ate mashed potatoes, etc and drank thickened apple juice. She has an appetite (but not for the pureed meats she has been served). My Mom is still alive. She's still Marcy inside.
She was very interested as I gave her specific news of various family members. That leads me to the rest of my day. I spent hours combing through Mom's belongings. She had kept every piece of personal correspondence she had ever received in her adult life. I am not exaggerating. It was very tedious to weed thru it all. I pared down and pared down. Boatloads of stuff.
I am grateful that so many have written my Mom so consistently over the years. Particularly frequent writers of personal letters include her sister Dorothy Engebretsen, Jane Slade, Mom's brother Art and his wife Marilyn, Liz Williams, all 3 of us kids, Dorothy Stevens, emails from Lynn Davis and others as well. Mom saved every Christmas, birthday, and Mother's Day card she ever received-- I reiterate, I am not kidding. She seemed to have most every church bulletin, missionary communique' (incldg all of my monthly prayer lttrs from 14 yrs w/ Campus Crusade) and more that she ever rcvd. Her Grace Church family was truly dear to her-- she was very committed to the churtch. Those people have truly been the Body of Christ to my Mom (and to my family).
It was a lot of work, and not always fun, but it made me realize how important friends and family are to Mom. She is well loved and well-remembered. She printed out most of the emails she ever received as well-- not fun to sort through mounds of spam, but email has abeen a real lifeline to my now 80 year-old mother over the past few years.
It amazes me that Mom has new friends. That folks who knew her prior to 1998 (the 1st stroke) have remained loyal is commendable. Tha the Lord has brought new friends into her life since then (incldg here in TN, like Linda, who lovees here and visits her to fix her hair) is astounding. She is a warm, loyal , intelligent, endearing person. Her friends are okay too.
She has been (and still remains) a special lady. Thank you for remembering her. We closed our evening together w/ prayer.
Because Christ Lives,
Tom
I ended the day with a couple of hours at Mom's bedside. Martha was an hour or so ahead of me-- there are concerns about Mom's right wrist: the muscles are tightening and turning in.
I had a long 1-on-1 talk w/ Mom. It appears that she can answer yes or no qstns by nodding or shaking her head. I think her mind is quite well intact. I think she understands 80-90% of what I was saying. If I am right, her thinking is pretty clear, but the messages her mind is sending to her speech center and motor skills are interrupted. In other words, she knows what she wants to say or do, but her body is not cooperating by producing the appropriate speech or action.
I am less sure re: this, but I think she can also read fairly well. She pulled a book out of a pile and I got the idea she wanted me to hold it and turn the pages for her. She seemed to be able to follow the story line. Large print helps.
If I am on the beam re: my communication w/ her, she knows what's what and is sometimes frustrated and discouraged at her situation. Yet she remains tenacious. She is exhausted from concentrating so hard to accomplish the simplest task. She is weary from 3 hours a day of therapy.
She is feeding herself one-handed (w/ the left!). Tonite she ate mashed potatoes, etc and drank thickened apple juice. She has an appetite (but not for the pureed meats she has been served). My Mom is still alive. She's still Marcy inside.
She was very interested as I gave her specific news of various family members. That leads me to the rest of my day. I spent hours combing through Mom's belongings. She had kept every piece of personal correspondence she had ever received in her adult life. I am not exaggerating. It was very tedious to weed thru it all. I pared down and pared down. Boatloads of stuff.
I am grateful that so many have written my Mom so consistently over the years. Particularly frequent writers of personal letters include her sister Dorothy Engebretsen, Jane Slade, Mom's brother Art and his wife Marilyn, Liz Williams, all 3 of us kids, Dorothy Stevens, emails from Lynn Davis and others as well. Mom saved every Christmas, birthday, and Mother's Day card she ever received-- I reiterate, I am not kidding. She seemed to have most every church bulletin, missionary communique' (incldg all of my monthly prayer lttrs from 14 yrs w/ Campus Crusade) and more that she ever rcvd. Her Grace Church family was truly dear to her-- she was very committed to the churtch. Those people have truly been the Body of Christ to my Mom (and to my family).
It was a lot of work, and not always fun, but it made me realize how important friends and family are to Mom. She is well loved and well-remembered. She printed out most of the emails she ever received as well-- not fun to sort through mounds of spam, but email has abeen a real lifeline to my now 80 year-old mother over the past few years.
It amazes me that Mom has new friends. That folks who knew her prior to 1998 (the 1st stroke) have remained loyal is commendable. Tha the Lord has brought new friends into her life since then (incldg here in TN, like Linda, who lovees here and visits her to fix her hair) is astounding. She is a warm, loyal , intelligent, endearing person. Her friends are okay too.
She has been (and still remains) a special lady. Thank you for remembering her. We closed our evening together w/ prayer.
Because Christ Lives,
Tom
Monday, January 22, 2007
1st Blush Impressons from Tom
Folks,
I'm in TN and have seen Mom 2x today. It was better than I thought. She definitely recognized me and was weepy and happy for a moment. The Speech Therapist was working w/ her-- w/ verbal prompts Mom can say "I love you" and "HI".
I looked through a special Cox family Memory Book that Kelli (my wonderful wife) made for her. She seemed to recognize and enjoy seeing folks. She put a finger before and after the words "Red Sox" to frame them and draw them to my attn, so it seems she can read a bit! However, she had recently been unsuccessful identifying some words printed on a white board...
She looks pretty good and has gained 10+ lbs, putting her weight back to where it's been her whole adult life. Perhaps the biggest dvlpmt is that she is feeding herself (left-handed) 3x daily. She is taking soft foods: bkfst today was eggs, OJ w/ thickener, etc. Her swallow is greatly improved: answered prayer.
She gets lots of mail. Martha reads every piece to her and most of it gets taped on a wall. I bought her a bird-feeder and attached it (w/ suction cups) to the outside of ther window. Perhaps the Lord will send her some little visitors.
Martha and Mom and I sat in w/ the social worker, terapists, etc for her 1st Care Plan mtg today. Perhaps I will write about that another time. It is a blessing that I was here for it. Mpm has been at the NHC rehab center for 1 month today. Medicare/-caid? pays for 100 days of rehab (per episode)-- so we'll be making a discharge determination down the road.
Frank started the sorting/packing process on Mom's apt when he was here last wk. That kick-starts the process for us. I can tell that Mom was glad to see Frank too. I will aim to continue in that mode, perhaps even tonite.
I am grateful for caregivers. I am glad that Mom recognizes and knows me. Mom has hard a pretty hard life in a number of ways, but remains positive and determined. She is a stubborn Finn! I know that the Lord is good and He is in control. It's still hard.
Martha and Bo have been knocking themselves out to see that Mom is well-cared for. Bo still cooks a mean steak, of course.
The security personnel at the airport took away my apple sauce (3.9 oz. cup exceeds standards)and my Tide-to-go pen (it has bleach in it). Okay, now that I am realy telling you more than you want or need to know, I should og.
Because Christ is Our Only Hope,
Tom
I'm in TN and have seen Mom 2x today. It was better than I thought. She definitely recognized me and was weepy and happy for a moment. The Speech Therapist was working w/ her-- w/ verbal prompts Mom can say "I love you" and "HI".
I looked through a special Cox family Memory Book that Kelli (my wonderful wife) made for her. She seemed to recognize and enjoy seeing folks. She put a finger before and after the words "Red Sox" to frame them and draw them to my attn, so it seems she can read a bit! However, she had recently been unsuccessful identifying some words printed on a white board...
She looks pretty good and has gained 10+ lbs, putting her weight back to where it's been her whole adult life. Perhaps the biggest dvlpmt is that she is feeding herself (left-handed) 3x daily. She is taking soft foods: bkfst today was eggs, OJ w/ thickener, etc. Her swallow is greatly improved: answered prayer.
She gets lots of mail. Martha reads every piece to her and most of it gets taped on a wall. I bought her a bird-feeder and attached it (w/ suction cups) to the outside of ther window. Perhaps the Lord will send her some little visitors.
Martha and Mom and I sat in w/ the social worker, terapists, etc for her 1st Care Plan mtg today. Perhaps I will write about that another time. It is a blessing that I was here for it. Mpm has been at the NHC rehab center for 1 month today. Medicare/-caid? pays for 100 days of rehab (per episode)-- so we'll be making a discharge determination down the road.
Frank started the sorting/packing process on Mom's apt when he was here last wk. That kick-starts the process for us. I can tell that Mom was glad to see Frank too. I will aim to continue in that mode, perhaps even tonite.
I am grateful for caregivers. I am glad that Mom recognizes and knows me. Mom has hard a pretty hard life in a number of ways, but remains positive and determined. She is a stubborn Finn! I know that the Lord is good and He is in control. It's still hard.
Martha and Bo have been knocking themselves out to see that Mom is well-cared for. Bo still cooks a mean steak, of course.
The security personnel at the airport took away my apple sauce (3.9 oz. cup exceeds standards)and my Tide-to-go pen (it has bleach in it). Okay, now that I am realy telling you more than you want or need to know, I should og.
Because Christ is Our Only Hope,
Tom
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