Anyone heard how Libby is doing?

[jackhartjr]

Haven't heard anything??
Jack

[cody]

Hi jack, sorry for the lack of information on libby, she is keeping me pretty busy, she is very weak and struggling but doing ok.  I've been busy the last few days making jamies house friendlier for her, a lot needs to be done here so she can manuver around.  She has a wheelchair that she uses cause she is to unstable, the doctors say that because of the damage she needs it for now and probably for a while, we don't know yet how long or how much she will recover.  I have to take her back to the hospital tomorrow for another series of tests in Marquette, they are trying to get some kind of baseline for her heart, lungs and kidneys to look for any signs of improvement. I've been doing all the little things the last few days like make a railing for the stairway so that she'll be able to hold onto something when she can climb the stairs, I made a shower stool so she can sit in the shower instead of standing, all we have downstairs is a shower, we have a bathtub upstairs but she can't get there yet but i'm putting in a grab rail up there anyway.  The oxygen machine sonny is letting us might arrive monday so we're looking forward to that, I put a conduit thru the upstairs heat register so we cah keep it upstairs for now and just feed the hose thru and use it either downstairs or upstairs depending on where she is, I'm also looking at the back of the chair so I can make a holder for a portable bottle for when I take her to places like the store or downtown, never realized there would be so many changes to work thru, but anyway, lol thats what I've been up to for her, she is about the same as when she came home, the oxygen machine the hospital brought over for her to use until the other one comes in really made a difference in her breathing.  After I get the house set up better I'll start making the bus better for her.

[jackhartjr]

Cody, thanks for the update.
We take things for granted...'till we have to look at them.
When I broke my arm I found out EVERY shoe I owned had to be tied...had to go out and get some loafers...come to think of it...maybe that's when the loafing streak hit!LOL
We are praying for Libby and You my friend!
Jack-N-Dianne

[rv_safetyman]

Cody.  The concentrator is still scheduled to arrive Monday;

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Tracking Number:      1Z 4Y5 V15 03 4028 772 1      

In Transit - On Time    
Scheduled Delivery:    02/16/2009    
Shipped To:    BARAGA, MI, US    
Shipped/Billed On:    02/10/2009    
Service:    GROUND    
Weight:    50.00 Lbs    

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Since you are going to the hospital tomorrow, be sure someone it there to take delivery.

Jim

[cody]

I know exactly what you mean lol, I had asked the doctor what all I needed to do to get the house set up while she was in the hospital and they told me to wait and make sure she came home first, well she did so now I'm neck deep in all the stuff that has to be widened, lowered, anchored, unanchored and all of the above lol, stapled, mutilated or spindled lol.  Her heart is damaged, her lungs are damaged, her kidneys are only functioning to the extent that she can avoid diaylsis for now, other than that she is doing ok lol.  Jamies house was built in 1882 and isn't as friendly towards handicappers as it could be so I'm bringing it around slowly, then I have to look at the bus and see what i can do there, my heater that I was so proud of, the ventless heater that I bought for it is now going to be history, can't have the flaming pad with her oxygen, so now I've got to rethink the idea of heat in the bus, we have a lot of time to do it but tinkering with stuff keeps me from chasing women while she is getting better lol.  One thing that is good is that I had done a lot of things to the bus like adding a fold down seat to the shower for my use that will help her too, it all keeps me busy and out of the bars lol.  One thing that would probably help a lot of us, if not now, maybe in the future would be a thread or discussion on what all can be done in a bus to make them handicapper accessable, I've got that problem staring me in the face, libby asked me yesterday if she'll be able to travel again and I'll be dammed if I'll tell her she can't.  I think this is going to be a long and hard struggle for her and it's only beginning but we'll get thru it and it'll work out just fine, what I'm doing now is trying to carefully think thru what all we have to do according to her needs and document it as well as I can so that if anyone else finds themselves in this boat (or bus lol) that it may help them with the transition.

[cody]

Yep Jim, my daughter will be here for it.  I sure appreciate what you all have done for libby.

[Dreamscape]

Cody,

I can't explain much other than Sonnie installed some grab bars for Patti while she was able to walk around to help stabilize her. Maybe he'll chime in or shoot him an email.

God Bless and we're continuing to pray for you guys!

Paul

[cody]

Paul, what I'm doing for the most part is watching libby and seeing what she has problems with and then looking to see how I can remove some of the problem areas in the hosue to make it easier for her and then thinking about how to relate it to the bus too.  I'm trying to walk that fine line from making it too easy and making it accessable.  At this point we really don't know where her condition will level off, hopefully she will recover a fair amount of her past abilities but only time will tell, for now I'm just puttering and tinkering.

[Van]

Cody ,thanks for the update ,glad Libby is home with you now .You'll have your hands full now ,so many things to do is not such a bad thing ,will keep you out of trouble .Hopefully the weather will warm up with spring coming around the bend,and Libby can get out doors and into the fresh air.We are still pullin for you guy's up there,be safe and stay warm.Van

[HighTechRedneck]

Cody, if you need to provide an easy way to get either one of you in and out of the bus without the strain of climbing the steps, check with Fred Hobe.  When I was there in December, he told me about a unique seat lift he built for someone's bus.  It was simple and very space efficient.

[Sojourner]

Cody...thank you the update.

About chair lift build for bus conversion...its available now. I am making one with a single arm platform. Average power chair is 24 inch wide and most bus door opening is around 27 inch wide. I have started a drawing but not finish detailing it but soon be ready after more work done around the home.
Handicap chair lift for bus conversion

As you well know that Libby's spirit be greater when you arrange something to make it easier for her to get on board.

Gerald & Lynette

[mc8 tin tent]

Cody
  I have some stainless grab rails ,they are yours if you want them.
    Dwayne

[travelingfools]

Cody, thanks for the update...Looks like Libby is keeping you busy again.. Great to hear !

[cody]

Libby suffered a stroke this afternoon, she is back in the hospital but stable for now, they are holding her at least overnight to assess her, it appears the stroke was not too severe but her speach is slurred and she has noticable weakness on her left side, depending on how she does tonight, they will decide what to do tomorrow, they said her progress would have set backs so this wasn't totally unexpected.

[cody]

On a brighter note, the concentrator arrived today, it is here waiting for libby to come home.