Bill and Gloria Briden

Here is an update from Janet.


Yes, mom/Grandma G has busted out of the ICU. She is just now getting settled into her new room, 214 West in the Neurosurgery/Neurology wing (Sanford Medical Center, 801 Broadway North, Fargo ND 58103.) Before leaving the ICU, her PT involved her sitting up in a chair for the first time. The doctor's weight bearing order changed to allowing full weight on her left leg but just partial on her right... leg. Her pelvic break is on her right side. She is on antibiotics for pneumonia in her right lung. Her heart looks good and her incision is okay. She did great in both PT and OT (where she successfully put on a sock using a device so she doesn't bend forward too far.) Her neck brace remains and will remain for many weeks. She will remain on oxygen for the next couple of days and she's on meds for low phosphorous and electrolytes. I have no idea if I am spelling some of this correctly. She will most likely remain here until next week sometime. Then the plan is for in-patient rehabilitation from anywhere from 5 days to a month. They told mom that since she is such a motivated patient, the rehab would involve 3 hrs of therapy daily. And she is an excellent candidate for getting better faster. After today, she will be ready for some company and we'll see about some phone calls. Wish the English language had better words for thank you! Because a need to express the most powerful thank you that could be conveyed. Overwhelmed again. More later. I will be spending the night in her room, now that she's out of the ICU. Love from the daughter of the most amazing patient Sanford Medical Center has ever had the pleasure of treating.
 
So thankful for the update and for the positive news in it! Our Prayers will continue to be for Gloria and the entire Briden family. May God Bless you and give you everything you need.
 
****** 1:00pm The doctors were able to get her heart rate down with some drugs. But please conintue to pray.******



From Janet about 11:45am 2-6-2014

We need prayers!! Right now. Grandma Gloria's heart. Just pray please.

She is being treated for an extremely rapid heart rate. There is a team of specialists here attending to her. Only immediate family for visitors for the time being. But even so it feels very wonderfully crowded in here - surrounded by all your prayers and healing thoughts.
 
Gloria is doing well with her rehab and pt. Her heart still is giving her trouble, it wants to beat at a faster rate. The doctors are working trying to get the right combinations of medicines and doses to keep the heart beating where it should be. Funeral arrangements for Bill have been put on hold. When it warms up and Gloria is on the mend they will plan a service for Bill. Please keep sending your positive thoughts and energy to Gloria as she recovers and please keep the Bridens in your thoughts and prayers.
 
Appreciate the continued updates very much. Praying for Gloria and the Briden family.
 
Update from Janet 2/9/2014 Good Sunday morning. Mom/Grandma G had a good night and her heart behaved (no wild rave dance Barb DeBoer Forrest). Her surgeon checked on her at 4 AM and said everything looks satisfactory. Her blood pressure is low but that is because of the anti A-fib medication she is receiving. She is getting massive doses of potassium, magnesium, and electrolytes both via IV and oral. When I left her this morning (in the most capable care of the angel known as Lynette), mom was awaiting her breakfast of raspberry French toast, coffee, and apple sauce. We have assured mom that at least one family member will be at her side 24/7. So Lynette, Markell, Tracy, Beth, and I take turns serving as the "charge nurse" of the family. Throughout the days are regular visits by Jim, Kenneth, Jack, Danielle, and Ken. As mom continues to heal and remain stable, she will enjoy the visits of more family and friends. However, her room is always filled to capacity with the awareness of the good wishes, prayers, and positive energies constantly being sent by mom and dad's loving circle of people whose lives are better for having the good fortune to cross paths with Bill and Gloria. Bless you all! In today's Fargo Forum (in-forum.com) there should be a brief obituary about dad, who received heaven as his forwarding address one week ago today. Love to you all, you all matter so much. Janet
 
From Janet 2-10-2014 3:50pm

Update!!! Tomorrow at 1:30 Gloria will be transported to Sanford Rehabilitation in south Fargo. There has been a flurry of activity centered around assessing mom's strength and readiness to move to the next step. She did awesome in her second session of PT this afternoon. She will be transported via stretcher because she has not been cleared to put full weight on her right leg and because of her neck injury, her medical team is not confident that her arms are strong enough t...o be the only means of support. So her therapy will be limited until she is cleared for full weight on both legs. Those of you who know Gloria personally will understand the strange look on her face when the nurse told her to have me bring her comfy sweats. My mom wouldn't be caught going ANYwhere in sweats. She has decided on her navy blue slacks with the light blue pockets and her knit button down blouse and the tan knit jacket (the one with the leopard print trim.) Keep the healing energy coming friends!
 
Wow! What an amazing lady! Thank you for sharing the good news. That's awesome!
 
Update from Janet Briden— 2/11/2014 Gloria was transferred today to Sanford Health Rehabilitation Unit - 5C, Room 576C, 1720 South University Drive, Fargo ND 58103. Mom and I rode together in the transport van and Lynette followed with her SUV jam packed with flowers and bags of miscellaneous stuff. The transfer went smoothly and mom's concern about being cold was all for naught. She was wrapped in a blanket designed to laugh at Old Man Winter. And she wore a lovely stocking cap knitted for me a few years back by niece Markell (it is specially designed to fit my large head so it was very comfortable for Grandma, although it did not match her tan slacks and jacket.) Her rehab plan is being designed now after a couple hours of consultation once we arrived. A typical day will consist of lab work, vitals, and breakfast before 8:00; 8:30 - 12:00 mornings therapies; 12 - 1 Lunch, rest, meal observation; 1 - 4 afternoon therapies; and after 4 visitors are welcome. Only immediate family is allowed prior to 4 PM. Mom's room is very nice and spacious on 5th floor and has a large window looking out onto South University (Claudia, Julia and Shirley- I can see the Taco Shop from here. Her doctor was just here. She will continue on antibiotics for three more days as she does still have pneumonia and she will continue on the same medications she was on at the hospital. Her therapy starts tomorrow. And he said she must continue to eat well. Now there are three more people in here documenting every scratch and bruise she has. Her heart sounds good. Her breathing is good. They are VERY thorough here. We are very pleased and have a good feeling about this. Mom likes it too. It's been quite a day but I think Lynette and I were more anxious about it than mom was. She's such a trooper. Oh my, as I write this the three nurses are going over every inch of her body. Have I said they are thorough here? Well I'll sign off for now because it is time to say Happy Birthday Uncle Allan!!!
 
Update from Janet Briden— 2/11/2014

Gloria was transferred today to Sanford Health Rehabilitation Unit - 5C, Room 576C, 1720 South University Drive, Fargo ND 58103. Mom and I rode together in the transport van and Lynette followed with her SUV jam packed with flowers and bags of miscellaneous stuff. The transfer went smoothly and mom's concern about being cold was all for naught. She was wrapped in a blanket designed to laugh at Old Man Winter. And she wore a lovely stocking cap knitted for me a few years back by niece Markell (it is specially designed to fit my large head so it was very comfortable for Grandma, although it did not match her tan slacks and jacket.)

Her rehab plan is being designed now after a couple hours of consultation once we arrived. A typical day will consist of lab work, vitals, and breakfast before 8:00; 8:30 - 12:00 mornings therapies; 12 - 1 Lunch, rest, meal observation; 1 - 4 afternoon therapies; and after 4 visitors are welcome. Only immediate family is allowed prior to 4 PM. Mom's room is very nice and spacious on 5th floor and has a large window looking out onto South University (Claudia, Julia and Shirley- I can see the Taco Shop from here. Her doctor was just here. She will continue on antibiotics for three more days as she does still have pneumonia and she will continue on the same medications she was on at the hospital. Her therapy starts tomorrow. And he said she must continue to eat well. Now there are three more people in here documenting every scratch and bruise she has. Her heart sounds good. Her breathing is good. They are VERY thorough here.

We are very pleased and have a good feeling about this. Mom likes it too. It's been quite a day but I think Lynette and I were more anxious about it than mom was. She's such a trooper. Oh my, as I write this the three nurses are going over every inch of her body. Have I said they are thorough here? Well I'll sign off for now because it is time to say Happy Birthday Uncle Allan!!!
 
First full day of rehab By Janet Briden— 2/12/2014



It is going well. Mom is on her rest break now. She starts again at 2. This morning she had Occupational Therapy both in her room and in the OT room. The OT room is huge. There is even a full size car in there to help people who need that. Everyone is so nice and attentive and qualified. I am happy to report that mom moved those wooden blocks from one side to the other with no trouble and put the pegs in the holes before her 30 seconds were up. She is enjoying her new mobility in her wheelchair and is happy to have a variety of scenery. Next it was on to Physical Therapy where she got her walker and a special pillow for her wheelchair to protect her healing pelvis. She learned how to get in and out of bed correctly and then there was a special scale that they used to help her determine the amount of weight she can put on her right leg (about 70 lbs. according to her doctor.) Then, surrounded equipment that cost a bajillion dollars, they taped good old bubble wrap on her right foot and she was told that she cannot pop any of those because that means she's putting too much weight on that leg. Of course, mom can't hear the bubbles popping :).... But that was rectified too with one of the assistants relaying the popping sounds by shouting them to mom. We are about to start on her afternoon. More OT and PT. She's doing great. She has been assigned a nutritionist who has been here to help mom choose the right foods to help her gain back her strength. I have been explaining to mom about facebook and caringbridge and I think she has a handle on it because she made me promise NO PICTURES of how her hair is now. :)... Love again to all of you. A special thank you to a friend who manages the caringbridge and linking it to facebook and all that stuff that I am so challenged by. More later this evening. Love, Janet and the family.




Afternoon therapy completed

This round included some cognitive assessments. The initial goal is a score of 26 and mom got 22. She was spot on with everything but math-related questions/activities. That will get better. She is on narcotics after all and as mom said, she hated math before this current situation. Yes, she told all the therapists the story about how Jim wasn't very good in math until he started his tool and die class and then he got straight A's. I have just been notified of the class for family members entitled Rehab 101 and I plan to attend that tomorrow at 2:00. Just like mom and brother Jim in math, I am sure I will be more interested in this class than those required ethics, conflict of interest, and harassment classes required of employees at CSU, Chico. More maybe this evening.

This time I want to make special mention of Eugene (aka Wimpy) Anderson, most excellent friend of the family, for letting me use his Jeep Grand Cherokee. It has given me the freedom to be where I need to be when I need to be there. Nephew Jack was hoping I'd drive Old Red again but he's okay with New Gray too.
 
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