A few have asked the address for sending cards - here it is!
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Guest Services / Patient Mail
Mail Stop 90-35-711
Attn: EARL STRIEKER, 7911 (CAM Bldg)
4921 Parkview Place
St. Louis, MO 63110
Dad is about the same today...says he's having a lot of stomach pain today and feeling tired. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Hi, I'm Aften - Earl's favorite daughter (don't tell Ariel). I'm not a blogger, but decided to put this together 1. To help myself get through this process (selfish I know) 2. To provide a central outlet for information, prayers, encouraging thoughts, jokes and comments (make a few of them sarcastic too - you know how dad likes to BS) and 3. Because I know dad is going to love reading this one day as we look back on this time and say...yeah, that was scary,but you kicked some serious cancer ass!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Thursday update
About the same today, but at least not any worse, so we'll take it! Still on the 7th floor..OT and PT did evaluations and outlined a therapy plan for Dad. He has a lot of work to do in terms of therapy, but he at least appears to be remaining stable now, which is huge progress even since this past weekend.
His voice is a little stronger and clearer today and he is able to move his left hand a bit more. They also moved him to a regular diet since he is able to swallow well now.
Thanks again for the continued support..prayers, cards, thoughts, visits and generous gestures - Dad really enjoyed looking at the cards and the visits keep him motivated and his spirits high. Some have asked when to visit...anytime day or evening is fine - He needs his rest and does tire easily, but he really enjoys people visiting and you can definitely see a change in his mood when he has visitors vs when no one is here.
Thanks again - keep those prayers coming!
His voice is a little stronger and clearer today and he is able to move his left hand a bit more. They also moved him to a regular diet since he is able to swallow well now.
Thanks again for the continued support..prayers, cards, thoughts, visits and generous gestures - Dad really enjoyed looking at the cards and the visits keep him motivated and his spirits high. Some have asked when to visit...anytime day or evening is fine - He needs his rest and does tire easily, but he really enjoys people visiting and you can definitely see a change in his mood when he has visitors vs when no one is here.
Thanks again - keep those prayers coming!
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Miracles do happen
Despite the odds, Dad has miraculously moved out of the ICU..he is now on the 7th floor in the CAM building! Still very weak, but he passed his swallow test today and has been allowed a soft food diet. He's also talking more - still can't believe it! Keep the prayers coming!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Monday update
Still doing pretty well today...180 difference - so crazy, but I guess the prayers are working. He went from his worst to his best in a matter of an hour yesterday. He IS more tired today, but still much more awake and responsive. He was even eating ice chips this morning and he asked for his glasses and Chapstick. The doctors feel the antibiotics are beginning to work and the cause is in fact an infection in the brain/spinal fluid - amazingly he may even move out of the ICU again tomorrow..I'm still in awe - thanks for the continued support and prayers!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Whoa!!!
Whoa who just sent up the extra prayers?! CRAZY what the last 15 minutes have changed...all the sudden he was wide awake and responding to all of us. He looked at us when we were talking - moved his head and responded to our comments with smirks, smiles and eyebrow raises...it was amazing ...such a huge huge positive change from where we were feeling even up to a half hour ago?! (hence my last post)
He was even able to communicate through a whole conversation with his nurse. Apparently he was aware the whole time the nurses have been "pissing him off" and testing him these last few days..even though he wasn't able to respond during most of the tests. ...We told him next time to just give them the middle finger and he smirked and his eyes lit up :) The nurse said that it is atypical for him to have been aware and not respond, so he's having the neuro team look in to that farther, but overall the nurse seemed really impressed. He said he doesn't know if its the antibiotics steroids water or what...we think he also perks up after his friend Carl talk to him each time, so we've tagged it as "Carl-therapy" and told him he has to come back each day ...whatever it is, hopefully he keeps moving in a positive direction!!! Keep up the prayers and encouragement...maybe they are working!
********** \\ ************
Also , Kristen and Austin had an ultrasound this AM and we had a little reveal party - the Strieker name lives on... We will be adding another BOY to the fam in December! :) Nolan Lawrence Strieker - Dad's eyes perked up and he was excited. What a great afternoon for a change!
He was even able to communicate through a whole conversation with his nurse. Apparently he was aware the whole time the nurses have been "pissing him off" and testing him these last few days..even though he wasn't able to respond during most of the tests. ...We told him next time to just give them the middle finger and he smirked and his eyes lit up :) The nurse said that it is atypical for him to have been aware and not respond, so he's having the neuro team look in to that farther, but overall the nurse seemed really impressed. He said he doesn't know if its the antibiotics steroids water or what...we think he also perks up after his friend Carl talk to him each time, so we've tagged it as "Carl-therapy" and told him he has to come back each day ...whatever it is, hopefully he keeps moving in a positive direction!!! Keep up the prayers and encouragement...maybe they are working!
********** \\ ************
Also , Kristen and Austin had an ultrasound this AM and we had a little reveal party - the Strieker name lives on... We will be adding another BOY to the fam in December! :) Nolan Lawrence Strieker - Dad's eyes perked up and he was excited. What a great afternoon for a change!
Sunday update
Dad is about the same...overall a little less responsive. I was getting kind of discouraged, but Kyle went in and was able to get him to open his eyes and move them to look at him and he mouthed "no" when he asked if he was in pain.
The doctors have been running a 24 hour EEG to check for strokes and seizures, although they don't feel he's had any while here in the ICU - we should receive those results soon. His blood culture also came back this afternoon and it was negative for any bacteria growth, which I guess is good because that indicates he doesn't have infection in his blood....however with a blood infection ruled out, the doctors feel his current state is either a result of an infection in the brain/spinal fluid or a change/progression in the cancer. Not that you want to "hope" for an infection in your brain/spinal fluid, but I guess we're hoping it's not a result of progression in disease. They are continuing to treat with IV antibiotics ..which is the treatment plan regardless of infection in the blood or brain/spinal fluid. We had hoped he would be responding better to the antibiotics by now, but his body has been through a lot I guess. The blood thinners have really helped his legs though and no brain bleeds, which is a big concern with the blood thinners...
On a different note, thank you to all of our friends and family for everything...what an amazing support system. From meals and care packages to prayers and encouragement to babysitting to cleaning and maintenance at Mom and Dad's house..even a hotel reservation at the hotel adjacent to the hospital so we can rest/take showers quickly and easily. The generosity is overwhelming and so so appreciated..thank you again for everything - it means more than you know.
Keep the prayers and encouragement coming..need it more than ever.
The doctors have been running a 24 hour EEG to check for strokes and seizures, although they don't feel he's had any while here in the ICU - we should receive those results soon. His blood culture also came back this afternoon and it was negative for any bacteria growth, which I guess is good because that indicates he doesn't have infection in his blood....however with a blood infection ruled out, the doctors feel his current state is either a result of an infection in the brain/spinal fluid or a change/progression in the cancer. Not that you want to "hope" for an infection in your brain/spinal fluid, but I guess we're hoping it's not a result of progression in disease. They are continuing to treat with IV antibiotics ..which is the treatment plan regardless of infection in the blood or brain/spinal fluid. We had hoped he would be responding better to the antibiotics by now, but his body has been through a lot I guess. The blood thinners have really helped his legs though and no brain bleeds, which is a big concern with the blood thinners...
On a different note, thank you to all of our friends and family for everything...what an amazing support system. From meals and care packages to prayers and encouragement to babysitting to cleaning and maintenance at Mom and Dad's house..even a hotel reservation at the hotel adjacent to the hospital so we can rest/take showers quickly and easily. The generosity is overwhelming and so so appreciated..thank you again for everything - it means more than you know.
Keep the prayers and encouragement coming..need it more than ever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)