Goodbye Summer

Eunice is back home and doing well. She's able to walk with a cane but keeps her walker around on reserve for days she's out and about and on her feet a lot. Unfortunately her home therapy sessions are over, but she still works hard and does her exercises every day on her own. Her computer isn't hooked up yet, so she's still unable to check her email. Hopefully she'll get a laptop (a mini notebook?) one of these days.

The summer is quickly coming to an end. Let's celebrate with some appropriately-themed pictures from the past!

[Ed working the grill]

[Eunice with older sister, Dort]

[Eunice's mother, Alice. We're not 100% sure who she's sitting next to, but we have a couple ideas. Leave a comment if you know who it is!]

Home

Just a quick post to let everyone know that Eunice is back home! Hopefully we'll get her computer back up and running soon (or get her a new computer altogether) and then she can write and post her own blog entries!

Thanks for bearing with us during this transition period!

Norm

Eunice's brother, Norman Funk, died late Sunday night. Please remember Norm's family, especially his wife Esther, in your prayers. Eunice will write later, but for now, here are some pictures of her and her little brother. The first was taken in 1943, when Eunice was 22 and Norm was 18, around the time that he joined the Navy. The second picture, taken the same day, includes Norm and Eunice's sister Helen. The third picture was taken a few years ago.


Here is a link to Norm's obituary: http://www.legacy.com/pjstar/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=131516248

Still Progressing

The nurses were overly concerned about the cyst on my back because it turned out to be nothing. The doctor said I was doing fine. He said to keep up my physical therapy and he'll see me in 2 months.

I'm improving in therapy and I'll be here probably at least another week to get stronger. The longer I stay the better I'll be able to get along when I leave. My house is being redecorated while I'm here so when I go back I'll have a nice clean home. I'll let you know when I make it home!

Goodbye Wheelchair & Leg Wraps!

Today Euny dictated a blog entry while she was doing some physical therapy.

"I've graduated from my wheelchair! It's no longer available to me. They're also starting to make me walk without my walker. I've also graduated from the leg wraps to 2 pairs of support hose and I'm finally wearing shoes for the first time since I had my first wrap! I'm going to see my surgeon Nardone tomorrow since I have what looks like a cyst near my incision. They aren't acting like it's anything but I guess they have to check it out."

[She also wanted to make sure I got a picture of her with her favorite therapist, Ralphie!]

Elephant Legs

First of all, here is a very special message to Euny's brother-in-law Francis Meier who recently celebrated his 90th birthday!


Here is the latest from Euny:

I took my first steps today on these elephant legs that you can behold:

This is what I'm trying to carry my body around on! My legs are swollen from the neuropathy but this sometimes also happens after surgery. I have the nurses baffled because the typical patient doesn't have the symptoms I have. My legs are wrapped for 3 days at a time. Then they take the bandages off, massage my legs, and re-bandage them. They usually do this 3 times total, and I'm currently on my 2nd wrap. It's not painful but my legs feel heavy and numb. I'm constantly waking up at night because they're uncomfortable and I think I"m unconsciously trying to take the bandages off. But I am progressing -- praise God! I can tell I'm stronger than I was. They make me exercise my arms a lot and they'll start to ween me off my little toy go-cart [wheelchair!] soon.

[note: this was written Tuesday and as of today, Thursday, Euny has officially graduated from her wheelchair!]

Happy Birthday, Euny!

Today is Eunice's birthday!!!

This is how she celebrated the day 64 years ago:
[pictured with best friend Wilmina, future sister-in-law Lucille, and sister Helen, who were all part of the "109 apartment girls" -- click on the picture for a larger version]

And here she is celebrating today!

And in celebration of today, here is a video that was recorded exactly one year ago of Eunice telling a hilarious story of a very embarrassing moment which occurred soon after she got married.



Happy birthday to Eunice, full of love and laughter and light!

Moved

This afternoon Eunice was moved from the hospital to a nursing home for rehab. She's all settled in and doing great! Here is a message from her, composed before she was transferred:

I've improved enough that they're going to move me to the nursing home for more therapy. I'll be in Heartland Health Care Center in Normal. How long I'll be there depends on how well I do.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

To You, From Eunice

I'm praising God that the surgery is over and everything went well. I'm looking forward to getting back to my old self. I'll probably be staying for therapy for a week or two -- depends on how I do. I want to thank everybody for your prayers and concern for me. I'm sure everything went so well because of all the prayers that were offered up for me!

Successful Surgery

Just a quick update to let everyone know the surgery went "perfectly," according to the doctor. She already started physical therapy and will be transferred to the therapy floor tomorrow. We're not sure how long she'll be there, but she's making good progress. Hopefully she'll write/dictate a blog soon!

Surgery Scheduled

Eunice will have back surgery on Friday (June 26) afternoon.
[See the previous post about the laminectomy surgery.]

Birthday

Ed was born June 21, 1918. Today is the first time in 91 years that he won't be here to celebrate. Please join us today and remember him on what would have been his 91st birthday.

The following pictures and videos were taken one year ago, at his 90th birthday party.

[You can view more photos from that day by clicking here.]

More Tests

Today I had my appointment with my cardiologist. I was very thankful to get my old doctor back that I love and trust! He was reluctant to schedule my surgery until they do further testing after he looked at my EKG. So now tomorrow I am scheduled for a stress test and an echocardiogram. And if I pass those tests, then they’ll do my back. So I’ll sit around with an aching back and play the waiting game for another week...

Chauffeur's License Picture

[photo of Eddie Schupbach taken in 1944 for a chauffeur's license to drive a truck to Michigan for the purpose of delivering apples]

On the Down Side

Well, let's see. That was a low blow - we went in to see the doctor Wednesday for my pre-op tests. My EKG was abnormal, so now I have to see a cardiologist and I can't see him until next Thursday (6/18/2009) at 4:15pm. My surgery is scheduled for Friday, if I pass all the tests.

I'm very discouraged because that most certainly was not something I planned. If I get through that hurdle I'll have surgery Friday the 19th. So I'll have to be ready one way or the other. I'm not going to pack a lot of stuff because I have a bad feeling about it.

The doctor also changed my pain medication, so I'm hoping it will help while I'm waiting impatiently. I'm apprehensive about the surgery. It seems like everything is on the down side right now. So keep praying; I'm ready to go to the up side.

[written by Eunice]

Laminectomy Possibility

I went to the neurosurgeon Monday. He told me about a procedure called a laminectomy.

[From WebMD.com: “Decompressive laminectomy is the most common type of surgery done to treat spinal stenosis. This surgery is done to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or spinal nerve roots caused by age-related changes in the spine and to treat other conditions, such as injuries to the spine, herniated discs, or tumors. In many cases, reducing pressure on the nerve roots can relieve pain and allow you to resume normal daily activities. Laminectomy removes bone (parts of the vertebrae) and/or thickened tissue that is narrowing the spinal canal and squeezing the spinal cord and nerve roots. This procedure is done by surgically cutting into the back.”]

They won’t do it unless I pass a physical, which will be as soon as they can get me in. If I pass the physical, I am going for the surgery because I am not getting relief otherwise. Now this doctor did say if I can’t have the surgery, they can send me to a pain management center where you don’t get rid of the pain but you learn how to manage it. Well, I’ve lived with arthritis most of my life (since I was in my early 20s or 30s) so I guess I could learn to live with this pain too. But I don’t like this half-way stuff. I want to get it fixed and be done with it!

[Here is a video illustrating the laminectomy procedure: http://www.spine-health.com/video/laminectomy-back-surgery-video]

MRI results

Today was a very difficult day pain-wise. The pain seems to be intensifying instead of improving. The MRI results show a severe narrowing of the spine. The lower 2 and 3 of the lumbar vertebrae are the worst areas that are pressing on the nerves. [You can see a diagram of the area if you click here.]

The doctor is changing the pain medication so I have it around the clock (every 6 hours). The old medication wasn't working as well as I hoped and gave me bad dreams.

The doctor thinks the only thing that might help me is surgery, if I'm a candidate. I have an appointment Monday morning to see the neurosurgeon.

Doctor's orders are home confinement, so that means I can't go to Ben's visitation or funeral. It would be detrimental to me to even try to go, even in a wheelchair. Even though I won't be there in body, I'll be there in heart and spirit, crying with them here at home.

My need for prayer is not as urgent as it is for Helen and her family, but please try to remember me in prayer also.

[written by Eunice]

Ben Fehr

I was saddened but relieved to hear that Ben Fehr went to be with Jesus last night. Ben was my sister Helen’s husband. He had been struggling for a while now, very similar to what Ed went through just a couple months ago. Hearing this news brought back many painful memories since I know what his family is going through right now. Please keep Helen and her family in your prayers. We’ll all miss him. He was such a super guy and well-loved by everybody. Everyone liked Ben Fehr.


[written by Eunice]

Physical Therapy Update from Eunice

The physical therapist was here today to do his assessment on me. I was encouraged to hear that exercises will help manage the pain. Installation of safety bars in the shower will help me to graduate from sponge-baths to a refreshing shower. There is hope! I’ll beat this pain and get back to my usual self.

I thought I was in pain before with the neuropathy, but by gosh I had no idea what pain was like! It used to be annoying, aching pain. But this pain is sharp, unruly, and misbehaving! Give me the annoying pain! At least I could walk without feeling like I was killing myself!

Seriously, I am encouraged because I was afraid I would end up in a nursing home without getting any relief. Keep praying! Your prayers are really helping!

[written by Eunice]

Welcome!

An email is being sent to everyone in Eunice's email address book inviting them to visit this blog. If you found us through that email, welcome and thanks for stopping by! We hope you forward this link to anyone you feel may be interested and anyone we may have missed.

Here is more information on what Eunice is currently battling:

1. Peripheral Neuropathy: a disorder of the peripheral nerves—the motor, sensory and autonomic nerves that connect the spinal cord to muscles, skin and internal organs.
[Find more information on The Neuropathy Association's website]

2. Spinal Stenosis: a narrowing of one or more areas in your spine — most often in your upper or lower back. This narrowing can put pressure on your spinal cord or on the nerves that branch out from the compressed areas.
[Find more information on Mayo Clinic's website]

3. Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease: intervertebral discs lose their flexibility, elasticity, and shock absorbing characteristics.
[Find more information on eorthopod.com]

The physical therapist will visit Eunice for the first time on Tuesday. We'll let you know how it goes! In the meantime, here are a few pictures of us working on this blog.