Day after Christmas

Hello all!
After a brief conversation and realizing this actually is an important place to get periodic updates now, I will do my best to post weekly to give you an update on Roger.

So let's see... Roger was discharged on a Tuesday so I took him home to Gardnerville. We had a few stops to make on the way. Including the DMV for his handicap placards and Matress Discounters to try out some matresses. One of my best friends' aunt is the manager there so she was able to get Roger a awesome deal on one of their top of the line beds. Wednesday was his first day of physical therapy there in Minden. I took him so I could meet the people and check out the place. They are really nice and the physical therapist got Roger sweating the first session. Roger said he worked more in that hour session than he had the 6 weeks in rehab! We then discussed a 3 times a week physical therapy session and then I was on my way back home to Reno. One of Rogers buddies lives in the guest house in the backyard and his dad is staying with him so he is available to take Roger to PT. There is also a friend that lives 2 doors down that is also available to take Roger to places he needs to go. So until Roger gets his truck repaired or gets another one with hand controls he is depending on people for a ride. Which I am sure can be kind of a drag but at least he has friends around him that are able to take him and he is very appreciative of!

Roger enjoyed and got used to being home for a week and then I was back to pick him up for our Christmas adventure. I went to Gardnerville on Wednesday and we finally left at 6pm after waiting all day for his catheters from the medical supply place. After that we drove to Oroville to be with our mom, grandma K and cousin to spend the night and Christmas Eve. Courtney and Roman came up and we had a nice dinner and opened gifts. Christmas morning we all headed to Mariposa where we saw more Conroy's and the Mackey family. We enjoyed dinner at Grandma Jan and Papas and time with Dad and Marcia.

Roger is doing really well and adjusting to his new lifestyle. I think it is hard for him getting used to the "slower pace". If you know Roger he is always on the go. Which he still is now but it takes him a little longer to get from place to place. He is his usual sarcastic self! Hard to believe he spent 6 weeks in the hospital!

Other than that, things are going well. I am still trying to figure out all the social security stuff. At this point he has no income so I am hoping something will come through. He was denied for SSI but I am going to file the appeal so hopefully we will hear the opposite response next time. What a headache! But will be well worth it in the end! Take care all and hope you had a very Merry Christmas!! Loves

Day 43

Day 43: Monday

Well today was Roger's last full day in the hospital and it was a busy one! He called me at 10am to tell me he needed his driver's license since he was going to get a driver's lesson at 11am. They were going to take him out to practice with hand controls. Once I got there he was waiting to go for a MRI. He requested a MRI to check the blood flow in his spinal cord. We haven't gotten any results from that yet. Will check with the doctor tomorrow before we leave. When he finally got back from the MRI, he ate his lunch as quick as possible and then was out the door for his driving lesson. He said it was easy and that the instructor said he did great. After the two hour driving lesson he had a little bit of down time before he had to watch a video on spinal cord injury and sexual function. The important things in life...
He is really excited to be out of the hospital tomorrow! We have a couple stops to make on the way to Gardnerville but it will be great to not see him in the hospital anymore. He has been through so much and has done amazingly well! I spoke with the case manager today and got teary eyed looking back on this journey and his progress.

I will continue to write on this as much as possible but this has been his journey through his accident. Thank you all so so much for your thoughts, prayers, support and love as it truly has made a world of difference! Things could be so much different! Take care all and have a very Merry Christmas! Enjoy the time you have with family and friends as each day brings a world of surprises!

Day 41 & 42

Day 41 & 42: Saturday and Sunday

Roger had a good weekend. It was pretty laid back and uneventful. We wrote a list of things to ask the doctor tomorrow before discharge happens on Tuesday! I know I have said it before, but what a crazy journey this has been! I am going to be so bored once he leaves Reno haha. Other than that, he has his usual therapies tomorrow and I am sure he will be counting down the hours til he gets to leave.

Take care!

Day 40

Day 40: Friday

TGIF! Well wheelchair basketball got cancelled tonight. But we are still going to take advantage of the pass out for a couple hours and go to dinner! Other than that he had a good day! A morning full of therapies like usual. He is going great! He is ready to get the heck out of there Tuesday!!

Have a great weekend all! Much love to ya!

Day 39

Day 39: Thursday

Roger had another great day! He and a handful of other patients went to the mall today. I met him there at about noon and he had bought helicopters for me to take for him. He said he really enjoyed being out and about in the mall. I asked him if he noticed any strange looks from people and he said he had. It amazes me how people react but I guess it is only natural. We aren't used to seeing people in wheelchairs and especially people that are Roger's age. This whole situation has even opened my own eyes about certain things. When he got back to the hospital they gave him an hour or so break and then physical therapy worked with him again on car transfers. This is a picture of him in the drivers seat of the car they were practicing in. Since Roger will be back in his big truck they were trying to simulate how that would be on a more lifted vehicle. Roger had it good transferring out of my little car and dad's mustang. So he needed something a little more challenging. And of course he made it look easy! No trouble!

I went back today to Care Chest. Was able to get Roger a shower chair and 4 grab bars for his bathroom for free. I am quite grateful for that place. It still amazes me what people will do for others! Other than that, this is the last weekend Roger will spend in the hospital! What a journey!!! Lots of thanks to all of you for your support, prayers and love!!

Day 38

Day 38: Wednesday

Roger had another great day. I brought lots of paperwork for him to sign. The joys of now being "disabled". What a terrible word! But if he gets the necessities he needs I guess it's just what has to be done.

Tomorrow the physical therapist and occupational therapist are taking him and a few others in a van to the mall so they can experience the "real world". They invited me to go so I may just have to hop in the van with them all. It is pretty cool to see the relationships Roger has made with some of the other patients.

Other than that he is kicking butt and counting down the days until Tuesday! I went to a really awesome place today that is giving him grab bars for the bathroom and a shower chair. The place is called Care Chest and it was started in 1990 by 2 pharmacists. They were tired of turning people away because of insurance or the inability to pay. So now they have a warehouse full of medical supplies that are essentially free. Roger has to sign a couple papers and then I can go back tomorrow and pick up the stuff. It is awesome to know that there are still people out there with a big heart! Roger has been so blessed through this all!!

Take care all and stay warm! I woke up to -2 weather in Reno! Yikes!! Much love to you!

Day 36 & 37

Day 36 & 37: Monday and Tuesday

My apologies for not writing yesterday. I was snowed in at my apartment. Reno got a good 6" to a foot of snow yesterday. Roger texted me at 8am and told me not to even try coming here. So I listened and stayed home. He had a good day! Really just another day of therapies. He is doing great today also. I got here at about 9:15 and surprised him. The sun came out so I figured it was a good time to come. Another storm is supposed to be coming tonight or tomorrow. Did I mention I am ready to go back to Hawaii ;)

Discharge out of this place is scheduled for Tuesday the 15th. I already made him an appointment in Gardnerville with a physical therapist for Wednesday. Therapy won't end here that is for sure. I think Roger is just ready to get out of here! He really is doing great and adjusting more and more everyday to this new lifestyle. Take care all and stay warm!

Day 34 and 35

Day 34 & 35: Saturday and Sunday

Roger has had a good weekend. Yesterday he went with dad down to Gardnerville, so he enjoyed the day out and about. We met up with him for dinner then brought him back. He is doing really well transferring in and out of the wheelchair and wheeling himself to the places he needs to go.

Today has just been a lazy day. It is snowing here in Reno so Roger has been watching football with another patient here. Think thats all for today! Take care and stay warm!

Day 33

Day 33: Friday

Roger had another great day! He is doing so well with physical therapy and occupational therapy. He got a day pass tomorrow so him and dad are going to head down to Gardnerville. Rog wants to show dad his new place. Plus get out of the hospital for the day! In other words, I am Roger free tomorrow haha! Other than that, there is snow forecasted for the weekend. It's cold!!

Take care and have a great weekend!

Day 32

Day 32: Thursday

Today Roger got to experience kitchen life from a wheelchair point of view. Roger, Dad and Brian cooked raspberry muffins together. He also learned that when you cook muffins and only use half the cups, you have to fill the others with water... pretty cute! All in all he is having a good day. Dad arrived last night with a huge box of goodies from Northland Cable- Thank you! They threatened Dad that they were gonna call Roger to make sure it got here. They know dad well!Guess the intention is for him to put back on the 40 pounds he's lost.

Rick, the man from Medtech, came today so Roger got to put in his order for his wheelchair. Once the order is approved it will be sent to Fresno where the company is that makes it. So he should get the chair in about 2-3 weeks. Since he will be going home before that time he will just keep the loaner wheelchair he is now from Medtech.

Take care and much love coming from Reno!

Day 31

Day 31: Wednesday

Another beautiful and sunny day in Reno. Grandma Jan and Papa are here today visiting. They got in last night and are staying until tomorrow. Roger is doing great today. Has had a few therapies this morning and more to come this afternoon.

There have been some requests for the bank account that has been set up for Roger. It is under Roger Conroy at Yosemite Bank account #307008482

Also his future address with his buddy Ricky is: 1414 Jobs Peak Gardnerville, NV 89460

He is still here at the Rehab hospital for another couple of weeks. This address is 1495 Mill St Reno, NV 89502. He is in room 102.

Have a great Wednesday! Much love!

Day 30

Day 30: Tuesday

Roger was on his own today while I moved into my new apartment. He said he had a good day. He is progressing quickly and doing very well. Hard to believe that his accident happened a month ago today. Take care! Much love!