Happy Birthday Ben
From Barbara: April 25th.
Ben turns 66 today. Somehow it seems sad that he's in a nursing home for his birthday but it sure beats the alternative. Tom and I wheel Ben across the street at 3:30 today for Ben's appointment with the heart surgeon. I am very emotional about this- scared that Ben will have to have the stent, scared if they put him under for the hours needed for a 5-way bypass. He seems so healthy except for his memory problems and learning how to walk etc., it's easy to forget he still has to face the biggest challenge of getting the damage to his heart repaired.
I've been getting a bunch of people asking what Ben might enjoy for his birthday or what to bring if you come to visit him. As far as food- he is still eating his meals ground up- an upgrade from pureed. So anything you bring him must be soft and if he's going to eat it someone must watch him so he doesn't choke. Something like a soft protein bar, or a raw food energy bar would be good. Not too much sugar since he's still getting his blood sugar down from the 'incident'. I'm going to order him a plain cheese pizza with a soft crust for his b-day today.
And I would think this goes without saying- no cigars or brandy! Please- it's probably best not to joke or kid about such things- Ben tends to obsess about it afterwards and he's tried to escape to smoke. He tries to bum smokes off the other patients- I am afraid someone's going to give him one. As far as I know, Ben will never be able to smoke or drink again because of his heart and he will most likely be on anti-seizure medication the rest of his life. So please, don't tease or tempt him. (Someone actually brought him a cigar yesterday!)
As far as what to bring him at the nursing home- Cappy got him an adult coloring book he's crazy about. Maybe some children puzzle books. He's into Egyptian and Native American and architecture and art books. If anyone has an old game-boy with Tetrus on it he'd probably flip. Maybe a fanny-pack for him to carry his stuff in wheelchair. Anyhoo- that's all for now. Again, thanks for everyone's support and help through this. We couldn't do it without you.
10:14 AM
Ben turns 66 today. Somehow it seems sad that he's in a nursing home for his birthday but it sure beats the alternative. Tom and I wheel Ben across the street at 3:30 today for Ben's appointment with the heart surgeon. I am very emotional about this- scared that Ben will have to have the stent, scared if they put him under for the hours needed for a 5-way bypass. He seems so healthy except for his memory problems and learning how to walk etc., it's easy to forget he still has to face the biggest challenge of getting the damage to his heart repaired.
I've been getting a bunch of people asking what Ben might enjoy for his birthday or what to bring if you come to visit him. As far as food- he is still eating his meals ground up- an upgrade from pureed. So anything you bring him must be soft and if he's going to eat it someone must watch him so he doesn't choke. Something like a soft protein bar, or a raw food energy bar would be good. Not too much sugar since he's still getting his blood sugar down from the 'incident'. I'm going to order him a plain cheese pizza with a soft crust for his b-day today.
And I would think this goes without saying- no cigars or brandy! Please- it's probably best not to joke or kid about such things- Ben tends to obsess about it afterwards and he's tried to escape to smoke. He tries to bum smokes off the other patients- I am afraid someone's going to give him one. As far as I know, Ben will never be able to smoke or drink again because of his heart and he will most likely be on anti-seizure medication the rest of his life. So please, don't tease or tempt him. (Someone actually brought him a cigar yesterday!)
As far as what to bring him at the nursing home- Cappy got him an adult coloring book he's crazy about. Maybe some children puzzle books. He's into Egyptian and Native American and architecture and art books. If anyone has an old game-boy with Tetrus on it he'd probably flip. Maybe a fanny-pack for him to carry his stuff in wheelchair. Anyhoo- that's all for now. Again, thanks for everyone's support and help through this. We couldn't do it without you.
10:14 AM
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