On March 21, 2012 I couldn’t get Wilson out of bed, nor straighten his right leg. I dialed 911 and had him raced to the hospital where they discovered a massive buildup of fluid on his brain. He had surgery on Friday to install a shunt, with a drain snaked down to his abdomen. He emerged from surgery with a gleaming bald head! (They gave me his hair, which was pretty thrilling).
He is doing well, and will be in rehab for a couple of weeks. He had been declining the past few months, walking much slower, and getting more confused. I had taken him to all his doctors, but surprisingly no one thought he needed a ct scan! I had started taking him to physical therapy again a few weeks ago, not realizing this was neurological. I’m so glad I called 911. Hopefully some of this is reversible, and he will be walking better and be less confused in the future.
APRIL 4, 2012: A few days after the surgery, Wilson declined for three days, sleeping all the time. I was frantic. The surgeon finally adjusted the shunt, and he woke up again the next day. He has been moved to rehab, and with physical therapy he is learning to walk again. Each day he is a little better. I hope to bring him home in about a week and a half. Thanks to everyone who sent good wishes and donations!
April 14, 2012Wilson is still in rehab. He walks with a walker a little each day, but improvement has been slow. I plan to attend a meeting with the case manager, doctors and therapists on Tuesday to devise a plan. It is likely that his care will be more complicated in the future, as he cannot stand or walk on his own. He will be in the hospital a little longer than I originally thought. Thanks to all who have been writing and sending donations!
April 24, 2012 While in physical therapy yesterday, Wilson had an event. He stopped breathing, and his eyes were wide but not seeing. Shouting his name, there was not response. We called for Emergency Services, and he’d started breathing again by the time they got there. Utterly frightening. He is in the ICU again since last night. Today he is sitting up and eating after lots of tests which all came back “normal”…whatever that is. I am trying to speak to the doctor in order to ask for a neurological consult. It’s like pulling teeth. Obviously, he is not coming home any day soon. I am going to go for CPR training in the event something like this happens again once he is home. I need to know more so I won’t be scared! We’re both getting pretty tired of being in the hospital. But we are trying to maintain an upbeat, cheery attitude.
April 28, 2012 Wilson was suddenly moved to a nursing facility yesterday for a week. It is terrible to be old and poor in America! I hope to get the house ready, and all the equipment we’ll need delivered by the middle of the week, and break him out of that joint. The hospital gave me such short notice I was stunned, as there was no food in the house, and I’ve been having difficulty securing our caregiver. I’ve solved the food shortage, but the other issues need to be resolved before I can bring him home. Thanks everyone for all the donations and encouragement.
May 3, 2012 He’s been in the Tunnell Center for a week now. It has been slow getting all the staff to understand Wilson’s true condition, but after being there with him for many hours every day, I’m finally feeling better about the place. The staff are all really kind and patient with him, and we’re working on getting him up and walking. At first, I thought I’d be bringing him home within a week, but the doctor is in the process of lowering his meds even further, and advised me it would be best if he did that under medical supervision. I’m so glad he is working on that, as it might result in a much perkier Wilson! I think he is being cared for better than I expected. Plus, the wife & daughter of his roommate are terrific dames, and promise to look out for him whenever I’m not there, should he need some attention. (they arrive early in the morning, and leave even later than I do) So for the time being, things are going smoothly.
May 15, 2012 One of Wilson’s collectors saw on Facebook that I’d mentioned not being able to go to NYC to see my ex’s retrospective at the Guggenheim and called, offering to send me with his miles. I raced to the facility to talk to the doctor about it, and he encouraged me to go! So I made it out of here in 48 hours and had a glorious 5 days in the city, seeing my old friends and the exhibition twice. I haven’t had such an incredibly fun break in years. I will be forever grateful to Vince Cottone for being so thoughtful and generous. As well as my friends Diane Hersey and David Cudaback, for opening their home to me for my stay. When I returned home, I found Wilson up and cheery. I’d called while I was away, but really had no idea how much better he was doing. He’s cooperative and getting up earlier, willing to try walking with the PT staff. They plan to keep him another few weeks while the new medication kicks in, and he continues to work with the therapists. While he will not be able to recover the brain cells he lost, I do think he may be able to regain his strength and his interest in drawing again. I am hoping. He also tried to talk several times, which is something new. He had only been answering questions for the past 5 months, really. He is difficult to understand, as he can’t find the right words, but at least now he seems to have something to say, and I can try to help figure it out.
