Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Pass the Ground Beef....

Another leap forward!
Mom passed her swallow test, and as of yesterday afternoon, she is now on a "Ground food, liquid diet"!
Mmmmm....yummy! Actually, this hospital serves tasty food and provides a wide variety selection of food. Mom is able to choose from so many variety of foods and it's a simple grounding up process, but it's fairly tasty....Therefore, she is now on 3 meals with the tube feedings now only at night! An area that we are praying for is that Mom's appetite will return...

She's really on an upswing of progress because the last couple of days her therapy has included:
  • Walking down the hall with a walker only! Without a wheelchair behind her, she's finding confidence and digging deeper in staying focused and being confident in her strides.
  • Practicing getting in and out of a car. This place actually has a car on the first floor of the outpatient side of the hospital and she learned to maneuver her walker.
  • Balancing and strengthening exercises with walking up and down 5 stairs with railings.
  • Getting up, in and out of bed by herself.
In group physical therapy the last couple of day, she's really participating, doing the very best she can with her arm exercises...you can see her focused working her muscles, but then something will catch her eye and she'll stop, being distracted and watching something else going on in the room...Honestly, our Mom never formally exercised before, so we're excited that she's participating and absolutely getting stronger. You can see it in her walking, movement and endurance. Additionally, a neuro-psychiatrist, Dr. Nasseur, gave Mom a neuro examination yesterday and will see her a couple of days weekly. All these opportunities can only help her, and she has expressed so many times, how kind, sweet and helpful all the therapists, nurses, nurse's aid are to her.

Lastly, Ray was most excited yesterday, and exclaimed in a text, PRAISE THE LORD, when he found out that during Occupational Therapy, the therapist took out playdough and a roller, and Mom balanced herself, while standing! But what really put him over the top is that Mom used the playdough to pretend she was making 'won ton'...! Reta watched her make them, and it was very authentic, so now Ray's already approached his sisters on bringing in the ingredients, and having Mom really make it in the Kitchen Therapy Room this weekend.....we simply can't get away from the Won Ton Therapy talk...!


Mom's healing progresses as she is receiving so much support, continually. Her room literally looks like a florist with all the bouquet of flowers and plants on the window sil. Today, she received another beautiful white lily bouquet from Ray's high school friends, Tony and Sue Viscuso. Uncle Eugene and Auntie Nancy (our Dad's youngest brother from SF) sent such a sweet, thoughtful card. Auntie Ruby, our Dad's youngest sister, sent Mom a beautiful knit pillow with the word PEACE on it, and a loving card. Hawaii postcards with the blue scene come almost daily from the Mary Beth, Chloe and Tessa, updating Mom on their day, thoughts and love. A super thoughtful card with encouragement and praise to God came from Reta's friends, the Kusakabe's, as they know intimately the line between fear and faith, as Eileen continues to beat her battle with cancer with God at the helm! (Thank you Lord!). Our super fun-loving cousin Denise's ohana (Byron, Brandon and Tiana) sent a card with photos, too, sending Mom more encouragement and amore....

Our cousin Jonathan, (our Dad's brother's son) and his ohana, Julie, Hanna Lindsey and Nathan, are here in the Boston area attending a wedding as they live in Southern California. They drove out to visit Mom for a nice visit before going on to Cape Cod. What a blessing to be able to revisit our cousin (who Reta has not seen for over 3 decades), meet his children, and pray all together as a family before their departure. God's grace and love!

God works in the most mysterious ways...we can't understand His ways, as they are too encompassing to even fathom....


Less than a week ago, Reta received notice that one of Alex's school teachers, Mr. Russell, from Maui passed away in a tragic car accident. Although Alex never had Mr. Russell as a teacher or coach, he loved him as they shared a sweet friendship with him. Alex (the die-hard Yankee fan) and Mr. Russell (the die-hard Boston fan) loved the baseball season and relished in the banter. On Monday, the die-hard Yankee fan wore a Boston Red Sox shirt to school honoring his friend. The wake and funeral for Mr. Russell took place this week in Concord, Massachusetts! Reta was able to attend the wake, offering words of encouragement and prayer to Mr. Russell, and represent Alex, Seabury Hall, and all the grieving students and Maui friends that this teacher leaves behind. God's plans are perfect!


On Saturday, Ray received a call from our friend, Mary Anne, whose Dad passed away on Saturday from complications from cancer. Mary Anne is Ray's Broker on Maui, originally from Boston, and has known our family for over 20 years and she and her husband was one of the friends who sent the gorgeous 3 dozen rose bouquet to Mom. The wake and funeral will take place this week in Malden, Massachusetts! Ray and Reta will both attend the wake to offer our love and support to Mary Anne and her family. God's plans are perfect!


Reta received an email today from our dear old friend, Mrs. Kennedy, (whose known our parents for over 30 years) whose sister-in-law passed from a massive stroke this week. Growing up, Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy (who we actually call, Mr and Mrs. K) were friends of our parents, and offered their home, swimming pool! and love to each of us as children and adults. Unfortunately, we lost Mr. K too soon in life, as he passed in 1998 of cancer. He was the best! It is his sister who just passed and in honor of our love for both Mr. and Mrs. K, Reta and Ray will be able to attend the wake here in Worcester, Massachusetts tomorrow night! God's plans are perfect!


On August 27, we would never have imagined that Mom would suffer an aneurysm.
We would never have imagined the unbelievable outpouring of love and support that Mom continues to receive.
We would never have imagined the definitive answer of prayers that God has made through this circumstance, and the ones that we don't even know about...yet or ever.
We would never have imagined the opportunities that He's given to us through this time to be a blessing to others.
We would never have imagined understanding better, the term, 'living out your faith'.


You do not need to carry your own load, for I will be happy to help you carry it and to bear you up, as well. You do not walk alone or meet any situation alone, for I am with you, and I will give you wisdom and strength, and My blessing shall be yours. Keep your heart set on Me and your affections on things above; for I cannot bless you unless you ask Me. And I cannot answer if you do not call. I cannot minister to you unless you come to Me.


Peace. Grace. Love. Joy. Forgiveness. Mercy.


I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20.
To send cards or letters, please address them to:
Ramona Chin (Room 224)
c/o Whittier Rehabilitation
150 Flanders Road
Westborough, Massachusetts 01581
Tel 508.870.2222 (Ramona Chin Room 224)


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