Joanne's trach is out and it has left a small scar. So Joanne has decided that in order to cover up the scar she needs a five carat diamond. It started out as a two carat diamond, but somehow every day the number of carats seems to go up. The irony is that the wound site keeps getting smaller while the number of carats is trending up. Hmmm...
This afternoon Gran and Papa are going to stay with Joanne while the girls and I head for home. It'll feel very strange to have an afternoon at home. For the last few days I have been coming to the hospital straight from work and staying until Joanne is all tucked in for the night. Gets me home around 8. I just feel better being there to make sure I meet the night nurses and make sure everything is how it should be as she settles in to sleep.
We had a great nurse last night who realized that Joanne was prescribed her sleeping meds at 8 and was then scheduled for more meds at 9. So they were giving her something to help her sleep only to wake her up an hour later! Craziness. So the very sharp nurse moved all of that around so that it all happens at 8. But that's the type of thing we get to do to advocate for Joanne (even though it's a little thing). If one of us wasn't here it'd probably still be the other way.
And they are going to up Joanne's Ambien. She is still waking up in the night, which means text messages to me, and I can only assume, to others. This morning she was up at four. So we are going to try to give her a better shot at sleeping the whole way through the night.
This could be a big week. I am assuming that we will land on a date for her to transfer to rehab. That's one of two really big steps we have left--it's rehab and the bone flap. Personally I would love to see the bone flap go back in before rehab so that she doesn't have to take four or five days off from her rehab regimen in order to recover from the surgery. But I don't think that'll happen. In fact, I think her neurosurgeon is out of town. Anyhow, I'll keep you posted on what big things happen this week.
The biggest news is that Joanne is talking. Now that the trach is out and the incision is healing up, she is able to speak. The volume is still low and I can tell that it's still an effort for her, but she is most definitely up above a whisper. How cool is that! She is no longer relying on writing things down or hand gestures. I love it! The first thing I was pulling for was to see her eyes again. Then is was to hear her voice. So those two have been accomplished. So now for the really big one: to see her walk. She still has total paralysis on her left side, so I am going for a pretty big miracle here but why not?
Dr. Dobson asked me the other day on the radio how we could all be praying for Joanne. My answer flew out of my mouth before I even had time to think about it. I said, "Pray for her total and complete healing." What a better way for God to bring glory to his name then to restore my girl to 100%. What a story we would have to tell! But you know what? God has already done so much, moved so far in her healing, that I'll gladly take whatever more he has to give and praise him for whatever that is (but I'm still gonna pull for complete recovery).
One last thing: Please mark your calendars for the evening of March 18 to come to a special service for Joanne and Heather at Cherry Hills Community Church. It's going t0 be a time of praise, worship, prayer and teaching. Please come! More information to follow.
Prayer requests:
1. Wisdom for the doctors, therapists and case workers about when to move Joanne to rehab, and furthermore when to replace her brain flap. These are big decisions!
2. This is a very practical one: good relations and the cooperation of the insurance company. Papa has graciously offered to manage the whole billing process which is already proving to be a lot of work. We really need Kaiser to work with us and not make us jump through too many hoops to get things covered. I think we are in for a long haul!
3. Praise for Joanne's continued progress! The staff is talking about how remarkable her improvement is. And they're right! Every day she is moving forward. This is apparently atypical for stroke patients who usually improve and then plateau for a couple days before more improvement occurs. Joanne is improving every day! Praise, praise, praise!
Toben
You guys, your whole family, are amazing! Continuing to think of & pray for you. x
Posted by: Ruthie | February 27, 2011 at 02:50 PM
You don't know me but I'm praying for you in St. Louis. We are going through a Bible Study at church right now by Priscilla Shirer and she says when you are praying and asking God for something, ask what you want and then say: "Do this, Lord, or something better. Your will be done." I'm praying for 100% recovery for Joanne. We had a young man in our church with a brain injury (from a car accident)and he is back to being able to do everything he could do before the car accident. They didn't think he would live but his mother/father and the church prayed and he just got married!
Posted by: A fellow Siesta | February 27, 2011 at 02:53 PM
Random thought that you might want to look in to if you are so inclined. Ambien (aka zolpidem) has a shorter 1/2 life, which often results in early morning awakening (i.e. waking up in the middle of the night). You can up the dose, but that won't necessarily change the 1/2 life. There is a continual release form, meaning that even though the 1/2 life doesn't change, she would get it throughout the night. This might be a better choice- although in some ppl it has issues w/ daytime sleepiness, which presents other issues.
Praying for you and your family.
Posted by: Bee | February 27, 2011 at 03:03 PM
God is good, Toben! Look at the miracles all around! Continued prayers for that left side. And the diamond idea? I LOVE it! lol!
Love and blessings to you all.
Posted by: Maribeth | February 27, 2011 at 03:28 PM
Hum . . . what about pearls? They look good with everything! Praise to our King for J's progress!!!!! Now, praying for sleep.
Posted by: DigiNee | February 27, 2011 at 03:36 PM
Hi Toben and family
What an amazing progress with Joanne and God is defintley answering our prayers for u and Joanne and family I am praying here in Albuquerque Nm and will continue to pray for your prayer requests.
I am glad that you get the afternoon off to be with your girls they need that and you need to take that time. So thankful for all God is doing in your life and your familys
I know He is working on me thru this all situation and drawing me closer to Him and my faith and prayer life is better for it.
Thank you Toben for your updates and thank you for letting us know how to pray for you.
I am trying to get a friend of ,mine to drive down with me from Albuquerque to that praise and worship you are having for joanne
so I am praying for that.
Carol
Posted by: Carol | February 27, 2011 at 04:36 PM
Praise, praise, praise! I'll be praying and thanking GOD for each day and progress made and prayers answered!
Have a blessed evening, HUGS from Georgia!
Posted by: Theresa | February 27, 2011 at 04:48 PM
Hi Heim family,
Sadly, I. have to miss the March 18th event :( I. Have a mandatory thing already sceduled but I wish I could come! Is there any way you could make a video of the night and let us all who cannot make it watch it even though we can't come? Thanks!!!!
Posted by: Hanna | February 27, 2011 at 04:59 PM
Hi Toben
Rooting for you and Joanne and your family all the way!
A note about Ambien- it can make people say/do some really freaky things. Essentially, it allows your subconscious to act while that part of you that regulates your behavior, what you say etc is asleep. I was taking it briefly and I did quite a few things I later could not remember doing, including driving a car, and also sending emails etc to people, with no recollection of doing so (as well as saying some things I would not have ordinarily said.. kinda like drunk dialing!)
Just something to throw out there. It's possible that she will text you and not even know she did the next day.
Posted by: Leeann | February 27, 2011 at 05:03 PM
I LOVE Joanne's diamond logic. And of course she's totally and completely right about the diamond size :)
Posted by: Michelle from Australia | February 27, 2011 at 05:49 PM
Definitely going to continue praying for a total, complete recovery that will be so amazing that the medical folks involved with have to stand back and say, "Wow, that must be GOD!" Glad to see her sense of humor and jewelry fashion wasn't impacted by the stroke. Don't take 'No' as an answer from the insurance company. If they deny something, politely ask for an upper level appeal. 70% of all insurance claims/requests initially denied are overturned and paid for on appeal. You have to be the persistent widow.
Peace,
Kim Feth
Apex, NC
Posted by: Kim Feth | February 27, 2011 at 05:59 PM
A 5 karat diamond for a 2 karat sized scar....that sounds about right to me. Or perhaps a 2 karat with lots of gold. Either way...the bling should be about as big as the miracle that she is!!
Posted by: Melana Cummings | February 27, 2011 at 06:00 PM
Praises to our God for this is his hand moving!
Praying,
<><
Posted by: Child of God | February 27, 2011 at 06:46 PM
It sounds like she is doing much better. I am soooo glad. Still praying for her.
Posted by: Sheila Parish | February 27, 2011 at 07:17 PM
I am so happy to hear of Joanne's progress, continuing to pray daily for your wife, you and your girls.
Posted by: Erin | February 27, 2011 at 07:21 PM
When I was 18 months old (I am now the same age as Joanne), I had "epiglotitis" which resulted in an emergency tracheotomy. It makes for an interesting story when I'm substitute teaching or playing 3 Truths and a Lie. The scar is insignificant and generally unnoticeable unless I point it out, but it never dawned on me to ask for diamonds to cover it up. I usually opted for turtlenecks or scarves....silly me, I should have totally gone for more!
On a more serious note, I can't tell you enough how this blog inspires me and how I'm constantly telling my Bible study gals or friends about all the progress - to God's glory - that Joanne is making.
Posted by: Stephanie Riley | February 27, 2011 at 07:24 PM
Still praying and believing with you for Joanne's complete healing!!
I am praying Romans 4:20
"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God,
but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised."
Thank you Lord for Your Promise to heal Joanne completely!! We know you have the Power to restore her body, mind and spirit 100%!
We love you so much!
In Jesus' name I pray!!!
Amen!!
Trusting God in ALL the little details in her recovery too!!
Posted by: Colette | February 27, 2011 at 08:45 PM
Just trust in God and He will not fail you. Faith and prayers is what she needs right now. We all go through trials in life but God is our guide and He will make us strong.
Posted by: Brad Fallon | February 27, 2011 at 09:12 PM
I have been following your story since the beginning, I came across this from Beth Moores blog. Ithas been heavy on my heart since then to pray for Joannes complete healing.
Well, today at church a beautiful couple were on stage playing their instruments; the man playing a viola and the woman playing a flute. After playing on Christ the solid rock I stand, the man began telling his testimony. He told the congregation about how seventh months ago his wife had a massive stroke in which the doctors told him his wife would either not make it or be paralyzed for the rest of her life. She sure was never going to be able to play the flute again. Well this morning glory was brought to the Lord in big ways as she worshipped with all her heart and played the flute on stage and smiled and spoke gently to the church. She is healed!! And I was blown away by the joy that encompassed her from something that was painful. I am continuing to pray, I hope this brought encouragement...this occurance has brought SO much glory to our LORD!
Posted by: Jaimie | February 27, 2011 at 11:47 PM
In my Heart I be there. Its just to far over the oceaan. But I pray an think about you All.
Loves
Posted by: Eveline from the Netherlands! | February 28, 2011 at 01:31 AM
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
"Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me" Ps 50:23
He is worthy to be praised. Thank you for Lord for the healing you are doing in Joanne and for the restoration I believe you will do to the parts of her body you are wanting to 'be still'. Help us to be still and know you are God. A God who loves Joanne and and has a plan for her good. We praise you for her family, for their love, devotion, stamina and energy...for their joy that is complete only in you. Blessed be Your Name. Amen!
Posted by: Care | February 28, 2011 at 05:14 AM
I continue to be so amazed and so inspired here.
Posted by: melissa irwin | February 28, 2011 at 05:45 AM
Of course praying for complete healing! Toben get that girl a cubic zircona choker necklace asap!! lol I used to work with insurance, be sure everytime the company is contacted to get log who and when you talked to them. When I called I would chat a minute to the insurance person asking about them, where they were from, were they having a blessed day, were they a mom etc for a second get to know the person on the other end of the phone...then ask for a direct phone number in case we were disconnected, then try to get the same person each time. Just like at the hospital getting to know the caregivers personally makes a big difference in care. They are people too and I think even the insurance people want to be appreciated, I would not want their jobs but someone has to do it. Just a tip for the day, from a Siesta filling in the gap with prayer from Bryan, Tx. Hello Joanne!
Posted by: yanna westmoreland | February 28, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Toben, it is so neat "watching" you with J and the girls. You are an awesome husband and daddy. Thank you for keeping us posted. I am loving Joanne's tweets. Praying for y'all!
Posted by: nikki | February 28, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Hi there,
I tuned into the blog a few weeks after Joanne's stroke, and now consider myself mildly addicted to watching God's powerful hand at work as you update on her progress. I am overjoyed at each step in the process and praise Him so for showing Himself in her healing. You and your family are an inspiration for me. Thank you for sharing so beautifully and openly about what it is to go through this season.
I'm not sure if you all have seen this video or heard of Jill Bolte Taylor, but she is a neuroscientist who suffered a massive stroke and now travels about describing what it was like to have the stroke and her incredible recovery. She's a tremendous speaker, and I thought (if you haven't seen it already) that her story may offer you and your family an even greater and more specific sense of hope.
http://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight.html
God bless you all. Praying for all of you.
Mary
Posted by: Mary | February 28, 2011 at 12:09 PM
I've been wanting to post for several days now but haven't been able to from my Blackberry! First of all, so happy for the Trach being OUT!
Praise God for showing the doctors that HE is the mighty physician and has ALL the answers! I am standing in agreement with all who have been posting! Just another voice that knows Joanne can do anything, through Christ! She will be up and around in no time.
Toben, although it IS an interruption in therapy, I also had to have surgery weeks after I started to recover. I had just begun to walk and had to have several toes amputated but everything in God's time! It's only been a year and I am walking around the block for exercise.
I can't wait to meet Joanne and your amazing family! What an impressive list of cities, and countries that post on this site and I'm only a SE Aurora gal. Please let Joanne know that I am following her with glee, knowing that she WILL be fully healed!
If she ever wants to Tweet me...please, any time of the day or night! @catersavvy
God's blessings to all!
Posted by: Jerri G...Catersavvy on Twitter | February 28, 2011 at 01:15 PM
In January you would have bought her the Ekati Spirit Diamond as a ransom.
Joanne, don't stop at 5 carats, you go girl!!! You're worth every sparkle :)
Just think of the story you can tell when you walk/run into a room full of people and they notice that huge rock at your neck and you can smile like the Mona Lisa and then gently share your testimony. Joanne, you NEED that diamond, sorry Toben.
Posted by: merlin | February 28, 2011 at 03:04 PM
I always look forward to your updates and will continue to pray "big" for all of you.
In Him and through Him,
Brian
Posted by: Brian E, | February 28, 2011 at 04:51 PM
I love the way you interact with the staff on Joanne's behalf. I join you in the strong opinion that every patient needs one or more family members on hand for assistance and ADVOCACY! Praising and praying from the Seattle area.
Posted by: Michal | February 28, 2011 at 05:00 PM
Hello Toben/Joanne
I ran across the blog (about 2 wks ago) through another blog can't remember which one. I had a look around and let me just say Joanne your blog is amazing. We never met before, but let me say I feel like i have met you reading some of your post. Sister--I am praying for you, and I am so thankful you are doing better. Toben---know that God is able.
2 Cor 9:8
Posted by: Nicole Auld | February 28, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Here's another suggestion about the Ambien - rather than giving it at 8, ask if they could give all her evening meds at 9, or between 9 and 10. Maybe that would be late enough to allow her to sleep till a more "normal" waking time!
I feel so blessed to be part of God's vast army of prayer warriors and will continue praying for you all as God brings you to my mind.
"Now unto Him Who is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus through out all ages, world without end. Amen." Eph. 4:20,21
Judy Belc
Posted by: Judy Belc | February 28, 2011 at 08:54 PM
I am still here! Following the amazing progress and of course still praying - just haven't been commenting lately...anyway, I just finished my Memory Monday post and thought I would share it over here...because that is what I am supposed to do on Memory Monday!!!
http://butgrow.blogspot.com/2011/02/memory-monday-john-1421.html
Not only have I been praying for the specific requests (thanks for that! -love the direction) but also for J to dig out all those verses she has tucked away in there!
Posted by: Carrie | February 28, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Praying for continued recovery for Joanne and for a restful nights sleep for all. I am blown away by the progress she is making....she will have plenty to write about soon.
Blessings to such an inspiring family. I love the way you care for each other and for your faith in the Lord:)
Posted by: sue | February 28, 2011 at 11:40 PM
Always praying for you Joanne and every step of the way! Sooooo thankful for how far you've come! I hope today is a hard working day in therapy. I hope today is full of sweetness with Jesus. And I hope today is a wonderful day for your girls and for Toben. We are all praying you through sweetie!
Big hugs!
Posted by: Fran | March 01, 2011 at 05:43 AM
Joanne will be restored to 100% and then some. Surplus. No deficit. In the Name of Jesus.
She will be better than ever with potent and powerful ministry.
Praise the Lord...Jehovah Rapha...Willing Healer.
Posted by: Lisa Ramsey | March 02, 2011 at 01:45 PM