You all have been so precious about my dad’s sickness with your thoughts and prayers on getting him well. We are realizing it’s going to be a slower process than we have hoped and even though he has made progress each week, it’s still slow going and day to day has its ups and downs. We never dreamed that his 90th birthday would be spent in a rehab trying to get well again, but it has turned out that way after all.
If you aren’t up to speed on how my dad got in a rehab, you can read this post from July 4th all about what happened and why he is sick.
You were all SO sweet to send in so many birthday cards to him. He was truly shocked that so many people care about him and wish him a speedy recovery and happy birthday. Someone sent this to print off so I taped it to his door.
He’s definitely improving and feeling better than when he arrived here 3 weeks ago. Day by day and week by week, he’s improving and doing better, but still not ready to come home. We had a family meeting with the social worker and one of the therapists that has been working with him to access where he is this week, so that they can try to get an extension for him of at least another week. We were supposed to find out something yesterday, but don’t know yet. This has to go through their insurance company so we are hopeful that it will happen and he can stay longer. He’s not ready to come home yet, as mom can’t handle his care alone. She was helping him put on his socks.
He’s walking every day on the walker and doing the stationary bike and that’s helped to strengthen his legs, so we are hopeful that every day he will gain more strength and eat more. He definitely needs to eat more to get stronger and we keep telling him that. So, overall improvements in the last week, but still not ready to go home. We know that day will come though!
We had family come to visit on dad’s birthday, my mom’s brother, Uncle Edward and his wife, Frances and 2 of their daughters, my cousins, came to visit and it was a happy time. This family is very special to us and we loved having them there.
We sang happy birthday to dad and he enjoyed telling stories and talking to Uncle Edward. He lights up when people come to see him.
I already showed you this pic of him holding the cards, but he really was amazed at all of these so thank you all so much. He isn’t up to reading much these days, so I opened the cards and read through most of them, reading him all the cities and states that the cards came from, all over the country. Y’all are amazing and made his day! I know when he is stronger he will sit and read the cards himself.
We went out to lunch with our family members and enjoyed catching up even it if was a brief time. My mom and her brother, Edward, look so much alike don’t they? Those family genes are strong. Uncle Edward is also a retired pastor and we have several of those in this family. Very proud of our Godly family heritage and this is the family I grew up in.
I captured us singing happy birthday to daddy and got a few of his remarks on camera, so enjoy this one! He’s such an animated and enjoyable guy to be around and we love him dearly. He didn’t have his hearing aids in so it took him a minute to register what we were saying. So happy he’s doing better and we look forward to the day he comes home. I’ll share more as there are new updates!
Your daddy is a very special man indeed. I was telling my husband about how he had helped you work on your house and how he had two huge gardens for years. He is a very talented man. I pray he continues to improve and is able to go home soon. Hope he enjoyed his birthday and wish him many more healthy years.
So sweet hearing y’all sing in those southern drawls! He looks better. So glad he could enjoy his special day despite the circumstances.
Rhoda, your dad is phenomenal!!so glad to see him feeling better. Will keep your family in my prayers.
Happy Birthday to your dad! Glad he’s doing better . Praying for his full recovery and that he’ll be home soon!
Happy Birthday to your sweet Dad! Praying for his full recovery.
Thank you so much for the video. It was wonderful to hear him express his feelings and to hear you all sing Happy Birthday to him. Keeping him and the rest of the family in prayer. Best wishes in your new adventures
I hope your daddy is feeling better and will soon be back to his garden. Thinking of your mama, too, helping him. That’s a lot of stress for her!
I started reading decorating blocks abt 5 years ago and yours is the only one I still read daily. I purchased the beadboard wallpaper at your suggestion. Your posts about your dad are my fave and are the only time I’ve commented, if I recall correctly. . I’m glad he’s getting better and a warm CONGRATS on your upcoming wedding. <3
I’m glad that your Dad seems to be improving. You have a lot on your plate right now. Prayers for happiness as you begin your new life with Mark and as your Dad recovers.
Continued prayers for your sweet daddy and your family. God bless.
So adorable, hope he comes home soon:))))
Continued prayers for your dad’s speedy recovery and return home.
The last time I had my mom’s hearing tested the audiologist told me hearing loss decreases comprehension. So, encourage your dad to keep wearing those new hearing aids, it will help his mental comprehension. You might already know this, but I did not and then realize why my mom didn’t have a clue what I was talking about lots of times.
I’m so glad to read ur dad is improving. So much better than going backwards no matter how slow forward is. And thank you for printing out my bday message to ur dad and taping to his door. I hope it helped to make his day as it did mine. Take it a day at a time, prayer by prayer. Best wishes and all the best. Hugs!
When my mother had to be in a rehab for several weeks after a long hospitalization, her appetite was just about non-existent…her weight and strength was waning instead of improving with the therapy she was receiving. The doctors suggested something that we found surprising and humorous but was successful; they began giving her cannibis (medical marijuana) supplements and it really worked! (Oral supplements, not smoked!) Her appetite was voracious, even for the institutional food of the rehabilitation center and her healing was really put into fast-forward! It’s worth asking about, maybe!
He’s such a cutie!
Happy Birthday to your Daddy! Glad he is on the road to recovery!
He hasn’t lost his charm has he, such a great personality! He actually sounds stronger to me than I anticipated! So glad he had his loving family around him on his 90th and I enjoyed y’all singing him ? Happy Birthday!! ? ?
That was so sweet to be able to hear him. I believe I can detect a bit of ‘preacher voice’ still there! ? He sounds good and looks better, so I, too, am praying he is well enough to get home soon to his own bed and some good cooking! From experience, get all of the help like Home Health that you can. They will continue his rehab at home. All who helped with my mom were kind helpful!
Martha, you can definitely still hear some “preacher” in his voice. He has a lot of people who love his heart.
Omg how adorable is he?!! Prayers for his strength and recovery. Also, that to you and your family. Reading these posts brings me back to the heartbreak and stress of helping my own parents through declining health a few years back. I remember trying to be there for them while having to “keep all the other balls in the air” of normal life. Tough tough time. He looks and sounds very good for all he’s endured. I’m sure your love and support is his strength and blessing. If it helps, I used to cry in the shower, private and didn’t mess up my make-up 😉 . Take good care!!
How nice to see him enjoy his cards. hope he’s feeling better and home soon. Prayers that happens