A Big Move!

Dear Friends of Denny,

Some good news. Yesterday Dad moved from Shasta Regional Medical Center to another long term care facility in Walnut Creek.  We are so grateful to the folks at the SRMC ICU for the amazing care that Dad received there.  We are especially thankful for the generous hospitality of Dad's niece, Megan Maher Belcastro, and her husband, Chris, who opened their home and hearts to us (especially Aunt Pam) while we were in Redding! From feeding us amazing meals and letting us relax in their pool after long days at the hospital to giving all of us, including Dad, lots of moral support, they were amazing. So big thank yous to them! We are also grateful to the two women who made his ambulance trip down to Walnut Creek as comfortable as possible and delivered him safely.

Although tired, he is back to being alert and trying to communicate as much as he can with nods and hand signs. He is still on the ventilator, but that was primarily to make the move easier for him. We anticipate that he will be off of it very soon.

Mom and Christine (Dad's favorite blue-eyed daughter) are with him today. They report that the staff at Walnut Creek facility has already impressed them. They were met by the floor charge nurse and learned that the respiratory and speech therapists had already been in to see Dad this morning. The physical therapists came in and worked with him a bit as well. Everyone was welcoming and professional, so we are feeling very good.  Dad is very weak as a result of being laid up by the infections, but we know that he is strong and strong-willed. We are also heartened by the progress he had already made before the setback and so are optimistic. Please keep sending those good thoughts and prayers his way!


Some people have had trouble signing onto the blog to make comments, so if you'd like send your thoughts in a card, you can send them to him
c/o Kindred Transitional Care and Rehabilitation - Walnut Creek
1224 Rossmoor Parkway
Walnut Creek, CA 94595-2501

If you'd prefer to do it electronically, you can send them to his email, oceanden@gmail.com. While he won't receive them right away, they will be waiting for him as he recovers further.

Mom has been watching the Giants' games with Dad. We are sure that he is excited about their divisional title and is looking forward to some good postseason play!