St. Joe's Newest Patient

Dear Friends of Denny,


Dad made it safely to St. Joe's on Monday. He was a little tired from the ride but seems to be settling in. It is a new facility, so it always takes a few days for him to adjust as well as for the staff to get to know him and his strengths. They have been evaluating him and are putting him to work.

In physical therapy on Tuesday, they put him in a wheelchair and using his right hand and foot (his strongest side) he was able to wheel himself down the hallway.

He has also started speech therapy again, which we are very happy about. He and the speech therapists were doing math exercises, and he was doing a great job. 

Sister and brother-in-law, Cathy and Ron Maher, came by to say hello and welcome him back to Eureka.

Mom and Dad are both happy to be home!

COMING HOME!!!

Dear Friends of Denny,

Great news--Dad is scheduled to go home!!

St. Joe's has accepted him into their rehab facility for a brief stay, with the goal of helping Mom and him transition back into their home. He will be heading north on Highway 101 this coming Monday. It has been a long seven months away from friends and the comforts of home; they are both extremely happy to be heading back to the ranch.

We want to thank everyone in the Bay Area, Walnut Creek, and Redding who has been so wonderfully helpful and supportive during our long journey. You've been there to raise Dad's spirits, provide hospitality and moral support for Mom, give us advice on navigating the medical and bureaucratic systems, and offer a glass of wine at the end of some very long and dark days. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In the meantime, Dad has been working hard in physical and occupational therapy to continue strengthening his muscles. His speech is also getting stronger, and he was able to talk to his kids on the phone. He's also been keeping up with his Time-Standard everyday.







Although Mom and Dad will need a little while to adjust after they get home from St. Joseph's, we are hoping to put together a visiting schedule for folks who would like to come see Dad at home and keep him company. We think it would really cheer him up to see his friends.
 
If you are interested in being on the visiting list, please email daughter Cathleen at cdcahill@gmail.com. She will be coordinating it once Dad returns home. Also, if you  know someone else who might be interested, but not checking the blog, please feel free to pass her information along.

Once again, thank you all so much for everything you have already done to help. We could not have done this without you, and have been truly humbled by what an amazing community we belong to.
Grateful for all things,
The Cahills

Dad enjoying a bit of sun and birdwatching on SF Bay today!

Working hard in PT!

 Dear Friends of Denny,

Dad has recently been asking to go home to Humboldt, and we are now in the process of trying to work that out. If he comes home, he has two options: rehab or home. We have an application in at St. Joe's are waiting to hear whether he gets accepted into their Rehab Hospital for a four week intensive rehab stint. We should know by the end of the week.

Dad and Mom with Ila

As we were thinking about St. Joe's, we realized that Dad has some very deep connections to that community. I’m sure many of you know parts of his history, but I’d love to tell you more. In fact, when I was visiting with Dad last week, he was telling me about his first job – washing dishes at the St. Joe’s hospital cafeteria. He was a member and student body president of the first full graduating class at St. Bernard’s (Class of ’57). He went to Mt. Angel Seminary in Oregon for two years intending to be a priest (we are glad he changed his mind), but always spoke fondly of his time there. He returned to St. Bernard’s after college to teach (religion) and coach. He stopped teaching there after he moved to San Jose to woo Mom while she was in college at SJSU. They returned to Eureka together where he had a long career teaching (including many of you) at Eureka High. When he had kids, he sent us to St. Bernard’s and remained involved, serving as president of the PTA, coaching, and volunteering. He has continued to be involved, planning his class reunions (55^th last summer!), serving in the Knights of Columbus, and, right before his stroke, he helped with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange’s 100^th anniversary celebration.

Dad and his favorite blue-eyed granddaughter watching Free Willy

He loves the community in Humboldt and misses seeing all of you. In fact, he has often thought he saw someone he knew in his various facilities, only to be disappointed that it wasn't. But he has also very much appreciated those of you who have dropped in to visit him while he's been away. Those visits always brighten his days.

Thank you once again for everything you’ve done for us! We hope that our next post might be news of Dad's return home. We will keep you 'posted' (that one's for Dad).

The Cahills

Denny with daughters Cathleen (L) and Christine (R) note paintings from grandchildren in the background

Dear Friends of Denny,

Dad has been doing better since our last update. He has continued with his therapy, and is doing a good job. He did have another barium swallow test, and while he has been working hard on his swallowing and is improving, his swallow still isn't strong enough to remove the trach.

He had quite a busy weekend with many visitors! First, daughter Cathleen arrived from New Mexico. She was really impressed with how much better he seemed since she last saw him at Christmas. He was sitting up much straighter (she forgot to get a picture!) and was very animated in his conversation. He also demonstrated how much stronger his left arm and leg (the side affected by the stroke) are.

Cathleen and Mom traveled back to Humboldt to celebrate Pam's mother's 95th birthday! While they were gone, several members of the SBHS Class of '57 kept Dad company. On Friday, Barbara (Massia) Westlake came by to visit. Dad later pointed out to us that she had been class secretary to his class president at both St. Bernard's and at Humboldt State! Saturday, Tom Libbs kept him out of trouble, and on Sunday, he enjoyed Mary Jean (Campbell) Waggoner's company. They read, did some puzzles, and toured the facility together. Dad was eager to tell us all about it when we got back.

A few other exciting points. Dad was able to sing Happy Birthday to Grandma Edie on the phone. He was also very happy that we brought down a couple of Times Standards so he could catch up on the news. He immediately started reading and pointed out the column written by his neighbor, Tracy Priestly. 

Dad is definitely ready to come home, and while in Humboldt, Pam and the kids got started on the plans to make that happen. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts and prayers!

Many thanks.
The Cahills

Granddaughter Ila on the beach where Grandpa and Grandma walk

Dear Friends of Denny,

We had a little setback this week, as Dad threw up and aspirated again. He did not have to go to the ICU, which was good, and it has been six or seven weeks since this happened previously, but it did slow things down a bit. He missed a few days of physical and occupational therapy. While he was confined to bed, however, he and Mom worked on some jigsaw puzzles from daughter Christine and played a few games of cards (war).

As of today, he was doing well again. His occupational therapist used today to help him use the wheelchair by himself. He was learning to roll down the hall, which was a challenge given that he is primarily using his right hand and leg. Afterwords, Mom walked him down to the beach, where they sat and looked at the beautiful view of San Francisco.

We know you are all keeping us in your thoughts and we appreciate it.
The Cahill Family.