Good afternoon everybody! After three months I thought it might be a good time for an update! My dad has made tremendous progress since the last blog in late December. I don't really know where to start so I guess I will just give you an update. I traveled to Florida last week on business and was fortunate enough to visit with my parents...that's right Florida! For those of you who don't know my parents decided to pack up and leave those cold Albany winter days and temporarily relocate to Ft. Pierce, Florida. They have been there since early February and have been loving every warm, sunny minute! As you may recall, my dad and mom were commuting to therapy three days a week in Albany and headed home on the weekends. Dad was able to maneuver around the house on his own pretty well, but was getting a bit of cabin fever. There was so much snow, ice, and extremely cold weather he could never get out of the house. He wanted to go for walks and enjoy the outdoors. So, they decided to give Florida a go! probably one of the best decisions that could have made. Before my dad left he bid his therapists good-bye and said he would see them when he returns. The corrected him and said that his therapy was progressing so well that he wouldn't be coming back to therapy. He would have to rehab on his own at a gym. Quite a shock for dad since he has made Albany med his second home for over four months.
So, off to Florida! My brother Robb headed down on the plane with my dad to get them situated and comfortable. My mom drove down and joined them about a week later bringing all the things they will need for their three or four month visit. Mom arrived and was able to find a facility where dad can continue his rehab. He has advanced so much that he is primarily working on hand and shoulder strength. He lost a tremendous amount of strength in those parts as well as loss the nerve damage caused. Florida has truly provided some healing we didn't even consider. He is able to use an outdoor Olympic size pool at the community college. The water work has been fantastic for his physical and mental conditioning. The sun and being able to go for a walk outside without the danger of falling has been great. And last, but certainly not least, the freedom to hit a golf ball and even go 9 holes! That's right, he has been chipping, putting and even golfing - though he will tell you it's all upper body! It's rare that he can golf because it completely wipes him out, but he has done it! It has provided him with great hope that he will someday, in the not too distant future, be able to do once again what he loves best - golf! I believe that in itself has provided him with a great motivation to keep putting in all the hard work that he has for over seven months!
When I walked in to their place last week I shouted to see if anybody was home. I heard dad say "in the back". I walked out back to find him in a chair with his feet up, sipping a glass of red, watching the sunset! It was beautiful! I couldn't have asked for a more perfect picture! My dad is getting stronger everyday thanks to all your thoughts and prayers! Please keep them coming!
Best wishes,
Scott
Monday, March 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Thank you for all of the support
My family and I wanted to extend our gratitude to all of you throughout this whole ordeal. We truly could not have made it without all of your prayers and support. As we sit back and reflect on these last few months we have a greater understanding of the meaning of true friends. We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives. All of the cards, care packages, words of encouragement, strength and support have meant the world to us. These things have been especially important to my dad, who says the same thing "couldn't have done it without all of you". So, thank you. During this time of giving and receiving, it is so clear to our family that we are just very thankful for what we have. The entire Ferraro Family would like to send all of you the warmest of holiday wishes. With lots of love, we hope that 2008 brings everybody many fond memories with family and friends.
The reality of the blog is that it was bound to start tapering off a bit...but that is a good thing. At this point we do not have as much to report on a daily basis. The one thing that the doctors continue to track closely is the infection in the toe. They are holding off on starting my dad on the strong antibiotics because of the possible kidney and cell damage. They continue to treat it topically to see if they can dry it up from the outside. The last time they cultured it the results showed that it was negative for one infection but still positive for staph. That doesn't necessarily mean that the other infection is completely gone, though. With that situation we just keep our fingers crossed and hope that eventually the infections clear up.
On a more positive note, my dad continues to make great strides with his rehab. They evaluated him last week and said that he is leaps and bounds from where he started. For his around the house routine he has ditched the walker!! Yippee!! While working with the therapists he tried using one of those 4 pronged canes and it worked quite well. It took a lot of the pressure off his arms and shoulders which have developed tendinitis from all of the weight he has been putting on them using the walker. So when they asked his doctor to write a prescription for one of those canes he said, "no", that he didn't need one of those canes..."those are for grannies". This is the funny orthopedic doctor, whom we respect greatly. He said in all honesty that he thinks my dad is strong enough to walk using a regular cane. I guess it took a few days for him to get used to it but now he is managing quite well with it! Who woulda' thunk it? I mean it was just four months ago that his accident occurred. This really is a miracle!
I know that my dad is pleased with the progress that he is making, just like the rest of us. He and my mom still have high hopes to get down to Florida for a few months, but there are a lot of things to consider. First, they have to wait to get the infections under control. As the doctors have said, "he is still not out of the woods yet". The next, and probably most important, thing is his therapy. He is doing so well now with the therapists he has, my parents aren't willing to just change therapists and take a gamble that they might get some that are just as good. The truth of the matter is that we have been blessed with two extremely good therapists and we want to hold onto them until we feel like my dad doesn't need them as much anymore. We are confident that day will come where he will be more independent. Until then, we need the help of these great therapists..and of course, my mom...and Robb, too! It's been great for everyone that Robb has had some time to spend with my parents over this past month (even more than when we were taking shifts at the hospital and rehab facility). He's been a huge help to my dad and mom. Thanks Bro!
So, if all of you Gator Trace/Florida friends don't see them down there this season, you can bet on it for next year! Thanks again for all of your support!
Enjoy this holiday season with family and friends.
Love, Stacy and The Ferraros
The reality of the blog is that it was bound to start tapering off a bit...but that is a good thing. At this point we do not have as much to report on a daily basis. The one thing that the doctors continue to track closely is the infection in the toe. They are holding off on starting my dad on the strong antibiotics because of the possible kidney and cell damage. They continue to treat it topically to see if they can dry it up from the outside. The last time they cultured it the results showed that it was negative for one infection but still positive for staph. That doesn't necessarily mean that the other infection is completely gone, though. With that situation we just keep our fingers crossed and hope that eventually the infections clear up.
On a more positive note, my dad continues to make great strides with his rehab. They evaluated him last week and said that he is leaps and bounds from where he started. For his around the house routine he has ditched the walker!! Yippee!! While working with the therapists he tried using one of those 4 pronged canes and it worked quite well. It took a lot of the pressure off his arms and shoulders which have developed tendinitis from all of the weight he has been putting on them using the walker. So when they asked his doctor to write a prescription for one of those canes he said, "no", that he didn't need one of those canes..."those are for grannies". This is the funny orthopedic doctor, whom we respect greatly. He said in all honesty that he thinks my dad is strong enough to walk using a regular cane. I guess it took a few days for him to get used to it but now he is managing quite well with it! Who woulda' thunk it? I mean it was just four months ago that his accident occurred. This really is a miracle!
I know that my dad is pleased with the progress that he is making, just like the rest of us. He and my mom still have high hopes to get down to Florida for a few months, but there are a lot of things to consider. First, they have to wait to get the infections under control. As the doctors have said, "he is still not out of the woods yet". The next, and probably most important, thing is his therapy. He is doing so well now with the therapists he has, my parents aren't willing to just change therapists and take a gamble that they might get some that are just as good. The truth of the matter is that we have been blessed with two extremely good therapists and we want to hold onto them until we feel like my dad doesn't need them as much anymore. We are confident that day will come where he will be more independent. Until then, we need the help of these great therapists..and of course, my mom...and Robb, too! It's been great for everyone that Robb has had some time to spend with my parents over this past month (even more than when we were taking shifts at the hospital and rehab facility). He's been a huge help to my dad and mom. Thanks Bro!
So, if all of you Gator Trace/Florida friends don't see them down there this season, you can bet on it for next year! Thanks again for all of your support!
Enjoy this holiday season with family and friends.
Love, Stacy and The Ferraros
Monday, December 10, 2007
Joe and Cindi's address
Hi Everybody. Sorry for the delay in getting my parents address for posted for all of you. I know that it is wonderful for both of them to hear from all of their friends and family.
Joe and Cindi Ferraro
161 Holm Rd.
Hillsdale, NY 12529
We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season.
Dana
Joe and Cindi Ferraro
161 Holm Rd.
Hillsdale, NY 12529
We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season.
Dana
Sunday, December 9, 2007
An exciting day
Today was a very exciting one for Popo...he got to take a shower. A real shower! He has been sponge bathing over the last several months but there is nothing like a real shower, especially after 110 days. He said, " It was like heaven!" He was thrilled to wash his hair and really feel clean.
He continues to do his excercises daily. He is happy to be home on the weekends and looks forward to his rehab during the week, which is making him visibly stronger each time I see him. He is up and moving around throughout the day, but will need to continue to increase the amount of time he spends on his feet in order to rebuild his strength.
The infection on the toe has been identified as staph and something else called acinetobacter. They are currently treating it with a topical cream and will check it out in another week. They are waiting to see if they'll need to start antibiotics again because the one that they are thinking about using next has some irreversible side effects, the most serious being kidney problems The two infections are resistent to antibiotics. We feel confident in the doctors that are currently treating Popo, but he could still use all of your prayers.
As always, thank you for the strength, good wishes, positive thoughts, cards, care packages, and everything else that your kind hearts have been sending his way. Love to you all and wishes for a safe and happy holiday!
-Stacy
He continues to do his excercises daily. He is happy to be home on the weekends and looks forward to his rehab during the week, which is making him visibly stronger each time I see him. He is up and moving around throughout the day, but will need to continue to increase the amount of time he spends on his feet in order to rebuild his strength.
The infection on the toe has been identified as staph and something else called acinetobacter. They are currently treating it with a topical cream and will check it out in another week. They are waiting to see if they'll need to start antibiotics again because the one that they are thinking about using next has some irreversible side effects, the most serious being kidney problems The two infections are resistent to antibiotics. We feel confident in the doctors that are currently treating Popo, but he could still use all of your prayers.
As always, thank you for the strength, good wishes, positive thoughts, cards, care packages, and everything else that your kind hearts have been sending his way. Love to you all and wishes for a safe and happy holiday!
-Stacy
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