Dear Friends,

Oh, we're so sorry to let so much time go by without word. Brian here. It's six days since Ruth's move to the Rehab. We've mostly just been busy going back and forth. Also, the day-to-day changes aren't as dramatic now (thank the Lord, we don't need them to be!), so we will be posting less often.

But there are good things to report! Let's see ...

1. Many of you have asked about pain, or commented that you can't imagine all Ruth's pain. One of the blessings has been that she hasn't had too much intense pain. In Philly, they generally kept it under control. Back here, her doses of pain meds have been reduced but it's still not too bad. So you can be relieved and thank the Lord with us. She tends more toward discomfort, she would call it, when she hasn't changed positions in awhile, or these days when she's upright (in the wheelchair) too long. About an hour and a half is what she's up to, then bed starts looking really good.

2. All kinds of changes. All of her stitches are out, no more splints or immobilizers, she's using her right arm (though not for anything heavy), she's wearing pajamas and sweats instead of hospital gowns, she's eating better (i.e., more) every day. The one big device still at work is the woundvac on her hip, still removing fluid and reducing the area that was so swollen.

3. The Rehab is very nice. It is low and wide with wide hallways and pretty big rooms. She has her own room on a floor that can take only about 12 patients. In all, the center can admit 112. Unlike Philly, the cafeteria closes at 2 p.m., so no access for dinner for guests. There are vending machines.

4. Her therapy includes bathing and dressing herself, eating, learning to transfer from mattress to chair or commode, rotating her ankles and feet ... and she's doing great. There is also a machine that moves her lower right leg for her. It very slowly bends her knee up and then straightens it. she was on that for two-hour stints but it was pretty hard to take. She asked the nurses if she could do 2 one-hour treatments instead, and that has helped. Yesterday, too, she was self-propelling in her wheelchair using her left hand and foot. She made it through the hall all the way around the unit.

If you'd like to write, call or visit, that is possible.

Her phone number is 484-388-2995.

The unit desk is 484-388-2705.

You can write to her at
Ruth Jackins, c/0
The Reading Hospital for Post-Acute Rehabilitation
2802 Papermill Road
Wyomissing, PA 19610
or at home and we'll run it up. We go almost every day.

It would be a good idea to call before a visit, if possible. She has therapies scheduled all through the day, with some breaks, until 4:40 or so. She usually knows the next day's schedule by evening. Dinner is at 6:00; you can join her if you like (bring your own food).

Things to pray for:
1. Ruth's blood pressure was too low the other day, so she was going to have another transfusion. Nurses find it nearly impossible to find her veins, which are very fine and deep. There are no phrenologists (people who find lost veins) at the Rehab and it was going to be a big hullaballoo (to the hospital and back in an ambulance) to get the I.V. in. Fortunately, they checked her pressure just before they called the ambulance and it was back to the minimum acceptable level. Pray for her blood pressure and that they'll have someone on hand who can find a vein if needed.

2. Ruth is so tired of being in bed. She finds herself thinking things like, "This is silly. I need to go to the bathroom. I'm just going to get up and go." (Without a lot of pain, she doesn't feel her inability that much.) Then she reminds herself she is stuck for awhile. She needs patience as it will be awhile before she can do much. We don't watch T.V. at home and now we know why. What they say is true: 400 channels and there's still nothing to watch!! A friend gave us a portable DVD player, so I have taken her a couple of movies. She prays a lot. If you write to her or visit, share your prayer requests. She really will give them time and attention.

3. That she, and all of us, will be lights of Christ to the staff and other patients.

4. That increasingly they will be able to reduce her medications for pain, regularity, sleep, etc. and her body can start handling itself. She is on a blood thinner and that will be at least 6 months since she had a pulmonary embolism in one of her surgeries.

5. Strength in therapy, healing.

6. She misses home, "normal life and schedule" so much. And home doesn't feel right at all. It's been six weeks.

The Lord is good. Bless you all for your kind attention. Thank you for the many cards. We read them together and she loves thinking of each of you.

till next time,
Brian for us all.