8/12/04 9:11am

Hey Everyone, I hope you all are doing well. Here in TX we are plugging right along. Dad went to the doctor last week and she heard/saw how much pain he was in when she asked him to sit up so she could hear his lungs. So she sent us to the hospital next door to get an x-ray of his spine, an MRI, and a bone density test. We got the x-ray done that day and I realized that he can't have a mri since he has a pacemaker, so we got that changed to a cat scan. It has taken me 3 different trips to the hospital, but we have finally gotten all of them done. The diagnosis is that he has, and I quote from the official report, "Comprssion deformities of L1 and L2. These are suggestive of acute fractures." He also has osteoporosis in his spine and left hip (his stroke affected side) and is in the begining stages in the right hip. She has put him on Fosamax. She said it would take 2 years for it to work completely, and after that he would be fixed up for 7 years. Well, at least we can start on fixing him. The dr. said that if falls just right, that left hip will snap like a twig and if that happens he will be bedridden. And I have to take him to a spine specialist to see what can be done to help the fractures heal.

I had some excitement yesterday, after the Cat Scan, I loaded Dad into the back of the van, and it was hot in there, so I went up through the seats and started the engine and cranked up the air conditioner, then I finished buckling him in (seat belt) and tied down the 4 legs of the wheelchair. I then got out and stowed the lift and closed the door. I walked around to the driver's side door and the damn doors were all locked. I had Dad locked in (with the ac running) and a half a tank of gas. I really freaked out. I called Jerry and he was on the other side of town (he has an extra set of keys) and Liz was at home with Mom and she was alone, so she couldn't come and help. Finally, I got the security guard at the hospital to help. He had a slim jim and that didn't work. We got the side door's window popped open (it has a push out window) and got a coat hanger type device and got the door unlocked. We got him out in about 45 minutes. Thank God the ac was on. So now I have a copy of the key in one of those magnetic boxed under my bumper for such an emergency. I can see it happening to anyone. It was too easy to do. Jerry's truck locks, but you have to reach 15mph before it does, but my van does it when you start the van. I usually do this by going through the driver's side door and I unlock the door after it starts. God I can't believe I did that. In the newspaper this morning in Texas, a 89 year old woman was left in a van yesterday at an nursing home (the guy took her to the hospital and forgot to get her out of the van when they arrived) and was found 4 hours later (doors lock, windows rolled up and no ac) dead! They say the van reached 140F!!!

So that was my day yesterday with Dad.

Mom is doing very well. I haven't had any issues with her in a while. She is looking good, she is getting stronger by the day. Yesterday a speach therapist came by the house, but really didn't offer much for us to do, that we aren't already doing. But at least she came by to check her out. I have an appointment with her neurologist later this month so we will see what she has to say. But overall, Mom is doing great. She is eating by herself, she helps with folding the laundry (hand towels, washcloths, small items), and seems to be reading magazines.

I will keep you all posted on the neverending saga of the parents and the 2 daughters who are trying to keep them helathy.

Love to all,

Mary et al