the_jersey_lilly_2000
Well-known member
Well it's been a while since I updated you all on Barry's condition. It's been really slowww goin. And lots of things that have been really disappointing. A month ago yesterday, the main Dr there at the place in Austin told his wife, that it would just be best to remove the stomach tube and let him go. Even tho he has reactions/responses to things that you do. So...Mr Lilly, his dad, and I traveled to Austin the following week. My job was to bring my video camera so that we could get on tape, his reaction to stimulus, so the insurance company could see it. I messed with him, talked to him, massaged his back shoulders, basically anything I could reach while he was in his wheel chair with the tray on it. He does have reaction to what you tell him to do. Most definately.
But somethin that caught my attention while we were there, was that his eyes were really really red. Irritated looking. Somethin that is hereditary in Mr Lilly's family is, eye lashes that grow on the inside edge of the eye lid. It's an ongoing agony that several of the family members, including Barry, have. They hafta have a magnified mirror with a bright light, and pluck these lashes out, basically as soon as they come thru the surface of the lid. Because they Hurt!!!! Scratch the eye, etc. I Knew he'd faught these things all his life. And just wondered if that was some of the cause of his red eyes. I lifted his eye lids and he had full fledged eye lashes inside his eyes. I can't imagine how painful that would be. Anyway, we asked his nurse what they could do about it, and she said, "Well he's scheduled for an outside appt. with an Opthomologist in the next couple days. He went, and they removed the lashes. His eyes were so abrated and infected that there's no way on earth that he could be comfortable. So....now that's taken care of for the time being. And Tuesday (yesterday) they called with a good report. They've upped his conciousness number/numbers. Before it was only one number....sittin at a 5 for a long time now. Now his Speech therapy number is 6, and his occupational therapy number is 6, and his physical therapy number is 8. It was very welcome news. The Dr that recommended letting him die just a month ago has now changed his mind. Yesterday was also thier anniversary. Barry always sent her flowers, but not this year. But like my MIL told her. He did give you a present.
Now if they'll just stay on top of the eye lash thing so that his eyes don't get bad again. Maybe he'll continue to improve at a more rapid rate.
Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
But somethin that caught my attention while we were there, was that his eyes were really really red. Irritated looking. Somethin that is hereditary in Mr Lilly's family is, eye lashes that grow on the inside edge of the eye lid. It's an ongoing agony that several of the family members, including Barry, have. They hafta have a magnified mirror with a bright light, and pluck these lashes out, basically as soon as they come thru the surface of the lid. Because they Hurt!!!! Scratch the eye, etc. I Knew he'd faught these things all his life. And just wondered if that was some of the cause of his red eyes. I lifted his eye lids and he had full fledged eye lashes inside his eyes. I can't imagine how painful that would be. Anyway, we asked his nurse what they could do about it, and she said, "Well he's scheduled for an outside appt. with an Opthomologist in the next couple days. He went, and they removed the lashes. His eyes were so abrated and infected that there's no way on earth that he could be comfortable. So....now that's taken care of for the time being. And Tuesday (yesterday) they called with a good report. They've upped his conciousness number/numbers. Before it was only one number....sittin at a 5 for a long time now. Now his Speech therapy number is 6, and his occupational therapy number is 6, and his physical therapy number is 8. It was very welcome news. The Dr that recommended letting him die just a month ago has now changed his mind. Yesterday was also thier anniversary. Barry always sent her flowers, but not this year. But like my MIL told her. He did give you a present.
Now if they'll just stay on top of the eye lash thing so that his eyes don't get bad again. Maybe he'll continue to improve at a more rapid rate.
Please continue to keep him in your prayers.