Mike Kagerer

Hi Everyone,

I went to see both mom and Mike today.  What great visits!  I played Scrabble with Mom, and of course, she beat me but only by a few points!!  She is doing well and walking more.  Hopefully whe’ll be able to go back to her home soon.

Mike is doing really well.  And, he has skinny feet and legs again!  In case you haven’t read the blog in a while, Mike was having a terrible time with water retention and now he looks much better.  His hands also look normal again – no peeling skin.  He is still on the mag sulfate IV because he is still on some steroids.  But, his sugar was at a normal level tonight so he didn’t have to have any of his Novolog insulin.

We read cards together and I hung a couple of them up that he liked.  I also took his picture board back to him.  He didn’t really care if he had it there or not, but the aid said the staff loves to look at the pics of family and friends of their patients!!  So, there Mike, Amy and I win  – the picture board stays.

I took him some clean clothes and need to go through Bruce’s and my t-shirts so that he has more on hand.  I need to do his laundry when I visit so he needs to have enough clothes to take him about a week at a time.  I was really excited when his nurse showed me the washer/dryer right in the lounge on his floor that is free for me to use.  That will make things much easier.  I was going to try and find a coin laundry in town so I could just do it while I was there – hey look how great things are working out!  Clean laundry for free and I can visit with Mike while he clothes wash and dry.  I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect senario!

Well, keep praying because boy are they working.  Mike was smiling so much tonight – maybe it’s the drugs, but I prefer to think that he is doing well and was glad to see me!! :)  I told him I’d be back next week for another visit and to test out the laundry machines.

Thanks again for all your support and prayers.
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I called Mike tonight and he did pretty good today.  He said that his doc from the cancer clinic was kindof riding him about his progress, but his nurse said that he was doing pretty good and to just keep working.  I met the doc he’s talking about and he has a very dry personality.  I told Mike that he needs to do what he can and what the therapists expect of him.  Mike knows how important it is not to blow the chance of staying on the Rehab floor so he is trying. 

I am going to see both him and Mom tomorrow.  I need to pick up clothes for Mike since he has to dress everyday to go to his therapy sessions.  I kind of forgot that we didn’t take much with us and that no one does his laundry.  So, tomorrow he’ll have some new things to wear!!!

I know that he’ll be in for some time yet because it is going to be a long haul for him to get his strength back but if he can stay with the program it will happen.  I know that he is receiving cards and encouragements from all of you.  He had a friend visit last night and he said they had a great talk.  This is what he needs – knowing all the support he has out there praying for him daily.

Thanks so much and I’ll report tomorrow night after I see him in person.  Oh, Mom is doing really well.  She was walking back to her room this afternoon and that is great.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

I talked to Mike around 6pm tonight.  He went to therapy in the morning and afternoon but said he had to quit around 2pm because he was just worn out.  Also his bottom sores were really hurting (number 11 on the old pain scale).  The therapist told him he needed to take pain meds before coming to therapy because it would help him get through the exercises.  They had him riding an exercise bike today.  He also didn’t know that therapy has three sessions Mon – Fri and two on Sat and Sun.  It’s a lot and he said they are tough.  I said they have to be because many people would not do what they needed to do to get better if they had a choice to take it slower.

He is doing it and pushing himself.  Hopefully they can get his pain under control and that will help.

Mom is doing much better.  This morning she wheeled herself part way back to her room and this afternoon she walked part way back after therapy.  She is doing great.

I am going to try and go see both of them on Wednesday.  I figure if I drive an hour to see mom and then an hour to see Mike and two hours home it is better than going back and forth to both Flint and Ann Arbor which would equal 6 hours on the road if done in separate trips.

Thanks for the prayers, cards and visits to both Mike and Mom.  They are truly appreciated.

love, Ann

Hi everyone,

I talked to Mike this noon.  He had just gotten back from therapy and was going to eat so he could go back to therapy for the afternoon.  They are doing therapy twice a day 7 days a week.  It is grueling for him but he is doing it.  I am very proud of him and told him so.  He isn’t walking at this time but doing different exercises to strengthen his upper and lower body muscles.  He is using some machines and such.  Right now they are using a sling to transfer him from his bed to his chair.  I think it must be easier on his bottom sores so that they have more of a chance of healing.

Mike sounded good.  He didn’t complain or anything.  He is tired but didn’t even say that.  I am glad that he is giving it his all.  I will try to go see him Wednesday evening.

Mom is doing great too.  I went to Flushing yesterday and visited her.  I took her all around the grounds and the building in a wheel chair so she could see where everything is and what activities are available  for her.  She looked good and is much calmer.  I don’t think it will be long before she is up and running again.  The docs are very hopeful!

I may not blog daily because I can’t always get ahold of Mike.  He has past the 3/4 days mark to Day +100.  At that point he may be off many of his medications and that will be a grand day.

Talk to you all later.
love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I have put Mike’s and Mom’s new addresses on the “Contact Mike” page.  Please make note that if you are calling them there are times listed and if you are planning to visit Mike (especially) after 4pm may be the best time, although he will be wiped out from therapy.

Mike moved today to the Rehab floor.  He didn’t go yesterday because he had a bad nose bleed and they had to cauterize it.  He told me he has been to hell and back today since coming to the Rehab floor.  I said that I knew it was going to be very tough but I know he can do it and I am very proud of him for making the effort.  And I told him that you all are proud of him too. 

Mike’s Social Worker called today and talked to my husband, Bruce, to give him the new contact information.  She said that it was going to take Mike at least a good month to get some strength back.  All of you who are praying keep it up please.  He is turning the corner and he needs to have a lot of support right now.  I will try and go see him this coming week.  His Social Worker is going to call and talk to me on Monday so I’ll find out more about when is the best time for a visit.  I know that he will be extremely tired but I told him it will be a ‘good’ tired – like when you’ve worked really hard and it feels good to know that you’ve done your best.

Mom also moved this morning to her new place.  She will be in therapy too during the day so I’ll have to let you all know when best to visit her also.  She said she finally ate normal food tonight and felt fine.  She isn’t clenching her teeth any more either.  I think her nerves were really on the frayed edge and hopefully she can begin to relax and get built back up again and get home.  She did say tonight that she really messed things up as far as Mike was concerned and I assured her that she hadn’t.  We all probably did more than we should have for him and he will get back on his feet again.  I will be in close touch with the discharge planners this time.  We aren’t sure and it all depends on how he is doing where he’ll go after his stint on the Rehab floor.  Maybe even to the farm to stay with me and my family if they will let him.  But all this isn’t to be worried about now since he needs to spend all his energy on getting healthy again. 

Thanks for all of your prayers.  Remember to check the “Contact Mike” page to get the latest mailing info.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I talked to Mike briefly this morning and they were to ship him off to the Rehab floor this afternoon.  I will need to get a phone number and room number for him.  Hopefully tomorrow will be a good day for him.  He seemed ready to do it and that is what matters.

Also, Mom is being sent to Rehab at Fostrian in Flushing MI tomorrow morning.  She is also looking forward to getting stronger and getting home again.  I did talk to her doctor today because she has been really stressed with everything going on and we were concerned that she might be headed for a nervous breakdown.  The doc will check her out and keep a close eye on her.  Today she sounded really good and upbeat so hopefully the move tomorrow will be a good one.

Talk to you later.  Thanks for all the prayers – we sure need them right now.

love, Ann

Hi Everyone,

I just talked to Mike tonight and he walked 3 times today!!!!!  I am so proud of him.  He is pretty sure that he is being transfered to the Rehab floor tomorrow.  As I said in an earlier blog, please check with the Rehab floor about visiting hours.  They are sometimes quite strict because the patients need to do all their therapy and not be interrupted.

I will let you know as soon as I do a new room number and phone number for Mike.  I know that Mike is apprehensive but I do think that he is ready now to really put forth the effort, and I told him that!  I told him it seemed like for a while that he thought that by resting he’d recover and now he knows that it is going to take some hard work and that he is ready to do just that! 

I also just called Mom and she may be transfered to a Rehab place on Friday this week.  Pretty soon she and Mike will be out walking 3 miles a day with me!

Please keep praying for our family.  Next week I should be able to visit both Mom and Mike and see how they are progressing first hand.

love, Ann