Dr. Dale arrived home yesterday via ambulance. He is such a courageous man! We got him settled in his new bed. When I say we, I mean the "team" of nurses, sitters, respiratory therapist and of course family. I must admit, it was nice to have him home. I know my mother in law is glad he is home.
For those of you who need more updating, I guess I ought to back up just a bit. A week ago yesterday, Dr. Dale had a tracheostomy and a PEG tube put in place. The tracheostomy is to help with his breathing. The PEG is to supplement his feeding. He was in ICU for a week. We have been learning how to take care of his "new attached instruments". These new attachments were done to help Dr. Dale with his breathing and his eating.
Which brings us to arriving home yesterday and today being our first full day home. Yes, nothing is better than being home.
Although my mother in law, being the nurse, wife and "mom" that she is, wants to take care of Dr. Dale all by herself. She has agreed to a sitter helping to stay at night. There is a nurse coming twice a week for now but we can get her more as the need arises. David and I are here. I have never been the "nurse" but I am certainly learning.
If you were to ask about needs, honestly prayer is the biggest need....prayer for endurance, patience, rest and the miracle Dr. Dale has been praying for (He says we need to pray for a miracle that proves God has provided it. The miracle being grass growing on his arm or to grow another leg.--Doctor's humor)). We will try to post daily with updates. It will be neat especially if we can take turns posting giving you different perspectives about Dr. Dale.
Dr. Dale is a wise man to be admired! He is known by his sweetness and of course, his whistling every time he walks through a door.
Thanks for all you do for us and my inlaws. We love them tremendously!
Rachel
18 comments:
Welcome to the World of Blogging! Warning-it becomes addictive! We are so blessed to call you all friend and we are praying daily!
Dear happy and loving household and thanks, Rachel for your info. We continue to pray for that "off the wall" miracle. After all isn't this affliction rather "off the wall"? We've heard from Dave, Dick and Judy about their visits and how you had uplifted them. I pray for you, Helen, for energy, renewal and restoration. Love you both so much! Rog says "hey".
"Sweet Whistler"- fantastic!
I remember you coming through the door singing..... but whistling fits also. Jim and I are glad you are back in your spot in the family room and I know you are, too. Yes, we are still praying.
So glad you have joined the blogging world!! I am happy I can keep up, and know more specifically how to pray. Thanks!
Carrie (White) Owen
Hey Rachel (and everyone), this is a great idea. I know my phone calls are appreciated but among scores of others that ring in the Boersma household daily...I was there to hear them! Also thanks to my visit with sister Judy, I now know many of the people who are joining in this blog, great friends of Dale's and Helen's who we had the pleasure of meeting. So welcome home, Dale, and I will be visiting this blog daily. Love to you all, especially to my big brother Dale. -- Dick B.
Hey Mom and Dad and the rest of the family! I am so glad that y'all are doing this. It keeps me updated with what is going on there. I so long to be there right in the middle of it with y'all, but can't right now. Now that you are in my prayers constantly.
Looking forward to another visit within the next few weeks.
Love y'all,
Jo
Thinking of you and your whole wonderful family.
Joanna's friend,
Betsy Pillow
I know how busy that telephone is, and its been hard to get through, so
this blog is wonderful - thank you Rachel! So many of our friends here
have asked about my visit to you, and I tell them that physically he's
not well but spiritually he's fantastic. I will eagerly visit this blog
daily. Wondering how you communicate, Dale, as the trache prevents
speech? Helen, you are fantastic and I pray that you continue to have
boundless energy and good humor. Love you both, Judy
I have enjoyed reading what others have to say about you Dr B. You have been a blessing to so may people and I want you to know how special you are. I am glad I had the opportunity to share a community group with you and I was always impressed and enjoyed to hear you pray. It was evident your prayers came from your heart. Thank you for sharing your heart in our group and having a genuine concern for others. I remember thanking you for taking care of my grandmother for so many years after she had passed away and I also remember being in the hospital when I was five years old when you removed my appendix. I admire you, I appreciate you and most of all, I am thankful you have been in my life.
You know that I love you!!
Philip Neaville
Hey, Dale ~~ Great picture! Hopefully I've figured out how to play this blogger game ~~ you know I love you and it makes me very glad to hear about you and know that you are being so well cared for. Helen, again I pray for your continued energy and good humor. Tell Wesley that I am going to get those baseball guys in the mail to him next week!
Dearest Dale,
I guess I'm not familiar with this blogging stuff just yet because I composed a long note to you and it's out there in ether space ready to read in the next age. Enaway, as cuz Paul says, I was musing memories today. Remember when you were living in my parent's apt. when you were in med school? You journeyed from downtown Denver on the bus. I wonder if the folk moved to the back of the bus because you were wearing formaldehyde perfume...interesting stuff, I remember it well. When you came downstairs for dinner with us, you regaled us with tales of your day's work. Seems your assignment was that of a portly gentleman who had taken up residence in a vault some two years previous. Your experience with this cadaver was of special interest to me because I probably could have been a surgeon. You did know that I had viewed one of Roger's take downs. I stood next to the surgeon for the 4 hour surgery. That all aside, we all appreciated your sense of humor, laughing uproariously at your jokes. You said you liked playing to us because at home no one laughed at the funny things you said because they were all waiting their turn at one upmanship.
I love you more than ever,
carol
I am praying with you all! Love, Erika
what gives here? It's hard to believe that no one has posted love since Erika. Well I have a thought, a thought that I've had since childhood when I fell in love with my cousin, Dale and determined to one day marry him. That didn't happen and the love has taken a different turn...a cousinly love. As it is, I could not have been half the wife, mother and caregiver that Helen has been and is. God is gracious, no? May you both experience continuing revelation of His Presence, His Desire for you and may He overwhelm you with His incredible Love.
Joy,
carol
Hi Dr. Boersma,
My dad told me that you had a blog page and I couldn't wait to leave you a comment. You are in my prayers every day and night. It's so nice to read your blog entries to see how you are. I hope that you are feeling well and comfortable. I miss you and all of my Boersma family. I will keep myself updated. Have a wonderful day!
Love and prayers,
Molly
Hooray for Dale,
You sound and look like you feel
much better. Pray for you daily.
Love the blog.
Darryl
Hi DR.Dale and Helen.
I have been checking on you thru the blogspot and with Helen ,Sue and Pat.I have intended to write a note before now but just never did get to it. I have been at Diane.s for 3 weeks as I had to have extensive surgery on my stomach, seems that my colon had worked its way up into the chest cavity and had pushed my lung up .But it is all done now and I am doing fine. I will go home this week end.
I have just finished the best book and I would love to come and read it to you .It is "The Best Is Yet To Come" It is wonderful and I know you will like it.So I will call Helen and set up a time and as soon as I can drive we will enjoy it together.
I hope you both have a good evening
and a restful night.You and your family are in my prayers. I love you all very much and I hope to see you soon.
Your friend
Anita
Dear Dr. Boersma...It doesn't surprise me to see that you have an upbeat, confident, and happy attitude as you and your family cope with this. I can see you have a very loving support staff round the clock caring for you. You are a very much loved man.
Through the years, you've helped my whole family in many ways. From Momma to all her kids with their various sicknesses and I thank you for that. Most of all, I would like to thank you for the genuine care you gave to my Father, Billy Mack, with his many problems. He always thought so much of you. Not only as a Doctor, but as a good man and he spoke highly of you each chance he got. I want to thank you for healing and strengthening our family through the dark times. As I was reading some of your blog (which is so great)I just felt compelled to share with you the impact that you made on my family. We'll never forget it. May God Bless and keep you close to Him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Sincerely,
Diane (Otwell) Killgore, daughter to Billy Mack & Anita Otwell.
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