August 9, 2010 — New transport date set!

The doctors seem to be really honing in on the right balance of drugs to regulate Skip's heart beat and are switching over to having him try to take his doses by pills instead of through his tubes. That has led them to set a tentative new date for moving to Sherwood Oaks convalescent hospital in Fort Bragg. Currently he is scheduled for moving there by ambulance this coming Thursday. I am home for one night right now to go to a Pacific Textile Arts board meeting and take care of business. Before I left Santa Rosa this morning I was with Skip while he had a lovely visit from Alexandra, who we have known and loved since she was an infant. It was great seeing Skip being so curious about what was going on in her life and asking all about her two beautiful children who we have not seen in several years.

While we visited, a delivery man showed up with a brand new looking light weight wheel chair and a contract for rental of the same. Lolli says he mother has had one still rented by Medicare as this one will be, for so long that they could have bought a new one and nothing would have to still be being paid by the government. It seems crazy that they don't at least keep track of that and have an agreement that a certain length will constitute the buying of the chair. The patient would still have the use of the chair and Medicare would save a bundle. Maybe someday rational things like that will actually happen. Meanwhile I understand the fraud inspectors continue to conduct unannounced appearances to look at record books in an attempt to save the government's money????????

Skip is more and more interested in reading and before I leave he makes sure that his Kindle is within reach. How's that for a good sign? In the mail I'll take back to him from home are two envelopes from MLPA. He's so eager to hear what's going on there. Last week he opened a card and supplementary page with well wishing messages filling all the space. It was a card from his MLPA colleagues. I actually saw a few silent tears go down his cheek he was so touched by this card. I know he wants me to say a million thanks to all of you who wrote messages to him. It means so much to him to hear from you.

Skip's wish to see Fort Bragg may soon be fulfilled. Hold that thought for him. Thanks.