Cayuga Nursing and Rehabilitation
Hi all,
Thanks for your patience in the long space between writings. In my life, so many things have happened that the last ten days have felt like a blink of an eye. I’ve already been married a week, for goodness sake. In short, the wedding ceremony was beautiful, and we threw a music festival in the high desert of deep eastern Nevada where my wife grew up. We were able to include my Dad and my brother, Jake and his family, and a few other family members via video feed. It’s been surreal experiencing the duality of the greatest joy in my life simultaneously as the most devastating sadness and worry.
But there are some big updates to share with you all on Connie’s front:
As of today, Mom is being transported to Cayuga Nursing and Rehabilitation in Ithaca, New York. It was a scramble to decide where she was going to end up because Upstate Medical didn’t have a bed for her and was ready to discharge her.
The drain in her brain is out, she’s stable, and she no longer needs to be in the ICU.
My sister Mia was able to correspond with Jeffrey Penoyer, a former student of mom, an Ithaca College alum, the son of mom’s long time colleague at Smith School, and gracefully, the Chief Operating Officer at Cayuga Medical Associates. That’s some awesome happenstance. That’s the power of a strong community.
He pointed us to folks at Cayuga Nursing and Rehab who have already provided our family with care and empathy, information and knowledge that this will be the best place for her right now as she begins subacute rehabilitation.
So today opens the next chapter in this recovery. As of writing this, she is being geared up to transport over there.
The facilities there are beautiful. The rehabilitation equipment is comprehensive. The campus is located with views of Cayuga Lake. The welcome packet said even her beloved puppies can come visit her eventually.
Moms condition right now is much different than when I visited her in late August. The seizures and strokes that complicated her ICU visit have left her without very much mobility. She isn’t able to speak currently. There are moments of tracking and recognition, but she has a long ways to go to regain her sharp cognition, motor function, and independence.
Yesterday I spoke with my favorite nurse at the Upstate ICU. She said Mom was tracking her. She said she saw mom react to music and photos from my wedding. Those are big strides from where she was upon first waking up from her sedation after the strokes and seizures. They will miss her.
We are going to continue on our path with trust and belief that she will regain the capacity to live a happy, loving, fulfilling life for many years to come.
I will give more updates on her new routine and condition as things unfold.
Loving you all.
Luka
PS we aren’t going to publish her room for cards and gifts just yet. You can share messages here and coordinate visits with my Dad until we’re familiar with the way things work at Cayuga.