Dear Friends,
Some of you have been following Debbie’s journey from the beginning, while others have recently been added to our list. Wherever you are joining us, thank you for caring about Debbie and for praying for us.
We have decided to use Hogan’s Journey as a kind of CaringBridge for Debbie’s recovery, a central place where we can share what is happening along the way. You can go there anytime to read previous updates or find the latest news.
The last few days have become something of a blur.
Debbie continues to struggle with significant pain, and managing it has been one of our biggest challenges. It is hard to sit beside someone you love, watch her hurt, and know you cannot take the pain away.
But yesterday brought some encouragement. Our youngest son, Brian, came to visit, and it was wonderful to see how much it lifted Debbie’s spirits.
While Brian was in the room with us, our oldest son, Jack, called. He and his wife, Susan, were sitting on the tarmac in Dallas, getting ready to fly home to Orange County after visiting their two daughters.
As we talked, the conversation turned to what comes next for Debbie. Because she cannot put any weight on either leg, caring for her at home would be extremely difficult. After talking with her medical team, we are seriously exploring having her remain at Mission for inpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Then another piece seemed to fall into place.
Jack and Susan’s kids are grown, and their home is much closer to Mission Hospital. Somewhere in that conversation, the idea came up that I could move in with them for a while and make their home my temporary home base.
So that is what I am doing today.
It will allow me to stay close to Debbie while we figure out what the next several weeks will look like. Even Lizzie has a plan. She can stay there with Willow, Jack and Susan’s dog, and the two of them already love each other.
Today is another discovery day. I’ll be talking with Carol, who has been wonderfully attentive in helping us navigate the insurance side of Debbie’s care.
We still have a lot of unanswered questions, so we are trying to do just one thing at a time.
Please continue praying for Debbie’s pain to come under better control, for her spirits to remain strong, and for wisdom as we make decisions about the next stage of her recovery.
And to those of you receiving one of these updates for the first time, welcome to our journey. We are grateful to have you walking it with us.
Jim