February Re-Cap

February was a month of change for Mike and his family.

In the beginning of the month, Mike moved into the Community Transition Beds at the Fort Macleod Health Centre. He is familiar with the facility as he has stayed here a few times over the past year. He will be staying there until a suitable facility is found for him to live in long term.

Though change is hard for everyone, there are benefits as well. Mike is now able to sleep in a bed that can be adjusted for his comfort. At home, he has slept in his recliner for a few years. He can’t sleep on a flat bed, as he chokes on his saliva and also panics as he can’t get into a seated position on his own.

A few times in the last months, Mike has stood up in the middle of the night and fallen. Mike doesn’t remember what happened, but a couple of times at night, Stephanie heard a crash, and found Mike laying on the floor beside his chair. It is possible Mike was dreaming and tried getting up, but we don’t know. He ended up pretty bruised, but he could have been hurt a lot worse.

Mike also has 24 hour nursing care now. That is a comfort both to Mike and his family. When at home, there were inevitably times when Mike was alone for a half hour or so. Mike didn’t mind that as he would be watching a nature show or listening to his books. But lately, he has been anxious if Stephanie had to leave for half hour to meet someone at their venue, or run to the store to pick up a few things.

So though change is not easy, and living in a facility isn’t always ideal, there are also benefits that need to be considered when making this difficult decision!

Out and About

Mike, William and Dad went to visit Uncle John at his home away from home. While John went to get the ramp for Mike’s wheelchair, Mike insisted on William helping him get up the stairs without the wheelchair, so the wheelchair was left in the truck.

Though there were a few nervous people there, Mike and William confidently made it up the stairs and back down to the truck when it was time to leave.

There was also a get together this month at Mike and Stephanie’s venue (Centre Trail Venue) as John and Audrey were headed home and Mike’s nephew Tyler was headed to the Army. Mike loves big get togethers like this with family and friends, and we are so thankful to be able to occasionally use the venue for this during the colder months, that also happen to be the months when there are evenings that aren’t booked!

Mike and William also went for a drive with Frans. Mike and Frans go way back, they have known each other for probably over 20 years and Mike enjoys going for a drive once in a while with Frans and his dog. Mr. Muilwijk also came to the CTB to read to Mike for a while. Mike and Stephanie used to live near the Muilwijk family and have kept in touch over the years.

More Visitors…

This month Mike has also gone out with Mike and Tanya, Mike and Petula, (lot’s of “Mike’s” in Mike’s life 😉 Bert, and others that I don’t know about….by the way, if you are out with Mike and want to share a picture or story, please let me know via the website email (contact@mikegrisnich.com) or my own email at melhaywire@gmail.com.

Mike’s sister in law Andrelei has also been working with Mike and a therapist with a communication device, that I hope to do a longer post about in the future!

Special thanks goes to Mom and Dad, and Auntie Nita, who have been so faithful in visiting Mike and going on walk’s with him multiple times every single week for the past few years!!

THANK YOU!!

And another huge thanks goes out to all those who have donated and continue to donate…Monday, March 2, will be the first day that William begins to work with Mike without government funding. And that is all thanks to you!!!

I am going to try to post a few videos in the next few weeks of William working with Mike, as that shows just how hard they both work! I will also be adding a Photo Gallery to the website in the next week.