The Official Joyce Update Blog

September 30 (addendum) ~5:08 p.m. Jay (Kindred PT) called Dusty's cellphone to attempt scheduling a visit to work with Joyce on October 1 ~10 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Dusty informed Jay that would overlap with timelines for process of getting Joyce to her medical appointment at 11:20 a.m. Jay said he would try to rearrange his schedule and get out to see Joyce earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon and would call Dusty back once he could confirm a timeframe to arrive for PT with Joyce on October 1. 5:15 p.m. - Jay (Kindred PT) called Dusty back and scheduled his arrival for PT work with Joyce on October 1 between 1:45 p.m. and 2 p.m. Dusty confirmed and would get it onto Joyce's schedule for the day.   5:22 p.m. - Wendy (Dr. Collins' assistant at Moscow Medical) contacted Dusty via phone and informed him that she had spoken with Dr. Collins about updating Joyce's metformin medication away from the "regular" version to the "extended release" vers...

Joyce abandoned working on her kleenex box project and coloring book shortly after getting setup with them, citing a desire to sleep. Joyce slept in recliner in upright position until alarm sounded to take Joyce to the bathroom. Dusty roused Joyce and took her to the bathroom ~11 a.m. During process of getting her up, Dusty asked what she would like for lunch when she got hungry. Joyce stated that she skipped breakfast earlier today. Dusty corrected her, reminding her that she had toast and 1/4 of a banana. Joyce refused use of the recliner's powered assist feature to stand. Phone call occurred to the farm's mainline simultaneously but both wireless units had not been seated on the base units correctly so call went unanswered due to this when Joyce attempted to answer them. Dusty went scrounging later for hard line phones to swap out for use in kitchen and place near Joyce's chair recliner later. Joyce had some difficulty in moving but made it to bathroom under her own powe...

Rachael (Aspen Park social worker) emailed Dusty ~9:52 a.m. on 8/28 from a clinical meeting she was participating in where Joyce was being discussed. Clinically there is nothing wrong with Joyce - no cancer, no UTI - but the Aspen Park team still has concerns over sending Joyce home without 24/7 care. Rachael requests that Dusty come visit Joyce and talk with Joyce to see if he notices anything and to discuss options with Joyce and let Aspen Park know. From there, Rachael says, it can be determined whether Joyce stays at Aspen Park or returns home to the farmhouse.  Dusty responded to the email that he would be glad to arrange a time to come visit with Joyce in person and review/discuss options with her as Rachael suggested, however, the consensus from Joyce and her family is that Joyce should be discharged to her home and the family would take on arrangements for her care. Dusty cited cost of keeping Joyce at Aspen Park as being a concern over her remaining on-site for 24/7 care. ...

Carol, Connie, and Dusty joined Joyce's telehealth appointment today (8/27/2020) with Michelle at the St. Joseph Regional Cancer and Blood Center ~2:35 p.m.  CT scans which covered the abdomen, pelvis, chest and neck of Joyce from 8/25 were reviewed as well as the lab tests collected from Joyce on 8/23. No signs of cancer (residual or recurrent) detected. No indicators of any return from previously treated kidney cancer (following the 2 cryoablation treatments done by Dr. Ho) or the colon cancer (chemotherapy treated in 2016). Incidental findings included: Cysts along Joyce's adrenal glands (stable, non-concern) Cerebral spine compression (chronic, non-concern) Atelectasis (some alveoli not filling with air) in the right lung due to lack of deep breathing Small 1 cm growth in the thyroid gland which does not look suspicious and is non-concern for cancer (but should be followed up on by Dr. Collins) Brain has white matter changes (age related) Cancer marker tests are normal Whit...

Dusty called Aspen Park to follow up on Joyce's telehealth conference with Dr. Collins around 3 p.m. Jennifer transferred Dusty to Rachael as Maggie had left for the day. Rachael apologized that Dusty had not been updated before Maggie left at end of her shift but assured him she had been given the information from Joyce's appointment to update Dusty with, she just hadn't gotten to calling Dusty direct yet. Joyce has been cleared to return to the farmhouse. Dr. Collins will write up the home health orders and Aspen Park should receive them from Dr. Collins' office along with her notes in the next 2-3 business days. In the meantime Rachel will coordinate with the Aspen Park staff to prepare the discharge packet, confirm timelines and close out anything pending for Joyce. Rachael will also coordinate with Lincare and home health to ensure services are aligned with discharge plan for Joyce. Rachael said that the nurses will go over Joyce's medications list and dosage t...

NOTE:  Joyce has been moved out of the quarantine hall and is now in Room 208. Her new phone number is now 208-892-5855. --- Joyce had her teleconference with her primary care provider (Dr. Collins) today, which happened to occur as Dusty was calling Moscow Medical around 12:15 p.m.  Dusty spoke with staff member Wendy at Moscow Medical (unaware Joyce was concurrently meeting with Dr. Collins at that time) about the discharge summary notes Gritman had setup for Joyce about her potential spinal cancer. Dr. Dickinson was listed as the radiation oncologist Joyce was to have follow up. Dusty inquired if that appointment had been scheduled. Moscow Medical staff was unable to determine from Gritman documents if the oncologist appointment had been scheduled but took down Dusty's phone number to call him back with updates once Dr. Collins finished with Joyce's teleconference. Wendy anticipated that Dr. Collins would most likely arrange the oncology appointment with Dr. Dickinson given...

Dusty followed up with Jennifer at Aspen Park today via email about information on Joyce's follow up appointments that were to be arranged per Gritman orders. Aspen Park will transport Joyce to her appointment with Dr. Keizur on June 24. Appointment is at 1:30 p.m. in his Pullman office. He will remove the temporary stint and follow up with Joyce about the kidney stone removal procedure. Dusty will be relayed information about appointment from Aspen Park nursing staff when available for disbursement to Joyce's family.  Joyce is scheduled to meet with her general practitioner, Dr. Deborah Collins, at noon via teleconference. Moscow Medical (Dr. Collins' office) uses a teleconference system which does not allow for multiple parties to attend their sessions so a family representative will not be able to join the call. There will be a nurse from Aspen Park present with Joyce during the call and information from this session will be relayed to Dusty for disbursement to Joyce...