The Official Joyce Update Blog

 7:53 a.m. Craig arrived. Joyce seems better to him. Making her way to the bathroom.  8:17 a.m. Jess arrived. Joyce in bathroom. Joyce trying to clean herself up after bowel movement. Jess helped clean her up. Bowel movement half diarrhea half very soft in texture. applied barrier cream. Back in recliner 8:25 a.m.  Joyce in a lot of pain. Says her neck hurt on the back and sides. Jess worked with her to figure out exactly how it was hurting and trying to describe the pain. From this it sounded like muscle strain. According to Dusty Joyce was sleeping very oddly yesterday. Jess noticed she was handing her head and almost resting her chin on the right side of her chest. Jess coached her to lean back in her chair and lean her head back. rest her neck. Craig told Jess that Joyce told him that her chest pain was not as bad. When Jess asked Joyce she wanted to rest for a while before answering questions.  8:31 a.m. BP 147/78      Pulse 88 8:53 a.m. Morning M...

Dusty returned to the farmhouse ~8:15 p.m.  (9/20) following conclusion of meeting in Moscow. Found Joyce awake, alert and responsive and she asked for an update on the meeting Dusty had in town as they were both excited about it. Joyce was taken to bathroom at ~8:49 p.m., soiled diaper (Type 6). Dusty helped clean Joyce up, applying fresh barrier cream.  Joyce lamented her body failing her. ~ 9:13 p.m. vitals taken on Joyce. Blood Pressure 153/83, pulse 81. Blood sugar 122. Joyce declined eating earlier in the evening when Dusty first arrived. Dusty continued to negotiate and got her to accept for sake of having something for her evening medication to digest with. Dinner at 9:16 p.m., 1 cup potato salad and 1/3 banana. Joyce continued to insist she was not very hungry but did eat her potato salad and banana. Evening medication given with meal (Carvedilol, Metformin, 2 Tylenol). Joyce was quite awake and talkative, Dusty remained on site with her as she wished to continue thei...

Dusty called Aspen Park nurse's station ~3:13 p.m. (8/24/20) to request an update on Joyce as they had not called him, speaking initially with Kim. Kim read from initial documents available regarding Joyce's lab work before call was transferred to Maggie (as Maggie had been working with Dusty). Maggie reported that Joyce's UA came back with some trace bacteria showing, but that might not be UTI sign, a culture is growing to determine if Joyce has a UTI.  Joyce reported to still be seeing things and is confused. Maggie reviewed that on Saturday Joyce was fully oriented and doing well and on Sunday she took a downturn. Joyce was talking this morning about the woman outside her window with Maggie.  Maggie confirmed that at this point there are no issues that would prevent Joyce from going to her CT appointment at Gritman tomorrow. Maggie is hopeful that the CT will reveal what is happening with Joyce and provide direction on how to proceed with her care. The blood test results...

Joyce called Dusty's cell phone ~12:06 p.m. Call was missed due to Dusty's cellphone having a malfunction and not remaining powered on. Joyce left a message, stating that Dustin needed to come get her. --- Dusty and Jess called Joyce to check in ~8:20 p.m. Initially they were unable to contact Joyce via her room phone. They then called Andrea's line for an update. Andrea was with Joyce and got her back into her room to speak on the phone. Jess and Dusty called Joyce back on her room phone. Joyce reported that her day was somewhat busy as there were about 6 kids that were playing around her room at Aspen Park. She said that she would be surprised if she didn't find one of the kids hiding under her bed in the morning. Joyce thought that we needed to feel sorry for the kids because they are running around the facility unattended and the parents aren't taking care of them.  Joyce states that the kids don't make a fuss about anything, they just don't want to be p...

Maggie called and left message on Dusty's cell phone ~10:46 a.m. (8/23/2020) requesting that Dusty contact Aspen Park about a change in Joyce's condition. Joyce reported to be hallucinating again and quite agitated. Maggie was leaving for the day, and Dusty was directed to ask for Andrea when he calls. --- Dusty returned phone call to Aspen Park ~10:58 a.m. once he noticed voicemail had been left. Maggie had left for the day, Dusty reached Andrea. Andrea reported that Joyce was experiencing hallucinations again. Andrea's shift started at 10 a.m. today, taking over for Maggie who provided information to pass onto Dusty. Earlier today Joyce had packed up her belongings was was waiting for people to come get her and take her home to the farmhouse, insisting that she was leaving the Aspen Park facility. Aspen Park staff sat down and gently reviewed Joyce's timeline with her, reminding her of her CT scan scheduled for this coming Tuesday and cancer center telehealth conferen...

Dusty called Aspen Park around 9:36 a.m. (8/3/2020) following the conclusion of his morning appointments and meetings, asking to speak with Joyce's nurse (Maggie). Maggie was unavailable at time of this phone call. Aspen Park front desk staff took down Dusty's contact information and stated that they would have Maggie return his call once she was available. --- Maggie returned Dusty's call from earlier in the morning around 11:09 a.m. Dusty provided information as he and Jess experienced it during yesterday's phone calls with Joyce to Maggie. Maggie seemed interested in what Joyce was seeing "out her window" last night as well as her confusion over her location, self identity, and comments about "the guest" and emotional stress at not being able to return home. Maggie received the update on Joyce's behaviors from yesterday during the morning staff meeting and reviewed notes from the Sunday nursing staff. Joyce was reported to be hallucinating aga...