Wednesday, October 10

We visited Josiah at Reading Hospital on Sunday and again today.

He is making enough progress, that plans are being made to transfer him to Reading Health Rehabilitation Hospital. We thought he was going to Good Samaritan in Lebanon, but it seems they want him closer to the Reading Hospital – if he needs to be transferred for the dressing of his large leg wound.

Notice he has a yellow sock on one foot and a shoe on the other. He said the shoe gives him stability when transferring from his chair to his bed.

You can see just a bit of his leg wound (the dark area) which must be dressed twice a week. The dark area is actually a dark sponge-like material that is being used as a bandage on the wound. There are still tubes under the sponge that input a healing medicine and drain blood and liquids by using the Wound V.A.C.

Josiah said today that they are going to try to dress his wound at his bedside – probably on Friday – which will give the medical team direction for transferring him to a rehab hospital. He also progressed to using the bathroom (today) as opposed to using a bedpan or other container. That is big news after being in the hospital for 25 days. He walks (hops) by using a special walker because of his broken wrist. He said he doesn’t have to go far before he gets lightheaded.

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I also wanted to give our friends a prayer request and update on my step-mother Velma Hershey. She had a stroke on Saturday evening and is in UPMC Pinnacle Hospital (formerly Heart of Lancaster).

We visit on her left side, as she cannot use her right side – or as the nurses say, she does not recognize her right side. She knows us, but cannot communicate real well. she seems to be brighter in the afternoon than in the morning.

Join us in praying for her. She has been independent until this point, but it will now be necessary for her family to find a suitable nursing home for her. That responsibility will go to her three children – Meredith, Vernon, and Carolyn. Pray for them as they have many decisions to make in the next few days and weeks.

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Also, Cerwin developed a hernia (left groin) the other week and visited our family doctor. He was referred to Dr. Thomas M. O’Connor with whom we met on Monday morning. We were quite impressed with him and thank our daughter-in-law Kristen for the referral and for going along with us for the appointment.

Cerwin will have surgery on Tuesday, October 23. Until then he is wearing a hernia belt which is keeping him comfortable.