Craig and my typical day
Someone asked me what my day was like so here it is. Between Midnight and 9 a.m. we wake up 4-6 times to pee or to clear mucus from Craig's trach, although Craig does not require as much deep suctioning, only once or twice within 24 hours. Craig suctions out about 200 cc's of mucus in a 24 hours. We get up around 9. I give him his first breathing treatment and tube feeding. Then I get some coffee and say hi to everyone in the house. We watch "The Price is Right" while I do our morning routine. I have to pull his trach and washout all the mucus. Then I have to clean around his trach site to remove all the crusty mucus. Then I wash his head, face, chest and back and rube him down with lotion. I give him his nose spray and eye drops. I put A&D ointment on his lips. I clean his tube feeding site, apply ointment and then cover the site. I give him his first heparin shot in his stomach. I then prepare his first round of medication (8 pills) to give through his feeding tube. I have to make sure not to give him to much liquid otherwise he might aspirate (throw-up) into his lungs. I put a clean shirt on him then I wash his lower half of his body. Then I prepare and administer his 4 different liquid medications. Craig is able to sit himself up and swing his legs off the bed. Around noon I transfer him to the couch in the living room or if it is nice we go out on the front porch in the sun. Every time I move Craig I have to move his suction machine and his air compressor. Once I get him all hooked up I go into the playroom to clean up. We are still working on the recovery room so we are staying in the playroom. I have to change Craig's sheets everyday and wipe the whole room down with Lysol. After I start some laundry I usually try to get something to eat or take a shower. I have to make sure someone is always watching Craig while I run around the house. As Craig sits he lifts weights and tries to increase his streanth and flexibility. I tube feed Craig again and give him another breathing treatment, heparin shot. Craig goes back to bed between 5:30-7. When I transfer Craig back into bed he is now able to lift his own legs back onto the bed. After we get him positioned on his bed I hook him back up to his compressor and give him his medication (3 pills 1 liquid) and another breathing treatment. I give him his nose spray and eye drops. Every 3 days Craig has to have a bowel movement so I have "poop patrol". I admit that this is my least favorite task but I have finally stop gagging so much. Sometimes I take a little nap in the evening and try to eat dinner. AT about 10 p.m. I give Craig his last tube feeding, breathing treatment and mediations (6 pills 3 liquids). We watch "House hunter's" and try to guess which one they choose. We usually go to sleep between 11:30 and Midnight.
Craig is making slow but steady progress
Craig has finally moved out of HICU to the 3rd floor. Hopefully he will move on to rehab next week. He is focusing on relearning to swallow and speak right now. If every could pray and/or meditate on Craig’s throat. He continues to progress slowly. This week I got to hug Craig for the first time in months because he no longer has to wear all the monitors on 3rd floor. I was so happy to finally lie on his chest and have him stroke my head. I cried and I exhaled. I have never wanted to be with someone so much in my life as I have with Craig. Sometimes its overwhelming, how intensely I love and miss Craig, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Craig will be coming home and maybe as soon at the New Year. I can only hope and pray.
 Miehi at the Kern County Fair!
Come check out Adonae, Jeriah, Richard and Georgia Miehi at the great Kern County Fair on the Garage stage on Saturday, September 22 at 2:30, Sunday, September 23 at 3:30 and Tuesday, September 25 at 6:30.
Come show your support for Miehi!!!
i wish
I wish I could heal Craig
I wish I could take his pain away
I wish I did not have to put on a yellow plastic gown and gloves just to be in the room with him
I wish I could touch his skin
I wish Craig could fell and move the left side of his face
I wish I could kiss him
I wish I could hear his voice
I wish Craig could speak
I wish they did not poke and prod him every 15 minutes
I wish I could home him
I wish I could sleep in my bed every night next to Craig
I wish I could sleep peacefully instead of my dreams exhausting me
I wish I did have to leave Arzel and Zen
I wish I did not cry everyday, several times a day
I wish Craig did not had to have a tracheotomy
I wish I did not have to worry about money
I wish I did not have to worry about building a recovery room
I wish my heart and my head did not hurt all the time
I wish I did not feel consumed by fear, frustration, pain, exhaustions, sorrow and anger.
I wish I could take Craig home
I wish Craig could come home with me
Craig Miehi Backer Benefit Dinner Saturday Jul 14,
Benefit Dinner and Live Band at Twin Oaks General Store on July 14, 2007 at 5:00 p.m.
Craig Miehi Backer – husband to Jeriah Miehi Backer, father to Zen and Arzel, and son-in-law of Richard & Georgia Miehi has been undergoing treatment (following his lengthy brain surgery) at the Los Angeles Veteran’s Hospital for a brain tumor. Craig is a Marine Veteran. Jeriah stays by his side – with love
Dinner will be Enchiladas, rice, beans and salad and will be served from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. There will be live music throughout the evening. The suggested donation for the meal will be $7 for adults and $3 for children under 8. All other donations will be gladly accepted to help Craig’s family out during this difficult time. For more info call 661-867-3505 or 867-2898
Twin Oaks General Store a.k.a The Red Schoolhouse
Caliente Creek Road
Twin Oaks (CALIENTE), CA 93518
Hosted By::
Friends of Miehi
Fundraiser for Craig July 14, 2007 at T.O.G.S
There will be a fundraiser for Craig at our local Twin Oaks General Store on Saturday July 14 2007. Craig is still very sick and will be in the hospital for at least another 6 weeks and could be there as long as 6 months. He is still on the respirator although he had a tracheotomy on Thursday. I would like to thank everyone for their continued prayers and support.
Update on Craig
Craig had his 10-hour brain surgery on Thursday, June 14. The doctors were able to remove most of the very large and bloody tumor. He is currently recovering in the ICU. Although Craig is doing extremely well, nothing can prepare you for the recovery process. He is on a respirator. His head is extremely swollen. He is on a feeding tube. The whole experience has been very intense and yet spiritually enlightening. I can truly see the separation between Craig’s body and Craig’s soul. Our relationship has transcended beyond our bodies. Craig is able to communicate somewhat through hand squeezing but I try not to spend my time asking him thousands of questions. Instead I sit with him and breath. When I look into his eye’s I can hear him. It’s very intense. I truly believe that Craig and I are going to make it through this experience although the recovery process will be long. We are taking it one step at a time. As I have said before, we will make it through this as long as we have the love, support and prayers of our family and friends.
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