Goodbye RIC !!!

Chris arrived at Chicago O'Hare airport Thursday evening, safe and sound even after a two hour delay. Friday was a busy day. After taking the train downtown, Chris and Pauletta had sessions of family training with both the occupational therapists and physical therapists, as well as visits and good well wishes from the doctors, nurses, care managers, and other patients. It was a beautiful day, so we went out at lunch to a Chicago institution - Gino's East (famous for their deep dish pizzas!) But nothing can compare to "Mondays with Debra" ! Pauletta's friend, Debra Vignocchi, visited every Monday and brought delicious home cooked food. On Beverly's last Monday at RIC, Debra surprised her with lobster! So we picnicked (Beverly, Tobi, Debra and Pauletta) in the cafeteria to the jealous stares of everyone there!


After lunch, it was more meetings on discharge procedures, medication changes and visits with several staff members who appeared genuinely sad to see Beverly go!

On Saturday, Steve drove Pauletta and Chris to the hospital so he could say goodbye and bring home all the things accumulated that would not fit in the suitcase! Then our time was spent packing up, attending group upper body/arm exercises, out to lunch again at Treasure Island, and saying goodbye to Tobi (Beverly's roommate). It was a good thing the van arrived at 2:00 to take everyone to the airport, even though the plane did not leave until 5:15. Getting through security was a long process. Here is Beverly in the isolation chamber being checked and rechecked for bomb residue on her fingers or some such crazy thing.

But overall, the check-in process and transfers from her chair to their chair to the aisle chair to the airplane seat went fairly well. Sitting at the gate, Pauletta asked Beverly what she would like to eat for her last meal in Chicago. and she replied that even though she wasn't really hungry, she had seen a sign earlier that read "Chicago-style hot dogs" (Seems this update has taken on a food theme.......just happy that Beverly has a good appetite these days!)


and she was curious what that was. So Pauletta went searching and found it - "Gold Coast Hot Dogs". Delicious! The plane wasn't too late, and it was a tearful goodbye for Pauletta and Beverly. Thank you, Chris, for being here to help. We could not have done it without you! Leonard was waiting for them at the Tulsa airport, and they were finally home in Tahlequah around 9:30 pm.

If you ask Beverly, she will likely tell you that the four week stay at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago was invaluable in her strength building, her confidence in her daily living activities, and that it pushed her a few steps closer to independence. She might not have completely accomplished all of her goals in this "Second Look" Program, but she is already considering a "Third Look" next year! In the meantime, she and Janie are planning a very big trip late February. Please continue to pray for her as she continues to make adjustments, and pray for us all as we finalize permanent caregivers for her.

As we left the hospital on Saturday, I noticed, for the first time, a large banner hanging in the lobby: