Bob Robeon Updates

This is now a History of Bob's Updates. They will Stay linked to the 2006 Home Page Found in the 2006 Historical section of Madisonbaseball.com

The Last Update for Bob Robeson February 18, 2007

The Links to Bob's Pages will be left on the 2006 Home Page but will not be on the Current 2007 Home Page of the Website

Thank you to everyone who has followed the update, supported us with your good deeds and wishes, and a HUGE thank you to Mr. Steve Riffee who made the web site possible. This will be that last update, because, BASEBALL started today! and Bob was there! The coaches met at 8:20 A.M. Monday morning and then slowly (s..l..o..w..l..y...) Bob made his way to the gym. Although we all wanted the first day to be outside, it probably worked well for Bob for it to be inside. He was pumped for the first day and felt good about being there.

Bob will continue to attend practice each day, (we are cutting back on therapy to two mornings a week) and as his strength and abilities progress, he will be able to be a more active participant. He can't do much physically now, but he provides an extra set of eyes and a lot of insight!

We hope everyone will come out and support the '07 team. They are a wonderful group of young men, with high expectations for a exciting season. We look forward to seeing you on the baseball field!

My email is julie.robeson@verizon.net . Bob doesn't do emails (gee, what a surprise!) but I will certainly pass along any notes to him. Mostly we hope to see you out and about the ball fields!

Julie

July 28, 2006 Note From Julie:

I would like to thank everyone that has written comments, as well as everyone that is keeping us in their thoughts during this difficult time. Bob is in pretty good spirits - considering he is not as far along as he wishes to be. The permanent effects of the 'hemorrhagic stroke' will not be known for some time, but his progress is good and with time he will be back! As he works with the speech person on brain stuff, he reminds her that he wasn't much better before the stroke, so his sense of humor is still in place.

Where at the beginning of rehab at Mount Vernon, the therapists were doing about 99% max assist, they are now in the moderate assist category - so that is good. Walking with the cane and support on the left side, he can 'walk' (that is somewhat of a stretch of that word) for about 35 steps. As his core strength improves (and therefore, balance) the need for support on the left side will lessen. I am learning how to safely help him as he can't do anything by himself. Poor guy - he will be sick of me by the time this is over!!

He will probably come home toward the end of the second week in August. The therapists have told us that the transition to home is a difficult one - both emotionally (as the stroke affects emotion ability) and physically. He will come home using a wheel chair, but we hope, mostly the cane. He will begin in-home therapy at that point, then progress to out-patient. They have told us to keep things quiet for a few weeks. I have to say that he is very self-conscience right now, so I hope everyone understands that he needs to feel better about himself before he is up to seeing people. He is VERY appreciative of the thoughts, prayers, cards and will never be able to satisfactorily express his appreciation for everything. He wants the baseball boys to know that he plans to get to a fall game to see them play (may be toward the end).

We will keep you posted - thanks again for everything!

Julie

Please keep Coach Robeson and the Robeson family in your prayers!

Thanks to Julie and Lexa Rae Turner for helping relay the family updates for the web

Bob is doing OK. Progress is still slow, but there. Last week the neurologist gave him botox shots in the shoulder, upper arm, wrist area, lower leg to help (hopefully) those areas be more relaxed or less rigid. She said sometimes it helps, sometimes not, so we aren't sure what it will do, but it is worth a try. It is a temporary treatment at any rate, but one to help bridge the time during rehab until the body builds back the connections to do it on its own. In therapy the other day, Bob was working on catching and tossing balls - amazing how difficult it is, when for so long it was just natural! Not anymore!

Bob continues with therapy 4 times per week and is making progress (or at least is holding his own!) Work with the left hand and arm is coming along -in therapy he is moving pegs, tossing baseballs, and picking up things, although it hasn't translated into functionality yet with daily living tasks at home - but he keeps trying. Since December 1, he has tried not to use the cane when he is home - as long as the brace in on his left ankle - otherwise he isn't stable enough to be safe. If the ground is fairly level outside, he has the cane, but lifts it up so he isn't using it. His walking isn't always pretty, and the left leg has a mind of its own, so sometimes bends and sometimes doesn't! The cold affects it as well, but we're moving along. We went to the neurologists yesterday and she is pleased - she commented that she knew we would like to be farther along, but that Bob was really doing well considering the severity of the stroke he had. In fact she said he was "off the bell curve" that so many don't live through it, or never really are able to do much at all (speaking, walking, thinking) She did say he would always have some disability - but how much we can't tell at this point. She does feel that he will be able to drive again, with what if any modifications will be determined as the left side improves.

I would suggest that if you have any remodeling to do on your house that would think in terms of accessibility even though it would never cross your mind! It would be so much easier for Bob to be independent if our house was more accessible. We have done what we can without a major remodel. One learns a lot from these life experiences - so keep it in mind if you ever have the opportunity.

We have enjoyed attending some of the basketball games (at Oakton) and plan to get up to Madison to see more.

Thanks for everyone's continued kindness!

Julie

The past few weeks have been good. Bob is walking more and more without his cane when in the house, although he needs it whenever outdoors as his steps are not always very stable and he must really concentrate to get them more normal and less robotic looking. We have gone to see his nephew, Dylan, play basketball (for Woodson) and last Friday attended Madison Boys game against Oakton. I was so happy for him to get out - as tiring as it is, it is good to challenge himself and wonderful to see the students and so many friends. Plus Madison won! Yea! Saturday night, Robbie took him to Scott Rowland's bachelor dinner, and although he didn't last real long, he enjoyed being with everyone. We will continue to get out as much as we can, as we both think it helps build his strength (and confidence). We have lots of basketball games to attend --Dylan's games (Woodson varsity), Lexa's games (Robinson girls JV) and Madison boys and girls. Bob's walking isn't very pretty but at least it gets him from point A to point B and we are grateful for that! Have a great holiday! Julie

As Thanksgiving weekend comes to a close, we are so thankful for our family and friends support! Thanksgiving day we went to Bob's parents home and ate too much, but it was nice to be with everyone.

Bob continues to improve, but so very slow, much slower than at first, which we were told to expect, but it is hard. He is feeling pretty good - and looks pretty much like himself now. Soon it will be time to get a real haircut instead of me trimming it. Therapy is still four mornings a week and then in the afternoon he concentrates on practicing his hand and arm exercises and walking (with and without the cane). The walking has been frustrating as it seems to improve, then regress - and the colder it is the worse it is. According to the therapist, this is due to 'tone' and will get better as recovery continues. We both hoped he would be a bit farther along in recovery than he is now - both in stability walking and functional use of his left hand and arm, but we continue to be optimistic that eventually it will all come together. His spirits are good - we are thankful for all that we have - we wish everyone a wonderful December!! Julie

November 1 was a good day! For the first time, yesterday afternoon, Bob walked (yea!) without the cane, from the driveway to the side of our house( so he could tell me what bean pods to save for seeds for next year). Not only was this on uneven ground, but he bent his left knee as he stepped! It made him incredibly tired (since he was already tired from therapy) but how good it was to see the movement! The last few weeks have been so slow, to begin to come together yesterday was so encouraging! He has set goals for himself all along and hasn't made them as well as he would like, but now his immediate goal is that he has 3 weeks to learn to walk well enough to get to the food on Thanksgiving before it is all gone! Another milestone - we are going on our first road trip today, with Robbie and Lexa to the lodge in Maryland where they will get married next year. I can't wait!! and Bob is looking forward to the change in scenery as well. I've cooked more meals than when Robbie lived at home, so going to a restaurant is so exciting! It will be another big step toward getting back to normal. Best wishes to everyone! Julie

Bob is doing OK. He is still attending therapy four mornings a week and the sessions are going well. His therapist is upbeat and works him hard, adding new exercises, new machines, and movements to keep him challenged. His left side, especially his arm is getting some more movement (still not as much as he needs to be independent) and his walking is improving. He is able to walk some without the cane, but is a ways from putting it (the cane) away for good. Right now he has hit a bit of a plateau, and although it is a bit frustrating, I think he is handling it pretty well. He knew that everyone has periods of time that not much progress is evident...and is trying to stay positive and remember that progress is cumulative, and that the plateau will pass. He has been enjoying having some baseball to watch on TV - and the football, although the Skins aren't much to look at! He is eager to get all parts working and feel more like himself - it will come, just not as fast as we would like. Thanks for your positive thoughts!

The saying, "watching grass grow..." is what this recovery time is like. Bob is making progress, but it is slow, slow, slow! We went to the Neurology doctor today and the results of the latest MRI showed that the bleed is continuing to evolve and heal (what we want and the doctor was pleased), and that there was no indication that there was a underlying problem like tumor or tangle of vessels or something similar to cause the original bleed, which is good news, so that it had to be caused by undiagnosed high blood pressure, which is now being treated and hopefully controlled. The doctor seemed very pleased with the physical gains he has made (especially with the arm) since she saw him a month ago - and feels that by after the winter holidays (we go back in January unless something happens) that he can begin to think about where his physical skills are in relation to being able to drive. Overall, Bob's spirits are good - he knows where he has to get to, and tries to look at the big picture, taking one day at a time. He attends therapy Monday, Wednesday, usually Thursday, and Friday in the morning for 2 1/2 -3 hours. We have been sitting outside in the afternoon on the nice days enjoying the weather, as he is a bit worn out, but not like he used to be. We continue to appreciate everyone's good thoughts!

Bob is continuing with therapy three to four days a week, usually in the mornings now for about 2 1/2 hours. He is always quite tired when he gets home from the work out, but that is a good thing! Last Friday he told Valerie, the therapist, as he left that his legs felt like jello...she asked what flavor, which gave him a chuckle. His therapy involves machine work along with walking, stretching, and balance activities. Movement is getting better, but it is incredibly minute increments of improvement. At home he can walk from the chair to the table etc with the cane, and practices walking without the cane as often as he can as he is eager to be strong and balanced enough to do that all the time. All in all, most days his spirits are good - occasionally he gets a bit discouraged, but then bounces back. His nights are not always the best as he can't move around, so his body gets really stiff, so sometimes his days are not as good because of the lack of sleep the night before - oh well, that will get better with time we are sure. We think the next few months will be more of what is happening now, pretty status quo. Bob is working hard - still plans to be on that baseball field (or at least in the dugout) by end of February!

Bob's therapy is going well. He attends sessions three times a week, usually about 2 hours at a time. He works on developing his balance, his walking, and overall strengthening exercises (with legs, arms and hand). He makes him tired - but not as bad as before when he would crash for two hours and sleep! Now he just naps, so I take that as another good sign that he is getting better. He is open to company, but keep in mind that he was never a 'visiter', or 'talker' before the stroke so that definitely has not changed! 5 or 10 minutes is all he can handle. He enjoys when Dylan, his nephew comes, because he just sits and watches sports with him, but doesn't talk. You know Bob...... I just hate for anyone to make a special trip and then feel like he is unappreciative, because he isn't - he has said many times that he doesn't need company to demonstrate how supportive everyone is. We plan to make it to a couple of fall baseball games, plus a football game, and are looking forward to getting back to more normal activities. Bob went to Robbie's yesterday, which was his first outing - hard to imagine that just getting in the car, trying to walk on new terrain can be so nerve-wracking, but it was, and it went well! Another first step. We continue to appreciate everyone's good wishes!!! Jul

The latest..... being home has been so nice! Bob's progress has been very incremental, but definitely there! The day he came home, Robbie had to support every step -- as of Friday, the PT told him that it was time to go 'solo' which means I don't have to walk with him every step of the way!! Of course he leans heavily on the cane and must be careful to get his balance when he first stands up. He still cannot really do anything by himself, but the movements in his arm and leg are getting more noticeable and purposeful. For example, he actually was able to move his left arm up to his mouth area (took about 45 seconds but he did it! ) which is a great sign! He is working hard to lift his left foot when he takes a step; he is practicing moving his left leg forward, sideways and backwards, bending at the knee - and can do these movements with great effort but 3 - 5 times when he does. Everything from eating, to showering etc. is such a production and takes such time that it exhausts him. However, when he first came home 2 1/2 weeks ago, he would fall into a deep sleep after any effort or therapy for hours...now the naps are less deep and long. Sleeping hasn't been great as he gets pretty uncomfortable in just one position - but a hopeful sign happened the other night ...he complained in the morning that his left side was all tingly and achy - which we take as an indication that the nerves are getting better! Bob's spirits are good - it frustrates him that every little thing he does makes him so weak and tired. Our days are spent with daily living things, visits from the PT or PT or doing the list of exercises that they have left for us to do! They would take all day if we did everyone - but he can't handle that yet. Our doctor visit on Monday, Aug 21 went well - we did not use the wheelchair, but slowly walked in, of course, with the cane. We have another doctor appointment this week, and who knows how many after that! He is on 5 different meds....hard for one not used to taking even an aspirin! One plus has come out of all this...he has developed a bit of a sweet tooth! Fortunately his mom makes great fruit pies, which are his favorite, so that has been a real treat.

Bob continues to work hard in his rehab each and every day. Yesterday in his Physical Therapy, he walked up some modified (shorter than normal) stairs with a 4-prong cane and the therapist helping him. He is very excited about this as they are getting him ready to go home within the next month. Also, he no longer has any restrictions on his diet and is certainly enjoying that!

Bob has been approved to drink thin liquids, so this means that he can drink water. The gastrostomy tube (feeding tube into his stomach) was removed on Monday since he is now able to eat enough and get the appropriate amount of nutrients daily. He is enjoying Mamaw’s pies, homemade pudding, and crab cakes, which he likes much better than the cheeseburger and chicken salad puree he was eating a few weeks ago. He is still working hard in rehab 4-5 hours per day and is keeping a positive attitude.

Bob has been working hard at his rehab, which he has for three to four hours per day. He is continually making progress and the therapists are extremely happy with where he is. Bob still gets exhausted after his workouts, but is getting stronger and stronger everyday. They are working a lot with his left side and helping to build his core strength so that he will be able to sit up on his own. He has taken a few steps with the help of the Physical Therapist and continues to work on this.

Bob has been approved for the mechanical soft diet (scrambled eggs, macaroni and cheese, etc.), which he is very happy about- no more chicken salad and hamburgers in a blender!

They expect that Bob will be there at the rehab hospital for about 4-5 more weeks. He is in good spirits and looks forward to his therapy everyday. At this time, Bob is extremely busy during the day and when he’s not in therapy, he has been taking naps to get ready for the next session, so it’s still not a good time for visitors. We will keep you posted here!

Bob has really been working hard on his rehab. He gets 3 sessions per day (occupational, speech, and physical therapy), which makes him feel good, but tires him out. He’s been approved for puree diet again and is starting to develop an appetite, despite the consistency of the food.

Bob was able to get outside twice on Sunday (in a wheelchair) for the first time since his stroke. He really enjoyed soaking in the sun and getting some fresh air.

Bob was moved by ambulance to Mt. Vernon rehab hospital this afternoon. This is a big step that everyone is very excited about, including Bob. He was very happy to put on one of his Madison baseball t-shirts and trade in the hospital gown. Bob is ready to get to work and has 4 work-outs scheduled with the therapists on Thursday. The doctors and therapists will be assessing him and developing a treatment regimen over the next few days and it seems like his rehab will be pretty rigorous…but HE IS READY! Again, we will let you know when he gets settled and it will be good for visitors to see his progress in person.

Bob seems to be gaining stability. Occasionally, his temperature and blood pressure increases slightly, but then normalizes again. This is his status:

He talks quietly with effort but his conversation is appropriate to the topic, so his cognitive functions seem pretty good; he is not able lift his left arm; he is not able sit up on his own; he is not able to stand, walk, or maneuver on his own, but physical therapy helps him do all of these things. There is some flexing in the muscles on the left side, which acute rehab will work with (when he gets to Mt. Vernon) to help him re-learn his motor skills. He still has the feeding tube directly into his stomach and will until he regains his ability to swallow without the danger of aspirating. Bob is awake most of the time, but does not engage in much conversation (he was always quiet anyway). Although this may not sound like a positive description, Bob has come a long way. We are hopeful that he will be moved to Mt. Vernon acute rehab this coming week. He is determined to be successful during the looming months of intense rehab. As soon as he is moved to Mt. Vernon and it’s appropriate for him to have visitors, we will let you know. Thanks to all of you for your continued positive thoughts and all the things you have done for the entire Robeson clan.

They inserted the gastrostomy tube into Bob's stomach today which will deliver food and medicines directly into his stomach. He was very tired from the anesthesia and procedure and slept most of the day. His fever was back today, ranging from 100¢ to 102¢. Since all tests for infection have come back negative, the doctors think this is due to the blood remaining (and waiting to be reabsorbed) in his brain from the original bleed.

Bob’s fever seems to be disappearing. The doctors have decided it was probably due to the seizure medicine, so have taken him off of it. They have also stopped all of the antibiotics. Yesterday and today, the Physical and Occupational Therapists put Bob in a machine that allowed him to stand up for the first time in 25 days! After 20 minutes, he was so exhausted, but happy. The quad muscle in his left thigh flexed slightly today, which is a great sign! Bob is to have a stomach feeding tube inserted sometime within the next couple of days.

Bob has hit a bit of a rough patch. Due to his high fevers (103¢ª) over the past few days, the doctors did a swallow x-ray today. This indicated that Bob was aspirating liquids and will not be able to eat or drink anything until further evaluation. Tonight he had the feeding tube re-inserted temporarily, and they plan to put one directly into his stomach tomorrow morning. Bob is still receiving physical therapy but is only a passive participant. Hopefully this will all resolve itself over the next week and he can begin to feel better, be more responsive, and gain some strength.

Bob has been running a fever of 103¢ª this weekend. The doctors are looking into possible causes and meanwhile giving him medicine to break the fever and cool him off. He has been extremely tired for the past few days, but was a little more alert today.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BOB!!! This morning he was discouraged with the feeling that he has made no progress, but Julie quickly reminded him that he is still with us, which is a HUGE success! Overall, Bob rates his day as a C+. He is not capable of doing the things he wants to do and is having difficulty with everyday functions, which frustrates him. He continues to be exhausted after brief periods of therapy but is working very diligently on his strength and flexibility.

Thank you for your concerns, however it will not be appropriate for some time for him to have visitors. We will keep you posted on the most up-to-date information here on this website.

Bob held his own today, but made no new progress. He was absolutely exhausted from his progress the past three days and spent the day sleeping. Late this afternoon, Bob was moved due to his medical improvement to a different ICU floor with very restricted visiting privileges. Therefore, as before, only family members will be allowed to visit him. In addition, there is no waiting room, so although the family has appreciated friends coming by, it is now best not to come to the hospital. Thank you for your continued good wishes and prayers for Bob’s recovery. We will continue to provide updates on this website.

Tonight the Madison seniors graduated and many of them and their families were thinking of Bob and of Julie, who ran so many graduations in past years.

Today Bob was able to eat solid food, but he was very unimpressed with the chicken, corn, and potato puree they brought. He did enjoy the vanilla frozen yogurt, though!

The occupational and physical therapists came to see him this morning and he moved his left thumb about 1/8 of an inch. He also straightened out his left leg when it was bent. This is very encouraging since movement on his left side has been basically non-existent to this point. He works very hard during his physical therapy time, but it just leaves him exhausted afterwards.

Bob was very excited today when Salisbury came to visit him, jumped on the bed, and licked his face over and over!

Today Bob passed the swallow test and was able to drink water and eat applesauce and graham crackers. He is very excited about this!

His speech and awareness seems to be improving daily, however we are still concerned about infection and increased inflammation. He has 5 to 6 more days on the antibiotic, so we will be keeping our fingers crossed.

The therapy dogs, Chug and Miles, have come by yesterday and today, which Bob has really enjoyed. Bob was throwing a tennis ball to Chug yesterday and took a nap with Miles today.

The occupational and physical therapists are working him very hard in the mornings, getting him to stand up, do stretches, etc. He sat in a recliner chair for about 5 hours yesterday, and he really enjoyed being out of bed!

Today, although all the medical issues are still a concern, he seemed more like himself. He was talking a little clearer and a little less random, which we are taking as good signs.

Today Bob didn’t make any further progress, but still held his own. The CT Scan was the same as yesterday, which is good- no additional bleeding or inflammation.

He did not pass the swallow test, so he still has the feeding tube providing him with water and nutrients. He is very anxious to be able to eat real food (Mamaw’s biscuits and gravy) because he says that he is “starving”. The speech therapist will be back on Monday to do the swallow test again.

The doctors continue to be concerned about infection and have added a fourth antibiotic in order to cover a broader spectrum of bacteria.

Bob was very talkative today and voiced his concern many times that Salisbury (Robbie and Lexa’s puppy) isn’t getting enough exercise since he is unable to walk her everyday like he used to.

He is holding onto the baseball that the Madison team signed for him and very much enjoying watching baseball games on TV.

Bob continues to make progress today. In spite of the fact that his throat was sore from the breathing tube, he was communicating with us. Bob is still unable to eat or drink and being given nutrients through a feeding tube. He tells us that he is very thirsty and hungry, and we hope that he will be able to eat some soup tomorrow. The respiratory therapist, physical therapist, speech therapist, and occupational therapist came to see Bob today, which exhausted him. He is feeling better this evening and enjoyed watching baseball with Robbie.

When the occupational therapist asked him which he puts on first, shoes or socks, he replied, “I wear flip flops!” Later she asked him if all money is paper. He replied by saying, “No, but the good kind is.”

We are hopeful that Bob will continue to get better slowly but surely, and thank you for your thoughts and support.

At 8:30 this morning, the ventriculostomy tube was removed from Bob’s head. He will be closely monitored over the next few days to ensure that the pressure does not build up within the intercranial cavity. At 10am, the breathing tube was also removed. Both procedures went smoothly. We are still having difficulties controlling his blood pressure, but have added additional medications in hopes of stabilizing it.

This morning at 6am, they put a temporary cap on the drainage tube from Bob's brain and began to monitor the intracranial pressure to determine whether the tube could be safely removed. Throughout the day, the intracranial pressure (ICP) remained in a very good range until 3pm when it began to rise, causing some concern that it would go above the acceptable level. At this time, 9:30pm, the ICP has returned to a lower value, but we still do not know what decision will be made tomorrow.

Also as of 8am, they took him off all sedatives in order to prepare him to have the breathing tube removed. He needs to be fully awake and responsive so that he will be able to cough and clear his airways. The extabation (removal of the breathing tube) has been postponed until tomorrow if / when he becomes more alert. Right now he is responding, but very sleepy and not able to be as active a participant as the doctors want. We will update you on the decisions tomorrow.

Today they did a trial run with Bob off the ventilator for 2 and a half hours (meaning that he was breathing on his own), which was successful. Also, his temperature was back within the normal range today. Wednesday is a BIG day…the plan is to do a CT scan, extabate (remove breathing tube), and to temporarily cap the drainage tube from his brain and monitor the cranial pressure to ensure it stays within the normal range.

This afternoon they temporarily reduced the amount of sedative that Bob is receiving, allowing him to respond to his family talking to him by squeezing our hands, giving thumbs up, and wiggling his toes. These are all positive signs and very encouraging. The respiratory therapist came in today and increased the breathing workload that Bob is doing, allowing him to do 60% of the breathing and the ventilator only doing 40%. This is a positive improvement because his oxygen levels are still remaining within normal ranges. We continue to be concerned about his blood pressure and the low grade fever he has been running. We believe they will be doing a CT scan within the next two days, and the Neurosurgeon will then determine the next course of action.

Bob is in critical but stable condition at Fairfax Hospital after suffering a hemorrhagic stroke on Friday, May 26. A shunt is helping to drain cerebral spinal fluid to keep the pressure down in his brain, allowing it to heal. At this time, the cerebral pressure is within the normal range. When they lowered the level of sedation, we saw some positive signs and purposeful movement. Right now we are just waiting for him to heal and will keep you posted on the most current information. The support from the team and the community has been overwhelming and very much appreciated.