Motion

The last word I have regarding my visit to Erie is about Suerk's motion, or lack of motion. The 'Q' word is not something we whisper. Suerk is a quadriplegic. Last Sunday in discussing the Penn State/Ohio State game, he said, "The wonderful thing about quadriplegia is that you can watch an entire ballgame without interruption." The comment was intended to provide a laugh. Never is he looking for pity – ever.

Motion. Suerk turns his head. He has some use of his arms in that the muscles down to the elbow work somewhat on command. Often the arms move without command. The throwing (left) arm tries to curl up toward his collarbone involuntarily. The writing/conducting arm behaves better, but it might not be as strong as the left. Often he requests to have someone move his arms and hands back to a more comfortable position because they tend to climb upward unintentionally. He has lots of feeling in the places in his arms and hands over which he has no control. He's not happy about that kind of feeling because it's like a burning. If you think holding his arm or hand will give him comfort, think again. He's learned how to throw you a look that says, "Lay off!" The feeling is like fire, but it is feeling. Maybe one day the sense of feeling/burning will become motion again. That is the hope.

It is with this limited movement and his entire mind that Suerk is thriving at the Harmarville Rehab facility in Pittsburgh. The news from there is nothing but extraordinarily positive. He is demonstrating a strength and sense of hope that he has not possessed since the fall in July. John Bush spent the day with him yesterday and found Suerk deeply engaged in his therapy with a concentration and enthusiasm that John Bush calls, "inspirational."

More Later.

A Note From Joanna Bush

I know what you mean about feeding Suerk, and it feeling quite uncomfortable at first... and the "rhythm" you fall into...'

But the thing that amazes me is Suerk's constant gentlemanly demeanor. The "please" before every bite... and the humor about the food!

Suerk has had a hard time dealing with the move, but he is forging ahead, and the transfer is set for 10AM on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Dave McChesney and I will be accompanying him on the trip. When we get there, I will try to find out how we can all communicate with him.

Keep him in your prayers, because the next two weeks I am sure will be especially hard.... new people, new routines, and very few friends at his bedside. I know that I will only be able to get there once a week... and some of his friends cannot even make the trip. It is about 2 and a half hours from Erie... so a trip there, time with Paul, and a trip back will take a good 6 hours... not easy to do when you have family demands of your own.

Stay in touch.

Pittsburgh Rehab

Suerk has decided to embrace the idea of attending a rehab facility that specializes in spinal injuries. Tomorrow an ambulance will take him from Erie to Pittsburgh. Joanna Bush and Dave McChesney will accompany him and get him settled in.

Here is the new contact information.

HealthSouth Harmarville Rehabilitation Hospital
320 Guys Run Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15238
(412) 828-1300

Harmarville closely guards their client's security. A password is required for all correspondences -- including phone contacts. Email your request for a password to:

forpaulsuerken@gmail.com

Elephant Scabs

If you’re fortunate enough to visit Suerk during mealtime, you’ll find that you will be the one he chooses to have feed him. I was taken aback. I have been through a lot and I have seen a lot, but somehow the act of feeding my teacher gave me a strange chill. That chill vanished quickly, though, and the rhythm of the feeding became comforting in a way. “Meat, please. Juice, please. Peas, please. Juice, please.” Eventually, you learn the order of things and can anticipate him before he needs to make the request. And the rhythm is punctuated with humor and laughs. I never did share the food with him, and no one would want to given the contorted facial expressions he displays upon tasting most of what he eats. One afternoon when I lifted the cover off the platter, Suerk took a look at the veal and conjured the voice of Doc Prevost. “Oh, Jesus! Elephant scabs again!” But he ate the scabs and most everything else served him. And that’s how that went.

Pat, I’d Like to Buy a Vowel

It’s time to write about my visit with Suerk last week, but there’s so much to say. I don’t know quite where to begin. To start, it’s important to say that Suerk is doing very well. His spirits are high. Therapy is going well. His loyal friends continue to visit him daily. He’s engaged in the baseball season, politics and current events. Cleo and Gigi have a new home and this has brought him a large measure of peace. There is one issue he faces which brings with it a bit of anxiety, and that is whether he wants to transfer to a more specialized rehab facility in Pittsburgh while his insurance still covers the tremendous cost. The admission staff from that facility will be visiting him soon to make their case. There are two issues which will make the decision difficult for him. He does not want to leave Erie, even for a short duration. And he has serious doubts whether a specialized rehab facility can help ‘rehab’ his 70 year old, mostly paralyzed body. He is open-minded, though, and he wants to hear the experts make their case before he makes his decision.

Western Reserve

During our conversation yesterday Suerk said to me,

Hold on a minute, Matt. Wayne! WAYNE!!! Yes, Wayne, would you mind turning that TV down? WAAAAYNE!!!!! Yes, thank you. Please turn that TV down. (MY GOD!) Okay, Matt. My God! I never thought I would be on a first name basis with Pat and Vanna! I didn't even know what the in the hell the 'Wheel' was, and now I find myself buying vowels!

So Suerk and his roommate are torturing one another with their TV selections. While there are two TVs in the room (about six feet apart separated by a curtain) Wayne’s remote controls both sets. Often, when Olberman or Matthews are ranting particularly exquisitely, or when I was there, smack in the middle of the Biden/Palin debate, Wayne will change both sets to something like Spike TV. You can imagine Suerk’s frustration and the expletives the frustration demands. He takes it in stride, though, along with everything else that has befallen him.

This leads me to the place – Western Reserve. In one way, it’s the nicest nursing home I have ever visited in that there is no smell -- none. Much more importantly, the staff is extremely attentive day and night. Suerk has a device mounted to his bed he calls his blowpop. When he raises his head and places his lips on the blowpop and blows, the nurse responds immediately. And as you can see from Nurse Nancy’s comment, the staff is loving and compassionate. Suerk is the only ‘quad’ in the whole place. The nursing staff is well aware of his unique story and their compassion shows. So he’s in a good place, for now. We can only hope and trust that he will make the best decision for himself regarding the specialty rehab in Pittsburgh. The decision is his.

There is more to come. For now, know that Paul Suerken is well. He continues to be deeply moved by the wonderful wishes and messages coming his way. His hope is that, eventually, he will have a way to express his love and thanks in return.

More on my visit later.

A Word From Suerk's Nurse Nancy

Suerk's nurse, Nancy, posted this comment under the posting, "Inform Your Physicians Immediately!" Her words belong in the main section of the blog.

I would like to say as one of the nurses that is taking care of Paul, he is the vision of strength and endurance. I care about all my resident's, however, I was drawn to Paul. He always has a smile and is one of the classiest gentlemen I have ever met. He greets you with a smile and always has a kind word. He is truely an inspiration. I am at a disadvantage now because I am no longer working at that facility and I will dearly miss him. I will keep up with the website to track his progress. LOVE YOU PAUL! Always keep hope!

Cleo & Gigi

Friday, October 3: A Word From Suerk


As some of you may know, I love Boston terriers and ever since my first one, Wahoo (named by Kevin McCormack ’91 in honor of my affection for the Cleveland Indians), I have been hooked on the breed.


Since I am not able to give Cleo and Gigi the love and care that they need and deserve, I have been hoping to find a dog lover who will give them the joy and companionship they have shared with me.


Ken Felix, my veterinarian, found such a person, and the following three pictures will provide a glimpse into why I am so gratified.


Thanks to Donna Achille, who is now their new 'mother,' my heart is at ease and my dogs have every reason to rejoice.


The first picture shows Gigi, the younger of my two Bostons, making her first contact with Donna. You can see how 'upset' she seems to be after three-and-a-half seconds. The second picture depicts Cleo, the shy and diffident one, not being sure if she should be in the picture.


If you can’t understand the outcome of all of this, as shown in the third picture, then you are dumber than the 9th Graders I taught for 31 years!


Love,


Suerk


PS Really, I learned more from my 9th graders than they learned from me.

Dona Nobis Pacem

When I heard this story on the way to young Charlton Schaner’s soccer game last Saturday, I pulled over to listen. If you have ten minutes, you take a listen. Click the link below, then under the story title, “Revisiting Bernstein’s Immodest ‘Mass,’” click the box that says, 'Listen Now.'

This story awakens a million connections between Suerk and me. It is my inclination to present my pages long list, but I will resist. Enjoy the story and whatever connection with Paul it awakens in you. He would like that.

I’m on my way to Erie today.

Matt

A Link to NPR's Story on Bernstein's "Mass"