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.