Friday Update

Carl again.

Jim continues to improve.  He is doing better than I have seen him in quite a while, in my opinion.   He is happy, and focused on improving, and the pain is substantially down.

It now looks like he's going to be released on Monday.  He's expecting that everything needed will be complete by then.

There are extended visiting hours from 1:00 to 5:45 on Saturday and Sunday.  Only family members with a code are allowed to visit.  If you're going to come, please call first.

Thanks,

Carl

Thursday Night Update

Carl, posting for Jim.

Well, another day of great progress to my untrained eye.  I got to have about an hour with Jim, and Cindy was there with me for about 20 minutes.

The medications and special glasses appear to be working well for Jim.  His pain continues to decrease.  He mentioned that he has had fewer shark attacks, and those that he has had are less severe.  He is more upbeat, and more convinced that he is moving forward with a purpose in his life.  He is stronger, and is fully participating in life in the hospital.  He is feeling much less pain on a continuing basis, and life is better for him.  He believes that his time in the hospital is very helpful to him, as he had a chance to get away from stresses on the outside and "wrap himself in cotton" to rejuvenate his mental and emotional health.

Jim is on track to be discharged at noon on Tuesday.  That's his current working plan.

Jim has been unable to read because his regular glasses don't magnify the text enough for his not-so-young eyes.  Cindy stopped by the dollar store and bought some reading glasses for him, and before we left the hospital he put on the reading glasses for magnification and the prescription lenses for the fluorescent blocking, and was able to read.  This will be good for him, because as you know, he loves to read to sate his seemingly infinite curiosity.

Jim appreciated the comments that you have posted to his blog, and appreciates all the love and prayers in his behalf.  He got emotional when I read them to him, and he shared with me his love for his family and his friends.  He strongly reiterated that he believes his friends are friends for eternity, whether he sees them once or twice in his lifetime, or on a daily basis.  Thank you all for being his friends.

Jim wants all of the Cobabe extended family to learn these words:  basilar migraine syncope.  This is a syndrome that Jim has been diagnosed with.  He lived for years with recurring migraines, many of which were debilitating for several hours or a day.  He has now been properly diagnosed with this syndrome.  This syndrome is very rare, but runs in families.  If you suffer from regular migraines with aura, please search for basilar migraine syncope on Google, and see a neurologist to see if you can obtain a diagnosis and treatment.  Jim would love it if his experience could prevent suffering for those he loves.

Thanks again for your faith and prayers.

Carl

Wednesday Update

Carl again, posting for Jim.

You know, every time I post on this blog I am made acutely aware of how wonderful a writer Jim is and how poorly my writing measures up.  But, I guess it's the best you've got....

I had a meeting run late at work today, so I ended up very late getting to the hospital.  I made it only about 5 minutes before the end of visiting hours.  So I only got to spend about 10 minutes with Jim (the staff gave me an extra 5 to be nice).  Jim continues to progress.  He looked better and happier than yesterday.  He seems to be both physically and mentally stronger.  I understand that he's had some discussions with the hospital staff, and is hopeful that he'll be able to be released after the weekend if he continues to progress.

Jim is thinking about the possibility of getting into some kind of group home in Salt Lake valley, where he could be closer to his sons and have access to public transportation to help him get around.  It's an option he may want to pursue at some time in the future.

The glasses that Jim got prescribed by Dr. DeGre seem to be helping him.  His intensity and frequency of shark attacks is falling off.  I believe there are clear signs of progress for him.

I gave Jim the comments each of you left on yesterday's post.  I didn't have time to read them to him, but I did tell him who they were from.  He was pleased to receive them.  When I visit tomorrow I'll collect his responses, and make them part of my post.

Thanks to all who continue to have faith and pray in behalf of Jim.  He feels keenly the effects of your faith and prayers.

Carl

Tuesday Evening Update

This is Carl, posting for Jim

I got to visit with Jim tonight for about an hour.  I wish I had more time!  The time flew by, and I needed to leave.

For the first time, I visited with Jim in the common area instead of in his room.  He's made lots of progress since yesterday.  He's now working out how he can make the progress he needs to get out of the hospital.  His mind was sharp and lucid.  He had no shark attacks during our visit.  I'm very pleased with the progress he's making.

He doesn't want to talk with anybody on the telephone.  He's not happy speaking on the phone.

I'd love to take any messages any of you have for him in for him to read.  Just post a comment, and I'll print it out and take it in to him.

Thanks for all your love, faith, and prayers in Jim's behalf.  I know that they make a difference.

Carl

Update on Jim's Status

This is Carl, posting for Jim.

We went to visit Jim at the hospital today.  I got there about 4:15, and there was a neurologist examining Jim.  I was really pleased to see how well Jim was interacting with the doctor; he was doing MUCH better than he had been only 24 hours before.

Shortly after, Mom and Dad Cobabe and Cindy (my wife) arrived.  After the doctor finished his examination, Jim asked for a bit of private time with us.  The hospital staff all left, and Jim shared with us an experience of a visitor from beyond the veil who told him it was not yet his time to go.  So Jim agreed to stay on earth and continue to endure.  I believe that it was this visitor who had made such a substantial impact on Jim's attitude and progress.

We then gave Jim a blessing.  It was a pleasure for me to assist.  Jim was promised that he would recover and that he had much to do before he leaves this earth.

We then had the chance to fill out medical history.  Cindy got to ask Jim all sorts of personal questions, and write down his answers.  Jim's vocabulary and sense of humor came through as he responded appropriately to some pretty off-the-wall questions.

We got to break the rules -- four of us got to visit when you're only allowed two, and we got to stay until 6:45 when visiting hours ended at 5:45.  I guess that was partly because we were getting his paperwork filled out, and partly because the doctor was there during part of visiting hours.  Anyway, it was great to see the progress that Jim has made.

Thanks to all of you for your faith and prayers.  I believe they are making a difference.

On our way out, Jim spent some time asking us to do all we could do to help Ruth.  Ruth, Jim loves you and wants you to know that.   He's concerned that you'll feel guilty for his problems, and that with all the attention directed to him, you might be overlooked.  Know that he loves you.

All in all, I considered it a very positive visit.  I believe that he's on his way back.

Thanks for all your love.