Thursday, May 4, 2006

grandchildren are good medicine

When Cliff first came out of surgery, the respiratory therapists stressed to him that he had to work with the incentive spirometer OFTEN.  It was painful for him, but he intended to get out of the hospital as quickly as possible, and he worked hard at it.

When he was out of ICU, he still used the contraption diligently.  One night nurse, Amee, laughed because she'd hear Cliff in the middle of the night using his spirometer.  "Nobody ever uses those things unless there's someone standing over them, forcing them to do it," she said.

Obviously nobody else was as determined as Cliff was to get home!

He's still doing it three or four times a day.  And as you can see by the pictures, the granddaughters consider it a new toy.

Don't you love the smiles?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thats so nice that the girls and Cliff are having so many laughs... Laughter is the best medicine and they don't even know they are taking it .... So nice. Sandra

Anonymous said...

Those are great pictures. They look like they are having fun. Who knows maybe one or both of them will make a nurse. Cliff looks as if he feeling really good. Helen

Anonymous said...

Yes!
Tess

Anonymous said...

OH yes nothing like the grandchildren to keep your heart happy and healthy. What a blessing for you all.

Anonymous said...

Grandchildren are the best medicine.
Missie

Anonymous said...

Yup those girls are the best "medicine" around...and using what Grandpa does.....gives them an idea of what the big deal about using it is...gives them insight....and yes...those smiles are precious....and Cliff just beams!!!!  Hugs...Ora

Anonymous said...

Children, smiles and love......what better medicine than that!  -  Barbara

Anonymous said...

:)

Anonymous said...

those are such sweet tender pictures
Marti

Anonymous said...

Having such nice company sure does make recovery easier.  I'm glad he is such a good patient.  Some men are not!  Take good care !  'On Ya' - ma

Anonymous said...

Those are such nice pictures!!  Funny how kids can turn anything into a toy! LOL!  Tell Cliff to keep up the good work!
Pamela

Anonymous said...

Good and smart of Cliff to keep up the routine!  Perhaps you aren't raising hypochnodriacs, but doctors or nurses instead!

Anonymous said...

Good to see him having fun with the grandmonsters. Only one thing missing -- time for Cliff to show us his incision scar. That's the passkey to the "Zipper Chest Club."

wil

Anonymous said...

good for Cliff for using that thing spirometer everyday.  I hope he's feeling better.

Anonymous said...

I have to commend Cliff on that! And am in agreement with anything that'll get anyone out of the hospital as quickly as possible (after a minor surgery, the first thing I said upon waking was, "How soon can I leave?" They'd planned to keep me overnight, but I had other plans--did what the nurse said, and was out of there 2 hours later).
I wouldn't mind having a spirometer of my own; it's good exercise for anyone's heart and lungs--and I'd use it!

Anonymous said...

Awww... those pictures made me teary (but then WHAT doesn't? lol)  I just love the look of love and pride on Cliffs face, and the happiness that you can feel radiating from those picures!

Jackie

Anonymous said...

Glad to see the grandkids rallying around their grandaddy! Nothing like love to heal a person!
Danny used his incentive spirometer like Cliff does his......nurses and doctors at Emory said they had never seen someone so determined as anny was....Guess they had not met your husband, huh Mosie! lol
Take care of yourself Mosie.
love ya much,
Carlene