Dave Hess to return home June 15

BJ Alums blog got this email about former BJ and Knight-Ridder Washington bureau reporter Dave Hess from former BJ Columbus bureau reporter Bill Hershey:

Ricardo Zaldivar sent me this update from Aaron Epstein. Aaron is a long-time friend of Dave's and a colleague from the Knight-Ridder Washington Bureau. Aaron covered the Supreme Court for Knight-Ridder.

Aaron Epstein’s report about Dave Hess:

Bill,

Monday night’s update from Aaron Epstein. Please circulate to Ohio friends of Dave.

Best to you,

-ricardo

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From: Aaron Epstein <aajacks@starpower.net>

Date: Mon, 3 Jun 2013 23:12:08 -0400

To:

Subject: UPDATE: David Hess

            Hello, friends of David Hess:

            There's good news tonight. 

            At a meeting at Inova Mt. Vernon Rehabilitation Hospital, health professionals reported that he has progressed well in recent days and that, barring a setback, he could go home by mid-June. There, he would need 24-hour assistance for weeks, oversight by his primary care physician, a neurologist and a kidney doctor; and sessions with physical and occupational therapists. 

            Saturday, June 15, was set as the tentative target date for Dave's transfer from hospital to home. His brother-in-law, John Rogers of Columbus, Ohio, has volunteered to care for Dave for the first week, and Darrin Burnham, a nephew of Dave's who participated in the discussion by telephone, agreed to stay with Dave for 4-5 days after that. Mary Stringer, Dave's caseworker at the hospital, said she would work with some of Dave's friends and relatives to make plans for the months after that.

            Dr. Lauren Shapiro, Dave's neurologist, said he had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, which results from a weakened blood vessel that ruptures and bleeds into the surrounding part of the brain. A CT scan a few days ago showed "no expansion" of bleeding, and indicated "a normal evolution" of repair, Dr. Shapiro said. She noted that Dave had been exhausted during earlier days at the hospital, and endured a urinary tract infection, "vivid dreams" (see June 1st note below), and a kidney condition that was "worse than usual."  But, she added, "he has been doing well the past couple of days."

Dave Hess

            Two of Dave's therapists, Jamie Cason and Stephanie Clement, reported improvement in walking (he walked 35 feet with a walker today), and in transferring into and out of bed with only moderate assistance. His voice is getting stronger, too. But he still needs "maximum" help in going to the toilet, and "moderate to maximum" assistance in bathing and dressing, the therapists reported. So there is still a long way for Dave to go in the recovery process. The therapists noted, too, that while he is more alert than in earlier days, Dave's spinal stenosis tires his legs and he remains easily distractible. 

            Dave's cousin, Joe Marling, attended the meeting along with Frank Aukofer and me, both longtime friends of Dave's. They -- and the patient himself -- discussed with Ms. Stringer what needed to be done to help make Dave's return work well. They agreed that Dave should occupy the basement of his home, where there is a bed, TV set, toilet and shower. The medical staff suggested that Dave's relatives from Columbus should arrive a day or two early so a therapist could train them to provide all the daily assistance that he needs. Darrin said that would be possible. 

            At the meeting, Dave agreed that a continued stay in the rehab hospital until June 15 was a good idea, although he said he was eager to get back home and reunite with Champ, his 80-pound boxer.