That other girlfriend again...

[noahgibbs]

I must say, it does my heart good to see the love pouring out. You all rock so hard.

Raven and I had an informative chat today and we figured out what many many people can do to help. There are a few specific things that will help Noah tremendously in the next month or so and if people can help us out with these things it would be amazing.

Pillows- preferably firm ones though Raven says that anything that molds well to support the body will be helpful.
Queen size sheets
A pillow top mattress cover
Soft soft absorbent cloths
If someone can make really dark curtains for his window it would help so much.

Our sweet boy is pretty much stuck in bed for the next 3-6 weeks. He can't use his right arm or his left leg at all. Which means no crutches or hopping or anything. He is wheel chair dependent and ya'll have seen the hallways in the DH... Yeah, mobility is going to be tough. Our goal is to make him as comfortable as possible.

He is probably going to be coming home tomorrow (cross your fingers!!!) since we found a pain med that works. Mmmmmm Demerol...

I'm working on this optimism stuff. It isn't going to be so bad. He is going to be my captive audience for at least three weeks!

Comments

[queen-elvis.livejournal.com]

If someone will email me dimensions for the curtains, I'll get right on that. my username at gmail.

[queen-elvis.livejournal.com]

Although if speed is an issue, it might be better for someone in the Bay Area to do it. But I want to do what I can to help from afar!

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

Ummm. Damn. Let me see if I can find a tape measure. Will get back to you. Hopefully tonight, but no promises.

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

If you and/or Raven need a break from caretaking, let me know. I should be able to arrange to overnight... certainly for the next two weeks and possibly also the week after that. I'm not working during the day (except the work that takes me and my laptop) and the only thing I'd be missing out on by being there to caretake is being able to easily get to the gym.

[judith-s.livejournal.com]

Just take a dark set of flat sheets, and pin them to the window. If you double it up, it works as a blackout curtain. Single, it's still fairly dark. I can't sew, but I can provide dark blue flatsheets that I don't mind sun-bleaching, if you need them.

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

Everyone else who those options aren't working for?

Find a monkey picture, print it out. Write a little note on it maybe. Put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it. If you don't have the adress? Email me, this username, at livejouranl dot com. Then mail that sucker this way.

I'm sure he'll appreciate cards and good thoughts in hand. Well... the working one, anyway. Mail would be really good. Especially since, as of yet, he isn't back on line. (And will hopefully find my snark to be humorous when he's on here again. ;-)

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

Thanks we'll be making a list of people that would be willing to make themselves available for attendant duties. :-)

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

I've tried this before. Pins have a tendancy to come out of walls... and I really want something that is closer to a working curtain, so that it can be closed or opened very easily. It's important, as the window is on the far side of the bed, which has been placed under it. I may have more re-arranging to do, but hopefully not, as that bed is more than I want to think about moving right now.

[adagiopassion.livejournal.com]

I don't know Noah too well, I've been to a couple DHPs, and I read his LJ. Though I'm local, and can totally lend a helping hand.

I wondered if it might be beneficial for me to drop off a dinner or two once he's home? That could help take care of his caretakers too ;-)

[happysteve.livejournal.com]

Sending you positive vibes for a speedy recovery.

Bedside stuff

[7patches.livejournal.com]

He'll need a urinal.
Get used to it.
The hospital can probably give you one.
Wash your hands a lot.
(I've taken care of a husband with a bad back. I speak from experience).

Re: Bedside stuff

[mactavish.livejournal.com]

This is the most important thing I can think of.

We got one after deyo's surgery for about ten bucks at Rite-Aid. We did learn that if there's no one available to empty it about every 5 hours, if needed (just in case) it's best to have two.

[blk]

I bet you anything that would be hugely appreciated. Dinners from friends were a godsend when I was home after surgery, even though I had family and friends available.

[bdot.livejournal.com]

i have about 8 pillows i can lend you..... but no pillow cases! how do you want them to get there? raven, if you go home at all, could you drop by my place to pick them up?

Re: Bedside stuff

[rightkindofme.livejournal.com]

This is so not a big deal. Taken care of. :) Thank you!

[tshuma]

Brian and I measured the wheelchair last night and came back and made certain the hallways were clear enough for him to get through. We had to check his room too, and Raven has now emptied, moved, and refilled the bookshelf that was closest to his bedroom door so that he can actually get in to his room.

He will probably be just fine getting to the couch in the living room to watch movies and play games in a few days with someone around to push his chair.

You guys have been phenomenal. We'll have more time to work on the house-cleaning tonight.

[skamille.livejournal.com]

I'd be happy to chip in for a netflix membership so he has something to stare at while he's bedridden.
Let me know.

[katharos.livejournal.com]

Soft absorbent cloths as in clean flannel rags? Or something more medical? I can take care of a bunch of old flannel rags and some sheets. If I bring them up on Saturday is that good? Will someone be there? I can just leave them outside the door in anycase. I'll also make curtains if you decide you need them faster since I'm local. And should these rags be 1'x1' squares? Or are you looking for strips you can use to tie things up? I'll cut them any size you want.

[tshuma]

There's a tape measure on the dining room table. I didn't want to wake you up again this morning to tell you, but I'm hoping you either checked here or found it already.

Re: Bedside stuff

[d3l1r1um.livejournal.com]

Wipes. Many wipes, or other forms of hand sanitizer (mostly for him, but will be helpful for you as well).

[tshuma]

That would be tremendously useful. I know that when taking care of bk2w after his surgery the hardest thing to keep up (what with everything else) with was the cooking and the clean-up after cooking...and yet we didn't want to resort to take-out constantly. It should be better with multiple people working away at it, but the occasional meal would be a wonderful time/effort-saving thing.

[katharos.livejournal.com]

I also have a bunch of pillows and blankets if you haven't been inundated by them already.

[coyotegrrrl.livejournal.com]

Jesus, I don't read LJ for two days...I just read all the entries you guys posted. Thanks so much for keeping it updated.

Wow. I'm just so stunned. And sad for him. Knowing his demeaner, possibly sadder than he is right now.

::insert more verbal tics to express shock and dismay::

Is there anything I can send from NJ? If you can keep us updated on if he wants books, music, movies, etc, or especially someone to talk to, I'd appreciate it. I imagine he's fairly well swamped with good wishes right now, and I don't even know if he's home, so I guess I'll try calling after you post that he's home. Or something.

...

[tshuma]

I think we can pretty much guarantee that someone will be there all the time for the next several weeks.

[adagiopassion.livejournal.com]

Awesome :)

You can e-mail me adagiopassion@livejournal.com to let me know when and what would be appreciated.

[adagiopassion.livejournal.com]

*nod* I had two c-sections, and the meals that people brought over afterward were sooo wonderful.

Can you let me know how many people to cook for? Also- any food allergies, or other things to avoid? When should I plan to bring stuff over?

[tshuma]

At minimum, 2 people: noah and whoever is taking care of him then. I think the max people "living" at the house will be 5. Probably 3 would be a safe number.

I don't know of any food allergies that noah or the ladies might have, I can't have beer (even cooked in food), and bk2w won't eat mushrooms or seafood, but I think we'll be just fine on our own. I would check in with ravenslost and boot_slut about the food allergies, preferences, and timing on it all.

[neverjaunty.livejournal.com]

Hey, I don't mean to get all lawyer and you, and it's not my business so don't feel like I'm asking you to post answers HERE....

But. Is the guy who hit angelbob paying for any of the damage caused? Have you guys talked to a personal injury lawyer? I'm NOT suggesting angelbob run right out and sue the driver's pants off. But if the guy who hit him is insured, then his insurance co ought to be covering many of the bills, including lost work time, medical expenses, and (one hopes) pain and suffering.

Hmmm...

[tshuma]

She doesn't drive, and I think 8 pillows might be hard to BART with. Can you get them partway down to Fremont? I might be able to meet you halfway.

Ok, how about this....

[girlpurple.livejournal.com]

My method was to use black twin flat sheets from Target/Walmart (about $5 each). Grab your seam ripper and open up the wider/top end at each side, thread curtain rod through. It will open and close like a real curtain easily and you can cut it off at whatever length you want.

If you don't have a curtain rod, I may have one I can spare. I also have some stainless steel cabling with clips which mounts to walls that would work too. Heck, I may still have the old sheets I used. Let me know if you want me to check.

[adagiopassion.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :-)

I kinda figure, I'll plan most meals to feed 6 people. Also, I'll make easily re-heatable food, that way it can serve to feed people at lunch or dinner as needed.

[shipofools999.livejournal.com]

There is a DHP scheduled for the 28th. Since Noah is such a social creature and gets energy from people, you may want to consider setting up little versions of DHP or Movie Nights when he is feeling a little better. Not take-care-of-Noah company but entertain-Noah type of company. I think facing 4-6 weeks of being stuck would be very daunting for the extremely social type.

Re: Hmmm...

[bdot.livejournal.com]

i fyou could meet me by the 880 somewhere that would be great... maybe somewhere in hayward? the 92?

[gomijacogeo.livejournal.com]

Wow, that so sucks. Having had a bad crash last November I totally sympathize. Speedy recovery!

I have a couple things that might be useful:
- a 2 foot long hand-operated grapple arm thingy. Very useful when
things are otherwise just out of reach.
- a commode that can be set up next to the bed.

I also have a walker and crutches when he gets that far.

Let me know if I should bring any or all of these things over.

I'm also more than willing to help out in any other way that people can
think of. In the months after my accident, I relied on the help of a
lot of people and owe a large karmic debt to the world at large.

I can be reached at johng at midgard dot net.

curtains

[bayareajenn.livejournal.com]

I just read about this. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to angelbob. Btw, this is Tim Showalter's girlfriend.

If you need dark curtains, I have some dark blue velvet curtains that I'm not really using at the moment. 8 of them, full-length. Let me know if you want to borrow them/some of them. I can have them over soonest. They let a little light through, but not much. If you have the set-up, you can always double them up if the room is still too bright.

--Jenn.

[angelbob.livejournal.com]

They will be, it's all fine. We know the guy's name, he admits blame, etc.

fuck fuck fuck

[sooperspryte.livejournal.com]

I was off LJ for a few days and just read about this. Noah, I don't know what to say except that I'm really really glad that you are as okay as you are. Please take care.
God, I don't know what else to say. But yeah. Best wishes. *hug*

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

A lover of mine has offered us curtains she already had, that fit the window. So I think we're in the clear for that. Thank you so much.

As for things to do from far away, anything that you know of that might cheer him up, or that might distract his mind for a while? Keep an eye on thenewdisaster I'm going to be brainstorming ideas for far away friends there shortly.

Re: Ok, how about this....

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

A lover of mine has offered us curtains that she already had that will fit the window. So I think we're in the clear for that, but thank you for your ideas! (Hell, I may use them at my place when I eventually get back there. :-)

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

The grapple thing sounds like it could be helpful. I don't know if he'll be able to use it until his left hand heals a bit... but it could be a good thing to have. :-)

We've got a commode. The walker and crutches are things he's probably not going to able to use as the broken right arm was the worse of the two major injuries, and will probably take longer to heal.

Keep an eye out at thenewdisaster for what other things we may need. We'll be updating from there. Thank you, for your kind offers of help.

Re: curtains

[ravenslost.livejournal.com]

A lover of mine offered some that she had that fit the window. So I think we're covered on that one. Thank you, regardless for the very generous offer though!

[gomijacogeo.livejournal.com]

Ok, I'll either send the grapple arm thingy (must, must think of a better
term for it) along with friends who are planning to visit tomorrow or drop
it by sometime this week (I'm in Cupertino).

"grapple arm thingy"

[generalist.livejournal.com]

Hi!

I'm the designated carrier of the grapple arm thingy. I'll be taking it over to DH tomorrow morning, if that works. Also, I can bring a reheat-able dinner at the same time, if that would be useful.

-(Cheers) generalist