November 22, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
Well, first off I can share with you all that Mom and I are having
a sleepover tonight in her hospital room! We talked Dad into going
to Falmouth with Pat for a "Stag night" and I have taken
over the cot that Dad had formerly occupied. She had a difficult
night with oodles of pain after the lung drain tubes were put
in place and around midnight last night, after having suffered
quite a while, Dad was able to summons a nurse who gave her a
mightly wallop of Morphine, after she had been given Adivan and
Percodan (sp?) Needless to say, she was more than a bit looped
when I got here at 6:30 AM. Mom has a problem coming off Morphine
and I dreaded the news when the nurse told me what she had been
given. I knew from past experiences with Morphine and Mom that
she doesn't tolerate it well and would be down-for-the-count for
one full day and maybe into the second day. After a nerve-wracking
morning of watching her stopping her breathing and me jiggling
her foot, to no avail, I persuaded the nurses to give her something
to counteract the morphine's effect yet keep some of the pain
relief for her. They have found a nice balance for her, keeping
her slightly looped by responsive enough to each and take her
pills. Her urine output is down again, though her kidney function
is fine. She hasn't had much to drink for over 24 hrs and so they
have added a diaretic to the mix. She has eaten quite well considering
her stupor and has slurped down two different milk shakes made
with Carnation Instant Breakfast and loads of ice cream. Her bowel
have been fine/normal and no fever. Her white blood count is down
to 20, after being at one point up to 50, so she is still taking
her antibiotic. Her spirits now are wonderful and she is very,
very aware of all the love coming from her friends and family
and "admirers" from all over the place. She is very
grateful to be "with us" and has told everyone who will
listen that "she IS going to make it!" This is music
to all of our ears, as you can well imagine. I truly feel that
no matter what goes on now, she can face it and will overcome
any hurdles despite the long journey ahead. The plans for the
pace maker installation is still up in the air, depending on when
her infection is totally gone and her lung draining tubes are
no longer necessary. She has spent the entire day and last night
after midnight in the recliner and is very comfortable there and
has no plans to move. We'll see what the nurses think. She is
humbled by all the love and attention that has come her way and
told me to tell all of you how much she loves you all and how
much she appreciates everything, as do we all! Please keep her
in your thoughts and prayers and know that we can feel them wrapping
around us all.
Well, I'm off to put on my PJ's and take out my contacts and get
ready to bunk in with Mom. I hope docs and nurses don't get mistaken
and give me any shots or procedures tonight. I'm beginning to
look more like the patient than she is!!! Can't wait to see what
a night in the hospital will turn me into!
Good night, my friends. Sweet dreams and hopes of a brighter (warmer?)
tomorrow.
Love,
Bev (and Mom)
.