Friday, September 23, 2011
I made it back to the hospital by 7:00 am. I didn’t want to miss the Doctor’s Report. They didn’t call for us until about 7:45 am. Michelle went with me. They told us that they would check the vassal spasms again today with Doppler. It was Dr. Johnson, whom we had met once. He has the weekend shift. He told us that of those who have the vassal spasms, that only 20% have a stroke. I’m working on positive self talk-that means there’s an 80% chance that Dave won’t have one. The day before, Dr. Murray said that these are a concern up to two weeks out. After the Doctor Report, Michelle and Rebecca left and I laid down and slept another hour and a half. I told myself that I needed to rest more in between visits. I went to McDonald’s and got Dave a McGriddle and a breakfast burrito. I got myself a smoothie and a coffee. It feels good to get out of the hospital and to get a walk and some fresh air. When I went up to see you, you were a trooper and tried to get two bites down. Something I hadn’t even considered is how much it hurts you to chew. I left it for you to eat later. The nurse never came in during the alloted time, so I stayed until the nurse came. You had mentioned that the hand where your IV was hurt. I looked, and sure enough it had swollen probably an inch and a half. The medical term, I found out later is infiltration. I asked Dave how long it had been like that and he said it had started to swell the night before. You said that you had mentioned it the night before to the nurse and that they hadn’t done anything about it. It was the first time that I had been mad at anyone in the hospital. When the nurse came in, she said that she would bring him a hot cloth. I mentioned that it was very uncomfortable and painful for Dave. I waited until another nurse came back who was ready to change the IV, then I left. Amanda came with my lunch of Captain D’s fish. Senita also showed up about the same time. The Manna House people had come and brought lunch to anyone who wanted some. What a thoughtful idea. They had brought sandwiches, chips and drinks. I grabbed a bag of chips. I have been amazed by the many thoughtful things that people out here do. The hospital world with people in long term ICU is new to me. WE had a nice visit and then it was time to go see Dave again. Funny, how my world now revolves around visiting hours in the ICU. The nurse, whom I didn’t know her name, told me that I could stay as long as I wanted to. I stayed until 6:00 pm. Dave slept most of the time, but oh how thankful I am that Dave is alive and I love hearing him breathing beside me. I missed seven phone calls during that time. I responded to a few texts. I slept a little. Then when Dave was up to eat and they brought food, I helped him sit in the chain and helped him eat supper. He tried a bite of the baked fish-it was dry. I tried a bite also, that is how I know. There was some kind of chowder soup that he ate about half of and seemed to enjoy. She made him a chocolate protein shake. You only had a few sips of it. You said that if you ate anymore, then you would get sick. After you ate, I gave you a sponge bath. It took a little while to get the bed made, then, you went to sleep once you got settled. You were so tired. That is when I left. I went to the cafeteria and tried to catch up on some phone calls while I ate. I had reserved my chair for the night. They had potato soup which I had been craving-but nothing seemed to go down well. I also got a small salad and a piece of caramel cake for dessert. I walked over to Pizza Hut to get you some wings. I ordered a 5 piece and wrote in the journal while I waited. Then it was time for the 8:30 visit. Carol and Andrea came after the LIFT Dinner at church. They came up to the 8th floor. Carol came in to say Hi. They waited for me in the ICU waiting room. Your machine had been beeping when I came in. You said that it had been beeping since 6:30 pm and no one had come in to do anything about it. Second time that I was mad. We hit the nurses’ button and she came in. We hit the button a second time a little while later for your pain meds. Dave didn’t want to take them until after I left so that he would be able to visit. I have been surprised at how concerned Dave has been about me in the midst of his pain. Dave would always say, “That’s my job.” I left about 9:15 and ate the 2 wings that you left and a bag of Fritos. WE had a good visit. Carol and Andrea told me about the LIFT dinner. Carol bought me a Milo’s sweet tea. Yum! After they left, I wrote in the journal and then headed to my assigned chair. I was in the back room, but there were a lot more people back there with me tonight.
