Day 8: Almost Home
((((((HUGS TO ALL))))))
Jon's hemaglobin dropped to 7.6, so he had a blood transfusion ~ 2 units of blood. I knew it was coming. He doesn't seem to be able to escape the hospital without a blood transfusion or two or three or ... several.
His WBC is normal, which is fantastic and means the antibiotics are working. That is praise-worthy.
Jon's nurse today is a man, who was very nice and quite thorough. He explained many things to me about low blood pressure and fluid dynamics. He was amazed, as is everyone, about Jon's overflow of water out of his trache and mouth, when his belly blows up, and he becomes dehydrated. But, he complimented me for figuring out how to mitigate it by giving Jon small amounts of water every 15 minutes, until he starts peeing again, and his distention resolves. He actually said, "I'm not even sure that a doctor would think of that."
I blushed, "You're giving me too much credit!! It just seemed logical to me."
He shared with me about his own medical journey. He's a young man, but he's been through a lot. Diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 11, a bone marrow transplant at 12, and now in his adult years, he has gone through chemo and radiation for breast and colon cancer. He said he could relate to Jon's medical issues.
As I was leaving tonight, he gave me a great big hug. He said, "My mother is a saint. Just like you." Awww ... what a sweetheart!
Jon's doc stopped by, all smiles, this afternoon. That man has changed into an entirely different person. I'm just stunned by his new demeanor. There must be an angel perched on his shoulder. ;^)
He said that as far as he was concerned, Jon could go home. But, he said the ball was going into the Infectious Disease doctor's court now, and it would be up to him to decide when Jon could go home. When I mentioned the IV Zosyn at home, he said, "I have no doubt that you and Jim can handle that, if that's what you want to do. But if you would rather leave him here to complete the course, we can do that. It'll only be a couple more days."
Actually, he started Zosyn last Wednesday, which means he has another week. So, no. I want him home.
Jon's blood pressure was more stable today, but still in the 80's. At least he didn't drop to the 60's like he did yesterday, which scared his nurses and me.
He is pooping like he's never pooped before! I can't imagine that is from 2 doses of M.O.M., since I NEVER get that result! It must be the continuous feeding via that pump. Or maybe it's the Zosyn. I don't know, I just give copious thanks.
Jon's nutritionist will be back tomorrow. She and I will establish a protocol for his home feeding, likely increasing the hourly rate, as long as Jon can tolerate it. I'm hoping that she can give me a program to wean him off of the pump and get him back to bolus feeding. We will just have to play it as it goes when he comes home to see what works best for him. He needs the nutrition, and he's getting it now with the pump. We know how to use the feeding pump, as that is how we fed Michael for his last 3 1/2 years. We're a little rusty, but we'll get the hang of it quickly.
Jon was in good spirits today, especially after I plugged in his portable DVD player, and put on his Bruce Springsteen concert. Jim brought the player and videos last night.
Before I left tonight, I asked Jon's night aide if he would keep an eye on Jon, and replace the videos after they end, before Jim gets there. He said, "Oh, sure! I'll be there for Jon. He and I are buds! He's my guy! I'll even hang out a little longer in his room and watch them with him."
We just couldn't ask for better care or more love and support than we are receiving from everyone on Jon's medical team. And Dr. McN ... I just keep thinking: "Who is this guy, and what did they do with Dr. McN?"
Jon's nurse from last year upon admittance and discharge, who told me at the outset to be prepared for Jon not to make it through that crisis, visited today. She is a great gal and fantastic nurse. We had a lovely chat, and we caught up with each other's lives. It's like I'm at a camp, with a bunch of friends.
I was able to go to the Towers ICU today to see Roslyn. Her mother's nurse is the nurse, who helped through the Synthroid/guilt crisis, as well as many others through the years. When she saw me, knowing the story of my meeting with Roslyn in the chapel (since she was Jon's nurse that day), she hopped up and went in to tell Roslyn that I was there.
Roslyn ran out to me, her arms wide open, and she hugged me tightly. She thanked me for being there, and then she said, "I have told everyone about you, and how you helped me." Then she invited me into her mother's room, so that I could meet her mom.
Roslyn's aunt was in the room with her, and she introduced me, explaining who I was. Her aunt thanked me too. Then Roslyn spoke to her mother in Farsi, introducing me and explaining who I was.
Roslyn's mother is quite tiny and frail. I can't imagine how she is managing to hold on, but she is. Roslyn seemed so hopeful about her mother's recovery, and she said that her mother's doctor told her that he believed that he could help her mother to recover. I looked at the white board in her room, and I noticed that her mother's doctor is Jon's doc from last year. I shared with her that she had one of the very best doctors in the hospital, and that he had taken care of both of my boys.
As I left to go to the chapel and then the garden for lunch, I told Roslyn that she could find me in Step Down and not to hesitate to ask her mother's nurse to get a message to me via the nurse's station in Step Down. She hugged me and thanked me again.
I give thanks that God placed me in her path and gave me the wisdom and the words to comfort her.
I'm looking forward to telling you about Jon's homecoming, which I expect will occur in the next couple of days.
Thank you all so much for your love, support, and prayers.
We Love You!
Love & Light,
Rose
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