I said I would post about the time in the hospital, after I returned to my room from ICU. I will do that in a later posting but since I have not posted for a few days, I want to update you on what has been happening to us since we returned to our Houston apartment. This includes the last day in the hospital (Tuesday 22nd of March).
Our Tuesday started at 4:00 AM when the nurse came in to draw blood. I still had my pic line for collection/and administering but he could not get it to yield the blood he needed. He finally called for help and the lady who came was able to get the blood but through a direct stick. By this time it was almost 5:00 and I was to be taken down for dialysis. Sure enough they were there and wheeled my bed and me down for the dialysis. We were back in our room about 9:30 and they were preparing the papers to release us from the hospital. After we saw several doctors and I rested awhile, we were released about 11:30. We were sent to Memorial Hermann for the insertion of the temporary/permanent catheter that is primarily for receiving dialysis. Fifteen minutes after I was out of surgery, we were released and we felt this was a bit of a rush. We were used to M. D. Anderson and their patience and caring for us. I was still bleeding a small amount but they assured us it would clot and everything would be fine.
On the way back to our Houston apartment, the warm sunshine felt wonderful and it was a beautiful Texas day. I think this is when reality really hit me because I was seeing things I remembered from before the hospital stay. We arrived at the apartment and Arthur asked if I thought I could walk to the apartment, it was just a short distance. I said I felt good and I thought I could. I made about four steps and remember my legs feeling weak, my head spinning and then my whole body going limp. The next thing I remember was Arthur calling my name and talking to me. I felt pain in both of my knees and in the area of the new catheter. A bench was not far from where I had fainted and he asked if I could make it there and I half crawled to it. I was sitting and gained some strength while he was setting up a trail of chairs for me to walk by and sit on each chair until I could make it to the next chair. It worked and soon we were into the apartment. We soon realized that my new catheter was bleeding profusely. Arthur took the dressing off cleaned and redressed it. Telling me to lay very still and hoped it would stop bleeding. I remember my knees hurting and I said a couple of times that my knees really hurt. My knees were the least of his worries because of the amount of blood I was loosing through the catheter. When the bleeding stopped, I asked for a cloth to wipe my knees and he wiped them (I still do not feel he had the sympathy for my knees that they deserved). My knees remind me of when I was six years old and learning to roller skate because my knees always looked like a war zone.
He unloaded the things we had at the hospital and prepared me a couple of Tabor eggs and toast because I had not eaten for 24 hours and was weak from hunger as well as from the lose of blood. Then he almost collapsed from fatigue; I have never seen him so tired. I thought I was going to lose him and there was nothing I could do because if I moved, the bleeding would start again. Soon after arriving at the apartment, we went to bed that was about 7:15 and I think we were both asleep by 7:18. The next day Arthur was his usual self and taking charge of everything. I think he was exhausted from mentally from the strain and physically from all that was taking place. I thank God for him everyday because I could not go through this without him.
Enough for this posting but Arthur calls that Tuesday the day from hell.
Saturday, March 26, 2005
Arthur returned on March 13th and as soon as he saw me, he knew something must be done. He said first, he wanted something on my hands to keep me from scratching my face so I was “fitted” with white fuzzy gloves. I was scratching so badly that I was becoming a problem for myself. I told Arthur that I did not have to worry about hell because I was already there. My condition continued to deteriorate and on the 15th of March, I was sent to ICU. I was in a state of coma and did not open my eyes until Saturday the 19th of March. During the time I was in ICU, another catheter was installed in my right arm to receive medication and to take blood samples. I did not open my eyes or respond to anyone or anything for approximately seven days. As I was coming out of the coma, I remember lying in bed in a facility and being very tired. There was a clock in my room and I knew I needed to go to the grocery store and it was getting late but I was still so tired that I thought I would rest for just a few more minutes. I could see people in the other room through glass doors and it seemed they were trying to trick me by moving from place to place when I was not looking at them. Then in the back of the room, they seemed to move on people movers because they would move across the room but make no walking motion. I remember some of them coming into my room, call my name and press my toes and thumbs. On March 19th when Arthur was allowed into my room, my eyes were open and I recognized him and smiled but was still unable to speak.
On Saturday March 20th, I was trying to talk. The feeding tubes had been removed and I was being fed a liquid (Arthur called kangaroo juice). Late that afternoon our youngest son, Mark, flew from Milwaukee and arrived at the hospital. I immediately recognized him and reached out to hug him. We hugged and I continued with conversation and Mark understood and asked me if I said, “I want to go home?” and I said yes and now! The remainder of the day and night, I insisted I was going home. I even offered to make my bed, not let anyone sit on it and mop the floors if they would let me go home.
Visiting times in ICU are limited and Arthur and Mark had to leave. Mark came to our apartment in Houston and Arthur stayed in the waiting room. I was still not completely in the real world because I kept getting reality and imagination confused. The television was on in my room and I saw a news show that frightened me and I let the nurses know about it. A nurse came into my room to comfort me but I would have none of that. He asked what had frightened me and I told him it was something I saw on T V and I was afraid and knew I could not trust anyone or anything. He said I was safe there and didn’t I feel I could trust him. I said that I could not trust him and remember being so frightened. I finally told him I wanted to have the station changed to Fox News because it was the only news I could trust. He tried to find it but could not at the time.
He left and I was trying to go leave that place and fell out of bed. Shortly after that Arthur came back in and found me on the floor. He told them he would spend the remainder of the night by my bedside. They allowed him this accommodation and I remember occasionally looking to see if he was still there and he was and I was then able to rest.
Sunday afternoon I was transferred back to the Stem Cell Recovery Floor much to the relief of everyone (especially the nurses in ICU).
The next posting will be about my last week in the hospital
On Saturday March 20th, I was trying to talk. The feeding tubes had been removed and I was being fed a liquid (Arthur called kangaroo juice). Late that afternoon our youngest son, Mark, flew from Milwaukee and arrived at the hospital. I immediately recognized him and reached out to hug him. We hugged and I continued with conversation and Mark understood and asked me if I said, “I want to go home?” and I said yes and now! The remainder of the day and night, I insisted I was going home. I even offered to make my bed, not let anyone sit on it and mop the floors if they would let me go home.
Visiting times in ICU are limited and Arthur and Mark had to leave. Mark came to our apartment in Houston and Arthur stayed in the waiting room. I was still not completely in the real world because I kept getting reality and imagination confused. The television was on in my room and I saw a news show that frightened me and I let the nurses know about it. A nurse came into my room to comfort me but I would have none of that. He asked what had frightened me and I told him it was something I saw on T V and I was afraid and knew I could not trust anyone or anything. He said I was safe there and didn’t I feel I could trust him. I said that I could not trust him and remember being so frightened. I finally told him I wanted to have the station changed to Fox News because it was the only news I could trust. He tried to find it but could not at the time.
He left and I was trying to go leave that place and fell out of bed. Shortly after that Arthur came back in and found me on the floor. He told them he would spend the remainder of the night by my bedside. They allowed him this accommodation and I remember occasionally looking to see if he was still there and he was and I was then able to rest.
Sunday afternoon I was transferred back to the Stem Cell Recovery Floor much to the relief of everyone (especially the nurses in ICU).
The next posting will be about my last week in the hospital
Thursday, March 24, 2005
WOW, what a ride! I want to thank A.G. for keeping you all informed of the road we have taken.
How fragile the mind is and how reality and the imagination can become so intertwined. I want to fill in on some of the things that went on and I am the only one who can because for about a week I lived in my own little world.
I think I lost reality before those around me realized that I was not walking in the same direction they were for each step. I remember Arthur and I being given a few days off and we went home, to Weatherford. We enjoyed that time because on our return to Houston we knew that there would be some rough times ahead of us…little did we know how rough. I remember going to the hospital and getting ready for the next phase of the journey. I remember getting my stem cells back. Each time they give you anything such as stem cells, blood or platelets; they ask for your name and M. D. Anderson identification number. Two nurses must accompany the “juice” and verify that the correct person is getting the offering. We have talked about me receiving my stem cells and me receiving the chemo so I will not go into that again.
This is the last that I remember in full days but I do remember small pieces of the next few days. I remember A. G. staying with me, us talking and enjoying visiting with each other even though I had already started the trip to my own “Land of OZ”.
THIS IS REALITY and I do not remember any of it but have been told: A.G. wanted to stay with me and he was a great caregiver he was probably the first to see my decline and called Arthur on Saturday the 26th of February. Before Arthur arrived, my brother and sister-in-law became my caregivers. They arrived at 3:00 p m and this enabled A.G. to catch his flight home. By the time Arthur arrived, my condition had improved so he returned to Weatherford on the 27th of February.
THIS IS REALITY although I do not remember any of this: Marilyn filled me in on the week. She said through Thursday, I was talking, asking questions and responding to everyone. My oxygen intake was too low so I had to wear an oxygen mask and Marilyn had to replace it. She said I called her Nurse Ratchet because she was intent on me having the oxygen I needed. I had such itching that Marilyn took away my back scratcher but would try to give me relief by using my pillow to rub against my back. She said I also wanted to use the cell phone and told her it was o.k. but she told me it might not be a good idea to use it with all the machines in the room…she had to hide it in a drawer. When asked how I was doing, she said I would say fine other than my throat was very sore (I had sores in my mouth and my tongue was swollen).
She said I was given Morphine and things went down hill from there. Late Thursday things began to change and the nurses and doctors were in my room much more of the time. By Friday, I was not responding.
This is part of the story and I will continue tomorrow. I do want to thank everyone for their good thoughts, best wishes and prayers, we feel these helped bring me through.
How fragile the mind is and how reality and the imagination can become so intertwined. I want to fill in on some of the things that went on and I am the only one who can because for about a week I lived in my own little world.
I think I lost reality before those around me realized that I was not walking in the same direction they were for each step. I remember Arthur and I being given a few days off and we went home, to Weatherford. We enjoyed that time because on our return to Houston we knew that there would be some rough times ahead of us…little did we know how rough. I remember going to the hospital and getting ready for the next phase of the journey. I remember getting my stem cells back. Each time they give you anything such as stem cells, blood or platelets; they ask for your name and M. D. Anderson identification number. Two nurses must accompany the “juice” and verify that the correct person is getting the offering. We have talked about me receiving my stem cells and me receiving the chemo so I will not go into that again.
This is the last that I remember in full days but I do remember small pieces of the next few days. I remember A. G. staying with me, us talking and enjoying visiting with each other even though I had already started the trip to my own “Land of OZ”.
THIS IS REALITY and I do not remember any of it but have been told: A.G. wanted to stay with me and he was a great caregiver he was probably the first to see my decline and called Arthur on Saturday the 26th of February. Before Arthur arrived, my brother and sister-in-law became my caregivers. They arrived at 3:00 p m and this enabled A.G. to catch his flight home. By the time Arthur arrived, my condition had improved so he returned to Weatherford on the 27th of February.
THIS IS REALITY although I do not remember any of this: Marilyn filled me in on the week. She said through Thursday, I was talking, asking questions and responding to everyone. My oxygen intake was too low so I had to wear an oxygen mask and Marilyn had to replace it. She said I called her Nurse Ratchet because she was intent on me having the oxygen I needed. I had such itching that Marilyn took away my back scratcher but would try to give me relief by using my pillow to rub against my back. She said I also wanted to use the cell phone and told her it was o.k. but she told me it might not be a good idea to use it with all the machines in the room…she had to hide it in a drawer. When asked how I was doing, she said I would say fine other than my throat was very sore (I had sores in my mouth and my tongue was swollen).
She said I was given Morphine and things went down hill from there. Late Thursday things began to change and the nurses and doctors were in my room much more of the time. By Friday, I was not responding.
This is part of the story and I will continue tomorrow. I do want to thank everyone for their good thoughts, best wishes and prayers, we feel these helped bring me through.
Wednesday, March 23, 2005
La Donna and Arthur are back in their apartment in Houston!
La Donna will start making her own blog entries tomorrow. You will see many changes to the blog. One, there are going to be contrasting entries for the time La Donna was beginning to lose clarity, contrasted against the reality of what was going on around her.
There will also be descriptions of what was La Donna’s reality was while she was going through some of the most tumultuous times.
Thank you for your patience with your humble webmaster. She’s back, and there will probably be a tremendous increase in relevance to the entries herein.
God Bless,
A.G.
La Donna will start making her own blog entries tomorrow. You will see many changes to the blog. One, there are going to be contrasting entries for the time La Donna was beginning to lose clarity, contrasted against the reality of what was going on around her.
There will also be descriptions of what was La Donna’s reality was while she was going through some of the most tumultuous times.
Thank you for your patience with your humble webmaster. She’s back, and there will probably be a tremendous increase in relevance to the entries herein.
God Bless,
A.G.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
La Donna continues to prove she is the toughest woman in the world. She had another day of incremental improvement. She is still eating and her arms continue to gain strength. La Donna wants to begin walking again and physical therapy will be starting soon. I (A.G.) hope to be heading back to Houston around the 1st of April. We are hoping La Donna will be back in the Apartment by then.
Thank you for all of your prayers, thoughts, and e-mails. All have been heard or read. Please understand that the last two weeks for La Donna have been so harrowing that simply having e-mails read to her is still taxing and it might be a while before she is able to reply.
Thank you for all of your prayers, thoughts, and e-mails. All have been heard or read. Please understand that the last two weeks for La Donna have been so harrowing that simply having e-mails read to her is still taxing and it might be a while before she is able to reply.
Sunday, March 13, 2005
More Good News!
La Donna is even better today than yesterday. She has been able to talk all day and she is starting to give the nurses a hard time. She told them if Arthur couldn’t stay with her tonight she was going to walk out of the hospital.
The only new problem she is experiencing is anxiety; she has been given medication for it. I will try to get information on the anxiety medication soon.
The only new problem she is experiencing is anxiety; she has been given medication for it. I will try to get information on the anxiety medication soon.
Saturday, March 12, 2005
GREAT NEWS!!!
La Donna had a very good day. She is still in ICU, but more lucid than yesterday. La Donna’s youngest son Mark arrived from the Episcopal Seminary in Nashotah, Wisconsin. So there are more reinforcements for her in Houston.
La Donna was able to talk a little bit today. In fact Mark understood some of the first words in a week. She told Mark she wants to go home, in fact she has told Arthur and Mark that three times today. Her sentiments are echoed by her entire family. We want her to come home too.
Thanks again for you interest in this blog and God bless you all.
La Donna was able to talk a little bit today. In fact Mark understood some of the first words in a week. She told Mark she wants to go home, in fact she has told Arthur and Mark that three times today. Her sentiments are echoed by her entire family. We want her to come home too.
Thanks again for you interest in this blog and God bless you all.
Thursday, March 10, 2005
La Donna was incoherant again for most of the day. She did respond to her name this morning, but that is about it. She seems to be improving since the time she first entered the ICU. There has been a tube inserted in her nose to feed her. I haven't mentioned it before, but she hasn't eaten since Saturday. The main thing I want to emphasize though is that there seems to be incremental improvement. We are taking "baby-steps" currently.
Tuesday, March 8, 2005
I would like to apologize for the length of time since the last post. La Donna has had a difficult week and very little information has come out of Houston. What I can tell you is that La Donna was starting to have difficulty with mouth sores and her throat. She has undergone a Morphine dose. Since that time she has not been very lucid. Sunday she was moved to ICU and started dialysis. Arthur reports that she was doing so much better today; the dialysis seems to be doing some good.
Tuesday, March 1, 2005
La Donna is still weak from the chemo. She is working though the catheter. Though much of the fluid has been relieved, another catheter has been installed. She received another unit of blood and platelets because her hemoglobin’s are still low. She is still bed ridden and only able to take on soft liquids.
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