Today during my visit to the hospital, I was informed that Margaret will be taken off the Intensive Care status but will remain in the same room. When I arrived, she was sitting up in a chair, reading a magazine, which was great to see. A mild fever; her temperature is 100.2 degrees, considered almost "normal" for bone marrow transplant patients, but still enough to keep an eye on. All her blood counts are good, this morning's chest x-ray still showed some congestion, but steadily decreasing from yesterday. She is still really tired. The nurses had to help her into the chair because she can't walk on her own yet. Antibiotics & nourishment from the IV. Nausea is still a big problem; she hasn't been able to eat solids since coming off the ventlator. She is much more alert that she was the past couple of days, but it still kinda fuzzy to some small degree. Her voice is hoarse, so even though she can talk, she doesn't talk much. She is weak, there's no other way to put it. The physical therapist and speech therapist are working with her to get her back on her feet & talking normally within the next few days. Margaret said she is not up to visitors for now, maybe a few days down the road. She did not want her room phone number given out yet, because she wants to rest and not answer the phone. She does plan to see Dylan tomorrow, since she hasn't seen him in over a week. Erin will drop by on Saturday after I pick her up at Sky Harbor. Her mom Carmen may be able to visit on Sunday. The staff wants to keep the visitors to a real minimum (maybe one a day) and limit their stays to 10-15 minutes. I didn't even stay long today. So, maybe by Sunday or Monday she might be up to chatting on the phone and have other visitors AFTER the weekend. I can't explain how frail she seems right now, even though the worst is over. That pneumonia just kicked her butt hard, and she needs time to recuperate." -Ken
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Recovering from the recent pneumonia slowly, very slowly...
"A week ago, when Margaret was readmitted to the City of Hope Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic, she picked a different room, one with a scene painted on the wall by a former staffer who signed the mural simply as 'Rizzo.' The image of a small coastal town in a tropical setting reminded both of us of a place in Puerto Rico called Playa de Naguabo. I had hoped that it would provide a peaceful distraction for Margaret. Today during my visit to the hospital, I was informed that Margaret will be taken off the Intensive Care status but will remain in the same room. When I arrived, she was sitting up in a chair, reading a magazine, which was great to see. A mild fever; her temperature is 100.2 degrees, considered almost "normal" for bone marrow transplant patients, but still enough to keep an eye on. All her blood counts are good, this morning's chest x-ray still showed some congestion, but steadily decreasing from yesterday. She is still really tired. The nurses had to help her into the chair because she can't walk on her own yet. Antibiotics & nourishment from the IV. Nausea is still a big problem; she hasn't been able to eat solids since coming off the ventlator. She is much more alert that she was the past couple of days, but it still kinda fuzzy to some small degree. Her voice is hoarse, so even though she can talk, she doesn't talk much. She is weak, there's no other way to put it. The physical therapist and speech therapist are working with her to get her back on her feet & talking normally within the next few days. Margaret said she is not up to visitors for now, maybe a few days down the road. She did not want her room phone number given out yet, because she wants to rest and not answer the phone. She does plan to see Dylan tomorrow, since she hasn't seen him in over a week. Erin will drop by on Saturday after I pick her up at Sky Harbor. Her mom Carmen may be able to visit on Sunday. The staff wants to keep the visitors to a real minimum (maybe one a day) and limit their stays to 10-15 minutes. I didn't even stay long today. So, maybe by Sunday or Monday she might be up to chatting on the phone and have other visitors AFTER the weekend. I can't explain how frail she seems right now, even though the worst is over. That pneumonia just kicked her butt hard, and she needs time to recuperate." -Ken
Today during my visit to the hospital, I was informed that Margaret will be taken off the Intensive Care status but will remain in the same room. When I arrived, she was sitting up in a chair, reading a magazine, which was great to see. A mild fever; her temperature is 100.2 degrees, considered almost "normal" for bone marrow transplant patients, but still enough to keep an eye on. All her blood counts are good, this morning's chest x-ray still showed some congestion, but steadily decreasing from yesterday. She is still really tired. The nurses had to help her into the chair because she can't walk on her own yet. Antibiotics & nourishment from the IV. Nausea is still a big problem; she hasn't been able to eat solids since coming off the ventlator. She is much more alert that she was the past couple of days, but it still kinda fuzzy to some small degree. Her voice is hoarse, so even though she can talk, she doesn't talk much. She is weak, there's no other way to put it. The physical therapist and speech therapist are working with her to get her back on her feet & talking normally within the next few days. Margaret said she is not up to visitors for now, maybe a few days down the road. She did not want her room phone number given out yet, because she wants to rest and not answer the phone. She does plan to see Dylan tomorrow, since she hasn't seen him in over a week. Erin will drop by on Saturday after I pick her up at Sky Harbor. Her mom Carmen may be able to visit on Sunday. The staff wants to keep the visitors to a real minimum (maybe one a day) and limit their stays to 10-15 minutes. I didn't even stay long today. So, maybe by Sunday or Monday she might be up to chatting on the phone and have other visitors AFTER the weekend. I can't explain how frail she seems right now, even though the worst is over. That pneumonia just kicked her butt hard, and she needs time to recuperate." -Ken
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4 comments:
Ken, Margaret's recovery is top priority. I would encourge you to keep encouraging Margaret. Surround her with positive images and she will go far. Thank you so much for the update on her progress. When you see her give her a hug and kiss for me. I keep constant vigil via my prayers which are and have always been for Margaret, you and the kids.Hang in there Ken, you too are saving Margaret's life by your dedication and love.
Margaret you may not be up to talking right now but the stories you'll have to tell your grand-kids about your great battle back in aught 7 about a Mighty Amazon Warrior who fought the Evilest of Evil that had invaded her body weakening her to a frail shell of herself. Unbeknownst to the Evilest of Evil was the Fire, Will, Strength (and the Burns)that dwelled witnin the heart of the Great and Beautiful Amazon Warrior. All her family and friends even strangers prayed and sent the Lords healing powers to her. Slowly but steadily her physical strenght returned to her. The Mighty Amazon's Family, Friends, Doctors,
Nurses and Strangers Cheered so loud it could be heard around the World!!! When the cheers were heard at Macayo's they cleared a big table and brought out the Margaritas for a Celebration of Celebrations. The Begining...
Dylan and I visited Margaret today (Friday June 29). She continues to improve. I guess we got used to her bouncing back rapidly from tough episodes previously, so this particular recovery seems slow in comparison. But she is getting better every day. When I came in the room, she was sitting up in a comfy chair, looking out the window at the streets of Phoenix twelve stories below. She was watching the actions of a a couple of police patrol cars that had parked next to each other under a shade canopy a block away. She was highly interested in the comings & goings down there; almost like Mrs. Kravitz from the TV show Bewitched. She had already been for a walk around the ward, so she is becoming a little more active. Her voice is almost back to normal and she talked a fair amount today. She is looking forward to seeing daughter Erin tomorrow. She also gave me two minor home maintenance orders that must be accomplished before her hospital discharge (Aye, aye, Ma'am!)so she is starting to focus on getting home again. A Catholic deacon dropped by doing hospital rounds, so we said some prayers and Margaret received communion. The eucharist became the first solid food she has had in days. It stayed down, so Margaret was bold enough to order breakfast for tomorrow (Cheerios and Lactaid). She also had ginger ale & ice today, so maybe her bouts of nausea are becoming less severe. Anyway, things are looking up for her. Thanks for the encouragement and I always pass it on the Margaret.
I must comment about the mural in the room. I liked it before I got realy sick. Then when I was coming out of sedation, I started seeing images in it I hadn't seen before. It got to the point I would avoid looking at it. Don't know if it was the drugs or just my vision of it.
Lots of love to my family and dear friends.
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