Dear Friends and Prayer Partners.
To those of you who have been praying for Louis and me, I thank you. When I think of all the germs I have encountered as I walked through and sat in the ER and throughout the hospital, I believe God must have a shield protecting me. While I feel tired and am not eating at regular times, I still am pretty healthy.
Louis was on his right side all day, and mostly slept. He had a sitter whose job was to just sit and watch over him and, I guess, the man in the other bed. Louis was awake at different times and when his eyes focused on me, he seemed to know me, but is not speaking much, just whispering. Joel, the nurse, told Brian that they have called in an ENT doctor to check on him, as they believe he has mastoiditis. I was not told this, and I was there over four hours.
The doctor wants to put in a feeding tube and I am not for it, so Brian and Daryl and I will consult with a hospice rep to find out more about it. At this point, I do not see Louis coming back to where he was before the infections and pneumonia invaded his body.
I am asking for prayers for divine guidance and wisdom as to the next step. I know Hospice takes wonderful care of patients, even when they are not dying, so we will see if that is an option.
God, in his goodness, sent a wonderful person in the cleaning lady who came in after the patient left this afternoon. She said her husband was in the hospital six months and the doctor said he would die. She said "My God did not tell me that" and her husband is now home, walking around the block and does everything but bathe himself. At the time, she was working and visiting him at the hospital twice a day...very hard on her, but she said, "God made your husband, and He will take care of him!" Amen
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
A birthday in the ER
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
After being at the bedside of Louis in the ER from 10 Am until 5:30 or so PM, Brian and I left Louis in a room in good hands. We met Dr. Cohen the neurologist, who took His history and ours, is very kindly, and someone I would love to have as a doctor, also met the speech therapist, who recommended a feeding tube, which I said no too, and then was assured by the nurse practioner who works with Dr. Cohen that there was no need to make that decision yet.
Louis was x-rayed, chest, abdomen and hip-knee...things I think should have been done the first time he was admitted. We had to wait all day because the hospital is full and no beds were available for any of the ER patients, so I guess they had to check out the ones well enough to go home, in order to get beds for the new ones.
The one thing that is wrong again is another UTI. Dr. Cohen said constipation and infections can cause a normal person to have slight dementia and a person already suffering from dementia to have a bad reaction.
So once again , and as he has been all along, Louis' future is in God's hands. I had a really nice visit from Pastor Rick, who prayed a wonderful prayer for us both as he sat with me in the ER for awhile. What a blessing! God in His infinite mercy is good!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
After being at the bedside of Louis in the ER from 10 Am until 5:30 or so PM, Brian and I left Louis in a room in good hands. We met Dr. Cohen the neurologist, who took His history and ours, is very kindly, and someone I would love to have as a doctor, also met the speech therapist, who recommended a feeding tube, which I said no too, and then was assured by the nurse practioner who works with Dr. Cohen that there was no need to make that decision yet.
Louis was x-rayed, chest, abdomen and hip-knee...things I think should have been done the first time he was admitted. We had to wait all day because the hospital is full and no beds were available for any of the ER patients, so I guess they had to check out the ones well enough to go home, in order to get beds for the new ones.
The one thing that is wrong again is another UTI. Dr. Cohen said constipation and infections can cause a normal person to have slight dementia and a person already suffering from dementia to have a bad reaction.
So once again , and as he has been all along, Louis' future is in God's hands. I had a really nice visit from Pastor Rick, who prayed a wonderful prayer for us both as he sat with me in the ER for awhile. What a blessing! God in His infinite mercy is good!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Another day
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
Without seeming to be too discouraged, I must admit that I cannot see that Louis will ever be able to come home again. I don't know what God has in store for tomorrow, but today My beloved slept nearly all day, and did not eat much lunch... just a couple bites. He was awake when I came back this afternoon, but does not seem to really know what is going on. I think he knows me and my touch, and responds when I touch his knee which pains him when it is moved.
He ate well for supper, and drank the Glucerna shake I brought and most of his apple juice, but once again is running a slight fever. I cannot seem to make the nurses and staff realize that he needs to be turned every two hours and I know they are probably not as busy as the hospital staff, but need to be more organized. The morning nurse did not know a thing about him except his last name. I had to fill her in when I got there.
John Honey visited today, which was a real blessing. He went over the speech with me that he is giving at AA tonight. Karin and Jim brought a delicious stew and accompaniments for my supper, which I really appreciate. Thanks, you all.
As always, God is in control and He is good, May his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Without seeming to be too discouraged, I must admit that I cannot see that Louis will ever be able to come home again. I don't know what God has in store for tomorrow, but today My beloved slept nearly all day, and did not eat much lunch... just a couple bites. He was awake when I came back this afternoon, but does not seem to really know what is going on. I think he knows me and my touch, and responds when I touch his knee which pains him when it is moved.
He ate well for supper, and drank the Glucerna shake I brought and most of his apple juice, but once again is running a slight fever. I cannot seem to make the nurses and staff realize that he needs to be turned every two hours and I know they are probably not as busy as the hospital staff, but need to be more organized. The morning nurse did not know a thing about him except his last name. I had to fill her in when I got there.
John Honey visited today, which was a real blessing. He went over the speech with me that he is giving at AA tonight. Karin and Jim brought a delicious stew and accompaniments for my supper, which I really appreciate. Thanks, you all.
As always, God is in control and He is good, May his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Amen.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Monday, January 18, 2010
Back at Shore Acres
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
Well, when I arrived at Bayfront this morning, no one had been able to wake Louis for his breakfast, so I just raised his bed and started feeding him while his eyes were closed. He started eating and soon woke up and ate a good portion of his cold meal and drank his juice and milk. His nurse, Amelia, said I was an angel, and mashed up his meds so she could give them to him while he was opening his mouth.
Two of his doctors came by and said the kidneys were clear and his pneumonia was practically cleared up, so I was glad I was there to meet them. I must say Amelia is a very caring nurse and as busy as she was, she gave time to talk to me and take care of Louis. I thank God for her and she was very encouraging and thanked me for my help, which I, in turn, thanked her.
I was told that he would be discharged, but no time, so after giving him his lunch and waiting there for six hours, I went down to Joffrey's and got a sandwich and then was overcome by fatigue, so I told Amelia I was going home and the paramedics could take him to shore Acres and Brian would meet them there, which he did.
He has a different room and nurse and he was cleaned up and bed changed and taken care of while Brian was there, so I just stayed home and rested, which I am still doing. I think the talk I had with the nursing home rep and remarks I made about the care, may have had a good effect. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
Thank you all for prayers, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." God is good to keep me going.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Well, when I arrived at Bayfront this morning, no one had been able to wake Louis for his breakfast, so I just raised his bed and started feeding him while his eyes were closed. He started eating and soon woke up and ate a good portion of his cold meal and drank his juice and milk. His nurse, Amelia, said I was an angel, and mashed up his meds so she could give them to him while he was opening his mouth.
Two of his doctors came by and said the kidneys were clear and his pneumonia was practically cleared up, so I was glad I was there to meet them. I must say Amelia is a very caring nurse and as busy as she was, she gave time to talk to me and take care of Louis. I thank God for her and she was very encouraging and thanked me for my help, which I, in turn, thanked her.
I was told that he would be discharged, but no time, so after giving him his lunch and waiting there for six hours, I went down to Joffrey's and got a sandwich and then was overcome by fatigue, so I told Amelia I was going home and the paramedics could take him to shore Acres and Brian would meet them there, which he did.
He has a different room and nurse and he was cleaned up and bed changed and taken care of while Brian was there, so I just stayed home and rested, which I am still doing. I think the talk I had with the nursing home rep and remarks I made about the care, may have had a good effect. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
Thank you all for prayers, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." God is good to keep me going.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Sixth floor Bayfront
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
Today I went up to the 4th floor as usual and walked down to 454 and there was a stranger in what formerly was Louis' bed. I asked the nurse and the charge nurse, and no one knew where he was, so she got on the computer and found they had moved him to the sixth floor. I asked why and the reason was he no longer needed to be on the cardiac care floor, because the monitor was removed, so I have no idea what the sixth floor section he is in is for.
Anyway, I found him and his breakfast tray which was untouched...it was 10:30 already. I started to feed him and the care tech came in and I told her he needed to be fed and she had just found that out. Sigh. Sometimes the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. Louis ate a good cold breakfast, and then was tired. Moves like that totally exhaust him. I met the doctor on call, and he said that he will be discharged tomorrow to be sent back to Shore Acres. Another ambulance ride! Brian and I have decided to have an appointment to talk with the nurse in charge, and ,if necessary, the administrator to get things changed and get him properly taken care of.
I stayed long enough to give him lunch, which he was hungry for, and ate just about all of it...still pureed stuff, but that seems a lot easier for him to swallow. He gave the raspberry, and popped his lips a couple times like he was doing at home, so he is gradually remembering the things I wish he would forget. :o)
On my way home, I took a ride through the crowded park and saw dozens of turtles of all sizes catching some rays on the bank of the canal. I also saw the usual ibis and herons and then realized that God was smiling, because the song on the radio was "All Creatures of our God and King". I admired the various contrails criss-crossing the sky on this beautiful, warm day. I went home, ate a little lunch and took a short nap. which was good.
I felt like I should go back down to the hospital, instead of waiting for Brian to fill in, and got there just as they were loading Louis on a gurney to take him to x-ray for his chest. When he came back he was too exhausted to eat any supper, but the nurse Amelia seemed to be very conscientious about his care. Brian stayed longer, but could not get his dad to eat any more.
Well, we will see what takes place tomorrow and when he gets moved, but God is good and will watch over us through it all.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Today I went up to the 4th floor as usual and walked down to 454 and there was a stranger in what formerly was Louis' bed. I asked the nurse and the charge nurse, and no one knew where he was, so she got on the computer and found they had moved him to the sixth floor. I asked why and the reason was he no longer needed to be on the cardiac care floor, because the monitor was removed, so I have no idea what the sixth floor section he is in is for.
Anyway, I found him and his breakfast tray which was untouched...it was 10:30 already. I started to feed him and the care tech came in and I told her he needed to be fed and she had just found that out. Sigh. Sometimes the right hand doesn't know what the left is doing. Louis ate a good cold breakfast, and then was tired. Moves like that totally exhaust him. I met the doctor on call, and he said that he will be discharged tomorrow to be sent back to Shore Acres. Another ambulance ride! Brian and I have decided to have an appointment to talk with the nurse in charge, and ,if necessary, the administrator to get things changed and get him properly taken care of.
I stayed long enough to give him lunch, which he was hungry for, and ate just about all of it...still pureed stuff, but that seems a lot easier for him to swallow. He gave the raspberry, and popped his lips a couple times like he was doing at home, so he is gradually remembering the things I wish he would forget. :o)
On my way home, I took a ride through the crowded park and saw dozens of turtles of all sizes catching some rays on the bank of the canal. I also saw the usual ibis and herons and then realized that God was smiling, because the song on the radio was "All Creatures of our God and King". I admired the various contrails criss-crossing the sky on this beautiful, warm day. I went home, ate a little lunch and took a short nap. which was good.
I felt like I should go back down to the hospital, instead of waiting for Brian to fill in, and got there just as they were loading Louis on a gurney to take him to x-ray for his chest. When he came back he was too exhausted to eat any supper, but the nurse Amelia seemed to be very conscientious about his care. Brian stayed longer, but could not get his dad to eat any more.
Well, we will see what takes place tomorrow and when he gets moved, but God is good and will watch over us through it all.
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Saturday, January 16, 2010
A shorter way
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
What a difference a day makes! Louis was awake and looking around when I arrived at his room this morning. I asked him how he felt and he said, "Fine." This with needles in his hand and tubing coming out other places. He answered some questions and then was mumbling about something, not understandable. The care tech said he ate all his pureed eggs, grits and oatmeal and drank his juice and milk. Then when his lunch came, he was really hungry and opened his mouth like a bird to eat his pureed beef, mac&cheese. and his pureed spring veg. soup. Also his choc. ice cream and drank all his milk and cranberry juice. Dr. Fubella, the kidney specialist was in and said he would leave orders to get him up and would probably discharge him Monday.
So, back to the nursing home. I talked to the doc, Carol, from Shore Acres, who also came to check on him and told her of my concerns about the lack of care there. She said to address my concerns to the right people there, which I already have to a couple of staff. I cannot have him at home without full time care help, but God has been good to watch over him so far, so I will trust him to give me backbone enough to be the squeaky wheel!
His roommate was gone when I got there this morning, so the bed and walls and tray were scrubbed down and they got rid of the bed and brought in another and then filled that one before too long. This time instead of the TV going all the time, the wife talked non-stop. Well, you can't choose your roommates and fortunately, noise does not bother Louis with the hearing aids out!
Hooray for me.".ve get too soon old and too late schmart" as my Pennsylvania Dutch grandmother used to say. Today I took different elevators, and discovered I came out practically in the mezzanine of the front entrance, which has an elevator down to the ground floor! Not nearly so much walking, but I did have to cross sixth st. to get to the parking garage. Guess it doesn't matter when I discovered the shorter way even if we only have two more days.
Brian was kind enough to spell me this afternoon, and went to give his Dad the evening meal, which he was hungry for. Louis even sang today and said "Happy Birthday" for no apparent reason. God is good! And answers prayers!
Keep praying for us, They are what keeps us going!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
What a difference a day makes! Louis was awake and looking around when I arrived at his room this morning. I asked him how he felt and he said, "Fine." This with needles in his hand and tubing coming out other places. He answered some questions and then was mumbling about something, not understandable. The care tech said he ate all his pureed eggs, grits and oatmeal and drank his juice and milk. Then when his lunch came, he was really hungry and opened his mouth like a bird to eat his pureed beef, mac&cheese. and his pureed spring veg. soup. Also his choc. ice cream and drank all his milk and cranberry juice. Dr. Fubella, the kidney specialist was in and said he would leave orders to get him up and would probably discharge him Monday.
So, back to the nursing home. I talked to the doc, Carol, from Shore Acres, who also came to check on him and told her of my concerns about the lack of care there. She said to address my concerns to the right people there, which I already have to a couple of staff. I cannot have him at home without full time care help, but God has been good to watch over him so far, so I will trust him to give me backbone enough to be the squeaky wheel!
His roommate was gone when I got there this morning, so the bed and walls and tray were scrubbed down and they got rid of the bed and brought in another and then filled that one before too long. This time instead of the TV going all the time, the wife talked non-stop. Well, you can't choose your roommates and fortunately, noise does not bother Louis with the hearing aids out!
Hooray for me.".ve get too soon old and too late schmart" as my Pennsylvania Dutch grandmother used to say. Today I took different elevators, and discovered I came out practically in the mezzanine of the front entrance, which has an elevator down to the ground floor! Not nearly so much walking, but I did have to cross sixth st. to get to the parking garage. Guess it doesn't matter when I discovered the shorter way even if we only have two more days.
Brian was kind enough to spell me this afternoon, and went to give his Dad the evening meal, which he was hungry for. Louis even sang today and said "Happy Birthday" for no apparent reason. God is good! And answers prayers!
Keep praying for us, They are what keeps us going!
Love and hugs,
Amaryllis
Friday, January 15, 2010
Friday, the 15th
Dear Friends and Prayer Partners,
Just a short one tonight, I hope. I am so tired it is difficult to type straight.First, Lauren, the nurse today, is an nice and patient as Phong said she is. She took time to feed Louis, and since he is taking so long to chew and swallow, they have him on pureed foods now, which I am sure are nutritious, but look to me like they have already been through the intestinal tract. He would not eat lunch, just slept, because I discovered that all the bedding was wet from a leaky IV.
So, I was there while the nurse and care tech rolled and changed and bathed him all over. The way they do this is amazing! Even though he has lost lots of weight, they work as a team, using gravity to move him. They got him all cleaned up, and I shaved him with a new Norelco electric razor I bought, which works really well and then all he wanted to do was sleep.
Since they could not find a new vein to put the IV in, they asked permission to do a PIC in the upper arm. I don't remember what that stands for, anyway, they have a special team which does this. His arm will be deadened, and they will insert the needle. Dr. Cabella, (sp) the kidney specialist wants him to still receive the antibiotics via the IV. Lauren gave him the meds crushed up in pudding tonight, and it took about half an hour to get him to open his eyes and eat. He finally drank a little milk and a couple bites of mashed pots. Lauren said she would try to get him to eat some more later.
He is still very sick and Lauren explained to Brian and me how many muscles are involved in the simple act of swallowing, which neither one of us realized. They leave him in a raised position for forty five minutes after eating to avoid aspiration, but he is very glad to lie back down..
Brian left work early tonight so we could go eat together, so we went to Atlanta Bread and were the only ones there for most of the time we ate. It was very enjoyable. Then he drove me back to the parking garage to get my van which was good because I was so tired to trek up the slope again.
One other thing...I got turned around again coming out of the elevator and God had another kind man to lead me out! I am so directionally disfunctional, it is pathetic! But God is good in so many ways to me. I thank Him for kind and loving prayers which are sustaining me! The 23rd Psalm has been running through my mind today and I was reciting it all the way to the hospital this afternoon.
Love and hugs, (did I say this would be short???)
Amaryllis
Just a short one tonight, I hope. I am so tired it is difficult to type straight.First, Lauren, the nurse today, is an nice and patient as Phong said she is. She took time to feed Louis, and since he is taking so long to chew and swallow, they have him on pureed foods now, which I am sure are nutritious, but look to me like they have already been through the intestinal tract. He would not eat lunch, just slept, because I discovered that all the bedding was wet from a leaky IV.
So, I was there while the nurse and care tech rolled and changed and bathed him all over. The way they do this is amazing! Even though he has lost lots of weight, they work as a team, using gravity to move him. They got him all cleaned up, and I shaved him with a new Norelco electric razor I bought, which works really well and then all he wanted to do was sleep.
Since they could not find a new vein to put the IV in, they asked permission to do a PIC in the upper arm. I don't remember what that stands for, anyway, they have a special team which does this. His arm will be deadened, and they will insert the needle. Dr. Cabella, (sp) the kidney specialist wants him to still receive the antibiotics via the IV. Lauren gave him the meds crushed up in pudding tonight, and it took about half an hour to get him to open his eyes and eat. He finally drank a little milk and a couple bites of mashed pots. Lauren said she would try to get him to eat some more later.
He is still very sick and Lauren explained to Brian and me how many muscles are involved in the simple act of swallowing, which neither one of us realized. They leave him in a raised position for forty five minutes after eating to avoid aspiration, but he is very glad to lie back down..
Brian left work early tonight so we could go eat together, so we went to Atlanta Bread and were the only ones there for most of the time we ate. It was very enjoyable. Then he drove me back to the parking garage to get my van which was good because I was so tired to trek up the slope again.
One other thing...I got turned around again coming out of the elevator and God had another kind man to lead me out! I am so directionally disfunctional, it is pathetic! But God is good in so many ways to me. I thank Him for kind and loving prayers which are sustaining me! The 23rd Psalm has been running through my mind today and I was reciting it all the way to the hospital this afternoon.
Love and hugs, (did I say this would be short???)
Amaryllis
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