Wow, how time flies. Heather wrote me (Chena) for the blog yesterday (Sunday), but I didn’t get it posted. This is what she said then:
“Well, Dad is better today than yesterday, moving to the chair and answering questions appropriately this morning and evening, and eating applesauce and most of an Ensure as well as juice and water this evening. And he inhales on his Peace Pipe (incentive spirometer) in repetitions of 7-9 at a time, though not keeping the ball up longer than 1.5 seconds. His belly is less bloated and he has passed non-diarrhea stools a few times. And he sang the Kukku kukku…. song with me. (I don’t know how to spell it.)
On the other hand, he’s very weak and is anemic (hemoglobin 10.9) and his albumin (protein) is slightly lower instead of improving.
Various people who have not signed in the visitor book have said they stopped by to see Dad.
It sounds like they plan to transfer Dad to Denali Center as soon as a bed is available; he’s #4 on the list. This is not necessarily better than his being in a hospital room.”
Today, when I (Chena) was there, Dave S. brought flowers and stayed for quite a while, and Scott, was it?, stopped in also to say hello. My support group tells me my memory is shot because of stress, but when I couldn’t figure out if I’d let the squirrel out of the trap or it was running around in my car last night (and losing a few hours of sleep pondering that), I think Gary had cause for concern. Anyway, thanks to you who come to visit Dad. He might not give you a lot of feedback, but I think at this point it is the family who really needs to know that someone besides us cares for Dad. I appreciate the visitors. We are getting pretty fried!
On Monday, nurses Wendy and Tina got Dad to walk out to the nurses station. I fed him some pears and applesauce, and left a note for Heather that we need to bring him some quality yogurt. They were out of it this afternoon, and Miss Ignorant Chena thinks yogurt is good for the gut so let’s get some for him. Dad talked a bit to me, and I gave him a scalp massage.
This thing of going to Denali Center is a bit freaky. I worry that Dad will never come home. Well, if we are going through emotional turmoil, I can imagine Dad is also.
Heather, Harry knows the words to Kuku, and he emailed them to me a couple of weeks ago. I’ll get them to you. Harry has been so strong and good for us. Nice to know Dad has friends like that.
Love to all, Chena
Dad’s hemoglobin went up to 11.5 then 11.9, so it’s going in the right direction. Dr. Robinette says albumin takes weeks and months to rebound, but I am making sure he gets the protein foods first when I help him eat, e.g. eggs this morning and fish and meat this evening. He also appreciated a large banana and Nancy’s and Mountain High yogurts with blueberries; Tillamook and other brands also have live cultures.
Denali Center has better visiting areas with lots of windows, if interested in walking or wheeling out of one’s room, there are interesting things on the walls, and patients are encouraged to bring items from home.
Heather