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Monday, June 20, 2011

Another hospital stay

So, Thursday night we were in the ER.  They moved really quickly because he is a transplant recipient. By the next morning Angel was admitted back onto the transplant floor.  It was so sad to have to do this all over again.  I enjoyed seeing the familiar faces but really wish we could have stayed at home.

Turns out, Angel had a UTI from the removal of the kidney stones.  After 4 days on an antibiotic drip, they decided to send him home.  The one thing that bugs me is the ER took a urine sample from the urinal instead of just having Angel use a cup.  It takes 36 hours for the cultures and it came back with way too many bacterias.  They had to do another sample to pinpoint the exact bacteria they needed to treat.

Probably one of the hardest things this time around was telling Anna Friday morning that she could not come home because we were back at the hospital. 

Monday Mingle for June 20th...

I have not been around for so long.  I just had to try and get back in the swing of things with a Monday Mingle.  Please excuse the rambling and the audio quality.



1. Have you put away the winter clothes until next year?
2.  What is your typical daily summer attire?
3. Finish this sentence… “Why is it that everytime I _________________”.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Going home

Monday, June 6th was the kidney stone removal.  This was a very frustrating day for Angel.  First they wanted to upgrade the trach from a 4 back to a 7.  They felt since there was a trach there, it should be used instead of intubating him for the surgery.  This was painful to watch.  The hole had obviously gotten a bit smaller since the downsizing on Friday.  Angel was not happy at all.

Angel went down to surgery prep around 3:40ish.  By 4pm I was told to go wait in the waiting room on the 5th floor.  I asked to just wait in his room but they wanted to reach me in the waiting area.   This room stirred up horrifying memories.  Surgery was over around 5:30 and I was called to go in and see him at 6:15.  He was sitting there awake since 6.  He could not talk because the cuff of the trach was inflated.  We were told in the ICU to never let anyone inflate the cuff.  He would feel like he couldn't breath.  Sure enough he felt that.  I asked the nurse but she insisted he was ok.

About 6:30 there was an emergency in the recovery room.  They told me to head on upstairs and Angel would be up very shortly.  So I waited in his room.. and waited .. and waited.. now it is 7:30 and no Angel.  I know he is very hungry.. and it is took late for the nurses to order him dinner, so I go to the main desk up here and ask.  The receptionist calls downstairs and is told that they are having an emergency but Angel is ok and waiting for transportation.  So I decide to go to the cafeteria and get him a wrap since he is going to be starving because he had not eaten in 24 hours.

Finally at about 9pm he is wheeled into the room.  He was soo angry and still could not talk.  Thankfully Dan was already prepared to removed the trach without downsizing it.  Angel was insistent that he wanted it removed.  Angel also enjoyed that wrap thoroughly.

Tuesday - we finally left the hospital.  After alot of issues with towing the van (not to mention it was a hot day!) we finally made it home.  However, my friend Steph ended up with car troubles as she was bringing me home from walmart.  As a result, her van was towed the next day from my house.  The problem was bad gas!  Turns out alot of vehicles were hit and the repairs for her car was 3,000.  Almost 2 weeks later and she finally has her car back.

Of course coming home was not as relaxing as it should have been.  Now, I wasn't expecting much.  I mean my son is 22 and works .. so I didn't expect perfection.  He did have a bunch of his stuff in the living room, a sink full of dishes and the floor looked like it had not been swept in about 2 months.  The toilet was clogged in the main bathroom, the fridge was leaking so there were water and towels on the kitchen floor and a bunch of towels in piles on the deck.  Bubbles cage had not been cleaned in probably 2 months either and the fish only had about half a tank of water. 

After at least getting the place comfortable, we ate some pizza and watched a movie.  It was nice to finally sleep in our own bed.  Although it was very quiet without Anna.  She was not going to be able to come home til Friday. 

Wednesday, Steph and her husband came over and Steph helped me with the main rooms.  Just before the visiting nurse came the living was looking pretty good.  The toilet was flushing too.  Thursday, the physical therapist came and all was good.  After dinner, Angel took a nap.  When he woke up he did not feel right so he took his temp.  102.5.  Not good at all.  I was on the phone with Anna at the time talking about her arrival in the morning.  I hung up with her and broke out in tears.  We called the doc and thankfully Justine was able to take us back to Hartford Hospital.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Back in the waiting room.

I have not updated in a while. Things have been great.  Right now Angel is having his kidney stones removed. That means I get to wait in the waiting room again. The very same room I was in during the first surgery seven weeks ago. I know it isn't the same but this brings back horrendous memories. I wish the silent tears would stop flowing.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

We have been here for six weeks!

After a really long and boring Memorial Day weekend (no visits either), Tuesday ended up busy. There was a concern about his kidney levels which meant his potassium was really high. They wanted to check his kidney stints just to make sure. They also cut out one of his meds to see if it made a difference. Today we are told the numbers are much better.  Whew.

So yesterday started off with an Xray of his kidneys, the he slept most of the morning. he had a rough night the night before.  Then afternoon was much busier with his Barium Swallow test, Downsizing of the trach, and he walked about 20 feet to the desk.  He did an awesome job!  He is now able to eat real food and started off with a burger and orange soda. 

Today he walked all the way to the end of the hall and back.  I followed with a chair in case he needed to sit but he did not.  When he got back to the room, he was actually looking for another place to walk to.  Another huge step was he is finally out of the ICU.  We are moved back into Bliss 5 which is where we started that Tuesday 6 weeks ago.  This is really a good thing.  Someone was really suprised that he was bypassing the step down room.  This is the room we are supposed to be in.  Here he will get more physical therapy and learn about his meds.  They will give us a pill box to take home and help us fill it.  He will be on alot of meds for sure. 

I am going to miss alot of the nurses upstairs.  Neal gave a quick hug.  Sadly alot of the nurses I love were not there today.  So many have been a tremendous blessing to me and Angel as well.  Neal, Chris, Rubi, Kim 1, Kim 2, Carol, Lidia, Betty, Ming, Lisa, Jason, Rebecca, Denise, Ashley (pca), Beth, Crystal and more.. I just can't remember all the names.  I may not have understand some of the decisions made but everyone put in so much dedication to getting Angel back on his feet.  I truly admire them all.  Of course there are all the Drs on the floor and the respiratory team.  All the smiling, cheering faces.  I will truly miss them.  We definitely plan on coming back to say hi.  We know we will be visiting the transplant team often for checkups. 

Today was a really good day.  I know we will sleep well tonight.