At around 9:30 p.m. Monday evening, I received a call from the facility that mom was coughing a lot and needed a lot of suctioning. Her blood pressure was up to 170 over 116 as well. The nurses called the resident physician who ordered a higher dosage of one of mom’s 2 blood pressure meds and added a 3rd blood pressure medication to be taken daily as well. They also gave her something to cut down on the phlegm and secretions. This is assumed to be related to the fluid on the brain in addition to possible sinus drainage from allergies. The head of respiratory finally conceded that it is possible for mom to suffer from allergies even though she is on a vent and the therapist said the pulmonologist would prescribe an allergy med or decongestant to alleviate the sinus drainage and post nasal drip. The nurse who called last night was very reassuring and comforting and assured me that she was watching mom carefully and that our family should just stay home and rest. The nurse would call if need be.
I forgot to mention yesterday that the EMT transport person commented on how well mom breathes and that she didn’t need to use much of the oxygen in the portable tank at all. He said that most people would have been well into a 2nd tank of oxygen while mom was still barely on her 1st tank.
Lenny began the day with mom this morning. We all decided to let her sleep this morning because she was probably up all night. He found her asleep and said good morning and gently opened her eyelids. Mom looked at Lenny and smiled but then went back to sleep. He said that she was coughing a lot this morning---more than usual. The nurse told Lenny that mom’s temperature this morning was 100.6. He sat with her and held her hand and prayed.
Dad, Anthony and I all arrived within a ½ hour of each other. The speech therapist came in and told us that mom would go back on tube feeding for now until the shunt is put in. The therapist felt that since mom is so sleepy and out of it and coughing so much, her chance of aspirating is higher so there is no need for taking chances. After the shunt, the therapist said that mom should be able to quickly go back to solid food again. The therapist also mentioned that we should ask the hospital staff to give mom solid food so that mom can return to the facility already off the G-tube if possible. I asked if the process of reintroducing solid food would take as long if the therapist had to do it and also whether mom would need another swallow test; the therapist did not anticipate the need for another test and felt that the reintroduction of food would go quickly this time through.
The neurosurgeon from North Shore called dad this morning. His office also called the facility. I called them as well. Evidently, as soon as there is an open bed, which should be today or tomorrow, mom will be moved to the hospital for the shunt surgery. The head of respiratory at the facility spoke to dad and I and I relayed all the information from the neurologist. The therapist is very positive about the shunt and said there are many people who are like night and day after the surgery (for the better).
There was no result from the chest x-ray taken this morning yet. The staff did not know if the wound care specialist saw mom’s burn under her arm or not yet. There was no record as of noon.
When I came back to see mom later in the day, I found out that she had no more temp (normal: 98.6) and her chest x-ray was clear with no signs of infection!!! Yipppeeeee! But…vague information about whether the wound care specialist saw the burn wound under her arm or not. I contacted the building administrator to tell about mom and how she is and to ask if the wound specialist can see her finally. As dad and I were leaving, Ava and John arrived. Mom was more awake then. After I left mom, the building administrator called me. We talked for more than 35 minutes about mom, her conditions... He apologized for the staff and admitted that, by now, if her were us, he would be livid with some of the care (or lack of it) that mom is getting. He said that the wound specialist has already seen mom 3 times and due to see her again tomorrow. He said that the staff should have had record of that and they should have answered that question for me easily by now. He said he'd do all he could to hold mom's bed and to at least call us to pack the room if need be. He was very pleasant and kind as always.
Anthony received some terrible news about the wife of a dear friend of his who is also a friend of his. She is a teacher and fell from the stage at school and hit her face on the floor and is unconscious since then. She needs a miracle and prayer. Please lift her up in prayer tonight along with mom.
John and Ava said that mom fell asleep quickly and really couldn't be woken up. They sat with her and held her hand and tucked her in for the night later on.
"Honor God by accepting each other as Christ has accepted you." Romans 15:7
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