They moved my Aunt Kath to the 7th floor today. The 7th floor is the Palliative Care Unit. It's where all the cancer patients are. She's been sent here for "end of life" care. Grief, this isn't right! She's too darn young to be going through this! She's too good of a person to be going through this! This just isn't right! It isn't fair! It just makes me so dang mad!!!
I am a Believer, but I would be telling a lie if I said this doesn't make me mad at Him. I know He's in control and He has a reason for all He does, but darn - is this necessary? Really? She's got a heart of gold. She's a faithful person. She's a good person. She'd never do anything to hurt another. She loves her family and they've always come first in her life - even now - they still continue to come first with her...
I just don't understand...
She's no longer communicating with us. Her fever seems to be really high, her body is so hot. The nurses are so compassionate on this floor. We were worried that they would not have the time to give her the attention she would need for the pain medications she requires [she gets one shot every 15 minutes, one every hour and another every 4 hours], but they have been wonderful.
Atleast we're not being run out of her room like we were in ICU, and can stay in here around the clock and do not have to pick up a phone and be let in the door like we were in ICU. We are able to come and go much easier and be with her so much better. I think this is going to be easier for Grama to sit with her. She's had to do so much standing and walking while Kath has been in ICU...
Showing posts with label ICU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ICU. Show all posts
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
DAY 5 -- SUNDAY, 17 JANUARY 2010
Four days in ICU and no major setbacks. No improvements, but no setbacks. Kathey still maintains good color. Her BP is still good, as well as her pulse rate. Her CVP [central venous pressure] is lower today, but I noticed she doesn’t have as many bags hooked up to her, so perhaps that’s to be expected. I learned that today, Kath’s bowels have been working since day one -- that’s a very good thing as it was a huge concern right after surgery if her small bowel (intestine) would work again after the surgery. So I was glad to learn that today. She didn’t open her eyes while I was there today. I’m actually glad of that as I think the more she rests, the less she’s aware of her pain and perhaps the more she’ll heal.
Grama was able to talk with Kath’s surgeon while we were there. She said Kath’s urine output was better, and that the other doctor may reconsider taking Kath off the ventilator in the next couple of days.
Kathey’s daytime nurse, Darlene, atleast she's the one she’s had thus far, has taken good care of her. Kathey is a neat-freak. Darlene brushes Kath’s teeth and puts drops in her eyes, washes her face, and more… These are things that we can obviously see that is getting done every day… I’m so thankful that she’s being taken care of while we aren’t there and really aren't able to do these things for her with all the hook-ups she has.
I seen that Kath is receiving FAT!!! I had to take a picture of it! Can you believe it??? FAT!!! Yes, fat, the stuff that most people want to lose! So I took a picture of it and a few other things -- and got in trouble… Bummer! I didn’t mean to get in trouble… But I just couldn’t resist the one of the bag of fat emulsifier! :-)
Grama was able to talk with Kath’s surgeon while we were there. She said Kath’s urine output was better, and that the other doctor may reconsider taking Kath off the ventilator in the next couple of days.
Kathey’s daytime nurse, Darlene, atleast she's the one she’s had thus far, has taken good care of her. Kathey is a neat-freak. Darlene brushes Kath’s teeth and puts drops in her eyes, washes her face, and more… These are things that we can obviously see that is getting done every day… I’m so thankful that she’s being taken care of while we aren’t there and really aren't able to do these things for her with all the hook-ups she has.
I seen that Kath is receiving FAT!!! I had to take a picture of it! Can you believe it??? FAT!!! Yes, fat, the stuff that most people want to lose! So I took a picture of it and a few other things -- and got in trouble… Bummer! I didn’t mean to get in trouble… But I just couldn’t resist the one of the bag of fat emulsifier! :-)
Please continue to pray for my Aunt!
DAY 4 -- SATURDAY, 16 JANUARY 2010
Kathey rested all night once her drip was increased to more than 3 times the original amount. It still bothers me to think how miserable and how bad the pain must have been when she woke up from the anesthesia… I love her so much… She continues to rest well today.
Her surgeon looked in on her early this morning while admitting another patient into ICU at my request. I was also blessed with being able to see her again and talk to her later this morning. She said she’s pleased with the increase of Kathey’s urine output lately. She mentioned that though Kathey is past the original 48-hours 1st discussed that she’s still not out of the woods. I don’t think it takes an MD to give that diagnosis. She also said that after looking at the notes from the respiratory therapists she was going to let her partner who is the ICU doctor in charge make the assessment and decision of when to take Kath off the ventilator. We’re hoping that it will be today so that perhaps Kath will be able to ask for meds herself when we’re not around to speak up for her.
I think it will be a long time before I ever get over my aunt Kath looking at me with such pleading and tears in her eyes to take her home…. Oh, how my heart just broke….
Her surgeon looked in on her early this morning while admitting another patient into ICU at my request. I was also blessed with being able to see her again and talk to her later this morning. She said she’s pleased with the increase of Kathey’s urine output lately. She mentioned that though Kathey is past the original 48-hours 1st discussed that she’s still not out of the woods. I don’t think it takes an MD to give that diagnosis. She also said that after looking at the notes from the respiratory therapists she was going to let her partner who is the ICU doctor in charge make the assessment and decision of when to take Kath off the ventilator. We’re hoping that it will be today so that perhaps Kath will be able to ask for meds herself when we’re not around to speak up for her.
I think it will be a long time before I ever get over my aunt Kath looking at me with such pleading and tears in her eyes to take her home…. Oh, how my heart just broke….
The ICU doctor assessed Kath -- he’s not going to give the order to remove the ventilator… His reasoning is understandable. He said it will be a long time before he considers it…. Ugh! Boy this really bites for my aunt! She’s just on such high does of meds….
Well, tomorrow is another day, I pray for progress in the right direction!
Well, tomorrow is another day, I pray for progress in the right direction!
DAY 3 -- FRIDAY, 15 JANUARY 2010
It’s closing in on the 48 hours and she’s coming out of the anesthesia. She’s waking up and feeling the pain. I don’t like that she’s so alert and aware of her pain. She’s asking to go home. I told her I’d take her home when she got better and tears came out of her eyes. Someone put me out of my misery. My heart is shattered and the pain is unbearable. I hate seeing my sweet aunt is so much dang pain!!! They’ve tied her hands to the bed! I’m claustrophobic and feel an anxiety attack building rapidly so I ask her nurse why she’s tied. I’m told that she took her NG tube out twice yesterday… But she allows me to untie her hands as long as I stay in the room with her. It’s a deal! So while her hands are untied I gently rub them and try to bend her fingers ever so gently trying to work the stiffness out of them. Her hands and fingers are so swollen. They are about 3-4 sizes larger than normal due to all the hydration she’s being pumped with. That and the lack of movement, I’m assuming. She’s a beautiful sight to see lying there breathing in and out!
Her pulse rate is down a bit, BP is up a bit and her CVP is up as well. Urine output is still too low, considering she received 14 bags of fluid yesterday. That must be why she’s so swollen. She also received 2 units of blood today. It was either because of yesterdays fluids that her blood was really thinned out, and Kath just needed a little extra. Or from the surgery, because there was a little blood in the stool and they didn’t know if Kathey had some internal bleeding… After a 2nd blood sample, [Thank you, God] we found there was no internal bleeding!
I’m staying the night with her -- as I cannot bear to leave her in case the pain meds wear down again and she becomes too awake and more aware of her pain.
Tonight I told her why she was in ICU… and in so much pain… I hope I didn’t make a mistake… She was looking at me with so many questions in her eyes. I’ve always been honest and open with my aunt -- I couldn’t lie -- she’d know if I was. Besides she deserved to know how well she’s been fighting a great fight!
Her pulse rate is down a bit, BP is up a bit and her CVP is up as well. Urine output is still too low, considering she received 14 bags of fluid yesterday. That must be why she’s so swollen. She also received 2 units of blood today. It was either because of yesterdays fluids that her blood was really thinned out, and Kath just needed a little extra. Or from the surgery, because there was a little blood in the stool and they didn’t know if Kathey had some internal bleeding… After a 2nd blood sample, [Thank you, God] we found there was no internal bleeding!
I’m staying the night with her -- as I cannot bear to leave her in case the pain meds wear down again and she becomes too awake and more aware of her pain.
Tonight I told her why she was in ICU… and in so much pain… I hope I didn’t make a mistake… She was looking at me with so many questions in her eyes. I’ve always been honest and open with my aunt -- I couldn’t lie -- she’d know if I was. Besides she deserved to know how well she’s been fighting a great fight!
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